When humanity despises or overlooks certain situations or individuals, God's redemptive love can transform them into sources of profound beauty and purpose.

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

When humanity despises or overlooks certain situations or individuals, God's redemptive love can transform them into sources of profound beauty and purpose.
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

When God Brings Beauty from What Man Disdains

God reveals Himself in ways we can understand, and He wants us to know His will even more than we do. When we seek Him, His wisdom, and His truth, we can trust Him to provide the answers we need to move forward in our faith, like He did with Nicodemus.

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Full Transcript Below:

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born! Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:1-5

Growing up, I watched a close caregiver get swept into one spiritual falsehood after another. At three separate points, this led to this individual joining cults. Their behavior felt particularly confusing because they claimed to know Jesus. Over time, I developed a strong fear of spiritual deception that hindered my confidence to accurately hear God’s voice. 

Perhaps you’ve struggled with something similar and worry that you’ll miss, or misinterpret, God’s will and land outside of it. Reading some of Jesus’ conversations with people, like the one recorded in John 3, we might find His words cryptic and wonder why He didn’t speak more plainly. Was He using a theological puzzle to evoke Nicodemus’s curiosity, or was He, perhaps, pointing the scholar to truths he already knew?

As I consider this interaction, I’m intrigued by Nicodemus’s statement in verse two. He said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with Him” (NIV, emphasis mine). 

While Scripture doesn’t state this specifically, I assume his use of “we” indicated other Pharisees. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, the religious leaders believed He was aligned with God. But as time progressed and Jesus called people, these men included, to a new way of life, they quickly discounted Him and His teaching. 

This seems to indicate that they deliberately chose to deny the truth. I’m reminded of God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11-12a. Speaking to the Israelites when they were actively rejecting Him, He said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” Jesus made a similar promise in John 10 when He said, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 

These Scriptures indicate that God never withholds Himself from us. He makes His ways clear, and protects us from lies designed to lure us away. What’s more, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus demonstrate God’s ability to speak to us in ways we understand.

In John 3:6-8, Jesus said, Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  

A precursory reading might lead us to view Jesus’ words as a confusing, almost poetic expression of truth. But consider Nicodemus’ background, and his in-depth knowledge of the Old Testament. Jesus was reminding the highly educated leader to prophesies of His coming. In other words, He was helping Nicodemus connect dots that would clarify Christ’s identity as the Messiah. 

While some have equated His mention of water in John 3:5 with baptism, John Piper from Desiring God suggests He was pointing Nicodemus to Ezekiel 36, a section of Scripture he would’ve known well. In verses 25-28 God stated, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”     

When Nicodemus responded with confusion, Jesus said, “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things?” (John 3:7, NIV). In other words, a man with such knowledge of the Old Testament should grasp what Jesus meant. 

Intersecting Life and Faith

God reveals Himself in ways we can understand, and He wants us to know His will even more than we do. When we seek Him, His wisdom, and His truth, we can trust Him to provide the answers we need to move forward in our faith, like He did with Nicodemus. He is an attentive shepherd who assumes full responsibility to lead us to greater freedom and deeper intimacy with Him. We can also trust that the One who laid down His life that we might live will protect us from those things threatening to rob us of His most costly gift.

Further Reading:

John 10:3-5

John 16:13-14

Psalm 25:5

God reveals Himself in ways we can understand, and He wants us to know His will even more than we do. When we seek Him, His wisdom, and His truth, we can trust Him to provide the answers we need to move forward in our faith, like He did with Nicodemus.
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”
3 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born! Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.” John 3:1-5
Growing up, I watched a close caregiver get swept into one spiritual falsehood after another. At three separate points, this led to this individual joining cults. Their behavior felt particularly confusing because they claimed to know Jesus. Over time, I developed a strong fear of spiritual deception that hindered my confidence to accurately hear God’s voice. 
Perhaps you’ve struggled with something similar and worry that you’ll miss, or misinterpret, God’s will and land outside of it. Reading some of Jesus’ conversations with people, like the one recorded in John 3, we might find His words cryptic and wonder why He didn’t speak more plainly. Was He using a theological puzzle to evoke Nicodemus’s curiosity, or was He, perhaps, pointing the scholar to truths he already knew?
As I consider this interaction, I’m intrigued by Nicodemus’s statement in verse two. He said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with Him” (NIV, emphasis mine). 
While Scripture doesn’t state this specifically, I assume his use of “we” indicated other Pharisees. At this point in Jesus’ ministry, the religious leaders believed He was aligned with God. But as time progressed and Jesus called people, these men included, to a new way of life, they quickly discounted Him and His teaching. 
This seems to indicate that they deliberately chose to deny the truth. I’m reminded of God’s promise in Jeremiah 29:11-12a. Speaking to the Israelites when they were actively rejecting Him, He said, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you.” Jesus made a similar promise in John 10 when He said, “When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 
These Scriptures indicate that God never withholds Himself from us. He makes His ways clear, and protects us from lies designed to lure us away. What’s more, Jesus’ words to Nicodemus demonstrate God’s ability to speak to us in ways we understand.
In John 3:6-8, Jesus said, Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”  
A precursory reading might lead us to view Jesus’ words as a confusing, almost poetic expression of truth. But consider Nicodemus’ background, and his in-depth knowledge of the Old Testament. Jesus was reminding the highly educated leader to prophesies of His coming. In other words, He was helping Nicodemus connect dots that would clarify Christ’s identity as the Messiah. 
While some have equated His mention of water in John 3:5 with baptism, John Piper from Desiring God suggests He was pointing Nicodemus to Ezekiel 36, a section of Scripture he would’ve known well. In verses 25-28 God stated, “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”     
When Nicodemus responded with confusion, Jesus said, “You are Israel’s teacher, and do you not understand these things?” (John 3:7, NIV). In other words, a man with such knowledge of the Old Testament should grasp what Jesus meant. 
Intersecting Life and Faith
God reveals Himself in ways we can understand, and He wants us to know His will even more than we do. When we seek Him, His wisdom, and His truth, we can trust Him to provide the answers we need to move forward in our faith, like He did with Nicodemus. He is an attentive shepherd who assumes full responsibility to lead us to greater freedom and deeper intimacy with Him. We can also trust that the One who laid down His life that we might live will protect us from those things threatening to rob us of His most costly gift.
Further Reading:
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010%3A3-5&amp;version=NIV">John 10:3-5</a>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2016%3A13-14&amp;version=NIV">John 16:13-14</a>
<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2025%3A5&amp;version=NIV">Psalm 25:5</a>

For Those Who Fear They'll Become Deceived

If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy.

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Full Transcript Below:

The Good word about Mercy

“Mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13)

I once had a parishioner of mine who lived under the watchful eye of a condemning aunt. Whenever he stepped out of line, or caused some mishap, the aunt would glare in his direction and say, “God will get you for that.”  It didn’t matter about the severity of action, or the intent (or non-intent) of the accident. Suffice it to say, this man grew up with deep-seeded picture of God as an angry enforcer.  God was that being in the sky who longed to catch him his spiritual infractions. Thus, despite all the verses pertaining to God’s love, he could not shake the belief that God was out to get him. He lived with the agonizing thought that it was just a matter of time before he would be crushed under some act of divine judgement.

Do you ever feel like God is angry with you? Do you struggle with the assumption that, while God works in love and grace to everyone else, you receive nothing but wrath and vengeance? Why do you think that way?

Many of us find ourselves continually gripped with such a fear. We fear that God’s mercy will not be directed to us, and so we put upon ourselves the demands of ‘be better’ do more’ or ‘work harder’ in a vain attempt to placate an angry God. After all, this ethic of earning undergirds the world around us. The more we work the more we earn, the world tells us.  But this locks us into and endless cycle of condemnation. What we do is always (or earn) is always betrayed by what we do not, and no matter how hard we try, we can always judge ourselves insufficient by the metric of our neighbors. 

Yes, God is just and righteous, and scripture holds true that there will be a day where God will call all evil to account.  A God who is not just is one who is not good. And yet, throughout the gamut of scripture, we also hear the truth of mercy. God continually speaks words of comfort and peace to each of us.  In James 2, we read that mercy triumphs over judgement. This good news hearkens back to the promise God makes in Exodus 20, to show mercy to a thousand generations to those who love him. The truth is the Lord’s declaration of mercy speaks louder than any voice within us that speaks a word of judgement.  In the battle of judgment versus mercy, mercy always wins. Mercy beats in the heart of God. 

God is abundant in mercy and endless in love. In Christ, and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can be assured of this reality for our lives.  John writes that whenever our hearts condemn us, we can be assured that God is bigger than our hearts.  When we struggle to hold faithfully to the promises of mercy, Jesus lovingly reaches out for us. And the Holy Spirit in our lives is an ongoing testimony of his loving hold over us.  Because mercy triumphs over judgement, we live in the assurance of everlasting favor. 

Intersecting faith and life.

Let me ask you again, do you feel that God is angry with you? Is there a voice that speaks condemnation over you?  What might it look like for you to listen, instead, to the voice of Jesus. Can you dare to believe the promise that mercy triumphs over judgement, and hear that as a declaration about your life? 

It does not matter what is in our past, what defines our present, or what mistakes we will inevitably make in the future, we can trust that the Lord’s presence over us is both merciful and loving.  This blessed assurance is whispered into our hearts whenever we draw nearer in faith. This is the divine promise so eloquently displayed in the cross. Just think of it, as Jesus hung on the cross, he could have easily released a deluge of divine retribution upon those who crucified him.  But instead, he chose to speak words of forgiveness and mercy. The cross beckons us to receive the divine love that overtakes all sin and shame. 

If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy.

For Further Reading:

2nd Peter 3:9

What Christians need to understand about Mercyon Crosswalk.com

If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy.
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
The Good word about Mercy
“Mercy triumphs over judgement” (James 2:13)
I once had a parishioner of mine who lived under the watchful eye of a condemning aunt. Whenever he stepped out of line, or caused some mishap, the aunt would glare in his direction and say, “God will get you for that.”  It didn’t matter about the severity of action, or the intent (or non-intent) of the accident. Suffice it to say, this man grew up with deep-seeded picture of God as an angry enforcer.  God was that being in the sky who longed to catch him his spiritual infractions. Thus, despite all the verses pertaining to God’s love, he could not shake the belief that God was out to get him. He lived with the agonizing thought that it was just a matter of time before he would be crushed under some act of divine judgement.
Do you ever feel like God is angry with you? Do you struggle with the assumption that, while God works in love and grace to everyone else, you receive nothing but wrath and vengeance? Why do you think that way?
Many of us find ourselves continually gripped with such a fear. We fear that God’s mercy will not be directed to us, and so we put upon ourselves the demands of ‘be better’ do more’ or ‘work harder’ in a vain attempt to placate an angry God. After all, this ethic of earning undergirds the world around us. The more we work the more we earn, the world tells us.  But this locks us into and endless cycle of condemnation. What we do is always (or earn) is always betrayed by what we do not, and no matter how hard we try, we can always judge ourselves insufficient by the metric of our neighbors. 
Yes, God is just and righteous, and scripture holds true that there will be a day where God will call all evil to account.  A God who is not just is one who is not good. And yet, throughout the gamut of scripture, we also hear the truth of mercy. God continually speaks words of comfort and peace to each of us.  In James 2, we read that mercy triumphs over judgement. This good news hearkens back to the promise God makes in Exodus 20, to show mercy to a thousand generations to those who love him. The truth is the Lord’s declaration of mercy speaks louder than any voice within us that speaks a word of judgement.  In the battle of judgment versus mercy, mercy always wins. Mercy beats in the heart of God. 
God is abundant in mercy and endless in love. In Christ, and through the indwelling Holy Spirit, we can be assured of this reality for our lives.  John writes that whenever our hearts condemn us, we can be assured that God is bigger than our hearts.  When we struggle to hold faithfully to the promises of mercy, Jesus lovingly reaches out for us. And the Holy Spirit in our lives is an ongoing testimony of his loving hold over us.  Because mercy triumphs over judgement, we live in the assurance of everlasting favor. 
Intersecting faith and life.
Let me ask you again, do you feel that God is angry with you? Is there a voice that speaks condemnation over you?  What might it look like for you to listen, instead, to the voice of Jesus. Can you dare to believe the promise that mercy triumphs over judgement, and hear that as a declaration about your life? 
It does not matter what is in our past, what defines our present, or what mistakes we will inevitably make in the future, we can trust that the Lord’s presence over us is both merciful and loving.  This blessed assurance is whispered into our hearts whenever we draw nearer in faith. This is the divine promise so eloquently displayed in the cross. Just think of it, as Jesus hung on the cross, he could have easily released a deluge of divine retribution upon those who crucified him.  But instead, he chose to speak words of forgiveness and mercy. The cross beckons us to receive the divine love that overtakes all sin and shame. 
If you find yourself condemning yourself, remember that battle has already been won. Mercy triumphs over judgement because the judgement of God has already been executed upon all sin and unrighteousness. There is no more payment or retribution to be received. On the cross, Jesus took the Judgement of the Father. What is more, flowing out of the sacrifice is nothing but divine mercy.
For Further Reading:
2nd Peter 3:9
What Christians need to understand about Mercy on Crosswalk.com

The Good Word About Mercy

David knew how to stay in the seat and allow the Lord to meet his spiritual and physical needs.  Could we learn this same dependence? With these eternal truths in mind, the next time you are faced with unexpected adversity, remember you can stay in the seat.  Your Divine Protector will provide you everything you need.

SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:

Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/
Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/

Full Transcript Below:

Learning to Stay in the Seat

By Megan Conner

“The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.” Ps. 23 (NKJV)

How many of us have heard this famous passage read aloud at funerals or observed it printed over a picturesque scene illustrating green pastures and still waters?  The imagery conveyed, channels what we consider the anticipated likeness of heaven.  However, despite its common reference as soothing biblical poetry, this psalm was not written during a moment of serenity.  It is believed David penned this poem while avoiding the pursuit of King Saul who was attempting to capture and kill the warrior who once slayed Goliath.  It is here, where David had left everything behind, when he had zero assurance of safety, and had no idea where his next meal would come from that he inscribed these timeless truths. 

When faced with our own seasons of adversity could we make these same bold declarations?  Would we hammer our stake of faith in the ground and assert “I shall not want?” There have been countless times in my own life when I have stared down apparent want and responded with the complete opposite.  Pain and fear can stimulate such strong feelings of doubt, and even resentment, when we are faced with undesirable dilemmas.  However, our gracious God understands human frailty and weakness.  Rather than abandon us for our faithlessness, he takes our hand and guides us to places of gentle rest and teaches us how we can trust in him.

If we study the Hebrew translation of Psalm 23, we can discover the entire passage is filled with action verbs.  Everyone remember those early grammar lessons during our years of primary education?  These parts of speech are often referred to as dynamic verbs and describe the action being performed in the sentence.  This tranquil psalm does not outline a sedentary, passive response.  Rather, our Lord actively leads us to places of much needed sustenance and reprieve.  He makes us lie down in green pastures.  He leads us by still waters.  Like a parent making their child go to bed because it is what is best for them, our Heavenly Father sometimes allows circumstances in our lives that drive us into quieter, restricted places of separation.  While unwanted, it is here, in these spaces of solitude, we learn how to receive from God.

Even further, the Lord invites us to remain seated at the table he prepares for us in the presence of our enemies.  I don’t know about you, but when I am faced with deep worry or sadness I struggle to eat.  My nerves turn my stomach into knots.  I lose my appetite.  Not to mention my inability to sit still.  Whether I am physically running around or spinning in circles mentally, when I feel threatened, I plot, plan, devise, and fight for my own provision and deliverance.  I know I need to trust the Lord but waiting patiently for it all to work out, especially when the results appear extremely delayed, is HARD.  Have you ever found yourself feeling the same?

David comprehended God’s provision in a way I have misunderstood.  He had absolute confidence that God would not only provide salvation but also sustenance.  Even with the battle raging around him, and uncertainty before him, David knew how to stay in the seat and allow the Lord to meet his spiritual and physical needs.  Could we learn this same dependence?  While I am certainly not perfect, I have made significant progress surrendering my attempts to control outcomes.  When the storms of this life start to swirl around, instead of rising up and striving for my own salvation, I remind myself to remain seated.  The battle is not mine; it’s God’s (2 Chron. 20:15).  I can follow the instructions of the psalmist. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:14, NIV).  

With these eternal truths in mind, the next time you are faced with unexpected adversity, remember you can stay in the seat.  Your Divine Protector will provide you everything you need.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Reread Psalm 23 with the fresh perspective gained from today’s devotional.  How has your understanding of this famous passage changed?  Have you experienced times when you fought to control outcomes instead of resting and receiving from the Lord?  Are you able to look back upon your life and discover moments when you could sense the Heavenly Father’s nearness in the restricted and quieter places of grief or hardship?  How can you apply what we learned today the next time you are faced with an unwanted dilemma?  How will you remind yourself to stay in the seat?

Further Reading:

2 Chron. Chapter 20

Psalm 27

David knew how to stay in the seat and allow the Lord to meet his spiritual and physical needs.  Could we learn this same dependence? With these eternal truths in mind, the next time you are faced with unexpected adversity, remember you can stay in the seat.  Your Divine Protector will provide you everything you need.
SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts: Your Daily Prayer: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/</a> Your Daily Bible Verse: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/</a>
Full Transcript Below:
Learning to Stay in the Seat
By Megan Conner
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” Ps. 23 (NKJV)
How many of us have heard this famous passage read aloud at funerals or observed it printed over a picturesque scene illustrating green pastures and still waters?  The imagery conveyed, channels what we consider the anticipated likeness of heaven.  However, despite its common reference as soothing biblical poetry, this psalm was not written during a moment of serenity.  It is believed David penned this poem while avoiding the pursuit of King Saul who was attempting to capture and kill the warrior who once slayed Goliath.  It is here, where David had left everything behind, when he had zero assurance of safety, and had no idea where his next meal would come from that he inscribed these timeless truths. 
When faced with our own seasons of adversity could we make these same bold declarations?  Would we hammer our stake of faith in the ground and assert “I shall not want?” There have been countless times in my own life when I have stared down apparent want and responded with the complete opposite.  Pain and fear can stimulate such strong feelings of doubt, and even resentment, when we are faced with undesirable dilemmas.  However, our gracious God understands human frailty and weakness.  Rather than abandon us for our faithlessness, he takes our hand and guides us to places of gentle rest and teaches us how we can trust in him.
If we study the Hebrew translation of Psalm 23, we can discover the entire passage is filled with action verbs.  Everyone remember those early grammar lessons during our years of primary education?  These parts of speech are often referred to as dynamic verbs and describe the action being performed in the sentence.  This tranquil psalm does not outline a sedentary, passive response.  Rather, our Lord actively leads us to places of much needed sustenance and reprieve.  He makes us lie down in green pastures.  He leads us by still waters.  Like a parent making their child go to bed because it is what is best for them, our Heavenly Father sometimes allows circumstances in our lives that drive us into quieter, restricted places of separation.  While unwanted, it is here, in these spaces of solitude, we learn how to receive from God.
Even further, the Lord invites us to remain seated at the table he prepares for us in the presence of our enemies.  I don’t know about you, but when I am faced with deep worry or sadness I struggle to eat.  My nerves turn my stomach into knots.  I lose my appetite.  Not to mention my inability to sit still.  Whether I am physically running around or spinning in circles mentally, when I feel threatened, I plot, plan, devise, and fight for my own provision and deliverance.  I know I need to trust the Lord but waiting patiently for it all to work out, especially when the results appear extremely delayed, is HARD.  Have you ever found yourself feeling the same?
David comprehended God’s provision in a way I have misunderstood.  He had absolute confidence that God would not only provide salvation but also sustenance.  Even with the battle raging around him, and uncertainty before him, David knew how to stay in the seat and allow the Lord to meet his spiritual and physical needs.  Could we learn this same dependence?  While I am certainly not perfect, I have made significant progress surrendering my attempts to control outcomes.  When the storms of this life start to swirl around, instead of rising up and striving for my own salvation, I remind myself to remain seated.  The battle is not mine; it’s God’s (2 Chron. 20:15).  I can follow the instructions of the psalmist. “Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD” (Ps. 27:14, NIV).  
With these eternal truths in mind, the next time you are faced with unexpected adversity, remember you can stay in the seat.  Your Divine Protector will provide you everything you need.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
Reread Psalm 23 with the fresh perspective gained from today’s devotional.  How has your understanding of this famous passage changed?  Have you experienced times when you fought to control outcomes instead of resting and receiving from the Lord?  Are you able to look back upon your life and discover moments when you could sense the Heavenly Father’s nearness in the restricted and quieter places of grief or hardship?  How can you apply what we learned today the next time you are faced with an unwanted dilemma?  How will you remind yourself to stay in the seat?
Further Reading:
2 Chron. Chapter 20
Psalm 27

When God Brings Beauty from What Man Disdains

In 1 playlist(s)

The Crosswalk Devotional

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips