It is a natural human emotion to have fear. And while fear is not from God, we will all have to deal with fear this side of heaven. In this special episode preview of Hearing Jesus, host Rachael Groll looks at the example of King David when he too was facing something difficult and the way he allowed his faith to speak louder than his fear. 


DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF HEARING JESUS: 
Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3ZAhFkH
Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3vXVKGO
LifeAudio: https://www.lifeaudio.com/hearing-jesus


CONNECT WITH HEARING JESUS HOST RACHAEL GROLL:
Website: https://shehears.org
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/she_hears
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org

It is a natural human emotion to have fear. And while fear is not from God, we will all have to deal with fear this side of heaven. In this special episode preview of <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hearing-jesus-daily-bible-study-daily-devotional-hear/id1615623952">Hearing Jesus</a>, host Rachael Groll looks at the example of King David when he too was facing something difficult and the way he allowed his faith to speak louder than his fear. 
  DISCOVER MORE EPISODES OF HEARING JESUS:  Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://apple.co/3ZAhFkH">https://apple.co/3ZAhFkH</a> Spotify: <a href="https://spoti.fi/3vXVKGO">https://spoti.fi/3vXVKGO</a>   LifeAudio: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/hearing-jesus">https://www.lifeaudio.com/hearing-jesus</a> 
  CONNECT WITH HEARING JESUS HOST RACHAEL GROLL: Website: <a href="https://shehears.org">https://shehears.org</a>   Instagram:  <a href="https://www.instagram.com/she_hears">https://www.instagram.com/she_hears</a>  Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org">https://www.facebook.com/SheHears.org</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

Why Being Afraid Doesn’t Disqualify Your Faith from Hearing Jesus

Disappointment can shake us, especially when we’ve prayed, trusted God, and genuinely believed a particular door would open. An unexpected “no,” a financial setback, a missed opportunity, or circumstances that don’t make sense can leave us wondering where God is in the middle of it all. But disappointment doesn't mean God has changed. When our circumstances challenge what we expected, they can reveal whether our hope is rooted in what God does—or in who God is.

Psalm 25:5 gives us a different way to respond: “For You I wait all the day.” Waiting on God doesn’t mean pretending disappointment doesn’t hurt. It means bringing our questions and grief to Him while choosing to trust His character, timing, and wisdom. Even when we don't understand why a door closed, we can remain confident that God is faithful and that our hope is safest in Him.

Highlights
Why disappointment can reveal where we have placed our hope
How unexpected circumstances can test and strengthen our faith
Why God’s character remains trustworthy even when His answers don’t make sense
The difference between trusting God and trusting what we hope God will do
How closed doors and unanswered prayers can deepen our dependence on God
What Psalm 25:5 teaches us about waiting on God with hope
Encouragement to remain faithful to God through both blessings and disappointments

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Hope During Disappointment

By Cindi McMenamin

Bible Reading:
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day (Psalm 25:5 NASB). 


Wouldn't it be nice if life consisted only of pleasant surprises, not the disappointing ones? And yet when we meet disappointment head-on, it is a true test of the strength of our faith. 

I remember receiving news that was gravely disappointing. I wasn't prepared for it in the least. It was shocking, really. God had been on a roll with blessings in my life. I guess I'd grown a little comfortable. And this disappointing news couldn't have come at a worse time...a week before Christmas, just days after celebrating my daughter's college graduation, and just a week prior to my husband's transition into a new season of life that carried with it a lot of financial uncertainty. 

My family was daily looking for the little assurances that God had our backs, and we were constantly praising Him for all the times He came through for us. And now, it looked like the door to my golden opportunity and financial stability had slammed shut. My first reaction, spoken aloud, was "God, this is so out of character for You." 

And then I suddenly realized something: God doesn't do anything out of character. 
If God's response to my request appeared out of character for Him, then it is my understanding of the situation that is in question, not His character.
 If God's timing appears to be wrong, then it is my perception of His timing that I will doubt, not His ability to coordinate all things perfectly.
  If God's love appears to be in question—because of how He has responded to my situation—then it is my trust that is in question, not God's love. 

It was then that I understood. It wasn't God's character that was being put to the test in my disappointing circumstances. It was mine. Would my faith stand an unexpected turn? Would I take only blessings from God and not the disappointments too? Or will I trust Him, wholeheartedly, that He knows exactly what He's doing, and perhaps this closed door means an even better one will soon be opening? 

My disappointing circumstance helped me to remember three things: 
Disappointment is a very real part of life.
Disappointment is something God can use to grow me into someone who is more like His Son. 
Disappointment is the measuring stick for how strong my faith is. 

In Psalm 25:5, in the New Living Translation, the psalmist declared where his faith and hope were when he said: “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long, I put my hope in you.”

Intersecting Faith & Life: 

I realized, through my reaction to this disappointment, that I had put my hope in my circumstances, not in God. I had grown comfortable and secure in my abilities, my work, and my finances, and I was now suddenly desperate for God. Desperate for Him. And that's exactly where He wanted me to be. 

I want my response to God in the disappointments of life to be just as pleasing to Him as my praise during the blessings of life. Can God trust me to be faithful to Him regardless of my circumstances, regardless of when He chooses to bless and when He chooses to withhold? Can my hope remain in Him constantly? 

Job once said, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). I haven't been "slayed"—not in the least. I've just been disappointed. Therefore, I long for the song of my heart to be, "Though I don't understand why He allowed this, still I will trust Him." 

Have you been gravely disappointed in your circumstances? Are you wondering why God has allowed—or not allowed—something in your life? It's possible He wants you to be desperate for Him, too. When you and I can say our hope is in Him, not in what He will do, then we get a little clearer picture of what it means to follow Him faithfully. 

Disappointment or not, let’s desire a faith that is strong and a heart that is pleasing to Him. 

Further Reading:
Isaiah 43:2 

To grow a heart that hopes in God alone, see Cindi’s newest book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

Disappointment can shake us, especially when we&rsquo;ve prayed, trusted God, and genuinely believed a particular door would open. An unexpected &ldquo;no,&rdquo; a financial setback, a missed opportunity, or circumstances that don&rsquo;t make sense can leave us wondering where God is in the middle of it all. But disappointment doesn't mean God has changed. When our circumstances challenge what we expected, they can reveal whether our hope is rooted in what God does&mdash;or in who God is.
Psalm 25:5 gives us a different way to respond: &ldquo;For You I wait all the day.&rdquo; Waiting on God doesn&rsquo;t mean pretending disappointment doesn&rsquo;t hurt. It means bringing our questions and grief to Him while choosing to trust His character, timing, and wisdom. Even when we don't understand why a door closed, we can remain confident that God is faithful and that our hope is safest in Him.
Highlights
<ul data-start="876" data-end="1379" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-section-id="10f4s0q" data-start="876" data-end="937">Why disappointment can reveal where we have placed our hope</li>
<li data-section-id="apzq6e" data-start="938" data-end="1002">How unexpected circumstances can test and strengthen our faith</li>
<li data-section-id="1f9ubkg" data-start="1003" data-end="1083">Why God&rsquo;s character remains trustworthy even when His answers don&rsquo;t make sense</li>
<li data-section-id="1ndo3o8" data-start="1084" data-end="1159">The difference between trusting God and trusting what we hope God will do</li>
<li data-section-id="qr9ud5" data-start="1160" data-end="1234">How closed doors and unanswered prayers can deepen our dependence on God</li>
<li data-section-id="s7121" data-start="1235" data-end="1294">What Psalm 25:5 teaches us about waiting on God with hope</li>
<li data-section-id="j3m533" data-start="1295" data-end="1379" data-is-last-node="">Encouragement to remain faithful to God through both blessings and disappointments</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Hope During Disappointment
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading: Lead me in&nbsp;Your truth and teach me, For You are the&nbsp;God of my salvation; For You I&nbsp;wait all the day (Psalm 25:5 NASB).&nbsp;
 Wouldn't it be nice if life consisted only of pleasant surprises, not the disappointing ones? And yet when we meet disappointment head-on, it is a true test of the strength of our faith.&nbsp;
I remember receiving news that was gravely disappointing. I wasn't prepared for it in the least. It was shocking, really. God had been on a roll with blessings in my life. I guess I'd grown a little comfortable. And this disappointing news couldn't have come at a worse time...a week before Christmas, just days after celebrating my daughter's college graduation, and just a week prior to my husband's transition into a new season of life that carried with it a lot of financial uncertainty.&nbsp;
My family was daily looking for the little assurances that God had our backs, and we were constantly praising Him for all the times He came through for us. And now, it looked like the door to my golden opportunity and financial stability had slammed shut. My first reaction, spoken aloud, was "God, this is so out of character for You."&nbsp;
And then I suddenly realized something: God doesn't do anything out of character.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">If God's response to my request appeared out of character for Him, then it is my understanding of the situation that is in question, not His character.</li>
<li aria-level="1">&nbsp;If God's timing appears to be wrong, then it is my perception of His timing that I will doubt, not His ability to coordinate all things perfectly.</li>
<li aria-level="1">&nbsp;&nbsp;If God's love appears to be in question&mdash;because of how He has responded to my situation&mdash;then it is my trust that is in question, not God's love.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
It was then that I understood. It wasn't God's character that was being put to the test in my disappointing circumstances. It was mine. Would my faith stand an unexpected turn? Would I take only blessings from God and not the disappointments too? Or will I trust Him, wholeheartedly, that He knows exactly what He's doing, and perhaps this closed door means an even better one will soon be opening?&nbsp;
My disappointing circumstance helped me to remember three things:&nbsp;
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">Disappointment is a very real part of life.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Disappointment is something God can use to grow me into someone who is more like His Son.&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Disappointment is the measuring stick for how strong my faith is.&nbsp;</li>
</ol>
In Psalm 25:5, in the New Living Translation, the psalmist declared where his faith and hope were when he said: &ldquo;Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long, I put my hope in you.&rdquo;
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:&nbsp;
I realized, through my reaction to this disappointment, that I had put my hope in my circumstances, not in God. I had grown comfortable and secure in my abilities, my work, and my finances, and I was now suddenly desperate for God. Desperate for Him. And that's exactly where He wanted me to be.&nbsp;
I want my response to God in the disappointments of life to be just as pleasing to Him as my praise during the blessings of life. Can God trust me to be faithful to Him regardless of my circumstances, regardless of when He chooses to bless and when He chooses to withhold? Can my hope remain in Him constantly?&nbsp;
Job once said, "Though He slay me, I will hope in Him" (Job 13:15). I haven't been "slayed"&mdash;not in the least. I've just been disappointed. Therefore, I long for the song of my heart to be, "Though I don't understand why He allowed this, still I will trust Him."&nbsp;
Have you been gravely disappointed in your circumstances? Are you wondering why God has allowed&mdash;or not allowed&mdash;something in your life? It's possible He wants you to be desperate for Him, too. When you and I can say our hope is in Him, not in what He will do, then we get a little clearer picture of what it means to follow Him faithfully.&nbsp;
Disappointment or not, let&rsquo;s desire a faith that is strong and a heart that is pleasing to Him.&nbsp;
Further Reading: Isaiah 43:2&nbsp;
To grow a heart that hopes in God alone, see Cindi&rsquo;s newest book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/New-Loneliness-Devotional-Closer-Connection/dp/0736989250/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2S9YRHB4MSKZR&amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.TmMnSOVvCMTwhHlx85y3XjGXf3_3YngV6Aac9qHg--TC22sSLZWj6K5tsD_Nn8bGKOq6RQ9vX9-WoB69FeJrtS4-v-oYNbRh8WrQ2Fy1ZoQcfajvANjvlhX">The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God</a>.

Hope During Disappointment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/445b0264-66b6-45f3-a2d1-b4b700cd3ed3/transcript

It’s easy to lose track of time without realizing where it went. A few minutes on social media becomes an hour, notifications interrupt meaningful conversations, and endless content competes for our attention. Technology can be a helpful tool, but when our phones, screens, and constant stream of information begin controlling our attention, they can quietly pull us away from God, our families, and the people and purposes He has placed in front of us. Ephesians 5:15-16 calls us to walk wisely and make the best use of our time.

Redeeming our time doesn't necessarily mean eliminating technology—it means becoming intentional about what receives our attention. When we create space to pray, read Scripture, invest in relationships, and serve others, we begin using our time for something greater than simply staying busy or entertained. God has given us the gift of time, and we can ask Him for the wisdom and self-control to spend it in ways that honor Him and help us live faithfully.

Highlights
Why smartphones, social media, and constant information can quietly steal our time and attention
What Ephesians 5:15-16 means when it calls us to make the best use of our time
How technology can become a distraction from God, family, and meaningful relationships
Practical ways to develop healthier screen-time habits and greater self-control
Why intentional time with God should be protected from digital distractions
How fasting from technology can help reset our attention and priorities
Encouragement to redeem the time God has given us for His glory and the work He has called us to

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Redeeming, Not Wasting, Our Time

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).

As a millennial, I find myself reflecting upon a time before the technological boom we seem to be facing, specifically before AI, smartphones, and social media. I remember taking a walk or riding my bike after school without the anxiety of accidentally leaving my phone at home. I remember the excitement of turning in my disposable camera from the school dance and then looking through my friends’ photo albums when I was hanging out at their house. I remember soaking up the most mundane moments without feeling the need to document them. Some of that could very well be what it was like to be younger, but I cannot ignore how much the simplicity of life has become more complicated and distracted with these portable devices that seem to control us and steal our time. 

About six months ago, I started to feel convicted about the lack of self-control regarding my screen time with my phone, so I purchased a little device that literally turns your phone into a brick when your phone hovers over it, depending on how much you want to limit its functionality. You can customize specific functions and apps that you want to limit, and for me, it was quite simply shutting down my social media usage. After six months of using this limiting device, I can see how it has helped me create healthier habits that have helped me prioritize my time more wisely. Instead of my phone controlling me, I have been able to start controlling it and using it as the tool that it is. My prayer to the Lord is “I want to be found faithful.” I have asked Him very frequently how I can use my time to glorify Him and be a fruitful disciple of Jesus. 

The Apostle Paul lovingly warns the church at Ephesus:

“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).

Intersecting Life & Faith:

If the days were evil during Paul’s day, they most assuredly are evil today! 

Although our cellphones, tablets, laptops, etc are not evil, I do believe we need to be cautious as to how much time we are devoting to them. We need to be aware of where we are directing our focus. We need to be attentive to what is capturing our attention that may be causing us to make unwise choices. For me, the distraction from my phone was keeping me from intentional time with my sons and causing me to become captured by covetousness and discontentment with the swath of influencers pushing product after product. 

As we live in the great information age, we are bombarded with opportunities to fill our time and our minds with so many things that can so easily replace our time of fellowship with the Lord, as well as distract us from the very thing He has called us to do: make disciples! 

Perhaps you may not have an issue with technology distracting you from the Lord- praise God! Stay strong and be an accountability partner for those around you who are easily pulled away from the things of God because of the ever-increasing information age and the age of social media influencers promoting materialism and vanity.  

But if you are like me (a stay-at-home/work-from-home mom) and you are finding yourself with limited time to spend with Jesus in prayer and the Word, I challenge you to ask the Lord if there is something you can arrange in your schedule to allow better time management. Also, ask Him if He would like for you to fast (technology, that is), something that could be causing division between you and Him.

Devote specific time every day to spend some quiet time in fellowship with God and reading your Bible, without your cellphone or iPad within reach- turn them off during that time and perhaps put a timer on the most-used apps that you access throughout your day. You might just need extra help with self-control, like me!

Be thankful for the benefits of the tools and global connections that technology brings us, but don’t allow technology to rob you of your connection to Jesus or distract you from all the blessings He has put right in front of you. We have been given the precious gift of time here on this earth; let’s not waste our time but redeem it all for God’s glory!

Further Reading:

Matthew 6:33

Hebrews 12:1-2

It&rsquo;s easy to lose track of time without realizing where it went. A few minutes on social media becomes an hour, notifications interrupt meaningful conversations, and endless content competes for our attention. Technology can be a helpful tool, but when our phones, screens, and constant stream of information begin controlling our attention, they can quietly pull us away from God, our families, and the people and purposes He has placed in front of us. Ephesians 5:15-16 calls us to walk wisely and make the best use of our time.
Redeeming our time doesn't necessarily mean eliminating technology&mdash;it means becoming intentional about what receives our attention. When we create space to pray, read Scripture, invest in relationships, and serve others, we begin using our time for something greater than simply staying busy or entertained. God has given us the gift of time, and we can ask Him for the wisdom and self-control to spend it in ways that honor Him and help us live faithfully.
Highlights
<ul data-start="1015" data-end="1619" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-section-id="wahkxg" data-start="1015" data-end="1113">Why smartphones, social media, and constant information can quietly steal our time and attention</li>
<li data-section-id="1vyc45c" data-start="1114" data-end="1194">What Ephesians 5:15-16 means when it calls us to make the best use of our time</li>
<li data-section-id="1yxgf1a" data-start="1195" data-end="1283">How technology can become a distraction from God, family, and meaningful relationships</li>
<li data-section-id="18gkzr5" data-start="1284" data-end="1365">Practical ways to develop healthier screen-time habits and greater self-control</li>
<li data-section-id="duf675" data-start="1366" data-end="1443">Why intentional time with God should be protected from digital distractions</li>
<li data-section-id="1qk3d41" data-start="1444" data-end="1517">How fasting from technology can help reset our attention and priorities</li>
<li data-section-id="1jjhmuc" data-start="1518" data-end="1619" data-is-last-node="">Encouragement to redeem the time God has given us for His glory and the work He has called us to</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Redeeming, Not Wasting, Our Time
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil&rdquo; (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).
As a millennial, I find myself reflecting upon a time before the technological boom we seem to be facing, specifically before AI, smartphones, and social media. I remember taking a walk or riding my bike after school without the anxiety of accidentally leaving my phone at home. I remember the excitement of turning in my disposable camera from the school dance and then looking through my friends&rsquo; photo albums when I was hanging out at their house. I remember soaking up the most mundane moments without feeling the need to document them. Some of that could very well be what it was like to be younger, but I cannot ignore how much the simplicity of life has become more complicated and distracted with these portable devices that seem to control us and steal our time.&nbsp;
About six months ago, I started to feel convicted about the lack of self-control regarding my screen time with my phone, so I purchased a little device that literally turns your phone into a brick when your phone hovers over it, depending on how much you want to limit its functionality. You can customize specific functions and apps that you want to limit, and for me, it was quite simply shutting down my social media usage. After six months of using this limiting device, I can see how it has helped me create healthier habits that have helped me prioritize my time more wisely. Instead of my phone controlling me, I have been able to start controlling it and using it as the tool that it is. My prayer to the Lord is &ldquo;I want to be found faithful.&rdquo; I have asked Him very frequently how I can use my time to glorify Him and be a fruitful disciple of Jesus.&nbsp;
The Apostle Paul lovingly warns the church at Ephesus:
&ldquo;Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil&rdquo; (Ephesians 5:15-16, ESV).
Intersecting Life &amp; Faith:
If the days were evil during Paul&rsquo;s day, they most assuredly are evil today!&nbsp;
Although our cellphones, tablets, laptops, etc are not evil, I do believe we need to be cautious as to how much time we are devoting to them. We need to be aware of where we are directing our focus. We need to be attentive to what is capturing our attention that may be causing us to make unwise choices. For me, the distraction from my phone was keeping me from intentional time with my sons and causing me to become captured by covetousness and discontentment with the swath of influencers pushing product after product.&nbsp;
As we live in the great information age, we are bombarded with opportunities to fill our time and our minds with so many things that can so easily replace our time of fellowship with the Lord, as well as distract us from the very thing He has called us to do: make disciples!&nbsp;
Perhaps you may not have an issue with technology distracting you from the Lord- praise God! Stay strong and be an accountability partner for those around you who are easily pulled away from the things of God because of the ever-increasing information age and the age of social media influencers promoting materialism and vanity.&nbsp;&nbsp;
But if you are like me (a stay-at-home/work-from-home mom) and you are finding yourself with limited time to spend with Jesus in prayer and the Word, I challenge you to ask the Lord if there is something you can arrange in your schedule to allow better time management. Also, ask Him if He would like for you to fast (technology, that is), something that could be causing division between you and Him.
Devote specific time every day to spend some quiet time in fellowship with God and reading your Bible, without your cellphone or iPad within reach- turn them off during that time and perhaps put a timer on the most-used apps that you access throughout your day. You might just need extra help with self-control, like me!
Be thankful for the benefits of the tools and global connections that technology brings us, but don&rsquo;t allow technology to rob you of your connection to Jesus or distract you from all the blessings He has put right in front of you. We have been given the precious gift of time here on this earth; let&rsquo;s not waste our time but redeem it all for God&rsquo;s glory!
Further Reading:
Matthew 6:33
Hebrews 12:1-2

Redeeming, Not Wasting, Our Time

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/878a8b2a-ffb2-4da7-853c-b4b700cd3a3f/transcript

Change can be exciting, but it can also leave you feeling like the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet. A new job, changing relationships, family challenges, uncertainty in the world, or simply trying to keep up with a rapidly changing culture can create stress and anxiety. When everything around you feels unpredictable, Isaiah 33:6 offers a powerful reminder: God Himself is your stability. You don't have to predict every change or have every answer before you can move forward.

God's character doesn't change even when your circumstances do. While the world may offer conflicting advice and plenty of reasons to panic, God promises to provide the wisdom, knowledge, and strength you need for whatever is in front of you. When you make God your ultimate treasure, you can face changing times with confidence because your foundation isn't changing with your circumstances.

Highlights
How to find stability when your work, relationships, or circumstances are constantly changing
Why God's unchanging character provides confidence in uncertain times
What Isaiah 33:6 teaches about God's provision of wisdom, knowledge, and salvation
How relying on God can help you navigate challenges you've never faced before
Understanding what it means to have “the fear of the Lord”
How the Holy Spirit provides peace and stability in the middle of change
Practical questions to help you slow down, reconnect with God, and seek His wisdom

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Full Transcript Below:

Find Stability in Changing Times

By: Whitney Hopler

Bible Reading:
“And he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” – Isaiah 33:6, ESV

Right now, I’m leading a project at work to increase the visibility of our university center’s website content in artificial intelligence search results. For years, my focus was on traditional SEO – optimizing our pages for classic search engines. While those traditional methods are still important, we’re currently living through a massive communications revolution. People are moving away from traditional online search. They’re increasingly using AI tools to find online content. Being on the cutting edge of change is exciting, but it’s also stressful. The best practices for AI visibility are evolving as AI evolves, so my team and I must adapt to constant change. While I lead this effort, I’m grateful to God for being my stability. I know I can always rely on God’s unchanging strength to help me with whatever I need in these rapidly changing times.

What kind of changes are you dealing with in your own life right now? Maybe you’re going through a change at work, in your relationships, or with something else that’s important to you. Even dealing with all the uncertainty of events in the news can be stressful. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re dealing with lots of change happening around you. But you don’t need to worry about whether or not you’ll be able to manage change well if you rely on God as your source of stability.

Isaiah 33:6 promises that God himself will be your stability in your changing times. When everything around you seems uncertain, God remains completely reliable. This verse also describes how God will give you stability by providing an “abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.” If you look to the world for answers in changing times, you’ll often find conflicting opinions and panic. But if you look to the Lord, he will generously pour out the wisdom and knowledge you need to manage change well. If you face a problem at work that you’ve never encountered before, God will help you solve it. If you’re trying to parent a child through a challenging season, God will teach you how to do so well. You don’t have to try to predict where all the change around you will lead, because you‘re connected to God, who leads you well because he loves you.

Finally, Isaiah points out that “the fear of the Lord is Zion’s treasure.” In the Bible, the fear of the Lord doesn’t mean being afraid of God. Instead, the fear of the Lord means being in awe of who God is so you’re inspired to relate to God with reverence. When you make the Lord your ultimate treasure, you realize that while your circumstances in this world can change quickly, God’s character never changes. You don’t have to be stressed by all the change around you when you remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside you, offering you a strong and peaceful stability in the middle of change.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

As you consider how God gives us stability in these changing times, reflect on these questions:
In what area of your life right now – such as at work, or in your family – are you feeling the most stress because of a change that’s happening?
How does the truth that God promises to be your stability give you the confidence to trust God to help you with the challenges you’re currently facing? 
Think back to a past season of your life when you went through a major change. How did God’s Holy Spirit guide you through it, and how can remembering that give you confidence today? 
How can you slow down this week to take the time you need to connect with the Holy Spirit and receive an abundance of wisdom and knowledge for managing change well? 
Isaiah mentions that the fear of the Lord is a treasure. How can you look for God’s wonder in your daily life so you’ll be inspired with a sense of awe that will help you relate to God with reverence?

Further Reading:

Hebrews 13:8

Malachi 3:6

Psalm 46:1-3

James 1:17

Matthew 7:24-25

Change can be exciting, but it can also leave you feeling like the ground is constantly shifting beneath your feet. A new job, changing relationships, family challenges, uncertainty in the world, or simply trying to keep up with a rapidly changing culture can create stress and anxiety. When everything around you feels unpredictable, Isaiah 33:6 offers a powerful reminder: God Himself is your stability. You don't have to predict every change or have every answer before you can move forward.
God's character doesn't change even when your circumstances do. While the world may offer conflicting advice and plenty of reasons to panic, God promises to provide the wisdom, knowledge, and strength you need for whatever is in front of you. When you make God your ultimate treasure, you can face changing times with confidence because your foundation isn't changing with your circumstances.
Highlights
<ul data-start="914" data-end="1467" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">
<li data-section-id="dngo0d" data-start="914" data-end="1009">How to find stability when your work, relationships, or circumstances are constantly changing</li>
<li data-section-id="1w1z08f" data-start="1010" data-end="1081">Why God's unchanging character provides confidence in uncertain times</li>
<li data-section-id="1g6bboq" data-start="1082" data-end="1166">What Isaiah 33:6 teaches about God's provision of wisdom, knowledge, and salvation</li>
<li data-section-id="1jyylfj" data-start="1167" data-end="1246">How relying on God can help you navigate challenges you've never faced before</li>
<li data-section-id="1cl6e9v" data-start="1247" data-end="1307">Understanding what it means to have &ldquo;the fear of the Lord&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="10b8c0m" data-start="1308" data-end="1382">How the Holy Spirit provides peace and stability in the middle of change</li>
<li data-section-id="1ax7czb" data-start="1383" data-end="1467" data-is-last-node="">Practical questions to help you slow down, reconnect with God, and seek His wisdom</li>
</ul>
Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">The Good Word,</a> LifeAudio&rsquo;s free weekly newsletter.
Sign up at <a href="https://newsletters.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword">LifeAudio.com/thegoodword</a>
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When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Find Stability in Changing Times
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading: &ldquo;And he will be the stability of your times, abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is Zion&rsquo;s treasure.&rdquo; &ndash; Isaiah 33:6, ESV
Right now, I&rsquo;m leading a project at work to increase the visibility of our university center&rsquo;s website content in artificial intelligence search results. For years, my focus was on traditional SEO &ndash; optimizing our pages for classic search engines. While those traditional methods are still important, we&rsquo;re currently living through a massive communications revolution. People are moving away from traditional online search. They&rsquo;re increasingly using AI tools to find online content. Being on the cutting edge of change is exciting, but it&rsquo;s also stressful. The best practices for AI visibility are evolving as AI evolves, so my team and I must adapt to constant change. While I lead this effort, I&rsquo;m grateful to God for being my stability. I know I can always rely on God&rsquo;s unchanging strength to help me with whatever I need in these rapidly changing times.
What kind of changes are you dealing with in your own life right now? Maybe you&rsquo;re going through a change at work, in your relationships, or with something else that&rsquo;s important to you. Even dealing with all the uncertainty of events in the news can be stressful. It&rsquo;s easy to feel overwhelmed when you&rsquo;re dealing with lots of change happening around you. But<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/bible-verses-that-taught-me-not-to-worry-and-how.html"> you don&rsquo;t need to worry</a> about whether or not you&rsquo;ll be able to manage change well if you rely on God as your source of stability.
Isaiah 33:6 promises that God himself will be your stability in your changing times. When everything around you seems uncertain, God remains completely reliable. This verse also describes how God will give you stability by providing an &ldquo;abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge.&rdquo; If you look to the world for answers in changing times, you&rsquo;ll often find conflicting opinions and panic. But if you look to the Lord, he will generously pour out the wisdom and knowledge you need to manage change well. If you face a problem at work that you&rsquo;ve never encountered before, God will help you solve it. If you&rsquo;re trying to parent a child through a challenging season, God will teach you how to do so well. You don&rsquo;t have to try to predict where all the change around you will lead, because you&lsquo;re connected to God, who leads you well because he loves you.
Finally, Isaiah points out that &ldquo;the fear of the Lord is Zion&rsquo;s treasure.&rdquo; In the Bible, the fear of the Lord doesn&rsquo;t mean being afraid of God. Instead,<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/bible-study/what-does-the-bible-means-when-it-says-the-fear-of-the-lord-is-the-beginning-of-wisdom.html"> the fear of the Lord means being in awe of who God is</a> so you&rsquo;re inspired to relate to God with reverence. When you make the Lord your ultimate treasure, you realize that while your circumstances in this world can change quickly, God&rsquo;s character never changes. You don&rsquo;t have to be stressed by all the change around you when you remember that<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/how-to-receive-the-holy-spirit.html"> the Holy Spirit lives inside you</a>, offering you a strong and peaceful stability in the middle of change.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
As you consider how God gives us stability in these changing times, reflect on these questions:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">In what area of your life right now &ndash; such as at work, or in your family &ndash; are you feeling the most stress because of a change that&rsquo;s happening?</li>
<li aria-level="1">How does the truth that God promises to be your stability give you the confidence to trust God to help you with the challenges you&rsquo;re currently facing?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Think back to a past season of your life when you went through a major change. How did God&rsquo;s Holy Spirit guide you through it, and how can remembering that give you confidence today?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">How can you slow down this week to take the time you need to connect with the Holy Spirit and receive an abundance of wisdom and knowledge for managing change well?&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Isaiah mentions that the fear of the Lord is a treasure. How can you<a href="https://amzn.to/4fbNBmU"> look for God&rsquo;s wonder in your daily life</a> so you&rsquo;ll be inspired with a sense of awe that will help you relate to God with reverence?</li>
</ul>
Further Reading:
Hebrews 13:8
Malachi 3:6
Psalm 46:1-3
James 1:17
Matthew 7:24-25

Find Stability in Changing Times

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/5f235195-aeb9-4438-95e9-b4b700cd357b/transcript

Why Being Afraid Doesn’t Disqualify Your Faith from Hearing Jesus

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