The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Celebrating someone else’s failure can reveal a deeper struggle with envy, comparison, and misplaced gratitude. Rooted in 1 Samuel 18:9, this devotional confronts the subtle sin of rejoicing in others’ misfortune and invites us to trade jealousy for gratitude, humility, and trust in God’s provision. Highlights Envy can quietly turn another person’s hardship into our momentary emotional relief. Comparison tempts us to feel better about ourselves when others fall. Scripture shows envy is not a minor issue—Saul’s jealousy toward David led to spiritual and emotional destruction. Envy says to God, “What You gave me isn’t enough.” Coveting blinds us to the blessings God has already placed in our own lives. Gratitude breaks the cycle of jealousy and restores spiritual clarity. Healing begins when we honestly acknowledge envy and invite God to reshape our hearts. 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: Do You Secretly Celebrate Others Fails or Flaws? By Kelly Balarie Bible Reading: “And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” And from that day forward Saul kept a jealous eye on David.” – 1 Samuel 18:9 NIV I am happy this happened to her. For a split second, my friend's misfortune was my utter joy. As if I was watching her situation unfold on a big screen, I couldn't help but lean in, rub my hands together, and rejoice in her big cash outlay. Oh yes, I am not the only one who must pay an unexpected bill...! Shortly thereafter, I felt bad. I love this woman. “What is wrong with me?" I thought. Of course, I'd never admit this sinful thought to another soul. These sorts of things you keep to yourself. I knew better. I knew better to admit my deep satisfaction found in my friend's horrible misfortune. I knew better than to tell anyone how her bad made me feel good for a moment. I don't think I am alone either. None of us would admit it, because we know better, but I’d venture to say that this is why tabloids are so loved! When the high and mighty fall, for a moment we feel lifted. We think, "At least my life is not as bad as hers." Looking at the tabloids in the grocery aisle, we think, at least I’m not as bad as this celebrity who is now busted as a drug addict or a 5-time cheater.At least I’m not her. Tabloids are the outlet to the joyful slander of envy, just as much as my friend's misfortune was the release for mine. I wanted what she had, but I didn’t have it, so I coveted her life, her goods, and her income. Envy makes slander easy. Envy easily cuts someone else down to be emotionally built up. I’m not proud of it, but today, in humility, I admit it. While no one ever admits this truth, I know I am not alone. It’s as old as Bible times. Think: Cain and Abel, Joseph and His brothers, Saul and David. Saul envied David, saying, “And Saul was furious and resented this song. “They have ascribed tens of thousands to David,” he said, “but only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingdom?” And from that day forward, Saul kept a jealous eye on David. (1 Sam. 18:9 NIV) How did God handle envy, in Saul’s case? “The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul…” (1 Sam. 18:10 NIV) God did not take envy lightly, and He doesn’t today either. When we envy another person, we say to God, “What you gave me is not enough; I hate my portion you gave me; I want their bounty.” Rather than walking with an attitude of gratitude, we count another’s blessings and miss our own. We see another’s lot and miss our own flowers. We look at another’s increase and think it spells out our demise. We lose our minds with envy, coveting, and jealousy. I suppose this is why a great command in the bible is, “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.” (Deut. 5:21) Is there grace? Absolutely. Is there a fresh start for those like me, who aren’t even thinking while critiquing and judging others from a root of bitterness called envy? You bet. But is there a sobriety and a reality check involved with this sin? Yes. We cannot give God glory for things that we don’t acknowledge. We can’t see God’s best way when we are looking at someone else’s way and sizing it up. We can’t effectively say thank you when we feel hate-filled. Intersecting Faith & Life: Have you ever tried to drive at high speeds ahead by looking back for long periods of time? Likely no. When we look back for prolonged periods, we are going backwards. The same goes when we compare what we have to what others have. What can you give thanks for in your life today? What has God done for you? How does true gratitude make you feel? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

God’s new mercies for a new year remind us that lasting hope isn’t found in resolutions, productivity, or perfectly planned goals, but in the daily faithfulness of the Lord. Rooted in Lamentations 3:21–27, this devotional points us to the steady truth that God’s compassion never fails, His mercy is renewed every morning, and His presence is sufficient for each ordinary day ahead. Highlights Ordinary, quiet days can feel harder than busy ones, yet they are sacred gifts from God. Our relationship with God is not a goal to achieve but a journey to continue. New Year’s resolutions cannot sustain spiritual growth the way daily dependence on God can. God’s mercy, love, and compassion are renewed every single morning without fail. Hope is not found in knowing the future but in trusting the God who reigns over it. There is always enough mercy for each day—never more, never less. Living one day at a time frees us from fear and anchors us in God’s faithfulness. 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: New Mercies for a New Year By: Sarah Frazer Bible Reading:I reach up for my coffee cup in the cabinet. Silently, while my house is still quiet, I pour the steaming liquid. The morning hours are sacred, peaceful, and go by too fast. My children, all five of them, will wake up early. The rooms will be filled with voices, doors opening, and then the noises of food being fixed in the kitchen. Although they are older now and can make their own breakfast, I walk in with my empty coffee cup. I’m ready to help them pack their lunches and pour the orange juice. The morning hours will once again be quiet after getting them off to school, but facing my day means I face the truth that ordinary, mundane days are often harder than the busy ones. How do I spend my day? What is truly important? If I made a list, it would be a mile long. New days bring new to-do lists. Jobs, careers, family, and ministry weave together as the years go by, but how do we decide what to do with our days? Each day is a gift from God, and we don’t want to waste our time, so how do we live better? As the new year approaches, you and I want to make our lives better. We want our health to be better, our relationships to be better, and we want our faith to be better. Although New Year’s resolutions are great, maybe even beneficial, what we cannot resolve to do better is our relationship with God. Our connection to God is something to grow, not a goal to reach. I admit that many times over the years, I’ve spent time writing out my goals and aspirations for my life in December and January, including “spiritual things.” I would write down things like praying more, reading my Bible more, and doing more for God. Although we can make tangible goals like that, God is not asking us to reach a certain point, but to continue on in the journey with Him. What if instead of looking for more, we looked for new? In the new year, maybe we can find hope, mercy, and peace not in our goals or resolutions, but in the daily mercies God is already giving us. What do we have that is something we’ve forgotten about God? What if we stopped looking for more and looked to God for the daily? In the book of Lamentations, we see a powerful passage of hope. The author has spent two and a half chapters lamenting the destruction of Jerusalem. Sorrow, death, and fear surrounded the city. The author’s heart was completely overwhelmed. If you are entering this new year with trepidation, fear, or sorrow, listen closely to the turning point that happens here in the following verses. Yet this I call to mindand therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning;great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietlyfor the salvation of the Lord. -Lamentations 3:21-27 (ESV) God’s love, compassion, and mercy are new every morning. Our lives are not built because we make New Year's resolutions or meet all our goals. In the daily choices we make, that’s what really counts. How can we daily look to God for our hope? We don’t know what will happen in the coming year, but we can know for sure God will be on his throne (Psalm 47:2), there is hope (Psalm 9:18), and Christ is with us. (Matthew 28:20) As we enter the new year, don’t forget that God’s mercies are new today. Every year, every morning, and each moment we walk through life, God is with us and His mercy has no end! This gives us a place to start connecting with God right now. Each day, there is enough mercy for that day. There will always be enough. God’s mercy and love are faithful to show up every day without fail. It never runs out. You won’t disappoint, sin, or make mistakes that keep you from God’s love and compassion. We can’t outrun God’s love for us. Don’t get wrapped up in trying to prepare for the whole year in January. Just trust God, there will be enough for each day as it comes. He invites us to live this life one day at a time. Make one resolution or goal: to connect with God daily. Psalm 68:19 says that God “daily bears us up” (ESV). Each day God lifts us, provides for us the hope and mercy we need. God will never fail us. In Romans 8:31-39, Paul tells us what can separate us from God’s love. Spoiler: Nothing can! Intersecting Faith & Life: A New Year can invite us to celebrate God’s new mercies, which show up every day. We access this through His Word. Do you have a regular Bible reading habit or study plan? If life feels overwhelming, I invite you to begin with the Psalms. Check out the podcast Psalms to Help You Sleep to jump-start a daily Bible routine. You can start experiencing God’s new mercies in this new year. Further Reading: Psalm 40:1-3 Isaiah 43:18-19 Romans 8:28-39 1 John 5:14-15 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Setting goals for the new year often focuses on achievement, productivity, and personal growth—but Proverbs 16:3 reminds us that lasting transformation begins with surrendering our hearts to God. When we commit our plans, desires, and direction to the Lord, He shapes not only what we do but who we are becoming, aligning our goals with His purposes and power. Highlights God is more concerned with who you are becoming than what you accomplish. Committing your plans to God starts with aligning your heart with His. Many goals fail when they rely on personal strength instead of God’s power. The Holy Spirit works from the inside out, transforming character as goals are pursued. Spiritual growth flows from becoming, not just doing. Jesus shaped His disciples through relationship before responsibility. God establishes plans by shaping them to fit His good purposes, even when they change. 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: Set Your Heart, Not Just Your GoalsBy: Whitney Hopler Bible Reading:“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” – Proverbs 16:3, NIV When a new year starts, it’s natural to think about goals. You may want to set some New Year’s resolutions to start some new habits, or at least make plans for the year ahead. While it’s good to want to set and achieve new goals, it’s important to focus on more than just accomplishing a list of tasks. God wants you to focus less on doing and more on becoming. God cares far more about who you are than what you check off a list. Proverbs 16:3 highlights a simple yet significant truth: If you commit what you do to God, he will establish your plans. The key is first committing your plans to God. You can only do that if your heart is lined up with God’s heart. When you “commit to the LORD whatever you do,” you’re not just handing God your goals; you’re handing God your whole self. That choice opens the door for God to transform you and lead you into plans that are really the best plans for you. Maybe that’s why so many New Year’s resolutions fall apart a few weeks into the year. It’s hard to make much progress on goals if you’re relying only on your own limited power to achieve them. But if you’re relying on God’s unlimited power to help you achieve goals God wants for you, you’ll experience the Holy Spirit empowering you to accomplish those goals in any kind of circumstances. The Spirit’s power works from the inside out, so in the process of working toward your goals, you’ll be transformed as a person. This year, instead of asking yourself what you want to accomplish, ask God who he wants you to become. Think of your goals less as what to do and more as how to be. How does God want to strengthen your character during this new year? Do you sense God calling you to be more courageous, patient, joyful, kind, generous, or trusting? When you focus on becoming, the doing naturally follows. Habits flow from the heart. So, your goals will flow from the kind of person you are becoming, with God’s help. Jesus didn’t start by giving his disciples tasks; he started by inviting them to follow him. Walking closely with Jesus changed who they were long before it shaped what they did. Their lives were transformed from the inside out. God wants to do the same with you! So, this new year, bring your goals to God, but bring your heart first. Ask God how he wants you to learn and grow this year so you can become the person he wants you to become. Then listen. Be open and willing to take slow, steady steps closer to God throughout this year and beyond. When Proverbs 16:3 says God “will establish your plans,” it means God will shape them so they match his good purposes for your life. It doesn’t mean everything will go exactly how you imagined. Some plans will unfold beautifully. Some will change unexpectedly. Some will be put on hold. Some will lead you into places you never thought you’d go. But when you set your heart in the right place with God, you’ll fulfill all the important purposes for your life. This year, don’t pressure yourself to achieve everything you want all at once. Instead, set your heart before God and let him shape you. Focus not on trying harder, but on trusting God more. The more you build a closer relationship with God, the more your own goals will line up with God’s goals for you. Give God your year, and look forward to how he blesses your heart! Intersecting Faith & Life: As you consider how it’s important to set your heart on God to set the best goals, reflect on these questions: What goals have you made in the past that focused more on doing rather than becoming? What qualities do you sense God wants to grow in you this year? Are there any plans or expectations you need to surrender to God today? What would it look like for you to “commit to the LORD whatever you do” day by day? How does knowing that God establishes your plans give you peace or confidence? Further Reading:Psalm 37:5Philippians 1:6Proverbs 3:5-6Ezekiel 36:26Psalm 90:17 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Everyday routines don’t always spark excitement—but Colossians 3:23 reminds us that even the most ordinary moments can be filled with purpose when we approach them with our whole heart for the Lord. This devotional reframes enthusiasm as a byproduct of gratitude, inviting us to rediscover joy, sincerity, and meaning in the daily work God places before us. Highlights Enthusiasm often fades in routine, not just in hardship. God calls us to work heartily—with our whole heart—for Him, not people. Gratitude is the gateway to renewed enthusiasm. Sincere thankfulness reshapes how we view mundane tasks. Every opportunity, joyful or dull, can be used for God’s glory. Knowing God’s character deepens gratitude and joy. Everyday faithfulness matters just as much as mountaintop moments. 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: Renewing Your Enthusiasm for Everyday Life By Keri Eichberger Bible Reading: Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. - Colossians 3:23 I’m a full-blooded beach girl. But considering I live about ten hours from any coast, I don’t make it to the sandy shore as often as I’d like. And when I do, enthusiastic is a fitting description of my heart posture from the moment my plans are in place, all the way through to the impending day of departure. When I’m not so enthusiastic—the week after. Back at home, when the monotony of the same ole, same old greets me the following Monday morning. What is it that fills you with enthusiasm? Is it a vacation to the beach, mountains, or the city? Maybe family gatherings, milestone celebrations, or certain seasons and holidays? And what doesn’t excite you so much? Maybe you can relate to my lack of enthusiasm on the mundane days of life. Or you may feel the staleness of your job, daily tasks, or house chores and the accompanying list of needed updates. Possibly you’d confess you’re not so thrilled with the constant demands of parenting toddlers or teens, or with the serving opportunities you’re signed up for. I get it. It’s hard to match the excitement we feel with the things that most delight our senses and souls, with the ordinariness of our everyday routines. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could? Personally, I love this idea. I’ve heard it said it’s no fun, to have no fun, or on the flipside, it’s fun to have fun. And I’m sure we can agree. Fun is more favorable. And when we find enthusiasm, we find more fun. Of course, we’d love to find and add more fun, enthusiasm, and enjoyment to the everyday aspects of life because that’s where we spend the majority of our time, thus all our days really. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Some versions replace all your heart with enthusiasm or heartily. This verse and varying versions remind me that we are not just to do some things with enthusiasm, but all things. It also speaks to me that if we desire enthusiasm in what we do, we will approach it with our whole heart. And for the sake of the Lord. So then, how do we do something, or everything, heartily and wholeheartedly for God? How do we add enthusiasm to everyday tasks and chores? Assignments that feel more mundane. That we, quite frankly, don’t feel so enthusiastic about. It occurred to me that doing something with a whole heart involves a sincere heart. And I believe we gain sincerity through appreciation and gratitude for the subject. The subject of Colossians 3:23 is God. Do we have an appreciation and gratitude for our almighty Father when we’re walking through the everyday, dull, and disappointing parts of life? As much as when we’re vacationing or celebrating with loved ones? And is our gratitude sincere? Or are we forcing smiles, faking our thanks, and allowing a sarcastic spirit? I know it’s not always natural or easy, but we should aim to be genuinely grateful in all circumstances. In the fun and joyous occasions, as well as in the blah and bothersome moments. The truth is, God gives us all our opportunities for good. For our good, and most importantly for his good and glory. The more we see that everything we do and every opportunity placed before us is for God and his glory, and the more we get to know the character and heart of him who we serve—Him who loves us like crazy and has given us more blessings than we can count—the more we grow in gratitude toward God. He is indeed the giver of gifts. And as we grow in gratitude for God and every moment that he gives, our hearts become more sincere, and we begin to add more enthusiasm to the most mundane of moments and the dullest of days. I know sincere gratitude can be harder in some seasons and on difficult days. I feel this struggle too often myself. And those are the times we need some assistance and additional reminders to refresh our understanding of who God is and what God does. And re`12gardless if you’re feeling jazzed about the task at hand or not, we can always grow in gratitude and benefit from getting to know him better. Intersecting Faith & Life: If you could use a boost in enthusiasm, stop and spend some time reflecting on the work or the day directly in front of you. Sit still in God's presence. Pray for a sincere heart of gratitude for what he has set before you. Soak in his power and greatness in the pages of his word. Understand that he is good. Understand that he is using every single thing for your good and the good of all those around you. And thank him for it all. Even the seemingly not-so-ideal parts. Thank him for that, too. And then rise up sincerely grateful. Deep down in your heart, seek an angle, find a way, to be thankful for the very thing before you. There is always something in everything to be thankful for. And when you find more sincere gratitude in every moment, you'll find more enthusiasm and enjoyment in your everyday moments. If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you! Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

A new year brings fresh goals and expectations, but lasting growth happens when God shapes our plans from the very beginning. Grounded in Psalm 90:12, this devotional invites us to number our days wisely by centering our decisions, goals, and hopes on God’s Word—so our year is formed by His wisdom, not just our intentions. Highlights Resolutions often fail when God is left out of the planning process. Seeking God’s wisdom leads to better decisions—not just faster ones. Prayer helps align our goals with God’s purposes for our lives. Gratitude grows when we recognize everything we have as a gift from God. Trust is strengthened by remembering how God has carried us through before. Hope remains steady because it’s rooted in an unchanging God. Daily dependence on God shapes a year marked by growth and faithfulness. 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: How to Let the Word of God Shape Your YearBy Aaron D’Anthony Brown Bible Reading:“Teach us to number our days carefully so that we may develop wisdom in our hearts.” (Psalm 90:12, CSB) With the new year comes new hopes, expectations, and disappointments. Whatever we face, everything is always better when we face it with God. Sadly, however, we often start our year without focusing on Him. We have our goals and plans for achieving them. Yet, the Lord doesn’t always factor into that process. Perhaps that explains at least part of the reason so many resolutions fade away by the end of January. We make commitments, but none stick. What sticks are the excuses. Here’s an alternative. What if we made plans, but factor God into the process? What if we sought Him for wisdom on what goals to set and how best to accomplish those goals? As a believer, that may sound self-evident, but we make many decisions every day without consulting God. We enter disputes with loved ones, take on responsibilities, and more, all without spending sufficient time in prayer. Sometimes we have to make split-second decisions. However, if we’re being honest, there are times we could pray and simply don’t. We think we know what’s best, but then we feel foolish when things don’t exactly work out. Let’s do something different this new year. Before we make any plans, let’s figure out how we can allow God to shape this new year. Intersecting Faith & Life: Entering into the new year is undoubtedly an exciting time. If we’re going to make the most of this newness, we should strive to put the Lord first. Here are a few ways you can let the word of God shape your year: With Action Some of us set unrealistic goals, some of us set too many goals, and some of us set no goals at all. The solution to all of this is to pray for wisdom, which God gives freely (James 1:5). He knows our heart’s desires and also knows what’s best for us. Seek Him and ask Him for the best approach. Doing so will help us find the wisdom we need not just to make good decisions, but the best decisions. The new year is a great time for action because we enter it with a fresh mindset. However, keep in mind that we don’t have to wait for the new year to change. We should seek God on a daily basis to become more like Christ, rather than waiting for special occasions. With Gratitude When God is at the center of our plans, we experience greater gratitude. That’s the natural result of living a life with a view of the Creator. We know that what we have is not given freely, and not our own, and not to be taken for granted. What we have are gifts from God. Our plans, the success of the plans, and the result, whatever that may be. With Trust When life goes our way, and even when it doesn’t, knowing that God has brought us through before helps us trust Him for the next time. That applies to specific circumstances, such as familial disputes or loss, but also applies to how we approach the new year. Some years are better than others for a myriad of reasons - financial, relational. Whatever the case, God has seen us through the difficult times, which reminds us we ought to trust Him for whatever comes next year. There is no good reason to fear the future. With Hope Faith in God grants us a hope for the future that people can’t find when they don’t believe in a higher power. Such individuals are forced to find hope in people and circumstances, and that hope can just as quickly falter. However, when we have our eyes trained on God, we set our feet on solid ground. We find many reasons to hope. And those reasons never change because God never changes (Hebrews 13:8). Let that be an encouragement as you set yourself to grow, not just this new year, but day by day. Further Reading: Proverbs 3:5-6 Proverbs 16:9 Psalm 32:8 James 1:5 Hebrews 13:8 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.