The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

A grateful heart can transform the way we see life, handle challenges, and grow closer to God. In this devotional, Cindi McMenamin explores biblical gratitude, why giving thanks in all circumstances matters, and how cultivating thankfulness can strengthen our faith.
Highlights
Discover why gratitude is an essential part of God’s will for your life.
Learn how thanksgiving shifts your focus from struggles to God’s faithfulness.
Understand how a grateful heart can protect you from bitterness and negativity.
Reflect on seven prayers of gratitude for difficult seasons and everyday challenges.
Be encouraged to thank God not only for what He gives but also for what He withholds and protects you from.
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Full Transcript Below:
Cultivating a Healthy Heart
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV).
How healthy are you these days? And how healthy is your heart?
While you can try to steer clear of germs, eat more nutritionally, and exercise regularly, one of the healthiest habits you can develop is to regularly express a grateful heart.
That's right. Gratitude makes your heart healthier.
Numerous studies have shown a direct correlation between a positive attitude and improved health (and even a longer life!). To be positive, in short, means to be grateful. To find the good in every situation. To be thankful in all things.
I'm sure God had our physical, as well as spiritual, health in mind when He inspired the apostle Paul to write these words to the Thessalonians. After admonishing them to display proper Christian conduct, he wrote:
“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NASB).
Did you notice that Paul didn’t just say, “In every good circumstance, give thanks.” He also didn’t write, “When things work out well for you, give thanks.” He specifically said, “In everything give thanks.” In the good times, as well as the bad. In the pleasantries of life, as well as in the pain. During difficult times, trying times, and frustrating times, too. That’s because when we’re thanking God, we're focused on our blessings, rather than the bitterness of whatever else might be going on.
There’s also another beautiful result of having a grateful heart. When we are thankful in all things, not just the good things, we are living out God’s will for us. That verse, after telling us to be thankful in all things, reinforces the reason to do so: “For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” It couldn’t be said any clearer. Being thankful in everything is how you and I display God’s will for our lives.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you and I focus on our circumstances, we can tend to become more depressed and more critical if we're not guarding our hearts and minds. So, all the more reason to be a person of gratitude rather than a bad attitude. I've found in my own life that when I'm praising God in the aches and pains, or the losses that seem more frequent these days, or just thanking Him during the mundane, it helps me become a person of gratitude in any circumstance. And that keeps me healthier and happier, overall.
Here are seven simple prayers you can begin saying to practice gratitude when the bad attitude starts seeping in to steal your joy, harm your relationships, and attack your health:
Thank You, Lord, for the things You have withheld from me. You have protected me from what I may never realize.
Thank You, God, for the doors You have closed. They have prevented me from going where You would rather not have me go.
Thank You, Lord, for the physical pain You've allowed in my life. It has helped me more closely relate to Your sufferings on my behalf.
Thank You, Lord, for the alone times in my life. Those times have forced me to lean in closer to You.
Thank You, God, for the tears I have shed. They have kept my heart soft and moldable.
Thank You, God, for the times I haven't been able to control my circumstances. They have reminded me that You are on the throne.
Thank You, God, for those people in my life whom You have called home to be with You. Their absence from this earth keeps my heart longing for heaven.
Can you begin saying “Thank You" a few more times throughout your day? Start expressing gratitude toward others for their kindness, and remember to thank God, throughout the day as well, for everything He allows to come your way. As you do, you may find it lightens your load and makes you feel better physically as well.
Further Study:
Psalm 9:1
For daily encouragement to keep a healthy heart, see Cindi’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.
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Prayer is more than a simple request—it is an invitation to trust in the power, goodness, and faithfulness of God. In this devotional, Lynette Kittle explores what it means to pray with genuine faith and believe that God is able to answer, provide, and move in ways beyond what we can accomplish on our own.
Through the story of the father who cried out, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” in Mark 9:23-24, we are reminded that God does not ask us to rely on our own strength or add our own efforts to make prayer effective. Instead, He invites us to come to Him with confidence, trusting that all things are possible through Him. When we struggle to believe, prayer itself becomes a place where God strengthens our faith and teaches us to depend on Him.
Highlights:
Discover why prayer is enough when we trust the One we are praying to.
Explore the difference between asking God in faith and doubting His ability to work.
Learn from the father in Mark 9 who brought both his faith and his doubts to Jesus.
See how Scripture reveals God’s power to do what seems impossible.
Be encouraged to stop limiting your prayers based on what you think God can do.
Reflect on how surrendering your unbelief can deepen your relationship with God.
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Where do you find yourself struggling to believe that God can answer your prayers? What would it look like to bring your doubts and requests to Him with greater faith?
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Full Transcript Below:
Is Prayer Enough on Its Own?
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“‘If you can’?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’” - Mark 9:23
How often do we pray, believing it will take more than prayer to receive our answer? By that meaning, do we, or someone else, need to do anything in addition to praying for God to answer us?
Do we tend to believe that we have to give money, or volunteer, along with prayer? That it’s not enough in itself for God to answer and move on our behalf?
Are we struggling to believe, thinking we can’t just ask and rely on Him to answer our prayers without adding to them in some way through our own efforts?
Fox News reports that a study from the University of Maryland School of Medicine’s Department of Family and Community Medicine found that, “Adult patients experienced significant relief from pain and anxiety after just five minutes of in-person prayer,” more than from listening to five minutes of music.
Scripture describes how David, as a shepherd boy, played his harp to soothe King Saul, so history documents the popular saying “music soothes the savage beast.”
As 1 Samuel 16:23 describes, “Whenever the spirit from God came on Saul, David would take up his lyre and play. Then relief would come to Saul; he would feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.”
If God gave David’s music the power to bring relief, how much more has He given prayer the power to intervene in our lives?
When We Ask, Do We Believe Jesus Can?
Mark 9:22 reveals a man who wasn’t sure if Jesus could help his son who was being tormented, explaining and asking, “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
I love how Jesus answers, questioning the father and clarifying to him that it’s not a question of whether He can. It’s a given, because everything is possible with God, it just depends on our belief in Him.
It’s not up to Him, but up to us to believe, because how many times before praying do we preface our requests by “Lord, if you can”?
God doesn’t want us asking Him if He can; He wants us to believe that He is more than enough, as Jesus taught in John 15:7: “If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
He is calling us to believe that all things are possible with Him, as He explained in Matthew 19:26: “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”
So if we struggle to believe, lacking in faith when we ask God, we can follow this father’s example as described in Mark 9:24: “Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!’”
Prayer Is More Than Enough
A powerful example of prayer being enough is found in the Old Testament book of Joshua. “On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon’” (Joshua 10:12).
Many of us wouldn’t even attempt to pray such an unlikely and seemingly impossible prayer. Yet, Joshua did ask, and when he did, the following happened: “So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day” (Joshua 10:13).
Sadly, many of us disqualify our requests to God before even asking Him, deciding that we’re asking too much or more than God can do. We make the decision ahead of time, rather than asking Him and seeing what happens.
As James 4:2 explains, “You do not have because you do not ask God.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you find yourself praying, but believing it’s not enough? Ask God to help your unbelief and to teach you how to believe that He can, and that prayer is more than enough.
Further Reading:
Does Prayer Really Change Things?
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The pursuit of more can leave us exhausted, restless, and searching for fulfillment that only God can provide. Through John 3:30, Megan J. Conner explores what it means to surrender our desire for recognition, success, and achievement so that Jesus can become greater in our lives.
Our culture often celebrates bigger, better, and more, but John the Baptist modeled a different path: humility, surrender, and a life centered completely on Christ. This devotional explores how true joy is not found in being noticed or praised by others, but in making room for Jesus to receive the glory. When we let go of the need to be seen, we discover the freedom and peace that come from knowing we are already fully known and loved by God.
Highlights:
Discover why the pursuit of “more” often leaves us feeling empty and exhausted.
Learn from John the Baptist’s example of humility and surrender.
Understand why true joy comes from making Christ greater, not ourselves.
Explore how pride and the desire for recognition can distract us from reflecting Jesus.
Find practical ways to surrender selfish desires through prayer and dependence on God.
Be encouraged to seek God’s validation above the approval of others.
Join the Conversation
Where do you find yourself chasing “more” in your life? What would it look like for Jesus to become greater while you become less?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
The Beauty of Less
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“He must become greater; I must become less.” - John 3:30 (NIV)
How many of us have felt trapped by the demands of “more?” More accomplishments, more accolades, more money, more security, more doing, more going, more belonging, more pursuing, more achieving… More, more, more… with no end in sight. The mantra bigger is better reigns king in many of our lives and incessantly clamors for attention. So, we work our fingers to the bone while fraying our nerves and destroying our peace. More often than not, even if we are able to acquire the elusive pot of gold at the end of our desired rainbows, the emptiness we are attempting to fill remains void.
Why is it that we are so drawn to the pursuit of more? Simply explained, it is part of our human nature. Without the Lord, we are naturally selfish and long for praise and exaltation. We want to be seen as important. We want to be “known.” But the truth is, we are known and deeply loved by our Heavenly Father, and His validation is the only one that will truly satisfy. John the Baptist understood this when he declared, “He (Jesus) must become greater, I must become less,” (John 3:30, NIV).
John the Baptist was the beloved cousin of Christ and lived for the sole purpose of preparing the way for the Lord’s coming. John was the first messenger to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He called people to repentance and cleansing through baptism. He reminded listeners that all are in need of a savior; that all have fallen short of the glory of God (Rom. 3:23). He was bold in his preaching and refuted the religious who refused to acknowledge their own sin. Because of the impact John had on the region, his actions earned him notoriety, even fame. So much so that his followers were upset when they felt like John was being upstaged by Jesus and His disciples.
“They came to John and said to him, ‘Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.’ To this John replied, ‘A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.” - John 3:26-30 (NIV).
John’s joy was not found in greatness; it was found in Jesus. His joy was complete in less. John understood that the more he diminished, the more others saw Christ. The same is true for us. When we pursue our own attention and accolades, we are beckoning to others - see me… recognize me, pay attention to me. For those of us who consider ourselves disciples and ambassadors for Christ, these efforts actually steal the spotlight from the true source of light and hope for a hurting world. It is through humility, not celebrity, that love shines the brightest.
If decrease rather than increase is the goal, how then can we practically walk that out? First, we must lean into prayer. As shared earlier, we are naturally selfish. So, any attempt to force meekness upon ourselves to accomplish our gospel mission will likely result in false humility. This is why we must ask for God’s help through prayer and genuine surrender. Only then can we, like John the Baptist, truly declare, “He must become greater; I must become less.” John 3:30 (NIV).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are you someone who feels weighed down by the demands of more? Are you seeking the affirmation and acceptance of others to fill a void in your heart? Do you struggle to remain still when opportunities are present for you to gain recognition?
If you answered yes to any of these, first, please know – you are not alone. We all wrestle with the allure of pride. After honestly confessing your inner battle, may I encourage you to take some time today to be still before the Lord? Ask Him to show you the motivation behind your desire for attention. Then, ask Him to help you surrender those desires as you look to become less so that He can become greater in your life.
Further Reading:
Matt. 20:1-19
Rom. 3:21-26
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When anxiety, stress, and constant distractions leave your heart restless, Psalm 62:1-2 points us to the only source of lasting peace. Discover how trusting God, quieting your mind, and resting in His presence can help you find peace when the world feels loud.
Life rarely slows down, and our minds often become just as noisy as the world around us. Sarah Frazer reflects on David's words in Psalm 62, showing that true rest isn't found by eliminating every distraction but by intentionally turning our hearts back to God. As we remember that He is our rock, refuge, and salvation, we can experience steady peace even when our circumstances remain uncertain.
Highlights:
Discover how Psalm 62 teaches us to find rest in God's presence.
Learn why biblical peace requires intentional trust rather than perfect circumstances.
See how David quieted his anxious heart by focusing on God's character.
Be encouraged to replace worry with prayer and God's truth.
Find practical encouragement for overcoming stress, anxiety, and mental noise.
Remember that Jesus invites every weary heart to find lasting rest in Him.
Join the Conversation
What has helped you quiet your soul and refocus on God during stressful seasons? Which promise from Scripture brings you the greatest peace when life feels overwhelming?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
Quieting Your Soul When the World Feels Loud
By Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. - Psalm 62:1-2 (ESV)
Have you ever wished to turn off the noise of life? I don’t mean physically, although sometimes we find ourselves in loud places. I have five children, and our house can get very loud, very quickly. But the noises that bother me, the ones that I wish I could get rid of, are the noises of this world. The news, the stress, and responsibilities all seem to keep my heart from experiencing peace. My inner thoughts will dominate my life so that it's not just external noise, but my mind that feels loud too.
In Psalm 62, King David says that his soul waits for God in silence. I’ll admit that when my soul is restless, waiting for God to rescue me or to show up or give me answers, I don’t wait in silence. I’m usually spending my time worrying and trying to fix things myself. David reminds us that rest is not automatic, but intentional. David had to learn stillness; it doesn’t just happen.
David does this because he has spent time thinking, mediating, and dwelling on the truth of who God is - a rock, fortress, and strength (Psalm 62:2). David reminds himself that he is not going to be “shaken.” This word means to “totter, get off course, or slip.” It reminds us that yes, we can feel disoriented for a moment, but God can get us back on track when we turn to Him.
In the next few verses, David acknowledges the pressure he is under. He mentions being attacked and feeling shaken. The reality is we will face stress, noise from the world, and anxieties within our hearts. We do not ignore these things, but we take them to God. David, amidst his fears, reminds himself of where true rest comes from in Psalm 62:5-6.
“Yes, my soul, find rest in God…” Notice that David speaks to himself. Taking the time to reflect on the truth about God is key to quieting the sounds of life around us. As we do this, we redirect our hearts back to God. In Psalm 62, David says the same thing in verses 1-2 and then again in 5-6. As David does this, he then turns his voice outward, telling us how we, too, can have a rest-filled soul.
“Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” - Psalm 62:8 (ESV)
Stability comes from who God is, not what life feels like. In our lives, there are many things that can be loud, things that would distract us from God and His Word. David was intentional in Psalm 62, and we need to be as well.
Returning our thoughts back to God is the way to quiet the noise. Peace is possible, and rest can be found. Jesus invites all who would come to Him to find rest (Matthew 11:28-30). We must come, though. God is the steady peace, the rock and fortress we need daily.
Let us be like David and find our quiet in God. If your mind feels noisy tonight, I walk through Psalm 62 slowly on my podcast, Psalms to Help You Sleep, helping you rest in God’s presence.
As David reminds himself of the truth about God, his soul slowly grows quieter. The noise around him does not immediately disappear, but his heart becomes anchored in something steadier than his circumstances. The same is true for us. We may still live in busy homes, face stressful situations, or carry anxious thoughts into the night, but we do not have to be ruled by them.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
God invites us to return to Him again and again, finding refuge in His presence and rest for our weary souls. Peace is not found in controlling every circumstance, but in trusting the One who holds us steady. So tonight, when the world feels loud, pause and remind your soul who God is. He is still your rock, your refuge, and your rest.
How might you be intentional with God today?
What distraction can you get rid of that will help quiet your soul?
Further Reading:
Psalm 46:10
Isaiah 26:3
Matthew 11:28-30
John 14:27
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1 Corinthians 1:18 reminds us that the message of the cross is the power of God to those who believe. Discover how living out your faith with love, humility, and authenticity can point unbelievers to the hope found in Jesus Christ.
Our culture often questions God's existence or dismisses Christianity altogether. Michelle Lazurek explores why believers shouldn't be surprised by skepticism and how our greatest witness isn't winning arguments—it's reflecting Christ through our words, actions, and unconditional love. As we faithfully share our testimony and live transformed lives, God can use our example to draw others to Himself.
Highlights:
Discover why the message of the cross seems foolish to unbelievers.
Learn how a transformed life is one of the strongest testimonies of God's power.
Be encouraged to respond to skepticism with grace, love, and humility.
Understand the importance of sharing your personal testimony.
Explore how authentic Christian living points others to Jesus.
Find encouragement to faithfully represent Christ, even in a culture that rejects biblical truth.
Join the Conversation
How has your personal testimony helped someone better understand the hope found in Christ? What opportunities has God given you to reflect His love to those who don't yet believe?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
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