The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

direction, He can renew your strength, deepen your faith, and fill your life with hope and peace. Like a well-watered garden or a spring that never runs dry, your renewed relationship with God can also become a source of encouragement and life for the people around you.
Highlights
How to recognize spiritual dryness and find your way back to a vibrant relationship with God

What Isaiah 58:11 promises about God’s guidance, provision, and spiritual renewal

How the restoration of Beaver Marsh illustrates the possibility of new life after damage and neglect

Why prayer, Scripture, and listening to the Holy Spirit are essential for discerning God’s direction

How taking small steps of obedience can help you experience God’s restoration in everyday life

Why relying on God rather than trying to solve every problem alone can bring renewed strength and peace

Practical questions to help you identify spiritually dry areas of your life and begin following God toward renewal

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
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:
God Will Guide You Back to Life
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” – Isaiah 58:11, NIV
Walking along the boardwalk at the Beaver Marsh in Cuyahoga Valley National Park, I was amazed at how this thriving wetland had come back to life. For decades, the site was a junkyard filled with old cars. In the 1980s, inspired by a shared desire to care for God’s creation, community volunteers and park staff came together to haul away tons of trash and clean up the landscape. Then, beavers reintroduced to the area built a dam across a nearby canal, which naturally flooded the land that had been a marsh years ago. Dormant seeds that had been waiting for water activated and started growing into marsh plants again. What was once a damaged dump transformed into a thriving wetland filled with water lilies, birds, turtles, beavers, river otters, and more. The Beaver Marsh is a wonderful reminder that no matter how damaged something appears, it can be restored when people follow God’s guidance to take good care of it.
Just like the land at the Beaver Marsh was dry before it was restored physically, you might feel dry spiritually right now – finding it hard to find God. Spiritual dryness can feel like walking through “a sun-scorched land” like Isaiah 58:11 describes. You can become stressed and exhausted, just like you would if you were physically walking through a dry desert without water. But if you seek God with all your heart, you’ll find him, and you’ll be blessed by being able to perceive God’s guidance. This verse promises that God will satisfy your needs and strengthen you. In the process, you’ll be like “a well-watered garden” – just like the Beaver Marsh is thriving. Since God gives you Living Water spiritually, you can rely on him for whatever you need to thrive.
You can start thriving when you stop trying to solve your problems on your own and instead invite God to show you the way to solutions. To find God’s guidance, you need to prioritize talking to God in prayer and listening to God in meditation. You can just pray something simple, like: “God, please help me know what to do today.” But talking to God is only half of the conversation. When you meditate on God’s messages to you in the Bible and listen for God speaking to you through His Holy Spirit, you can find the guidance you need. Then, when you put that guidance into action and follow where God guides you, you’ll see restoration happen in your life. Whenever you do what God asks – even by taking a few small steps in the direction where God is leading you – you’ll experience God’s answers to your prayers.
As you follow God’s guidance day by day, your life will start to bloom like a well-watered garden. A garden with plenty of water stays green and growing even on hot days. Following God helps you make good choices, saves you from getting lost on wrong paths, and helps you thrive in every part of your life.
God also promises that you’ll become like a fresh water spring that never runs out. All the hope and peace God gives you will flow through your life like a spring and spill over into the lives of your friends and family.
When you listen to God and follow his guidance, you can step out of spiritual dryness and come back to life spiritually through renewal and revival!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how seeking and following God’s guidance will help you thrive, reflect on these questions:
What areas of your life currently feel “sun-scorched” and how can you seek God’s help to bring those situations back to life with his living water?
How do you feel most connected to God’s guidance day by day?
What is a recent piece of wisdom from God that you feel called to act on right now?
What makes it challenging to follow God’s guidance instead of relying on your own plans, and what helps you trust God as he leads you?
What changes do you notice in yourself when you choose to seek and follow God’s guidance?
Further Reading:
Psalm 23:2-3
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Psalm 32:8
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 32:8
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Why can the fall season bring both beautiful memories and painful reminders of loss? Autumn’s changing leaves, cooler weather, and familiar traditions can stir up feelings of gratitude and joy, but they can also bring grief, loneliness, and memories of difficult experiences. If fall is a challenging season for you, you don’t have to ignore your pain to appreciate the beauty around you. God’s love remains present through both joyful memories and sorrowful days.
Deuteronomy 32:7 encourages us to remember the past and learn from the generations before us. Reflecting on meaningful memories can remind us of God’s goodness, even when life feels heavy. Whether you’re remembering loved ones, processing grief, or hoping to create happier memories this year, you can invite God into the process of healing. By slowing down, spending time in nature, connecting with others, and noticing the beauty of His creation, you can begin to experience His comfort and recognize His faithfulness throughout every season of life.
Highlights
Why autumn can bring both cherished memories and painful reminders of loss

How to find God’s beauty and goodness even when the fall season feels difficult

What Deuteronomy 32:7 teaches us about remembering the past and learning from earlier generations

How reflecting on happy memories can offer comfort during seasons of grief

Why God’s love remains constant through both joyful and sorrowful experiences

Practical ways to create new fall memories through nature, relationships, and prayer

Encouragement to invite God into your healing and discover fresh hope during a difficult season

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
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:
The Beauty and Memories of Fall
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you” (Deuteronomy 32:7).
What comes to mind when you think of fall? The beautiful flowers, the cooler weather, or Thanksgiving? Fall holds cherished memories for many, but perhaps fall also brings up painful memories for you. Maybe you are reminded of the death of a loved one, or a painful experience at work, home life, or within your family. Even though fall may carry a heavy weight with it, we can still stop and admire God’s beauty. His love is richly poured out on us, even if we cannot see it at the time.
This fall, slow down and listen for the crunch of the leaves below your feet. Stop and watch the leaves fall; take special note of the colors: the vibrant red, yellow, and orange leaves surrounding you. These are all blessings from God, even if the season may be sorrowful.
Allow God to heal your wounds with His love. Fall time may continue to be painful; however, God’s love will always prevail (Romans 8:37-39). He is with you through every dark, gloomy autumn day as well as every sunny, beautiful day. Through the good and the bad, He goes before you.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The Bible tells us, “Remember the days of old; consider the generations long past. Ask your father, and he will tell you, your elders, and they will explain to you” (Deuteronomy 32:7). The “days of old” can refer to your present life as well. Think about the happy falls – the ones full of memories, love, and joy.
When the days grow dark, reflect upon these brighter days. Perhaps your parents used to take you outside to jump in the leaves after they fell from the trees, or you would take a nature walk together. God’s fingerprints are across the fall season; you might just have to slow down, take in the moment, and reflect upon His grace.
If you cannot recall a happy memory of fall, ask the Lord to help you create a few this year. You could pray, “Dear Jesus, in the past, fall has only been full of pain. I dread when fall comes around each year because it is a reminder of everything and everyone I have lost. Despite this challenging time, help me to heal and form happier memories. Bring loved ones into my life who will make me smile, laugh, and see the beauty of You again. In Your brilliant Name, I pray, Amen.”
Never underestimate what God can do in your life; He can make a way when there is no way. Challenge yourself to also connect with others and nature this fall season. Go out to an apple orchard, take a hike somewhere beautiful, or take time to simply sit in your garden. Talk to God while you are out in nature and allow His beauty to move your soul. His love, grace, and blessings will be poured abundantly into your heart.
What memories do you associate with fall time? Are they happy or sorrowful? What new memories do you want to form this year?
Further Reading:
1 Kings 19:11-13
James 1:17
Zephaniah 3:17
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you ever wish you could change parts of your past, your circumstances, or the things that make you feel inadequate? It’s easy to believe that our weaknesses, disappointments, family struggles, or painful experiences make us less useful to God. But the Bible reminds us that God doesn’t require a perfect past or impressive qualifications to work through our lives. He calls us to trust Him and take the next step in faith, even when we don’t feel equipped.
In Judges 6:15-16, Gideon questions how God could use someone with his background and limitations, but God responds with a promise: “I will be with you.” This powerful reminder shows us that our usefulness to God depends not on our strength, but on His presence. Although we don’t have to pretend painful experiences were good, we can trust God to redeem our stories, shape our character, and use even the parts we wish were different to grow our faith and help others.
Highlights
Why we often view our weaknesses, painful experiences, and limitations as reasons God cannot use us

What Gideon’s story in Judges 6:15-16 teaches us about trusting God when we feel inadequate

Why God’s presence matters more than our qualifications, abilities, or past experiences

How difficult seasons can develop compassion, humility, wisdom, and deeper dependence on God

Why trusting God’s redemption doesn’t require us to pretend painful experiences were good

How 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 reminds us that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness

Encouragement to stop treating your past as a disqualification and trust God to use your story for His purposes

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
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:
God Can Use the Part of Your Story You Wish Were Different
By Sarah Frazer
Bible Reading:
And he said to him, “Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house.” And the Lord said to him, “But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.” - Judges 6:15-16
If God had handed twenty-four-year-old Sarah a list of everything she would eventually be responsible for, she might have handed it right back. As a young new mom, I had no idea the journey God would put me on as I started out through motherhood. I did not feel particularly equipped to bring a newborn home that spring morning, but I did.
As the years moved on, I found myself adding more and more children (we ended up with five). Homeschooling was next on the agenda, and then God gave us a special-needs daughter. After that, God moved our family to a foreign country, then moved us back. So many parts of my story I have wished to be different. There were moments of tears and heartache. In those times, I didn’t really see how God would use this part. Of my….
Most of us have circumstances, weaknesses, disappointments, and limitations we would change if we could. We assume that these unwanted parts of our life make us less useful to God. So many years later, I’m learning that we often believe God needs a more qualified version of us, but in reality, He only needs a willing heart.
Gideon looked at his own story and saw reasons God couldn't use him. God saw something entirely different. In Judges 6:14-15, we read that God calls Gideon to rescue the Israelites from the Midianites. Gideon’s immediate response was to list all of the reasons why he shouldn’t be God’s leader. Gideon essentially asks, How could someone with my background possibly do this?
We do something similar when we look at our past, personality, family circumstances, weaknesses, disappointments, or lack of resources. We often see our limitations as disqualifications. But. God didn’t change Gideon’s story before he called him. God’s answer to Gideon is the same answer God gives us. Judges 6:16 says, “But I will be with you.”
Notice that God didn’t correct Gideon's assessment of his circumstances. What Gideon said was true. He was who he said he was. God didn’t change anything about Gidoen’s family, background, or resume. It would be God's presence—not Gideon's qualifications—that would make the difference.
God doesn't need to rewrite your past before He can use your present.
The Bible is filled with the truth that God works with those who are weak. God does not use us despite our weakness, but through our weakness. He does this so His strength is visible and He gets the glory!
Not only that, but parts of your story have provided deep spiritual growth in your life. There might be things you learned, experienced, and grown in while facing the hardships that you wouldn’t have otherwise done. If you removed the hard parts of your past, you might not have developed the compassion you now have. Or maybe you learned dependence and humility in a deeper way. God certainly grants us wisdom and faith while going through storms.
We may not always understand why God allowed something, and we don't need to call painful things good. But we can trust that God is able to redeem what we would never have chosen.
Your weakness does not limit God's strength. Gideon's confidence couldn't ultimately come from discovering something impressive about himself. It came from God’s presence. If God is asking you to do a new type of work, step into a new role, or take on more responsibility, remember that it isn’t about “being enough.” It is all about God's promise: “I will be with you.”
When our usefulness in God's kingdom rests more on His sufficiency than ours, we find that we are already equipped for what God is calling us to do.
Maybe there is a chapter of your life you still wish you could rewrite. You don't have to pretend it didn't hurt or wish it had happened differently. But you also don't have to believe it disqualifies you.
The God who looked at Gideon in all his weakness and said, “I will be with you,” is still the God who works through imperfect people and imperfect stories today. If I could sit beside that twenty-four-year-old version of myself today, I wouldn't hand her a list of everything coming. That would be overwhelming! Honestly, I wouldn't even give her a warning. Preparing for hardship doesn’t often help. Instead, I would simply say: God is with you. He always has been and always will be.
Looking back, I can see that God didn't always change the circumstances I wished were different. Instead, he used them to change me. Yes, some will be hard, but in the hard things, there will be so many good things. God’s goodness shines so bright when we rest in His character!
Friend, those parts of your story have made you who you are. God does not make mistakes. Even if you wish you had a different background, different abilities, different circumstances, or even a different personality, God is ready and willing right now to use you. He has created you with care and love. Nothing He does is a mistake!
Gideon's story reminds us that God isn't searching for the person with the perfect résumé. He is looking for people willing to trust Him. Whatever God places in front of you today, you don't need to know whether you are strong enough. You only need to remember the promise that was enough for Gideon: “I will be with you.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What parts of your story do you wish were different? Do you use these things as excuses not to follow God’s call in your life? Today, ask God to help you trust that He is with you. His presence is enough.
Further Reading:
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Exodus 4:10-12
Psalm 139:13-16
Ephesians 2:10
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Letting God rake away what is covering your heart means inviting Him to reveal unhealthy attitudes, heal old wounds, and clear away anything keeping you from growing closer to Him. Through prayer, Scripture, repentance, and honest reflection, we can begin releasing the burdens we were never meant to carry alone. Although this process may feel uncomfortable, God’s loving correction brings freedom and creates room for spiritual renewal. As you surrender your heart to Him, you can experience His grace more deeply and make space for the peace, joy, and growth He desires for your life.
Highlights
How emotional wounds, bitterness, fear, and distractions can keep us from drawing closer to God

Why examining your heart is an important part of spiritual growth and renewal

How God can reveal hidden attitudes and burdens that need healing

Why surrendering painful experiences to God can open the door to greater peace and freedom

How prayer, Scripture, and repentance help us clear away spiritual obstacles

Why allowing God to change your heart requires honesty, humility, and trust

Encouragement to let God remove what is holding you back and make room for deeper faith and lasting spiritual growth

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
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:
Letting God Rake Away What Is Covering Your Heart
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading:
I could ask the darkness to hide me
and the light around me to become night—
but even in darkness I cannot hide from you.
To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
– Psalm 139:11-12, NLT
I love the way fallen leaves in autumn cover landscapes across many parts of the world. It feels like a song of sweet surrender, as vivid colors float everywhere, then fade into nutrients for the soil. Carpets of fall foliage on lawns, parks, or fields always look so purposeful and romantic to me.
But when we live in modern, manicured places, we often rake these leaves into piles, either composting them for reuse or disposing of them. It’s a common seasonal sight, though I’m still not sure if it’s better to rake or not rake the leaves that grace our lives. It’s always interesting to me that we don’t need to rake wild forests. They remain entirely in God’s hands.
However, when it comes to my heart and yours, let’s consider that God may do some spiritual raking. Because sometimes we want to hide ourselves, our feelings, our habits, our lack of faith, from God. That’s why Psalm 139 lays out clearly that God sees everything, anyway.
In fact, Psalm 139:11-12 proclaims that “even in darkness I cannot hide from you.” This entire psalm rejoices that you can turn to God and ask him to search you, bring you into His light, and lead you on the path of everlasting life.
The freedom you gain when you let God “uncover” you is also celebrated in 2 Corinthians 3:16, when Paul says, “But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” Paul is referring to how Moses would cover his face with a veil because the glory of God he reflected was too much for his followers to receive. So, in his New Testament letter, Paul teaches that you and I have been reconciled to God through Jesus. You can let God lift the veil, rake away what you’re hiding under, and fully receive the Holy Spirit within you. There’s no need to bury yourself in secrecy.
Not only will God rake away what’s covering hearts, but he will also dig deeper to pull up stones and plant new life. When Ezekiel 36:26 tells us, “and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a new heart of flesh,” it refers to God’s miraculous power to completely transform a hardened heart that has become cold, inflexible, or impenetrable.
This hardening could be the result of self-protection over many years of pain. Or, it could be a heart turned away from reconciliation by unforgiveness. Or, it could be a refusal to share fears and feelings with God. Ezekiel 36:26 is God’s reminder to you and me—that he sees our struggles anyway.
So, even if you don’t see a way to cultivate peace in your own heart, or feel courageous enough to be exposed, God’s promise here is that he can do the work for you, if you let him. You and I can bring our hurting, hiding, hardened hearts to God, and welcome his healing. He will rake away what’s weighing you down, warming and softening your heart.
So the next time you’re working in the yard, or marveling at leaves, remember: John 15 says God is your gardener. Let him rake, prune, and shape you ... so that you will bear much fruit for His glory.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider the beauty of changing seasons, or the work of raking away anything that’s covering something underneath, reflect on these thoughts:
What can you ask God to reveal to you about anything that may be weighing you down?
Can you recall a time God pruned you and you were better off for it?
If your heart is hurting, how might you pray for God to heal it?
Further Reading:
Hebrews 4:12-13
Psalm 33:13-14
1 John 3:20
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How can you know when to trust your own instincts and when to wait for God’s guidance? When conflict, difficult decisions, or emotional situations arise, self-reliance can cause us to act or react before seeking God’s wisdom. Judges 1:1-4 offers a powerful picture of what it looks like to turn to God first, ask for His direction, and faithfully follow where He leads.
Following Christ doesn’t mean we will always know exactly what to do or receive an immediate answer. God often guides us through Scripture, prayer, the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom of other believers. As we consistently seek Him in everyday circumstances, we become more attentive to His direction when bigger challenges arise. Learning to follow Christ requires practice, humility, and trust, but we can rest in the assurance that we don’t have to figure out every step on our own.
Highlights
Why self-reliance can lead us to act or react before seeking God’s guidance

What Judges 1:1-4 teaches about turning to God for direction

How prayer and Scripture help us develop greater spiritual discernment

Why God’s guidance may come through Scripture, other believers, or the Holy Spirit

How practicing dependence on God in everyday situations prepares us for bigger challenges

What James 1:5 teaches about asking God for wisdom without fear of criticism

Encouragement to trust Christ’s leadership rather than trying to figure out every step on your own

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:
Faithfully Led by Christ
By: Jennifer Slattery
Bible Reading:
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?” - Judges 1:1.
Some of my deepest relational wounds were self-inflicted. I’m presently dealing with the painful aftereffects of a situation I created through self-reliance. That’s not to say I never prayed for God’s guidance, or that I didn’t try to follow His lead. I did, frequently. But I also acted on my emotions and perspectives far too often, particularly during times of conflict.
Because of this, at times, I did and said things that hurt the other person and damaged our relationship. In fact, when I consider some of my most painful experiences, I recognize that I brought many of them on myself by acting before receiving God’s guidance, His perspective on the situation, or His strength to love others as He loves me.
That’s one reason I find the book of Judges so comforting, because it highlights God’s grace despite humanity’s persistent rebellion.
The people started their new season in the Promised Land well. The Israelites appeared to keep their focus on God and His will, even for some time after Joshua, their former leader, died.
Having witnessed God’s miraculous provision and protection during their desert wanderings, these men and women seemed to recognize how much they needed the Lord’s support. At this point in their history, it appears they didn’t have a strong, central leader—no president, king, or military commander—to follow.
Yet, rather than relying on themselves, they turned to their true, ever-faithful King, the Almighty. They sought His guidance, and He provided, stating in verse 2, “Judah shall go up; behold, I have given the land into his hand.”
Verse 4 records the result: “Judah went up, and the Lord gave the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hands, and they defeated ten thousand men at Bezek” (Judges 1:4, NASB).
This reminds me of the promise recorded in James 1:5, which reads, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV).
Intersecting Life & Faith:
Scripture invites me to come to God with all my concerns, questions, and confusion. When I do, God never responds with frustration or criticism. Instead, He welcomes me close, often comforts and strengthens my soul, and provides the wisdom I need to navigate life’s complexities with discernment and grace.
Sometimes, I “hear” His directions in that moment. Most often, however, His guidance comes later, in His perfect timing, whether that's through Scripture, a conversation with another Christ-follower, or a growing but gentle conviction from the Holy Spirit.
I’m learning, I’m most apt to recognize His voice when I practice connecting with Him while tuning my spiritual ears to Him. This intentionality and consistency in everyday experiences help me recognize His voice in situations that feel “high stakes”—like with the relationship I mentioned at the beginning of this devotion.
In my present, healing-but-not-yet-whole situation, the Lord provided understanding of the other person’s fears and their hurts I wouldn’t have known otherwise. This reduced my tendency toward defensiveness while increasing my ability to remain focused on the real issue, rather than outward behavior (symptoms). He’s also shown me ways some of my past actions caused harm, along with how I can interact differently in the future.
Not only have these divine insights facilitated relational healing, but they’ve also dramatically reduced my angst by reminding me that I’m not alone. I don’t have to figure out each step; I simply need to follow the One who has promised to lead me to His very best (John 10:10).
As I consistently turn to Christ and yield to His Spirit within, I’m better able to follow the example provided in the opening of Judges. As I do, something beautiful occurs. God’s faithfulness deepens my trust and increases my desire to seek His guidance before acting or reacting.
Again, this takes practice, intentionality, and consistency, as many of us have spent our entire lives strengthening our self-reliance. Thankfully, we’re not traveling this transformation journey alone. The God who led ancient Israel into the Promised Land longs to guide us through our challenges, big and small, as well.
Consider: How might responding to God's guidance in everyday situations increase your ability to recognize His direction when facing life's bigger battles? And if this is an area you long to grow in, I invite you to join me and my cohost Carol McCracken on the Faith Over Fear podcast for our upcoming series on hearing God. Because the Lord is leading us. The question is, are we alert and responsive to His guidance?
Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Psalm 25:4-5
Galatians 5:16, 22-25
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.