The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

• Getting Ready for Autumn

  Autumn reflections, Christian faith, and spiritual patience come together in Getting Ready for Autumn by Vivian Bricker, offering guidance for navigating the changing seasons of life. Drawing on James 5:7-8, this episode explores how God’s presence, patience, and comfort help believers process grief, embrace beauty, and remain steadfast in faith. Perfect for listeners seeking Christian encouragement, spiritual growth, seasonal reflection, and coping with loss during fall. ✨ Highlights Embracing the beauty and pain of the Autumn season through a Christ-centered perspective Learning patience from the farmer’s example in James 5:7-8 Recognizing God’s constant presence through all seasons of life, including grief and hardship Practical encouragement for coping with memories, loss, and emotional challenges in fall Reflecting on personal spiritual growth and trust in God during times of waiting 💬 Join the Conversation Does Autumn bring happy or sad memories for you? How do you embrace both the beauty and challenges of the season while trusting God? Share your reflections with the LifeAudio community! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #AutumnFaith #ChristianReflection #PatienceInGod to connect with others navigating the season of faith, grief, and hope 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: Getting Ready for Autumn By Vivian Bricker “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:7-8). Autumn is a beautiful time of year. The colorful fall leaves, the changing of the seasons, and the cooler weather are its hallmarks. However, the fall season can also bring many sad memories. My mom passed away in the fall, which changed the Autumn season for me. I still think Autumn is a beautiful season, but now there is pain that coexists with beauty. Maybe fall brings you the same feelings. There is pain, but there is also beauty. As we prepare for Autumn, we need to reflect on all these feelings. We need to accept the pain and the beauty. This is something that I have had to do for many years. Autumn was once filled with joy, and now it is a reminder of tears and pain. I have learned that accepting the pain is part of the journey of moving forward. God has been present with me through every struggle and hardship. He was beside me when my mom passed, and He continues to be beside me every day. This is one of God’s many promises to us: He will be with us through every step of our lives (Psalm 23). Rather than giving way to pain and fear, we need to turn to God. He will help us cope with anything that the world throws at us. Sadly, none of us is promised an easy life on this earth. We will have hard times and intense struggles. Health problems will come, friends will leave our lives, and loved ones will pass on. The only person who stays with us always is God. He will never leave our side, whether it is Spring, Summer, Autumn, or Winter. No matter what season brings pain into our lives, God will be with us. Intersecting Faith & Life: Getting ready for Autumn also requires patience. Patience for the season ahead and patience to endure any troubles. The half-brother of the Lord says, “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near” (James 5:7-8). As James tells us, we need to be patient until the Lord’s coming. Similar to how the farmer waits for autumn and spring rains, we need to be patient and stand firm, because Jesus’ coming is near. As we walk through this Autumn season, we must patiently wait just as the farmer waits for his land to yield its crop. Jesus’ coming will arrive in its proper time, but we must wait until it’s time. Waiting can be hard, but we can weather any storm with the Lord’s strength. We can choose to be patient as we are approaching this season by staying focused on God. He will equip us with comfort, peace, and guidance. During the fall months, we can begin to experience intense sadness because of the darker days and the memories of the past. However, God can help us accept this pain while also enjoying the beauty of the crisp, colorful days. As you walk through this season, be patient with yourself. It is okay to cry and express your emotions. There is nothing wrong with releasing your pain in tears. Crying out to God is not weak or problematic. In fact, it is actually a great thing because it acknowledges our dependence on God and our need for His deliverance. Give all of these feelings over to Him today, equip yourself with patience, and step into Autumn with a heart of hope. Does Autumn bring happy or sad memories for you? How might you allow the beauty and pain of Autumn to coexist? What are some ways you can trust God in the waiting period? “Dear God, I will wait patiently for Your deliverance just as the farmer waits for the spring and Autumn rains. Autumn can be a challenging time for me, but I’m waiting on You. Please fill my life with your love, hope, and protection. Help me to also see the beauty even amidst the pain. In Your Son’s Name, I pray, Amen.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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• Discern What's Best

  Every day, we face countless decisions—some small, some life-changing. In Discern What’s Best, Whitney Hopler shows how prayer, God’s guidance, and growing in spiritual insight help us make choices that honor Him and produce the fruit of righteousness. Drawing on Philippians 1:9-11, this episode explores how God-centered discernment, love, and the Holy Spirit’s guidance shape our daily decisions. Perfect for listeners seeking Christian decision-making guidance, spiritual growth, and clarity in life’s choices. ✨ Highlights How God’s love deepens knowledge and insight to help discern the best choices Practical ways to grow in discernment: prayer, Bible reading, and listening to the Holy Spirit Using discernment to align decisions with God’s will and produce the fruit of righteousness Reflecting on daily decisions through a spiritual lens for holiness and clarity Encouragement for integrating God-centered discernment into everyday life 💬 Join the Conversation How has God guided you in a recent decision? What does it look like for you to seek His perspective before making choices? Share your insights and experiences with the LifeAudio community! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #DiscernWhatsBest #ChristianDecisionMaking #FaithAndChoices to connect and encourage others on their journey of spiritual discernment. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: Discern What’s Best By: Whitney Hopler “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.” – Philippians 1:9-11, NIV As I looked forward to a weekend coming up, I considered how I’d like to spend it. I loved adventures in nature, so maybe I could hike with my husband in a park, even though the forecast called for rain. I thought of how a coworker was planning to binge watch a new TV show that I also wanted to see, but I didn’t want to let TV consume too much of my weekend. I couldn’t forget my to-do list of work, chores, and errands I wanted to get through, so I planned which ones I might tackle first. All of those choices were good enough not to be bad, but none of them excited me. So, I prayed about my weekend plans, asking for guidance. Then a good friend came to mind, and when I called her, she invited me to attend an event at her church that weekend. At that event, I experienced renewal and revival from a powerful worship service and deep conversations with my friend and other women there. It turned out to be the best choice I could have made! We’re free to choose from among many options every day as we make decisions. Lots of good choices are possible. But choosing what’s truly best is only possible with the discernment that comes from God. In Philippians 1:9-11, the apostle Paul prays that our love would grow “more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” so we can “discern what is best”. This love – the love that comes from God – helps us see the choices we face from the perspective of what really matters most. Discerning love comes as a result of relationships with Jesus. When we ask Jesus to help us discern what’s best, his love flows through our lives, shaping our perspective so we can understand what’s truly important. Then, we can make the best decisions day by day. We can keep growing in discernment by praying for more knowledge and insight regularly. We can read God’s Word often to get to know God’s character and teachings well. We can ask the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, to help us see the decisions we face from God’s perspective. We can also pause before we make an important decision and ask ourselves questions like: “What is the most loving thing to do here?” and “What decision will produce the fruit of righteousness?” The more we know God from walking with Jesus, the better we can recognize what’s truly best in any kind of situation. Remember, the goal isn’t just to make good choices; it’s to make the very best choices. So, as we face different decisions day by day, let’s pray for help to discern what’s best. When we do so, we’ll be blessed, and God will be grateful, because we’ll be giving him glory and praise in the process! Intersecting Faith and Life As you consider how important it is to discern what’s best, reflect on these questions: Think about a recent decision you had to make. Did you feel like you had a clear sense of what was best, or was it a bit confusing? What factors influenced your final choice? This verse connects discernment with love. How do you think a deeper, more knowledgeable love can change the way you approach difficult choices? What’s one area of your life where you feel a strong need for more discernment right now? How can you pray for knowledge and insight in that area this week? This verse says that discernment helps us become “pure and blameless.” How would praying about your decisions help you grow in holiness? How can you create more space in your life for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and decisions more? Further Reading Proverbs 3:5-6 Hebrews 5:14 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 James 1:5 Romans 12:2 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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• The Toddler's Gospel

  How does parenthood shape our faith? In The Toddler’s Gospel, Peyton Garland explores the profound spiritual lessons hidden in the chaos of toddler life. From navigating postpartum struggles to discovering humility and dependence on God, this devotional shows how the simple words of a child—Help, Please, Sorry—reveal the heart of the gospel and deepen our prayer life. Perfect for parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking guidance on faith in daily life and Christian parenting. ✨ Highlights The spiritual lessons of toddlerhood: humility, dependence, and repentance How the toddler words Help, Please, Sorry mirror our relationship with God Finding God’s presence and guidance during postpartum challenges Learning to pray with vulnerability, honesty, and surrender Practical encouragement for moms, dads, and caregivers in faith-filled parenting 💬 Join the Conversation How has your parenting season taught you about humility, dependence, and prayer? What small moments in your home reveal God’s heart to you? Share your story and encourage other parents, caregivers, and believers! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #ToddlersGospel #FaithInParenting to join the conversation and inspire others to see the gospel in everyday life. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: The Toddler’s Gospel by Peyton Garland “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NIV) I thought I had the Lord figured out in my late twenties. I had finally untangled lots of lies that I was subjected to in an unhealthy church culture. I had undergone counseling to work through childhood hardships and relational struggles. I was praying all the prayers, reading all the Bible studies, and holding myself accountable through godly friendships. By all “good Christian” standards, I had ensured my mind, body, and soul were healthily aligned with God’s truth. My faith was unshakeable… but then I became a mother, and my perception of myself and God was turned upside down. I endured heavy post-partum depression and wasn’t sure I would ever find hope again. The hormonal changes were drastic, and my mind couldn’t keep up with my body’s ever-changing state. Meanwhile, family members who promised to support us in this new season didn’t show. It seemed life handed us constant disappointments. But my son’s smile, his little giggle, was my glimpse at heaven. His innocence was a treasure trove of joy I could open on my worst days. He was the reason I clung to my shaken belief that God was good. After nearly seven months of intensive therapy, hard conversations with family, and lots and lots of praying, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. My body slowly regained its stability, and I discovered a new fervor for understanding the God who had handcrafted the angel I cradled every day. But with this new fervor came a new sense of humility, of recognizing just how little control I have over life and how often my failures pile high. This fervor for my faith shifted from being about me to being about the nature of God. If the sermon, the podcast, the devotional, etc., wasn’t about His heart, I wasn’t interested. My heart had experienced too much hurt and, I’ll be honest, self-loathing to mold the gospel around me. I wanted something more sure and steady. I wanted God. He was the only one who could keep my head above water. He was the only one who could truly protect my baby. I’m now in the toddler season of motherhood, where faith and patience are tried by fire. My days are filled with scrubbing peanut butter off walls, fishing toy tractors out of the toilet, and saying (for the five-millionth time that day), “No, sir!” It’s mentally taxing work, but my son continues showing me the heart of the Father. He does so with three simple (garbled, phonetically incorrect) words: “Hewp!”, “Pease,” and “Sowwy.” If these three words aren’t the foundation for the gospel, I’m not sure what else is. After all, aren’t we often God’s toddlers, running wild, doing as we please, no matter how selfish or spiritually dangerous? Shiny things catch our eye, and we chase whatever is in front of us without thinking. It’s no wonder so many of our prayers start with, “Help!” If it’s been a while since you asked God for help, consider this one-word prayer and the humility it presses on your heart. “Please” is placing power in another’s hands, allowing them to grant or deny your request. My little one doesn’t enjoy it when his “Pwease” is followed by my “No, sir!” But aren’t we often like my toddler? We easily believe that asking is all it takes for a prayer to be granted. If we’re nice enough, we think we can manipulate God, and if we don’t get our way, we throw spiritual tantrums. We bail on church and neglect our Bibles. But what if “Please” was an honest request, where we shared heartfelt desires that ended with, “... nevertheless, not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:43, ASV)? How much healthier would our hearts be, regardless of getting our way or not, if this became our new prayer? My son loves to rough play, but sometimes, his idea of play is a bit too violent. When our little guy disobeys, we tell him to say he is sorry, and we then explain to him, in simple toddler terms, why we don’t do x, y, or z. Needless to say, in this life season, “Sowwy” is on repeat. It’s still hard for him to understand why he should apologize, but simply hearing that word from him melts my heart. And I fervently believe that when we repent, even when we don’t understand all the hurt we’ve caused, I believe it melts God’s heart, too. Repentance changes things, and I encourage you to search your heart for the reasons you might owe others and/or God an “I’m sorry.” My toddler has shifted my perspective on the gospel. He has shown me what true humility is and how my need for control is useless. I’ve discovered how simple but beautiful my faith can be when I keep a heartfelt “Help,” “Please,” and “Sorry” in my daily prayers. Intersecting Faith & Life: Take a few moments to list the ways you could implement a vulnerable prayer of “Help”, “Please,” and “Sorry” into your daily conversations with God. Further Reading: 6 Prayers of Peace for Moms Choosing to Stay at Home Bible Verses about Children - Scriptures for Kids and Parents Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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• Celebrate Your Church

  How do we honor God’s faithfulness in our lives and in our churches? In this devotional, we explore the importance of celebrating your church, your community, and God’s work through milestones and spiritual victories. Just like the Israelites set up stones of remembrance in Joshua 4, we are called to pause, reflect, and rejoice in the ways God has guided, sustained, and blessed us—both individually and collectively. ✨ Highlights Why celebration should be part of every church’s culture How setting “stones of remembrance” strengthens our faith Practical ways to honor God’s work within your community Encouragement to celebrate spiritual milestones — big and small How celebrating together deepens unity and reflects God’s love 💬 Join the Conversation How has your church celebrated God’s faithfulness in your life? Do you mark spiritual milestones with your community, small group, or family? Share your story and encourage others! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #CelebrateGodsFaithfulness to join the conversation and inspire believers everywhere to rejoice in what God has done. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: Celebrate Your Church “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you… These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:4-5;7 Plunking down the dinner plates and setting up each fork and spoon in perfect formation, I reflected on the ups and downs we had gone through in our 25 years of marriage. Our lives together had many high points. But it is also accompanied by some very low points in life. We know we wouldn't have gotten through any of that if we were not together. As we looked out over the balcony and watched as many of our old friends and family members gathered to celebrate our landmark anniversary, we remembered just how blessed we were to have so many people with whom we were still in touch who were championing the success of our marriage. As we walked hand-in-hand to the eruption of their applause, we sat at our table, ate our food, and danced in celebration of the many things God had done in and through us through our 25 years of marriage. Although the party took a lot of planning, effort, and hard work, we wouldn't have done it differently. We wanted that day to be a celebration of all the things that God had done. We tried to make the day not only about us, but also about God and what he had done. As many marriages end in divorce, we wanted to celebrate that through God's faithfulness, we had stayed together and stayed the course of God's path for us in our marriage. Celebration should become a normal part of every church. Cheering each other on in their spiritual journey should be infused within the DNA of every church. Not only does the church shine when it helps others in need, and cares for their sisters and brothers in Christ during times of crisis, each member should also be celebrated for their successes in the spiritual journey. In the same way that we wanted to celebrate our milestone of being married for twenty-five years, the church should also make a habit of celebrating each other's successes. Although churches may not be able to afford or have the workforce to put on parties for every successful event in the church, the church needs to remember all the ways God has been faithful to them over the years. Because churches today are often known more for what they are against rather than what they are for, churches need to be remembered as ones that celebrate their members’ successes and triumphs in life. Most of all, the celebration can be a remembrance of all that God has done in and through his church throughout the years. What are some of the ways you remember your church members’ successes? Is there a way you can celebrate with your small group or have a yearly event where you celebrate all the milestones of what God has done? Can a church ‘s administrative assistant put some praise items in the bulletin? What other ways can you celebrate your brothers and sisters in Christ, or even your own successes? Take a moment and write in your journal all the ways God has worked in your life and your church. Take it to your small group or leader and share all the ways God has moved. Celebrate all the ways God has shown his faithfulness to you and the church, not only this year but also in the past years. Be people known to celebrate who you are, what you have done, and most importantly, who He is. Father, let us be churches that are known for celebration. Let us set up figurative stones of remembrance so that we can be reminded of your faithfulness on a regular basis. Help us not to forget who you are and what you have done through us. Let us work for your pleasure, not only when we care for others during times of difficulty, but also celebrate all the ways you've made them prosperous and successful. Amen. Intersecting faith and Life What is one thing you can celebrate in your life or in the life of your church? Further Reading 1 Peter 3:15 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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• How Reading the Bible Keeps Us From Believing False Teaching

  How can you tell if a teaching lines up with God’s truth? In this devotional, we explore how reading the Bible protects us from false teaching and equips us to recognize deception before it takes root. By understanding Scripture deeply, we can confidently discern God’s truth and avoid being led astray by misleading doctrines and counterfeit beliefs. ✨ Highlights Why studying the Bible is key to recognizing false teachers How God’s Word exposes manipulation, error, and deception Practical ways to hide God’s Word in your heart How the Holy Spirit guides us in discerning spiritual truth Scriptures to help strengthen your faith and guard against lies 💬 Join the Conversation Have you ever encountered a teaching that didn’t sit right with you? How do you test what you hear against God’s Word? Share your thoughts and experiences with us — we’d love to hear from you! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #GroundedInTruth to join the conversation and encourage others in their faith journey. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: How Reading the Bible Keeps Us from Believing False Teaching By Lynette Kittle “But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves”--2 Peter 2:1 Like art and jewel experts and dealers study real jewels and artwork to keep them from buying forgeries and counterfeits, studying the Bible keeps us from believing false teachings. Disappointingly, the world, like never before, is full of scams, schemes, and false beliefs. Nowadays, there are countless emails, texts, and online offers and deals that look so convincing before we know it, we’re ordering products that are never going to arrive. Like phony offers, if we aren’t aware of and informed to know and understand that there are false teachings trying to draw us in, designed to deceive us, we can be duped and led astray. It’s why the Bible is such an important book to read and study, because by doing so, it protects us from being captured by the enemy of our souls. 2 Timothy 3:6-9 describes what they are like: “They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women, who are loaded down with sins and are swayed by all kinds of evil desires, always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these teachers oppose the truth. They are men of depraved minds, who, as far as the faith is concerned, are rejected. But they will not get very far because, as in the case of those men, their folly will be clear to everyone.” The Bible Reveals Truth to Us The Apostle Paul wrote, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). He understood, as written in Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The word of God not only gives us life, but it also helps to protect our faith by cutting through errors, manipulation, deception, and false teaching, revealing the truth to us of what we’re reading and hearing. The Bible Equips Us to Recognize When Things Seem Off Because I carefully go through each morning choosing vitamins for my husband and myself, it’s so familiar to me, that I can look down and instantly see if one is missing because the pile of pills looks off and different. It’s like that when we know God’s word, when we’ve hidden it in our hearts. We come to know it so well that when we see, hear, or read something that’s off or different from the truth of His word, we instantly recognize it. Psalm 119:11 teaches, “I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.” Becoming so familiar with God’s word and establishing itself in our hearts, along with the help of the Holy Spirit leading us, helps us, without even thinking to recognize when we see or hear something that doesn’t line up with it. God’s truth hidden in our hearts alerts us to false teachings. The reason so many believers are led astray is that they don’t know His word, so when a false teaching or doctrine is introduced to them, they don’t recognize it. For those reasons, it’s vital and critically important for us to read and study our Bibles, so that we aren’t deceived, misled, or led astray from the truth of God’s word. We can be confident that when His word shines light on what we’re hearing and reading, we will not be misled, as Psalm 119:105 describes, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Intersecting Faith & Life: How are you at knowing what is truth or error when it comes to God’s word? If you don’t know His word, find a Bible reading plan to help you know the truth of God’s word. Check out Biblestudytools.com for a free Bible app offering Bible reading audio, reading plans, and devotionals to help you know God’s word. Further Reading: 7 Reasons to Read Your Bible https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/7-reasons-to-read-your-bible-the-crosswalk-devotional.html Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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