The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Bitterness can quietly take root in our hearts, affecting our relationships, our spiritual lives, and even our well-being. Hebrews 12:15 warns believers not to let a "root of bitterness" grow and cause trouble. Discover how forgiveness, God's grace, and surrendering your burdens to Jesus can free you from resentment and restore lasting peace.
Holding onto past hurts often feels justified, but it ultimately weighs us down more than the people who hurt us. Kelly Balarie explores the biblical call to release bitterness, embrace Christ's forgiveness, and trust God with the pain we were never meant to carry. When we remember how much Jesus has forgiven us, we find the strength to forgive others and experience true freedom.
Highlights:
Learn what the Bible says about the dangerous root of bitterness.
Discover how unforgiveness can impact your spiritual, emotional, and relational health.
Understand why God's grace is the antidote to resentment.
Explore practical ways to release anger, offense, and hurt to Jesus.
Be encouraged by Christ's example of forgiveness and sacrificial love.
Find hope in casting your burdens on God instead of carrying them alone.
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced the freedom that comes from letting go of bitterness? What has helped you trust God with past hurts and choose forgiveness?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
How to Get the Root of Bitterness Gone
By: Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled…” – Hebrews 12:15 AMP
My husband and I have a friend. He’s one of the top national scholars for cancer medicine and research.
Curious, we asked him, “Have you identified a link between unforgiveness and bitterness with a cancer diagnosis?”
His answer?
“Yes, in fact, my mom couldn’t forgive. She had cancer two times.”
Interestingly enough, beyond his mom, he saw a correlation. So do various scientific studies. According to the website Doctors Beyond Medicine, studies show suppressed anger and emotions are linked to cancer. They note, “emotional toxicity is most likely the cause of their cancer, and that forgiveness, if used with appropriate treatments and lifestyle changes that address the physical, is a ‘first-line’ primary treatment.”
Wow. I was astonished.
But, I wondered, what does scripture have to say about this?
“See to it that no one falls short of God’s grace; that no root of resentment springs up and causes trouble, and by it many be defiled…” (Heb. 12:15 AMP)
Biblically speaking, defilement does not only happen in thought, but it can also happen in our body, soul, and mind.
We are the temple of God and not to defile God’s temple, our body (1 Cor. 16:19-20).
We are instructed to be cleansed of anything defiling in body or spirit (2 Cor. 7:1)
We learn that what defiles us is what comes out of our hearts (Mark 7:20-23).
Clearly, I don’t have all the answers on cancer, but what I do have a clear answer on is that we don’t want to be defiled in body, soul, or mind.
This certainly made me sure that I don’t want to be “defiled.”
What about us – are we defiled? Do we harbor bitterness? Do we keep resentments, nursing them like a baby? Do we hold records of wrongs against people, convicting them via our thoughts? Might we be angry?
The irony? What we hold against others does not hurt them; it hurts us.
What pain we keep inside of us – grows within us. We may think this doesn’t matter, that it doesn’t hurt anyone, that no one can see it, but it absolutely does hurt – us. Not only that, it oozes onto others.
Can’t we all see that person we know with a face of anger? They think no one knows, but certainly, when you look at them, you can easily identify their eyebrows furrowing in. They believe they hide it well, but it takes a second to recognize their facial tension from all they are holding in. You can feel the edginess in their responses. Their pent-up stuff doesn’t just exist in their mind; they hold it in their body, and it speaks between the lines of their words.
May this person never, ever, be us…
If we have been defiled by a root of bitterness, what we think we are hiding is most likely residing on our face, living in our body, and oozing out from our responses.
God, help.
Of course, we know that life has a way of sucker punching us. People will be people. Circumstances hurt. Offense is rampant.
How do we forbid defilement in our body, mind, and spirit?
We remember The One who was reviled, so that we don’t have to live defiled. Jesus.
Jesus carried the weight of our sin, so we don’t have to live under its weight. Even more, Jesus carried the weight of fellow believers’ sin, so we don’t have to live under its weight.

If Jesus forgave us so much, how can we not forgive others the same way? We can forgive much, because He forgave much. We can love much, because He loved us so much.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What does this look like practically?
To release from the mind, the body, and the spirit looks like something. Scripture invites us to cast our cares on the Lord (1 Pet. 5:7). “To cast”, biblically, does not look like a light and airy casting; it looks like a complete throwing off, like someone might throw a saddle on a horse.
It’s getting off of you and releasing onto Him what He already paid the price for. Why not cast your worries, cares, bitterness, anger, or resentments onto Jesus? Let Him take care of them. He will do a much better job than you will.
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Being left out, overlooked, or rejected can leave lasting wounds, but those moments don't determine your identity. Ephesians 1:4-6 reveals a greater truth: through Jesus Christ, God has chosen, adopted, and accepted you into His family. Discover how your identity in Christ brings lasting security when the approval of others falls short.
Rejection has a way of making us question our worth, but God's love tells a different story. Emily Rose Massey reminds us that while people may disappoint or exclude us, our Heavenly Father has already declared us His beloved children. When we anchor our identity in Christ instead of others' acceptance, we find the confidence, belonging, and peace that only He can provide.
Highlights:
Discover what it means to be accepted in the Beloved through Jesus Christ.
Learn how Ephesians 1:4-6 speaks to feelings of rejection and loneliness.
Find encouragement to root your identity in God's love rather than others' opinions.
Understand how Jesus experienced rejection and empathizes with our pain.
Be reminded that God's adoption into His family offers lasting security and hope.
Learn how embracing your identity in Christ transforms the way you respond to rejection.
Join the Conversation
Have you ever struggled with feeling rejected or overlooked? How has remembering your identity as God's beloved child helped you find peace and confidence?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
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How do you recognize the lies that fuel fear, doubt, and insecurity? Based on 2 Timothy 1:7, this devotional explores how to reject thoughts that contradict God's truth and embrace the power, love, and sound mind He has given every believer. Discover how replacing fear with faith leads to lasting confidence in Christ.
Negative thoughts can quietly shape how we see ourselves and even how we view God. Cindi McMenamin reminds us that discouragement, shame, and hopelessness are not the voice of our Savior. Through Scripture, God calls us to reject fear, trust His promises, and live with confidence in His power and faithfulness. As we replace lies with biblical truth, our faith grows stronger and our lives become a testimony to God's goodness.
Highlights:
Discover how to identify lies that create fear, doubt, and discouragement.
Learn why 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds believers to live with power, love, and a sound mind.
Understand the difference between the Holy Spirit's conviction and the enemy's condemnation.
Find practical ways to replace negative thoughts with God's promises.
Be encouraged to strengthen your faith by focusing on God's character instead of your fears.
Learn how living by faith points others to God's goodness and faithfulness.
Join the Conversation
What lie have you found yourself believing lately? Which promise from God's Word helps you replace fear with faith and confidence in Christ?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
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What does it mean to be clothed in Christ? Rooted in Romans 13:14, we explore how seeking God's will instead of our own desires leads to lasting peace, wisdom, and spiritual growth. Learn how to resist the pull of self-focus and daily choose to follow Jesus.
Every day presents opportunities to follow our own desires or surrender to God's leading. Megan J. Conner reminds us that while our hearts can be easily swayed by the world's distractions and instant gratification, God invites us to seek His face first. As we intentionally "clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ," He transforms our hearts, strengthens our discernment, and produces the fruit of the Spirit, enabling us to walk in obedience and experience His best for our lives.
Highlights:
Discover what it means to clothe yourself with Christ according to Romans 13:14.
Learn why our hearts can be deceptive and why God's wisdom is essential.
Find encouragement to seek God's direction before making important decisions.
Understand how waiting on God develops spiritual maturity and discernment.
Explore how walking with Christ produces the fruit of the Spirit.
Be reminded that God's peace comes through surrender, not self-reliance.
Join the Conversation
When have you found yourself choosing between your own desires and God's direction? What practices help you seek Christ first before making important decisions?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
Clothed in Christ
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“… Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.” (Romans 13:14, NIV)
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8, NIV)
Every day, all day long, we face one decision after another. Sometimes these choices are practical: What do I need from the grocery store? Or how much money should I pay off on the credit card? But other times, the dilemma is a matter of the heart – a tug-of-war between what I should do and what I want to do. Even more seriously, a decision between what we know to be right and what our conscience tells us is wrong.
When choosing between what we think we want and what the Lord desires as his best for us, the struggle can be REAL. The allure of the world is powerful. Especially in this modern, technology-driven era, where even our devices are labeled with the pronoun “I,” the pull of selfishness and self-focus is strong, to say the least. The phones in our hands provide us with constant access to commercialism and propaganda that suggest it's all about me and that I should have or do anything I want simply because it is available or sounds appealing. And though we may logically identify the potential pitfalls in these scenarios, when our emotions or sinful desires kick in, the waters of clarity can be quickly muddied.
The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9, NIV). Do you agree? I certainly do. There have been many times in my life when I rationalized or justified decisions without even realizing what I was doing, only to come out on the other side, shocked that I had made such a choice. Why? Because my own heart deceived me. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, shares a similar sentiment when he states, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God (Rom. 3:10-12, NIV). Even when we are trying to walk with the Lord, it is so easy to choose what we want rather than to intentionally seek God’s will first and then wait upon him for direction.
We are terrible at waiting, aren’t we? We want our entertainment instantaneously, our food fast, and our products delivered to our doorstep the same day we order them. Though the world around us can move at breakneck speeds, the Lord often calls us to be still and know that he is God (Ps. 46:10). To trust in him for direction and discernment. He calls us to look to him rather than our own flawed perceptions. If we are willing to run to him before grasping for self-satisfaction, we “clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ,” which will then produce his godly fruits such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-5:23).
Left to our own devices and relying on our own strength can often lead us down paths we would ultimately prefer not to take. But if we choose to seek him before everything else, he promises that he will respond and provide us with all that we need.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8, NIV)
If you, like me, struggle to choose God’s best over your own selfish desires, I pray today is a new day for both of us. A day where we cry out as the psalmist of old did so many years ago and declare:
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.” (Psalm 27:8, NIV)
Let’s believe together that he is faithful to fulfill all of his promises, and when we call upon him, he will answer. And no matter how loudly the clamor of this world tries to overshadow our minds and hearts, may we surrender our wills to the only One who can offer us true peace and satisfaction. May we clothe ourselves in Christ.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where your own heart deceived you? If so, are you able to look back and identify where you struggled to let God influence your decision-making? How might you better approach these types of crossroads in the future?
I encourage you to take some time today to write out the steps you will take the next time you face similar circumstances. Perhaps your action items might include reciting scripture, calling a friend for prayer, or simply waiting a day or two before making a final decision. Whatever that looks like for you individually, I pray you find peace and guidance as you seek God’s best for you.
Further Reading:
Psalm 27
Galatians 5:13-26
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Trusting God when life doesn't make sense requires faith beyond our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to trust the Lord with all our hearts instead of relying on what we can see or explain. Discover how embracing life's unknowns can deepen your faith, replace worry with peace, and reveal God's greater purpose.
Life is full of unanswered questions, unexpected detours, and closed doors that challenge our faith. Whitney Hopler shares how a frightening highway experience became a powerful reminder that God sees what we cannot. Even when His plans remain a mystery, His wisdom, protection, and love never fail. When we surrender our need to understand every circumstance, we discover that not knowing isn't a weakness—it can be one of God's greatest gifts, drawing us into deeper trust and lasting peace.
Highlights:
Discover why Proverbs 3:5 calls us to trust God over our own understanding.
Learn how God often protects us in ways we cannot see.
Find peace when life takes unexpected turns or your plans change.
Be encouraged to release the need to control every outcome.
Discover how uncertainty can strengthen your faith in God's wisdom.
Remember that God's plans are always greater than our own understanding.
Join the Conversation
Has there been a time when you didn't understand what God was doing, only to later see His purpose? We'd love to hear how God has grown your faith through seasons of uncertainty.
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
Do you want to listen ad-free?
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Full Transcript Below:
The Gift of Not Knowing
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5, NIV
Before I began a road trip to Wilmington, North Carolina, I prayed for a safe trip. In my mind, I had a very simple understanding of how the trip would go. I would stay in the right lane, drive the speed limit, and stay completely safe because of my own careful driving. But things changed in a heartbeat on the highway. Without warning, a car merged into my lane, right in front of me. The driver wasn’t paying attention at all. Cars were speeding by in the next lane, so I couldn’t move over. I was trapped! I had to slam on my brakes to keep from hitting that car. Behind me, a massive tractor-trailer truck was coming fast. I remember feeling terrified when I looked in the rearview mirror and saw it speeding toward my car. The truck came within inches of my back bumper before it somehow slowed down enough to stop in just enough time before hitting me.
In those few seconds, my previous understanding of the trip was gone. I was helpless. But God wasn’t. God knew that experience was coming long before I even started driving that day. He had already planned to answer my prayers for protection.
Looking back, I realize something important: if God had shown me a video of that near-accident before I left my driveway, I would have been so scared that I may not have taken the trip at all. But God, in his kindness, kept that information from me. He gave me the gift of not knowing so that I could move forward in faith. I’m so glad I trusted God to handle the details I couldn’t see.
Proverbs 3:5 encourages us to trust God completely rather than relying on our own understanding. As humans with limited perspectives, there’s a lot we don’t know. But God, who knows everything and can do anything, uses that unlimited knowledge and power for good. We can trust in God’s goodness to us, even when we don’t understand what’s happening. There’s wisdom in being willing to say that we don’t know, but God does.
We all sometimes face closed doors. Maybe we applied for a job we thought we were perfect for, but didn’t get it. Maybe a relationship we valued suddenly fell apart. Or, maybe a plan we prayed over for months still didn’t work out.
Often, we try to figure out why. We replay the situation in our minds, because we think that if we can understand it, we can control it. We believe understanding will bring us peace. But the truth is that we can’t force God’s big plans into our small human boxes. God works in ways that go far beyond our understanding. God’s possibilities for our lives are bigger than the ones we’ve imagined for ourselves. When we choose to trust God in situations that don’t make sense to us, we welcome God’s very best into our lives by making space for all of God’s possibilities to happen.
We can still be at peace when we don’t understand what God is doing. Mysteries can challenge us to grow our faith in God by stepping out of our comfort zones and trusting him in new ways. When we don’t know something, we can be sure that God does.
In the gap between what we know and what God knows, we can find grace. Not knowing something is sometimes a gift from God.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider why it’s important to trust God when you don’t know something, reflect on these questions:
What’s one situation happening in your life right now that doesn’t make sense to you? Even though you don’t understand it, how can you still trust God to do what’s best for you in that situation?
When did you experience a past situation that didn’t make sense at the time, but God showed you later how he was protecting you through it? How can that memory help you trust God with your current unknowns?
How can you strengthen your faith by embracing mysteries and letting them show you something new about how God works?
How can believing that God’s plans for you are beyond what you can understand help you worry less about the future?
Further Reading:
Isaiah 55:8-9
1 Corinthians 13:12
Romans 11:33
Psalm 131:1
Ephesians 3:20
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