The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

How often do you stop to thank God for the prayers He has already answered? It’s easy to focus on what we’re still waiting for while overlooking the blessings, relationships, opportunities, and circumstances we once desperately asked God to provide. Remembering answered prayers can renew our gratitude and help us recognize God’s goodness in everyday life.
Psalm 103 calls us to remember God’s benefits and not forget His goodness. Sometimes God answers prayers immediately, while other times His perfect timing looks different from what we expected. Childhood prayers for something as simple as a kitten or a puppy can become reminders of a faithful God who hears us and knows what is best. When we intentionally look back at what God has done, we can move from taking His blessings for granted to cultivating a heart of gratitude and trust.
Highlights
Why we can be quick to remember hardships while forgetting God’s goodness
How answered prayers can become easy to take for granted
What childhood prayers can teach us about trusting God’s timing
Why God’s answer may be “not yet” rather than “no”
How reflecting on past prayers can strengthen gratitude and faith
Practical questions for recognizing the answered prayers you are living right now
An encouragement to slow down, remember God’s blessings, and thank Him for His faithfulness
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Full Transcript Below:
What Childhood Prayers Teach Us about God’s Goodness
By Hannah Benson
Bible Reading:
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” (Psalm 103:2-5 ESV).
How quick are we to remember the sins of others when they have wronged us, or to remember the darkest tragedies in our lives? Even if we long to forget the terrible things, they don’t often easily slip from our minds.
Why is it then that we are so quick to forget the goodness of God? Why is it more difficult for us to remember all the good things God has done in our lives? Do we keep count? Do we thank Him for the blessings we take for granted? Do we remember the prayers we so desperately prayed that we are now living?
Do we stop to thank the Lord for those, or do we take them for granted?
I often find myself guilty of this.
I can get so caught up in praying for the next thing that I forget to simply bask in the Lord’s presence and remember everything He has done. There is nothing wrong with praying for something. God loves to hear from us! But He also desires that we cultivate a heart brimming with gratitude, remembering the goodness He has graced our lives with.
When I was a little girl, no more than 7 or 8-years-old, there was a mother cat who’d wandered the neighborhood for a few days, and we’d had a suspicion she’d had kittens somewhere in our backyard. My dad went out to look for them because we weren’t going to leave little helpless kittens alone (if they even existed).
And oh, how I prayed they existed.
I got on my knees behind my mom’s rocking chair, folded my hands, and pleaded with God for a kitten.
It was such a small, yet sincere, request.
Of all the things in life we actually need (jobs, food on the table, clothes), I love the sincerity and simplicity of my prayer as a little girl. Without a care in the world, I asked Him for what I truly wanted.
Told Him how I longed for a kitten.
I believed and hoped my daddy would find kittens so we could both save them and keep one (or two if we were really lucky).
Yet when my dad returned inside the house, he had to break the news to this little girl’s hopeful heart that there were no kittens to be found.
I didn’t understand.
Why didn’t God answer my prayer with a yes when I’d prayed so hard?
I couldn’t see it then, but God knew it wasn’t time.
At the time, we lived in the suburbs. Only when we moved out to the country 2-3 years later did God see fit to bless us with two little kittens, one of whom is now a still very healthy 13-year-old cat.
I also recall when I was a young teenager and prayed so hard for a dog.
For years, our parents told us, “Maybe someday,” but to be honest, none of us knew if it would ever happen.
But in 2020, when the world was thrown into chaos and turmoil, God told our mom that someday was now, and He directed our steps to the perfect little puppy for our family.
Simple prayers.
Yet prayers that God answered in His perfect timing. To be honest, as I reflect on these answered prayers among others, I realize how much I take them for granted. Yes, I’m grateful, but am I as grateful as I should be?
How often do I stop to remember the prayers I prayed that I’m now living?
Not often enough.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
I would challenge you to look at your life right now and reflect: what answered prayers are you living right now?
Perhaps the job you have now, even if it feels stressful at times, is an answer to a prayer you prayed years earlier.
What about your spouse who frustrated you this week? Wasn’t there a time you prayed for a husband or wife from the Lord?
How many times do we take what we once prayed for granted?
Let us resolve, by the grace of God, to cultivate a heart filled with gratitude for all the Lord has done in our lives.
Pray with me: Lord, please forgive us for how quickly we forget Your goodness. Please open our eyes today to see the answered prayers we are living. Help us to slow down to bask in Your presence and thank You for all Your blessings. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
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When stress, worry, and constant responsibilities leave you feeling overwhelmed, finding peace can seem impossible. A fast-paced, achievement-driven life can keep your mind racing and make it difficult to slow down, be present, and remember where true peace comes from. Jesus offers a better way.
John 14:27 reminds us that the peace Jesus gives is different from what the world offers. We don’t have to live consumed by fear, productivity, or worry about what comes next. By intentionally pausing, becoming still, and turning our attention toward God, we create space to recognize His presence and trust His provision. Even a few quiet minutes each day can help us step away from the noise, surrender our concerns, and receive the peace Christ freely gives.
Highlights
Why slowing down can help us recognize God’s presence and peace
How a fast-paced, achievement-driven culture can fuel stress and worry
What Jesus means when He says, “my peace I give you” in John 14:27
Why worry can pull us toward self-dependency and away from trusting God
How Jesus’ teaching about the birds of the air challenges us to trust God’s provision
The spiritual value of being still, present, and attentive to God
Practical ways to make intentional pauses for peace part of your daily routine
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Full Transcript Below:
Pausing for Peace
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
It was a lovely summer day when I had the opportunity to take a day trip to meet up with a coworker in a city several hours from where I live. I had numerous reasons to rush through the event in order to get back to my desk and make up for the loss of “productivity” that evening. However, something prompted me to slow down and take advantage of the day away.
After the lunch meeting with my colleague, she recommended a trail nearby that I might enjoy before I had to get back on the road. Nature is very much my “happy place” (especially if it includes forests or water), so when she pointed me in that direction, I went along readily. With each step down the cobblestone path, my soul breathed a little easier. Covered by a canopy of lush green trees, the atmosphere was almost magical. As my attention was focused on the beauty surrounding me, the weight of my worries seemed to slip away. I became more and more present in the moment rather than consumed with all the concerns of the past or the future. There really was nothing else to do but be… Be in the moment, be present, and be at peace.
In our fast-paced, achievement-driven, bigger-is-always-better modern culture, many of us are burdened by overwhelm. Our minds race just as fast (if not faster) than the breakneck speed of life around us. As such, it is so easy for fear and stress to engulf our hearts and minds, drawing us deeper into self-dependency and further away from the one true source of our peace.
Jesus reminds us in the scripture provided today that He has not only extended His peace to us, but that through Him we do not need to be afraid.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV)
In a very practical sense, Jesus also addresses our tendency towards worry in Matthew chapter six, when He illustrates how God provides for the needs of His creatures.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matt. 6:25-62 (NIV)
If the Lord is willing and able to so abundantly care for the birds of the air, is He not also able to care well for us? Of course He is… Why then do we have so much trouble believing in this provision? Because we do not allow ourselves to pause long enough to look up and look out at the blessings all around us. We keep our eyes on the prize and our hands to plow, never stopping long enough to realize there is a better way. The way is Jesus (John 14:6).
There is something so pure and so beautiful when we intentionally choose to stop… to be still. In the quietness of moments like the one I mentioned earlier, we recognize our Creator in the midst of His creation, we rediscover hope, we step into peace, and we surrender to Him who is able to provide all that we need in trust (Eph. 3:20-21).
No matter how busy your life seems, or how many outside voices clamor for your attention, may I encourage you today to simply stop? Even if it is just for a few minutes each day, I strongly recommend you prioritize pausing for peace. There really is respite for the worried and weary. You simply have to be still.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you struggle with worry or weariness? Do you feel like the demands of your job or other responsibilities don’t allow for seasons of rest and stillness? If so, how does today’s devotional offer you an alternative viewpoint?
If you are willing, decide on one practice you can employ every day to set aside intentional time to pause and be still. Whether it is the first thing in the morning, an alarm you set as a reminder on your phone, or maybe even an agreed-upon time that you and a friend decide to commit to, I challenge you to prioritize incorporating some sort of pause throughout your day to stop everything and simply be… Be present, be still, and receive from God the gift of peace.
Further Reading:
Isaiah 26:3-4
Psalm 29:11
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Favoritism in a family can leave lasting wounds, especially when a child feels overlooked, unwanted, or less valued than their siblings. Whether it happens through obvious comparisons or subtle differences in attention, playing favorites can damage relationships and shape how children see themselves for years to come. Scripture offers a clear warning: God does not show favoritism.
James 2:1 calls Christians to reject favoritism, reminding us that partiality has no place in a life devoted to Jesus. Parents can be tempted to favor one child because of personality, responsibility, or shared interests, but every child needs to know they are equally loved and valued. For those who have experienced the pain of favoritism, God’s love offers hope and a foundation for healing. And when we recognize that our own favoritism has hurt others, humility, apology, and a commitment to change can help begin the process of restoration.
Highlights
Why favoritism can create lasting emotional wounds within families
How playing favorites can affect both the favored child and overlooked siblings
What James 2:1 teaches Christians about showing partiality
Why God’s love provides hope for those who have felt overlooked or unwanted
How parents can work toward showing each child equal love and value
The importance of apologizing when favoritism has caused hurt
Practical questions for recognizing favoritism and taking steps toward reconciliation
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Full Transcript Below:
The Importance of Avoiding Favoritism
By Vivian Bricker
Bible Reading:
“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism” (James 2:1).
Favoritism occurred in my family as my dad’s favorite was the oldest child, and my mom’s favorite was the middle child. As the youngest of three, I was never chosen as the favorite. Instead, I was seen as the “extra” child. As one can imagine, this has caused me to have long-lasting problems, such as a negative self-view and low self-esteem.
If you genuinely want to obey God, you must give up the practice of playing favorites. Favoritism only hurts your children and makes them second-guess themselves.
Studies have shown that the oldest child tends to be the favorite, often because they are more like their parents or take on more responsibilities than younger siblings. It is time to change these statistics; there needs to be equal love for each child. Within the family of God, there is no room for favoritism. The Apostle Paul tells us, “For God does not show favoritism” (Romans 2:11).
Showing favoritism will hurt your other children, either directly or indirectly. Not to mention, it could make the favorite overconfident, selfish, and self-absorbed. There needs to be equality amongst children. If you continue to play favorites, it will push your children away from you.
This has been true for me, as there was nothing I could do to get my parents to like me. I have gone through multiple years of therapy to help work through this issue. I have also sought out help from God. Through the help of the Lord, I have discovered that I am loved by Him. The Bible tells us we are God’s children and that we are dearly loved by Him (1 John 3:1).
The journey has not been easy, but Jesus has helped me every step of the way. While it is true that I will always have this wound from my parents, I can move on to new beginnings in the Lord. It also helps me share my story with others to help prevent them from showing favoritism toward their own children.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
James 2:1 says, “My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.” This comes from the half-brother of the Lord. In no way does favoritism bring about the righteous life that God wants for us. It will only bring pain to our own lives and to the lives of others.
Reach out to those you may have hurt with favoritism and tell them you want to talk. Apologize to them and ask if there is anything you can do to make things right. Acknowledge that you cannot change the past, but help them to know that you will no longer practice favoritism in the future. An apology and a promise to change for the future can go a long way toward healing someone's heart, whether they are in their childhood, teenage, or adult years.
Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, I want to let go of the toxic trait of showing favoritism. I don't want to play favorites anymore, as I see all the pain it causes. Please help me to love everyone equally. Forgive me for my sin, and please help those I have hurt to forgive me. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
When you are tempted to show favoritism, what can you do? Is there a person you need to reach out to today to apologize to and make things right with? If so, when will you reach out to them this week?
Further Reading:
Genesis 37:4
Deuteronomy 10:17
Acts 10:34
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In a culture obsessed with staying young, aging can feel like something to hide or fight. But what does the Bible say about growing older? Scripture offers a different perspective, showing that aging can bring wisdom, spiritual maturity, and opportunities to invest in the next generation.
Proverbs 16:31 calls gray hair a “crown of glory,” reminding Christians that growing older is not something to fear or be ashamed of. For Christian women especially, Titus 2 offers a meaningful calling: older women are to share their wisdom and faith with younger generations. Instead of letting culture define the value of aging, we can embrace each season of life as an opportunity to grow in godliness, make disciples, encourage others, and point our families toward Christ.
Highlights
How the Bible offers a different perspective on aging than today’s anti-aging culture
Why Proverbs 16:31 describes gray hair as a crown of glory
Learning to recognize the spiritual value of growing older in Christ
What Titus 2 teaches about older women mentoring and encouraging younger women
Why Christian women should embrace opportunities to share wisdom across generations
How aging can become an opportunity to make disciples and invest in others
Encouragement to renew our minds with God’s Word rather than allowing culture to define our view of aging
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Full Transcript Below:
Finding the Beauty of Aging in an Anti-Aging World
By: Emily Rose Massey
Bible Reading:
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31, ESV).
Botox and injectables, facelifts, tummy tucks, retinol creams, under-eye concealer and color correctors, collagen and peptide powders, weight-loss products, teeth whitening, and veneer treatment advertisements bombard us continually through television, magazines, and social media influencers. There is no getting around it; we live in an anti-aging world. This was the topic of a recent women’s leadership training at my church, as we discussed the importance of Christian women embracing the high calling of Titus 2 (older women training the younger women). Do we try to run from the title of “older woman,” or are we enthusiastically embracing it because we know how much the Bible esteems growing older in the Lord?
The book of Proverbs is full of so much wisdom and highlights the beauty of aging in chapter 16:
“Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life” (Proverbs 16:31, ESV).
The Bible does not tell us to cover up those gray hairs; it says that it is a crown of honor. We must embrace growing older because, as Christ followers, our gray hair should be a sign of a lifelong journey with Jesus! Now, I am not trying to create a law where there is none; there is Christian liberty when it comes to matters such as this. I dye my roots when I see gray hair poking through, but maybe I should pause and ask myself: How do I truly see aging?
Intersecting Faith & Life:
I enjoy makeup and basic skincare, but I do believe it is important to ask the Lord to search our hearts so that we do not find ourselves running away from ‘father time.’ As Christians, we must see aging rightly, which should be positive, not negative. How has the world’s view of aging influenced the church? If we are not on our guard, we can be swayed by the world’s thinking. That is why it is so important to renew our minds with God’s word daily (Romans 12:1-2).
I often wonder if the Christian generations before me have become entangled by the culture’s lies instead of standing firm against them. In my own personal experience, I have prayed for many years for an older woman in the faith to come alongside me. Oh, how I long for the wisdom of a woman who has been walking with Jesus for decades longer than I have! Sadly, there seems to be a generational gap missing from my own church, which is very Biblically sound. Instead of being tempted to complain about this lack, I am reminded that I must go to God in prayer, especially when it seems so out of reach for me to find a mentor who can come alongside me and teach me to love my husband and children and love Jesus and His word even more. But much more than that, I do not want to ignore my own call to make disciples.
The world may recoil from the word “older,” but the Bible is clear that age reveals great wisdom and insight. I may not feel like an older woman in the faith, but age should never limit me from the Great Commission (Matthew 28). Instead of waiting for someone to pour into me, I must look for those whom I can pour into and encourage in the Lord. I should proudly embrace the title of “older woman” at just 40 years old because it truly is a high calling to train the younger generation in the Lord.
The call for women in Titus 2 is important within the church and desperately needed by our society. We need godly women (and men, too) who are strong in the faith to raise strong, godly children with strong, godly marriages. Imagine how much impact we would have in the culture if we embraced the good found in aging and taught our children the amazing plan the Lord has for us to grow in godliness, wisdom, and righteousness as we live in the here and now, with eyes and hearts also fixed on eternity with the Lord. Families like this could change the world for Christ! Lord, help us to see the beauty in growing older in age and in You!
Further Reading:
Titus 2
Romans 12
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What does it really mean to believe in God? It’s possible to believe that God exists without allowing His Word to shape the way we think, live, and make decisions. True faith goes beyond acknowledging God—it means trusting what He says and letting that belief change us.
James 2:19 reminds us that even demons believe there is one God, challenging us to examine whether our faith is more than simply recognizing God’s existence. When we truly believe God, our lives begin to reflect that faith through our choices, obedience, relationships, and especially the way we love others. Following Jesus means allowing God’s truth to transform our hearts and our everyday lives.
Highlights
The difference between believing in God and believing God
Why genuine faith should change the way we live and make decisions
What James 2:19 teaches us about simply acknowledging that God exists
How Abraham’s faith demonstrates what it means to believe God’s promises
Why our actions can reveal what we truly believe in our hearts
How unbelief can quietly influence our choices and priorities
Why loving others is one of the clearest ways our faith in Jesus becomes visible
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Full Transcript Below:
What Do You Believe?
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.” - James 2:19
What we believe about God is critical, determining how we live our daily lives and also determining our eternal futures.
It’s wise for us to ask, “Do we believe in God or do we believe God?” because there is a difference.
The first is believing there is a God, which is good and a start; the second is our believing God, meaning we believe what He says is true.
The difference they make in our lives is evident, too. Believing there is a God doesn’t mean we believe Him and live out His words in our lives; believing Him changes us.
As 2 Corinthians 5:17 describes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
It’s not difficult, either, for others to see what we truly believe in our lives. For example, if we believe what health experts tell us about how to live our lives, then we exercise, eat healthily, and live according to healthy principles.
So it is if we believe God. We’ll live according to His word, incorporating, practicing, and living out His godly principles in our lives.
Believing God Changes Us
In Luke 4:33-34, a demon recognizes who Jesus truly is. “In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
Even a demon identified and believed in Jesus. Yet it’s through putting our faith in Him and believing His word that we are saved.
The Apostle Paul describes in Romans 4:3, “What does Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’”
Faith is critical, as Hebrews 11:6 explains, “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
Paul wrote in Acts 16:31, “They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’”
The “believing in” Paul is referring to is more than just believing God exists; it’s believing Him, rooted in faith that changes us.
Keeping Unbelief at Bay
Many people in the world acknowledge Jesus, yet do not believe what He says: “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).
Unbelief disguises itself in many ways, and one way is by people thinking they believe, while in their hearts, they really don’t, as evidenced in the way they live.
When we truly believe God, our lives reveal it; it’s undeniable, but if no one knows or sees, then we want to revisit what we truly believe.
As Hebrews 3:12 warns, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
If we’re saying we believe God, yet making decisions based on our own and others’ human reasoning, living how we see fit, our actions are revealing a heart that doesn’t believe God.
When we believe Him, our lives reflect what our hearts truly believe. Proverbs 27:19 reveals, “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Believing God shows in the ways we think, how we choose to live, and especially by the way we love others.
Jesus tells us in John 13:34-35, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you believe God so much so that it’s evident in your life? If not, ask God to help you believe Him, to believe the truth of His word, so that your life changes.
Further Reading:
How Reading the Bible Keeps Us from Believing False Teaching
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