The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

In today’s culture, fear often keeps us from speaking truth—even when someone’s actions are harmful to themselves or others. Aaron D’Anthony Brown encourages believers to confront sin with courage, clarity, and love, following the example of Jesus. Speaking truth doesn’t require aggression; it requires wisdom, discernment, and a heart aligned with God. Honest, righteous communication strengthens relationships and fosters spiritual growth in ourselves and others.
Highlights
Fear of confrontation can keep truth unspoken, enabling harm to continue.

Jesus was not afraid to call out sin, yet He did so with purpose and discernment.

Speaking truth effectively does not require anger; it requires wisdom and courage.

Honest confrontation helps others grow spiritually, just as we rely on accountability to grow.

Let your words be clear, consistent, and aligned with God’s righteousness.

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
The Courage to Speak Truth
By Aaron D’Anthony Brown

Bible Reading:
“But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.” - Matthew 5:37
If there’s one thing believers and nonbelievers have in common today, it is a fear that prevents us from saying exactly what’s on our mind. In our modern culture, telling someone anything remotely offensive has become taboo, even if they’re hurting us or hurting themselves.
The thought of having any sort of confrontation proves too much. We become paralyzed before finding some justification to simply let things be. Yet at the same time, we continue to complain about said things.
Recently, a friend of mine was sharing with me about someone in his friend group who was dabbling in transgenderism. My friend was afraid to share his thoughts on the issue with this person and instead remained silent, even though he was clearly concerned about his friend.
There are so many people who feel like this today. Rather than tell people the truth, we tell them lies, or nothing at all, which they then interpret as affirmation, even though we know it to be sin.
The solution is simple - put yourself in their shoes. What would we want people to do for us if we were sinning? Call us out? Leave us be? We ourselves know the right thing to do, but are not doing it.
Jesus says to let our “yes” and “no” be clear. Let’s talk about how to do that.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Recognize that Christ was offensive.
Some of us in the modern church have started believing that Jesus got along perfectly with everybody all the time, but that just wasn’t the case. Jesus called people out on their sin. He wasn’t afraid to go against the culture. Why do you think there were so many who rallied against Him and were bent on having Him killed?
Certainly, Christ did not offend for the sake of hurting others. There was truth that they needed to hear, and oftentimes they didn’t want to hear it. Nonetheless, what mattered most was the truth. The same applies to us today.
Understand that the truth doesn’t have to be offensive.
We often grow squeamish at the thought of treating sin with aggression. But here’s the reality: you don’t have to be aggressive. There is such a thing as righteous anger, but calling someone out for bad behavior doesn’t require you to be angry. As discussed, Jesus was not the pacifist we often make Him out to be, but He also didn’t go around yelling at everyone He caught misbehaving. Effective communication requires wisdom, something we can attain by first stepping out of our comfort zones and having these tough conversations.
We need one another to grow.
We’re no different from the people we complain about. Our struggles may differ. Some are certainly more severe than others. However, like the people we are afraid to confront, we have struggles we don’t realize ourselves. You’re hopefully not the same person you were a year ago, or five years ago. Why? You’ve learned more about yourself in that time. Some of which you learned on your own, but other things were brought to your attention.
We need God and fellow believers to give us the wisdom to become aware. Likewise, we need to use the wisdom we’ve been blessed with and admonish those around us - effectively, honestly, and righteously.
Further Reading:
Proverbs 12:22
Proverbs 13:20
John 2:15-17
Luke 6:31
Ephesians 4:24
Matthew 10:34-36
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Just as every marathon runner sets goals and works to meet them, we must meet our goals to achieve what God has for us. He does not want us to be stuck in the past. Instead, he wants us to forget what is behind, completely heal from it, and move forward so that we can move toward heaven.
When we move toward heaven, we help others do the same. As people admire us and watch us straining through the ups and downs of life with joy and contentment, others are drawn to Christ, too. When we run the race that has been marked out for us, we in turn help others run the race as well.
This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
Strain Forward Towards the Goal
By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 3:13-14
After waiting many months for the Lord's direction, I have begun the ordination process with my denomination. Although it is a long, complicated process, I know I am up for the challenge. But first, I wanted to pray and make sure that my decision was not simply my decision, but one that the Lord was calling me to make.
After many months of silence, God finally used somebody in my life to confirm what I needed to know. As I've gone through the process, God has recalled many emotional wounds I've needed to heal. Due to past church hurt and bad exchanges with brothers and sisters in Christ, I became nervous about whether I could do the job. I wasn't sure I wanted to go back into a situation that could be toxic or harmful to my mental or emotional state.
One day, I was reading the Word and came across the above verses. It was interesting for me to note the phrase, “forgetting what is behind, and straining toward what's ahead.” The word “strain” implies that it's not easy to move. For instance, people with physical injuries who want to run a marathon will find it quite tricky. The pain of that injury will impede them from running the race fully with a healthy body.
Although we may never completely forget the hurts and difficulties of our past, God wants us to forget what they are and continue toward the goal he has for us. God doesn't want us to ignore the pain. Instead, knowing it's there, we should take steps to care for ourselves and also to achieve the goal he has set for us. With proper rest, nutrition, and healthy water intake, a person who runs a marathon with an injury can do so, albeit slowly.
It is the same with us. God wants us to strive toward the goal that he has for us. In these verses, the price is heaven. Through many seasons of life, we may be straining toward heaven. We may be going through challenging health crises, financial woes, church, or relationship struggles. Yet through all of it, God wants us to keep moving forward. Even when we are stuck in those emotional wounds, God wants us to heal so we can move forward and reach the prize.
Just as every marathon runner sets goals and works to meet them, we must meet our goals to achieve what God has for us. He does not want us to be stuck in the past. Instead, he wants us to forget what is behind, completely heal from it, and move forward so that we can move toward heaven.
When we move toward heaven, we help others do the same. As people admire us and watch us straining through the ups and downs of life with joy and contentment, others are drawn to Christ, too. When we run the race that has been marked out for us, we in turn help others run the race as well.
Don't become stuck in the past. Instead, heal from what has ailed you. Seek the help of a professional, get medication, or do whatever you need to take to forget what's behind you completely. Then, when you are ready, move toward heaven, no matter what pace you are at. Strive toward the goal, move toward heaven, and inspire others to reach heaven's goals as well.
Father, let us be people who strain toward the goal. Let us always keep our eyes on the prize: heaven. Let us remember, then, that the ultimate prize is being solidified in our identity with you and in our intimate relationship with you. Help us get the resources and time we need to completely heal from the past so we may move forward toward the goal you have set for us. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
In what way are you stuck in the past? In what ways can you heal from the past so that you can move forward to your future goals?
Further Reading:
Hebrews 12:1
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Spring break often brings anticipation — travel plans, family bonding, and time away from daily routines. But it can also bring tension, exhaustion, misunderstandings, and unexpected disruptions.
In this episode, we talk about preparing our hearts — not just packing our bags. Whether your plans involve a staycation or a getaway, the real goal isn’t a perfect trip. It’s loving one another well in the middle of it.
Through Scripture, we’re reminded that even the bumps, delays, and disagreements can produce growth, peace, and deeper connection when Christ remains at the center.
What We Discuss
Why family trips can magnify both joy and tension

How to respond when plans fall apart

Choosing perspective over frustration

Practicing humility and patience in close quarters

Allowing challenges to strengthen — not strain — relationships

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
Preparing Our Hearts for Spring Break
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” - Hebrews 12:11
It’s that time of year again when our minds start thinking about spring break and where our families will plan to spend it. Whether it’s a staycation close to home or at the beach, the mountains, an amusement park, or on an island paradise, it’s about loving and enjoying our families.
Gratefully, our family has experienced wonderful spring break getaways where everything went well, but we’ve also waded through difficult and challenging ones where everything seemed to fall apart, no one seemed to get along, the influenza hit us, we ran out of gas in the desert, traffic was chaotic, and travel didn’t go the way we planned.
During times like these, when it’s easy for emotions to run wild and feelings to easily get hurt, we want to remember what Colossians 3:12-13 urges, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Spring Break Bumps
Although issues often arise during family getaways, they don’t have to color our experience and memories negatively. We can ask God to help us put situations into perspective, letting go of the less-than-pleasant and holding onto the warm and loving moments.
We don’t have to allow life’s displeasures to take away from the joy of being with one another and spending time together, despite the circumstances, through thick and thin, the fun and not-so-fun moments.
Rather than letting various difficulties and challenges ruin our time together, we can view them as bumps in our relationships, with the opportunity to learn how to walk through disputes and disruptions with God’s grace and forgiveness. We can be determined not to let challenging moments define our time together.
As the Apostle Paul urges us in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Hearts Open to Growth
During spring break, we can look to God to help us learn, grow, and even discover joy in the middle of mishaps, troubles, and difficulties. Paul reminds us in Romans 8:18: “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”
When we are willing to set our minds on it, we can trust God to work the hardships, difficulties, and disagreements together for our good by bringing us closer together with a common goal of making it through whatever is happening, drawing us closer to one another, and growing together rather than further apart.
1 Peter 1:6 reminds us that, “In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.”
Delight Over Despair
Spending time together as a family is often where everyone’s weaknesses flare up, fueled by spending a non-stop week together, instead of us all going our own ways for school, work, and church. During concentrated time together, it doesn’t take long for our frailties and faults to rear their ugly heads.
Rather than feel despair when spring break misunderstandings and disappointments happen, Paul encourages us in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Instead of being in despair over them, we can believe it gives God the opportunity to show Himself strongly in our lives, including our families’ lives.
With Christ as the center of our lives, Paul, who definitely knew what it was like to experience difficulties, weaknesses, and challenges in his life, reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 that when “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Before spending spring break as a family, gather together to pray for God to prepare your hearts to be loving and kind to each other during your extended family time. As well, discuss beforehand how God can help you to be patient and long-suffering with each other during your time together.
Further Reading:
15 Spring Break Trips that Are Budget and Family Friendly
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Why does it bother us when someone doesn’t seem to like us?
In this episode, we unpack the tension between people-pleasing and God-pleasing. While the desire to gain favor with others can stem from good intentions, it can easily shift into seeking approval instead of living from love.
Scripture reminds us that our ultimate aim is not to please people — but to love them well. When love and faithfulness guide our thoughts, words, and actions, we find ourselves resting in God’s approval rather than striving for human validation.
What We Discuss
The difference between loving people and pleasing people

Why human approval is unstable

How our hearts can deceive us

Filtering our actions through biblical love

What it truly means to gain favor in God’s sight

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
Gaining Favor in the Eyes of God and Others
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4)
The sad truth is, it sincerely upsets me when someone doesn’t seem to like me. And though I’ve certainly struggled with people-pleasing, I’ve come to the conclusion that my concern over how another may perceive me isn’t just about pleasing the person. Not to mention, I know people are impossible to always please. But I’m beginning to believe the majority of my mission to receive favor in the eyes of others is rooted in the desire to do the right thing. Not necessarily by them, but by God. But to be honest, discerning the God-honoring way can be tricky at times. Because my heart and mind can deceive me. That’s true for all of us. We may tell ourselves our words and actions are justified and right. But too often our human flesh naturally prompts us toward selfish motives. So occasionally, when someone seems to have an issue with me, I start to wonder if they are sensing such behavior, and are justified in their ill thinking and feelings. On the flipside, if someone seems to be pleased with me, if I appear to have their favor, it sometimes serves as an indicator that I’m on the right path. But then again, this thought process is flawed as well.
Do you ever personally fall into people-pleasing? Or simply and strongly desire to gain favor in the eyes of others? If, like me, you do find yourself aspiring to find right standing with people, why does it matter to you? Though the more important questions we should consider are: What really matters? And who really matters?
We certainly can’t always please people, because we are all flawed and imperfect. But we aren’t called to please people anyway. We are called to love them. God is the only one we should ultimately aim to please. He alone is whom we ought to set our hearts on pleasing. He is who we ought to set out to please. Because of our love for God—because he first loved us. And what is pleasing to God is our loving him and loving others. Our goal should not be to please others, but to love others—for the sake of God and our love for him.
In our quest to transition from pleasing to loving, our goal should also be to love the way God called us to love. The way Jesus loved. And I’m sure you’re closely familiar with this passage, but he perfectly describes how he longs for us to love in 1 Corinthians 13. Verses 4-7 read, Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
This type of love is a tall order, no doubt. But this is a replica of what love looks like in the eyes of our all-loving Lord. These are the attributes we should aim for in learning to love. And as we learn to love more and more like God commanded us to love, we will find favor in his eyes and of others.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Proverbs 3:3 encourages us to, Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. And verse 4 claims, Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. So, if you desire to find favor with the Lord and those around you, let love never leave you. Instead of seeking to please people, make it your life mission to love better. Practice filtering your thoughts, decisions, words, and every action through the First Corinthians love filter. Are your actions patient, humble, kind, selfless, drenched in truth and holiness? Are your words those of protection, trust, hope, and perseverance? This is love.
While it’s not necessarily wrong to desire to want to please others, the heart and goal behind this desire should truly be to love them. As God would love. For the sake of God. Determine to root your desire to gain favor with those around you in your desire to please God. Let that desire to please God fuel your fire to love like God. And in loving like him, you may gain favor with others, but your striving to please people will be replaced with refreshed and confident rest that you are pleasing in the eyes of our good God. And that is all that really matters.
If you liked what you read, I think you will love my latest book, Win Over Worry: Conquer What Shakes You and Soar With the One Who Overcomes. You can find it on Amazon or your favorite online retail site. I hope it blesses you!
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Faithfulness is often tested in the moments no one else sees.
In this episode, we explore how integrity is built — not in grand gestures, but in quiet, ordinary decisions. Through a simple but powerful story about a toddler’s toy and a mother’s promise, we’re reminded that what feels small to us may mean everything to someone else.
Jesus teaches that how we handle the “little” things reveals the condition of our hearts. When we resist the temptation to cut corners, we demonstrate trustworthiness — both before God and before others.
What We Discuss
Why small acts of obedience matter

The temptation to minimize “insignificant” responsibilities

How integrity is formed in private decisions

The connection between stewardship and trust

Why faithfulness today prepares us for greater responsibility tomorrow

This episode is sponsored by Trinity Debt Management. If you are struggling with debt call Trinity today. Trinity's counselors have the knowledge and resources to make a difference. Our intention is to help people become debt-free, and most importantly, remain debt-free for keeps!" If your debt has you down, we should talk. Call us at 1-800-793-8548 | https://trinitycredit.org
TrinityCredit – Call us at 1-800-793-8548. Whether we're helping people pay off their unsecured debt or offering assistance to those behind in their mortgage payments. https://trinitycredit.org
Full Transcript Below:
To Be Faithful with the Little Things
By Deidre Braley
Bible Reading:
Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. - Luke 16:10
Something you should know is that we have a dog and three young children. That means that nothing in our house is ever entirely clean, and also that there’s so much hullabaloo on any given morning in our home that when the dog starts to chew a kid’s toy, it is the least of my worries.
But it was not the least of our two-year-old’s worries the other morning. We were trying to get everyone on the school bus and out the door when our dog found one of the wooden “bolts” from his play toolbox and started to roll it around in his mouth. “Oh, stop that,” I said, prying it from his mouth. I tossed it back on the floor and wouldn’t have given it another thought, except that our horrified toddler cried, “Mommy, will you clean it?”
I assured him I would, of course, and then I gave him a hug and a kiss and sent him out the door with my husband so everyone could make it to their morning destination on time. As soon as the house was silent, I went about my morning rounds of tidying just enough clutter so I could work at home without being utterly distracted by the mess.
When I went back into his bedroom to gather up the dirty clothes and clear a path for walking on his floor, I saw the dog-slobbered toy. And I have to be honest here—I thought to myself, “He’ll never know,” and almost just tossed it back in his toolbox without washing it. But then a small voice whispered into my spirit, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.” I was convicted. I took out a baby wipe and gently rubbed it down, then went on with my day.
When he got home that night, can you guess what he asked me right away? “Mommy, you clean my toy?” It is hard to describe the relief I felt knowing I could honestly say, “Yes, I did.” Just like I said I would.
To me, that little wooden bolt had felt inconsequential. My mind had been running through all the deadlines I needed to meet that day and all the more “important” things I needed to accomplish. But to my son, that was the important thing. If I hadn’t been faithful with that, how could he trust me to be faithful at all?
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Since that day, I’ve been surprised by how many opportunities I’ve had to be faithful in the little things—and how often I’ve been tempted to cut corners, thinking that no one will notice or care anyway. But after telling the parable of the shrewd manager, Jesus asks, “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own” (Luke
16:11-12)? In other words, the way we steward what we have today matters, and God sees the way we handle what he’s given to us to care for. The people around us do too. Our obedience in tending to the “little” things indicates the integrity of our character and whether we can also be trusted with the “big” things.
As you go about your day today, I encourage you to keep Jesus’ words in your head: “Whoever can be trusted with very little…” Whenever you are tempted to cut a corner (like tossing that dog-slobbered toy back into the bin without washing it first), remember that this is an opportunity to be faithful—to show God and others that you are a person of integrity whom they can trust.
Further Reading:
The Parable of the Faithful Steward: Luke 12:35-48
The Parable of the Talents: Matthew 25:14-28
1 Peter 4:10
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