The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Can you keep your faith strong when life brings disappointment, loss, uncertainty, or unexpected challenges? Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Yet, just as the seasons change, our trust in God can sometimes fluctuate with our circumstances. When hardship leaves you discouraged or success tempts you to rely on yourself, God invites you to draw closer to Him and remain grounded in His promises. A faith that survives life’s first frost doesn’t depend on favorable circumstances; it rests on the unchanging character and faithfulness of Jesus Christ.
Highlights
Understand what Hebrews 11:1 teaches about trusting God when you cannot see what lies ahead.

Discover why changing circumstances can cause faith to fluctuate and how drawing near to God strengthens your trust in Him.

Learn the five characteristics of surviving faith: focusing on Jesus, remaining steadfast, holding onto hope, sharing your faith, and praying continually.

Explore how fixing your eyes on Christ helps you resist distractions and stay grounded in God’s truth.

Find encouragement in God’s unchanging faithfulness, even during seasons when your own faith feels weak.

Discover how sharing your faith with others can encourage spiritual growth and strengthen your walk with God.

Reflect on practical ways to deepen your faith and remain steadfast through every season of life.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!
Sign Up Today!
Full Transcript Below:
A Faith That Survives the First Frost
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” - Hebrews 11:1
What kind of faith do we have? Does it hold fast and deepen through the seasons of life? Or, does it change like the weather? Do darker, colder days send a chill over our hearts and send us downward, with our circumstances, disappointments, failures, and losses? Likewise, do great successes and joy cause us to feel like we’re doing pretty well on our own?
What causes us to take our eyes off Jesus? Do we let unexpected life events make our faith waiver, or do we stay steadfast and draw nearer to God?
In times of distress as well as joy, James 4:8 urges, “Come near to God and He will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
If we find our faith changing and falling off like leaves after autumn’s first frost, we’ll want to survey our hearts and minds and see what’s leading our belief and trust in God to fluctuate like the blowing wind.
As James 1:6-8 warns, “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”
Faith That Fluctuates
Jesus recognizes how, in some, faith fluctuates, asking in Luke 18:8, “…However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”
The world has a way of wearing people’s faith down. Jesus explains how that happens in Matthew 24:12, “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold.”
As Hebrews 3:12 warns believers, “See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.”
Even so, as 2 Timothy 2:13 explains, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot disown Himself.”
5 Characteristics of Surviving Faith
So what kind of faith survives through the first frost and beyond? The following is a description of the five characteristics it takes.
Surviving faith sets its mind on Jesus. Locking our gaze on Jesus keeps our hearts and minds set on Him. As Colossians 3:2 urges, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.”
As well, Hebrews 12:2 urges, “Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Surviving faith stays steadfast. It’s our choice when it comes to standing firm and staying steadfast in our faith. Colossians 1:23 describes what we need to do:
“If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”
Surviving faith holds onto hope. Holding onto hope keeps us from swerving back and forth in our faith. As Hebrews 10:23 urges, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”
Surviving faith spreads to others. When our faith survives, it can’t stay contained within us because there is too much life in it to keep silent. Faith that survives finds ways to share with others, even while we’re still growing in it.
Acts 18:25 tells us of a passionate Jewish teacher in Ephesus named Apollos, who couldn’t keep his faith quiet, even though he was still learning and growing in his relationship with God. “He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.”
Surviving faith prays continually. A faith that keeps praying, takes us through the seasons of life, as Paul urges in Ephesians 6:18, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Does your faith waiver at times? If so, commit to building a surviving faith that weathers the first frost and much more.
Further Reading:
A Prayer to Deepen and Strengthen Your Faith
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How can Christians respond when the world glorifies evil and celebrates things that go against God’s goodness? Romans 12:21 offers a powerful answer: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” In a culture where dishonesty, selfishness, revenge, and spiritual darkness can seem increasingly common, believers are called to stand firm in their faith and reflect the light of Jesus Christ. Choosing goodness isn’t always popular or easy, especially when others respond with hostility or encourage you to compromise your values. But God can give you the courage and wisdom to make choices that honor Him, even when you stand apart from the crowd.
Highlights
Explore what Romans 12:21 teaches about overcoming evil with good instead of allowing darkness to shape your actions.

Discover how to reflect God’s goodness when the world celebrates dishonesty, selfishness, or spiritual darkness.

Learn to respond to hurtful words with kindness, dishonesty with truth, and selfishness with generosity.

Understand how everyday choices can demonstrate God’s love and bring hope to people who are struggling.

Find encouragement to forgive others and break cycles of anger, resentment, and revenge.

Discover how prayer and the Holy Spirit can strengthen you to resist harmful influences and remain faithful to God.

Reflect on practical ways to choose goodness, protect your heart, and shine Christ’s light in your daily life.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!
Sign Up Today!
Full Transcript Below:
When the World Glorifies Darkness, Choose What Is Good
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” – Romans 12:21, NIV
While visiting an independent bookstore, I browsed the spirituality section and was disappointed to see lots of books about spiritual darkness and very few about God and the light of hope he shines into our fallen world. I considered just leaving without saying anything. But I felt like I should try to have a conversation with the woman at the front desk. So, I silently prayed for courage. Then, I told her that I had been looking for books on God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and other related topics. She rolled her eyes and suggested that I visit a Christian bookstore in the area. But I sensed that I should ask her some questions about the selections in the store. Why so many books about the dark side of the spiritual world, like the occult, but so few about God’s goodness? Why sell books about demons but not about holy angels? It turns out that she was the store owner and manager. Even though my questions and tone of voice were polite, an angry expression flashed across her face and she blurted out: “I just stock what sells the most. If you want something else, then go somewhere else.” After I nodded and walked out, I prayed for God to reach out to her and shine light into the darkness that surrounded her so she could see the value of what’s good.
In Romans 12:21, the Bible urges you to fight back against being overcome by evil and instead to overcome evil with good.
Physically, if a room is completely dark, you can drive away the darkness by turning on a light. Even a small flashlight or candle flame cuts right through the darkness. Spiritually, if people in this fallen world around you are glorifying evil, you can overcome that by making choices that reflect God’s goodness.
Choosing what’s good may be unpopular sometimes, but it’s always worth it. When you choose goodness even though others around you are choosing spiritual darkness, you welcome God’s power to flow through your life freely. God will empower you to make the good choices he leads you to make day by day. When someone speaks hurtful words to you, God will give you the strength you need to answer with kindness. When others tell lies to get ahead, God will help you tell the truth. When people around you are selfish, God will empower you to be generous. The more you seek God’s guidance for your decisions, the more God will give you the power to follow through with those decisions well.
Every day, you face choices. You choose how you treat your family, friends, coworkers, and strangers who are unkind. You choose what you watch, what you talk about, and how you respond when you’re treated unfairly. The world will too often tell you to put yourself first, hold grudges, and seek revenge when you’re hurt. But God calls you to be a light in this dark place.
You might think your good choices don’t matter very much in this world that’s full of other people glorifying evil. But never underestimate the power of a good action you do with love. Doing something kind for people can make them feel loved. Speaking honestly to people can bring hope that breaks through their confusion or suffering. Choosing to forgive people for their mistakes can break a cycle of anger that’s lasted for a long time. When you choose what’s good, you show the world what God’s love in action looks like.
So, don’t let the darkness around you change who you are on the inside. Pray for help from God’s Holy Spirit and stand strong in the Holy Spirit’s power as you make your decisions every day. As you choose what’s good, God will use your light to make a real and positive difference in the lives of those around you!
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you consider how to choose what’s good even when the world around you is glorifying evil, reflect on these questions:
Where in your daily life do you notice the world glorifying things that don’t please God?
When have you felt tempted to respond to someone’s sinful choice by going along with it rather than speaking up against evil?
What’s one act of goodness you can do today for someone who has been difficult or unkind to you?
How does knowing that God gives you strength through the Holy Spirit change the way you view challenging situations?
What are some simple habits you can set in your life to protect your mind and heart from dark influences?
Further Reading:
3 John 1:11
Deuteronomy 30:15
Psalm 34:14
Matthew 5:16
Amos 5:14-15
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Discover how to trade superstition for steady faith by focusing on Jesus rather than the religious practices and objects that remind us of Him. Through the story of the sons of Sceva in Acts 19, explore why invoking Jesus’ name is not a formula for getting what we want and why spiritual growth comes from knowing and trusting Him. Whether you keep a cross nearby, read Scripture daily, or rely on familiar prayers for comfort, consider how these practices can deepen your relationship with God instead of becoming substitutes for it. Learn practical ways to build authentic faith, trust in Christ’s victory over darkness, and pursue a closer walk with the Lord.
Highlights
Understand the difference between genuine Christian faith and superstition rooted in religious objects or rituals.

Explore Acts 19 and the account of the sons of Sceva to discover why Jesus’ name is not a magical formula.

Recognize that the power of salvation and victory over darkness comes from Jesus Christ Himself.

Learn how crosses, Bibles, prayer, and other spiritual practices can serve as reminders of faith without replacing a relationship with God.

Reflect on whether any religious habits have become ways of seeking control or protection rather than trusting the Lord.

Discover why authentic spiritual growth comes from knowing Jesus and relying on His finished work on the cross.

Consider practical ways to invest in your relationship with God and develop a steady, sincere faith.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!
Sign Up Today!
Full Transcript Below:
Trading Superstition for Steady Faith
By: Sophia Bricker
Bible Reading:
“When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus, they were all seized with fear, and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” (Acts 19:17, NIV).
A card and a cross. Those were the two items I regularly kept with me during my first year of middle school, or junior high as it is sometimes known. The card bore the picture of Saint Patrick with a blessing printed on the back, which I kept in my pocket or bag while at school. But the cross? I wore it every day regardless of outfit or occasion. Like the card, it was Celtic-inspired, an Irish pewter cross with a clover in the middle.
To many, this could have looked like an attestation to faith. Far from it. At the time, I did not know or follow Christ. Instead, I found comfort in the strength that these items seemed to hold, as if the presence of the card or necklace could protect me. I was bullied relentlessly in middle school, so perhaps the superstitious possession of these items was a grasp at safety. Regardless, the items held great power in my mind. I had mistaken a symbol for the truth being symbolized.
Only later did I learn that the power of the cross, or the example of a saint’s life, comes only because of the crucified and resurrected Christ.
Some Jewish people did something similar during the early days of the church. In the book of Acts, we read about itinerant exorcists, the sons of Sceva, attempting to invoke the name of Jesus through Paul's name to drive out demons. Undoubtedly, they had heard about the power of Christ to free people from the control of spirits and so assumed that merely saying His name would work to drive away the demons. They were mistaken.
One day, the evil spirit replied to the men attempting to drive him out: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” (Acts 19:15, NIV). Instead of leaving victorious that day over the realms of darkness, as they had attempted, they were left beaten and bloodied (Acts 19:16). Their experience showed that Jesus’ name is not a magical word that can be wielded for man’s purposes. Superstition cannot replace true faith.
One day, every knee will bow to the name of our Lord Jesus, creatures and spirits alike (Philippians 2:9-11). Even now, demons tremble at the power of the Savior. The lack is not in Christ, for He has defeated the powers of darkness, making a spectacle of them on the cross (Colossians 2:15). But the power is in the Person, not the name alone. Paul and the other apostles could drive out spirits and perform miracles only because of Jesus–they knew the Lord and had trusted in the salvation He died to give.
Of course, today, we are not likely to attempt to invoke the name of Christ in the matter of demon possession. Those in other parts of the world who face more concrete spiritual attacks know that the strength to combat the works of Satan comes from Christ, not the act of speaking words. However, we could still fall into the trap of thinking that certain rituals or objects provide us with safety. Even prayer can be used in this way, when we think the Lord will be more likely to hear us for our many words (Matthew 6:6-8).
Let us not make the mistake of confusing the symbols for the truth symbolized. A wooden cross or crucifix hanging on our wall is a strong reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice; yet it alone, divorced from the Person of the Savior, has no power to save. The Bible we keep by our bedsides contains the precious promises of God; It does not convey the promises merely by our owning a copy of Scripture. Similarly, we could study beautiful paintings of believers following Christ throughout history, but doing so would not automatically make us grow in sanctification. Symbols and spiritual rhythms have their place as long as we do not mistake them for the real things: Jesus and our relationship with Him.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Is there anything in your life that has taken a superstitious turn––prayer, Bible reading, keeping religious items? Of course, these things are good and right, but anything can be used incorrectly if treated as a talisman to guard against harm. What might you do today to trade this superstition for steady faith?
What are some practical steps you can take this week to invest in your relationship with the Lord, as you would a friend?
Further Reading:
Mark 3:10-12
Acts 8:9-25
Acts 16:16-18
Philippians 2:5-11
Hebrews 2:5-18
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Is protecting your peace selfish, or is it biblical? When daily demands, stress, conflict, and constant noise leave you feeling exhausted, setting healthy boundaries can feel uncomfortable. But the Bible shows that protecting your peace can be a way to care for your spiritual well-being and reconnect with God. In Luke 5:16, Jesus regularly withdrew to quiet places to pray, demonstrating that even amid a demanding ministry, time alone with the Father mattered. Rather than allowing busyness, fear, or other people’s expectations to control your life, you can follow Jesus’ example by making room for prayer, rest, and a heart grounded in God’s presence.
Highlights
Discover why protecting your peace is biblical and how Jesus modeled solitude and prayer in Luke 5:16.

Learn how quiet time with God can restore your spirit, refocus your heart, and help you carry life’s burdens.

Explore how Jesus sleeping during a storm demonstrates trust in God even when circumstances feel frightening.

Understand how rest can become an opportunity to exercise faith rather than give in to worry.

See how Jesus’ silence before false accusations reveals the strength of responding with wisdom instead of reacting in anger.

Identify healthy boundaries that help you communicate clearly and protect your spiritual and emotional well-being.

Reflect on practical ways to reconnect with God, surrender your fears, and cultivate peace in stressful seasons.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!
Sign Up Today!
Full Transcript Below:
3 Reasons "Protecting Your Peace" Isn't Selfish, It's Biblical
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading:
But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
– Luke 5:16, NIV
“Protecting my peace” is a popular saying these days. Possibly because in a world that’s developing at warp speed, peace feels harder to find, and nearly impossible to guard and honor. Sometimes “I’m protecting my peace” is the only way you and I know how to say, “I’m exhausted and can’t think straight,” or even “I need to figure out a sleep schedule.”
But beyond any scattered desires to turn down noise or declutter, protecting the gift of peace that Jesus provides is far more than simple self-care. It’s a sacred practice that invites you to experience a peace that surpasses understanding. And to help you grasp the importance of protecting this peace, here are three of many reasons Jesus modeled it in the Bible.
Jesus chose peace to reconnect with God.
Luke 5:16 says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” This tiny-but-mighty eight-word bit of scripture proves that even God prioritizes peaceful solitude—so you can, too. Jesus encourages you to remove yourself from crowded, overstimulating, demanding places, to go somewhere alone.
Following Jesus’ example, you can use this alone time to recenter yourself and reconnect your heart to God’s will. When the only sound is your prayer or your breath, you may more easily sense his supernatural presence. Here, you can ask God to refill your empty spirit and tend to your weary soul. Protect this habit of going to a quiet place to pray, because it reminds you that you can rely on God to lift your heavy burdens.
Jesus still slept amid the storm.
If you wonder whether getting enough sleep is important for your faith journey, just look to Jesus’ example in the book of Mark. In the middle of a “furious squall” while waves careened over their boat, Mark 4:38-40 says:
Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
I love that Jesus lives out what he teaches. His burning question to disciples who were panicking and wondering if God even cares was, “Do you still have no faith?” I like to believe that this is Jesus’ best living proof of Psalm 4:8, which says, "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."
When you don’t allow yourself the peace of sleep because you choose to fret, you’re missing out on an opportunity to exercise your faith.
Jesus held onto the truth in silence, instead of being triggered into a fight.
In the book of Matthew, when Jesus is being cruelly and falsely accused in front of Pilate, Jesus chooses not to fight back. Matthew 27:12-14 describes the scene:
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
In a violent and evil event such as this, Jesus knew his accusers had no genuine desire to know the truth. He knew launching into any verbal defense would not change their hearts. Remaining silent is a bold demonstration of something I always like to say to my kids: “The truth is your strength.”
Jesus demonstrates that he had no ego to defend. So he remains at peace and allows his accusers to expose their maniacal malice. He refuses to get riled up by a trial rigged against him. His silence proves that remaining peaceful is courageous protection of inner resolve.
So if you ever feel your calm getting tossed around by demands, circumstances, or lies, know that God is offering you a way out. You can choose to protect the peace he gives you.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
As you think about ways you can reconnect with God and reorient your heart toward faith (instead of fear or anger), consider these questions:
What time of day or evening can I set aside to be alone with God?
What fear am I holding tightly that I can instead place in God’s hands?
What healthy boundary can I establish for myself so that I can communicate clearly, rather than simply argue?
Further Reading:
Hebrews 13:5
John 2:24-25
Romans 12:2
Romans 12:19

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Discover how the Holy Spirit’s intercession offers hope when you feel too weary, discouraged, or heartbroken to pray. God knows you intimately and understands what you need before you can express it. Even when your only prayer is a quiet plea for help, you can trust that He is present and attentive to your pain. Learn how to bring your deepest emotions and hardest struggles to God without fear or shame, deepen your relationship with Him during difficult seasons, and rest in the assurance that you are never alone. When words fail, God’s love and the Spirit’s intercession remain.
Highlights
Understand what Romans 8:26-27 teaches about the Holy Spirit interceding for us in our weakness.

Find comfort in knowing God hears you even when you cannot find the words to pray.

Discover how the Holy Spirit helps carry your deepest needs to God when life’s trials feel overwhelming.

Remember that God remains present even when He feels distant during difficult seasons.

Learn why you can bring your deepest emotions, fears, and struggles to God without pretending to have everything together.

Find encouragement to trust God through financial stress, family difficulties, illness, and other ongoing hardships.

Reflect on what you have struggled to bring to God and take a step toward Him in honest, heartfelt prayer.

Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!
Sign Up Today!
Full Transcript Below:
The Lord Intercedes for Us
By: Michelle Lazurek
Bible Reading:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” - Romans 8:26-27
It was a summer of trial. It was one thing after another, with no end in sight. My husband and I prayed together and clung to God's promises. We read the Word and hoped God would lessen the trials and be a little more merciful. But it never stopped. My husband’s income became volatile. My daughter’s car died, right after her hours were dramatically reduced at her job. My son moved away with no opportunity to see him in the near future. It was all too much. For several months afterward, trials kept coming hard and fast; they were actually comical. Each week brought something new to our home that we had to fix. One night, as I got into bed, I considered praying. However, I had no words to pray.
Instead, I repeated the word “help” in my mind. The tears streamed down my face and onto my pillow; I remembered this verse in that moment. This is what it's like for the Holy Spirit to intervene for us with wordless groans. The Spirit knows exactly what we need even when we cannot articulate or formulate the words to pray in an intelligible language. When I’ve been in so much pain due to illness, I’ll groan to find relief from the pain. This is why the Spirit groans—to help find us relief from our pain.
The good news is that because God knows us intimately and knows everything about us, he already knows what we need before we express it. The genius of the gospel is that we don't need to have the right words or say exactly what we need to express. Even when we don't pray and ask for exactly what we need, the Holy Spirit’s love and omniscience carry our requests to His ears.
Isn’t it nice to know we don’t have to have it all together to have an intimate relationship with God? We have all gone through difficult trials in our lives. But some seasons seem harder than others. When it feels as if God is being relentless and allowing trials to transform our character, we can take solace in knowing that we don't need to pray the right words—or even pray any words at all. All we need to do is come to the Spirit with a contrite heart, and he will do the rest.
Is there something that you have not taken the time to pray for?
Is there something that you've not brought to God because it's simply too difficult for you to express? Perhaps you have a wayward child, a difficult relationship, or some other hardship that is preventing you from having an intimate relationship with God. Everyone goes through dry spiritual times. Simply because God feels distant does not mean he is. Instead, he is always present with us. Even if we cannot feel his presence, we can take comfort in knowing he is with us, knows exactly what we need, and his Spirit intercedes for us.
Don’t be afraid to bring to God your deepest, darkest feelings. It is not unknown to God. In fact, it is downright silly to hide our deepest feelings from God because he knows us so intimately—he even knows how many hairs are on our heads! God wants us to come to him with our feelings because he loves us. He never asks us to be perfect to be a part of God’s kingdom.
Father, thank you for knowing us intimately. Thank you for sending your Spirit to be our advocate, even in times of great trial. Take comfort in knowing that you are interceding for us with groans that only God can hear and understand. Remind us that God will answer our deepest groanings. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What is an area of your life that you have difficulty bringing to God? Take a moment to bring it to Him now.
Further Reading:
Matthew 26:49
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.