The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Our identity is not determined by who chooses us in this world—the team that accepts us, the relationship that works out, the opportunity we receive, or the recognition we gain. As children of God, we belong to Him. We are His treasured possession, called out of darkness and into His light.
Remembering that we are chosen changes the way we see ourselves and our circumstances. Earthly disappointments may still hurt, but they no longer define our worth. God’s choice of us is rooted in His love, His purpose, and His eternal plan.
Highlights:
Our deepest sense of belonging comes from being chosen by God
Earthly rejection does not change our identity as God’s beloved children
God calls us His special possession and invites us into His family
Staying grounded in Scripture helps us remember who we are in Christ
God’s plans and blessings are greater than the opportunities we may miss
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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Full Transcript Below:
Chosen by God
By Alexis A. Goring
Bible Reading:
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”—1 Peter 2:9 NIV
Have you ever struggled with a sense of belonging because you did not feel chosen?
Most people want to be chosen. Whether chosen to play with others when we were children, chosen to be asked to the prom by our high school crush, chosen to attend the college of our choice, chosen to marry the person of our dreams, chosen for a job we worked hard for or chosen for other things we want out of life, the desire to be chosen is a universal feeling and part of life on earth. But do we know that the Creator of the Universe chose us before we chose Him (Ephesians 1:4-5)?
God chose us to be part of His Family. Since He is King of the Universe, that means we as His children are a special kind of royalty. We are daughters and sons of the Eternal King. But how often do we forget this Biblical truth and act like we don’t know our true identity in Jesus Christ?
I know I tend to be forgetful of this, and I struggle to maintain a heavenly perspective because it is easy to be consumed by how our world programs us to think. This is why it is so important to stay grounded in God’s Word. The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:9 that we are a people chosen by God. We are special to Him. God doesn’t just choose you; He transforms you as He calls you out of darkness into His wonderful light. When you choose to give your life to Jesus Christ, then you have passed from death to life (John 5:24). You now have the hope of eternal life after Jesus returns to Earth to take His children home to Heaven. But while we are still living on Earth, it is important to have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16) and not be bogged down by what we go through in this world.
Our experiences on Earth shape us. I know what it is like to not be chosen for the team, not chosen by the man whom I thought I wanted to marry, not chosen by the dream employer whom I would love to work for, or not chosen for so many other of my heart’s desires. But instead of worrying about these missed opportunities to be chosen, it helps me to remember that the King of the Universe chose me and you first. And He offers us a life better than our wildest dreams when we enter Heaven. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 2:9 (GW), “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”
God has amazing things in store for His chosen people when we step into eternity with Him. But that doesn’t mean He doesn’t also have good plans for us while we are living on Earth. God can still answer our prayers and bless us beyond our wildest dreams, and help the right people to choose us. We just need to pray for His will to be done in our lives. He wants to bless you on earth, too, though those blessings pale in comparison to what He has in store for us when we start eternity in His Kingdom.
Next time you feel disappointed or sad about not being chosen by a person or company, or an opportunity here on Earth, look up to the sky and imagine God smiling down at you, saying, “I still choose you, my child.”
Let that Biblical truth marinate in your mind. Write it down in your prayer journal. Post it on your mirror so you can remind yourself every day that God chose you. Soak in His pure, unconditional love for you and remember who you are in Jesus Christ.
In closing, I would like you to listen to these two songs: “Remember Who You Are” sung by Crystal Lewis. And “I Still Want You” sung by Tramaine Hawkins.
Song of Reflection #1: “Remember Who You Are” by Crystal Lewis. Listen to it HERE.
Song of Reflection #2: “I Still Want You” by Tramaine Hawkins. Listen to it HERE.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
How does it feel to know you are chosen by God?
Further Reading:
John 15:16
Isaiah 41:9
Colossians 3:12
Philippians 2:5-8
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5
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When life brings unexpected trials, it can feel like our strength, hope, and even our faith are beginning to fail. Psalm 73 reminds us that even when our flesh and hearts grow weak, God remains the strength that sustains us. He does not promise a life free from hardship, but He promises His presence through every valley we walk.
Highlights:
God remains our strength when our hearts and circumstances feel overwhelming
Trials are a reality of living in a broken world, but God promises to walk with us through them
True comfort comes from drawing near to God and trusting His presence
God provides wisdom, peace, and guidance when we feel unable to move forward
Even difficult seasons can reveal God’s faithfulness and deepen our dependence on Him
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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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!
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Full Transcript Below:
Even When the Heart Fails
By Megan J. Conner
Bible Reading:
“…I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” Ps. 73:22-28 (NIV)
Have you ever been through an unexpected trial and felt as if your heart and your flesh are failing? Where do you turn when the circumstances are so overwhelming, so oppressive, that it feels as if any and all physical strength has been drained out? Normal stamina and rigor seem to be completely absent, leaving you utterly exhausted from the simplest daily tasks. And if that isn’t challenging enough, your heart follows suit and struggles to carry the weight of your unwelcome burdens.
Unfortunately, we all face hardships, disappointments, and at times even devastation. While the Bible is full of God’s promises, unending love, and hope for the future, it is also clear that sin and suffering are ever-present realities in this world. The consequences of these can wreak havoc on our hearts and minds. Our Heavenly Father understood this from the moment sin entered the world and forever changed the landscape of all of our lives. He made provision through His only Son to pay the penalty for sin, but that payment does not shield us from encountering heartbreak. While we cannot evade challenging and hurtful circumstances, God promises to walk side-by-side with us as we take every step through the valley.
I don’t know where you find yourself today. Perhaps you are in a sweet season of joy and abundance. If so, I celebrate with you. Treasure the good gifts God has bestowed upon you during this time. But if you are facing a season of struggle, then I empathize and offer my deepest condolences. Today, I find myself wandering through yet another desert, confused, conflicted, and in desperate need of holy consolation. Yet even in this, I know God is still granting me “good” gifts, even if nothing about it feels “good.”
There really are times when there is nothing here on earth that can satisfy or bring true comfort. Loved ones can be present, be a listening ear, and provide some measure of relief, but only the Lord can reach those dark caverns of our souls when the heart fails. He assures us that He is always with us, no matter how crushed and lost we feel. When we feel like we cannot possibly take one more step, He guides us with His counsel. He provides supernatural wisdom for the hard decisions we may have to make and a peace that surpasses all understanding. Though the wind and the waves may buffet our sails, the Lord declares, “Peace, be still.”
As the Lord fulfills every one of these promises, He is granting us good gifts. He is demonstrating His unfailing love as He draws us closer to Him. God reveals Himself to us as we seek refuge in Him and in Him alone. We can trust Him. On the other side of the cross is resurrection. On the other side of whatever hardships and hurts you are facing today, there is glory.
Will you join me today, as we remind ourselves of God’s goodness and promises shared in Psalm 73:22-28?
“…I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever… it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.” (NIV)
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are there circumstances in your life right now that have threatened to overtake your faith and peace? Do you feel as if your heart has failed? If so, how does today’s scripture offer you hope? Even if the pain and disappointment feel unbearable, can you sense God’s presence in the midst of all you are going through? Regardless of where you find yourself today, I pray that God’s faithfulness is evident in your life, and you can declare with me, “It is good to be near God.”
Further Reading:
Hebrews 13:5
John 16:33
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Our experiences with earthly fathers can shape the way we view God, but they do not define who He is. Where human relationships may have included inconsistency, disappointment, or conditional love, God reveals Himself as a Father who is faithful, approachable, and unchanging. His love is not based on our performance, accomplishments, or ability to measure up—it is rooted in His grace and what Christ has already accomplished for us.
Highlights:
God invites His children to approach Him with confidence and receive His mercy and grace
Our experiences with earthly fathers can influence how we view God, but Scripture reveals His true character
God’s love is not earned through accomplishments or perfection—it is a gift of grace
Through Jesus, we can come before God without fear of condemnation or rejection
Our Heavenly Father is faithful, approachable, and always present in our time of need
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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!
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Full Transcript Below:
Approaching Our Father
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV).
Do you ever need help but hesitate to ask someone, unsure of what their response might be? The writer to the Hebrews must have known we would experience that type of hesitation when approaching God, and apparently wanted us to know that we can approach our Father God with confidence and find Him full of mercy and grace when we need help.
This wasn’t an easy concept for me to grasp. Even though I grew up in church, learning about the love and forgiveness of my heavenly Father, I also believed I had to earn my earthly father’s love. I don’t often remember my dad saying “I love you,” but I do remember how pleased he was with my accomplishments, so I often heard him say, “I’m so proud of you.” Thus, it was ingrained in me that if I accomplished much and made him proud, that equated to his love for me.
I also grew up fearing my dad’s reaction if I made a dent in a wall, left a scratch on our car, or broke something of value. I was especially fearful of bringing home a traffic ticket. I learned how to tiptoe around him and to do everything I could to keep the peace at home. When my dad wasn’t under stress or triggered by past pain, he was approachable and very kind to me. Other times, he wasn’t. It was often a gamble.
Today, my dad is a different person. Through the transforming power of God’s Holy Spirit, he has softened tremendously through the years. I know today that he loves me for who I am, not for what I do. Yet, many times how we grew up around an earthly father (or without one) can tend to shape our view of God as our Heavenly Father.
I remember the freedom I experienced when I understood the truth of God’s unconditional love and acceptance for His children. Romans 5:8 tells us: “But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” That means if there was nothing we could do to earn God’s love, there’s nothing we can do to lose His love. It also means we never have to perform or try to measure up to our Heavenly Father’s standards because Jesus already did! We are enough for our Heavenly Father because God sees us through what Jesus accomplished on the cross on our behalf. God doesn’t love and accept us based on our behavior, accomplishments, or what we make of ourselves. His acceptance of us is based on our faith in His Perfect Son (Ephesians 2:8-9; Hebrews 11:6).
Intersecting Faith & Life:
No matter what your relationship is like (or was like) with your earthly father, God’s love, presence, and help are far more accessible to us than any earthly dad’s – even the most loving ones. Hebrews 4:16 assures us that because we have a High Priest (Jesus) who can sympathize with us, we can approach God with boldness and receive His mercy and grace any time we need His help. When we are in a relationship with Jesus, we can confidently approach our Father God at any time of the day or night, and He’ll be there for us. No condemnation. No fear of retribution. Only grace and help in times of need. Every single time. God is consistently merciful, and our approach doesn’t have to depend on His mood or circumstances.
How has your relationship (or lack of one) with your earthly father affected how you see God as your Heavenly Father? God’s attributes are not only a picture of what every earthly father was meant to be, but I believe God longs to make up for what you never experienced with your dad by being your faithful, dependable, loving, and approachable Father. Can you look to Him today to be the Dad you have always wanted, but might never have had?
O Lord God, open our eyes to see You as the perfect Father and the One we can approach with everything on our hearts and minds. Thank You that You always hear the cries of Your children—and Your grace and mercy never run dry.
Further Reading:
Romans 8:38-39
For more on growing closer to God and being able to call Him Father, see Cindi’s book, The New Loneliness Devotional: 50 Days to a Closer Connection with God.

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When we think about difficult relationships, especially with our parents, God invites us to view them through the lens of His grace and redemption. Honoring a father does not mean ignoring pain, excusing harmful actions, or pretending wounds do not exist. Instead, it means trusting God to bring healing, justice, and transformation in ways only He can.
Highlights:
God cares about both the wounds we carry and the people who have caused them
Forgiveness does not mean ignoring pain, excusing wrongdoing, or removing healthy boundaries
God’s grace extends to every person, including those who have deeply failed others
We can trust God to bring healing and transformation where we cannot
Honoring others begins with allowing God to shape our hearts through compassion and forgiveness
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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:
No Father Left Behind
By Lynette Kittle
Bible Reading:
“There are those who curse their fathers and do not bless their mothers.” - Proverbs 30:11
Nowadays, some adult children believe they are justified in dismissing their earthly fathers, seeing it as a personal matter between the two of them and believing God is okay with whatever they decide to do.
But nothing could be further from the truth, because God cares not only for us but for our fathers, too. Like the Marines’ unofficial slogan of leaving no man behind, God doesn’t leave fathers behind either, even in their failures and sins.
Sadly, many individuals have valid reasons for turning their backs on their fathers. Yet God calls us to follow His lead in responding to the pain in our lives, because too many fathers have fallen by the wayside and need His help, mercy, and redemption.
Tragically, some fathers have been drunkards, drug users, criminals, murderers, prisoners, abusers, and more.
Still, God holds children accountable for their attitudes toward their fathers because it’s a matter of the heart—the kind of issue that, if left unchecked, can lead to lifelong sorrow.
Regardless of a father’s sin, God doesn’t write fathers off or give children permission to do the same. Instead, He calls us to forgiveness and to trust Him to work in our fathers’ lives.
Trusting God with the Pain
We can trust God with our pain, too, because He isn’t going to ask us to embrace or entrust ourselves to fathers who aren’t trustworthy, or to pretend they didn’t hurt us.
He isn’t asking us to say or believe things about our fathers that aren’t true, or to overlook their sins. But He also doesn’t support us disowning, abandoning, or labeling them as toxic and unworthy of redemption.
Likewise, God doesn’t give us permission to punish, correct, dishonor, or treat them disrespectfully, even when we believe they deserve it. This is often a hard pill to swallow for those who’ve lived life with a derelict dad.
Sometimes God Asks More of Us
Along with leading us to forgive our fathers, sometimes God asks more of us when it comes to dealing with our dads.
Author and speaker Joyce Meyer’s dad sexually abused her while she was growing up, giving her every earthly reason to walk away from him and have nothing to do with him for the rest of her life.
Yet, unbelievably, God called her to provide for and care for her abusive father in his old age—something she resisted at first, shocked that a holy and just God would ever ask her to do.
After all, why would a loving God call her to care for a father who had so cruelly abused and mistreated her? He certainly didn’t deserve her kindness and generosity.
Still, God didn’t let her off the hook. He asked her to do what seemed impossible.
Choosing to live in obedience to Him rather than remain bound by her pain, Meyer took on the responsibility. Remarkably, through her kindness and generosity, her father came to know the Lord before passing away.
Does God Love Fallen Fathers?
So one has to ask: Does God love the godless fathers who have failed miserably and caused unimaginable and unspeakable wounds in the lives of their children and others?
Some of us, even as Christians, are ready to throw in the towel when it comes to caring about deeply flawed dads, believing they don’t deserve to receive God’s love. But we are mistaken if we see ourselves as more deserving of His love than they are.
The Apostle Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
If we see ourselves as more deserving of receiving God’s forgiveness and love than faithless fathers, then we don’t truly understand the sin nature we are all born with. We all enter life undeserving of God’s grace and in desperate need of a perfect, sinless Savior to redeem us.
Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Intersecting Faith & Life:

If you’re trying to come to terms with a father who failed you, ask God to help you forgive him and give you a heart of compassion toward him. Trust Him to bring healing to your heart and to work in your father’s life in ways only He can.
Further Reading:
How to Offer Your Dad Forgiveness this Father’s Day
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Spiritual growth often begins when we stop looking outward and allow God to examine what is happening within us. It can be easy to recognize the faults, habits, and struggles of others while overlooking the areas where God is inviting us to grow. Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7 reminds us that true transformation starts with humility, self-reflection, and a willingness to let God reveal our own blind spots.
Intersecting Faith & Life:Consider these questions as you reflect on your own spiritual growth:
What patterns continue to appear in your relationships, work, or daily life that God may want to transform within you?
Do you extend the same grace and understanding to others that you hope to receive?
Is there someone you need to forgive, or is there bitterness you need to surrender to God?
Spiritual maturity begins when we allow God to reveal the truth about our hearts—not to condemn us, but to lead us toward freedom, healing, and deeper dependence on Him.
Join the Conversation
Have you experienced a time when God reminded you that He saw your pain, needs, or circumstances? How does knowing that God is El Roi—the God who sees you—change the way you approach difficult seasons?
Continue the conversation with the Crosswalk community here: https://forums.crosswalk.com/
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 Questions That Cause Spiritual Growth
By Kelly Balarie
Bible Reading:
“Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” – Matthew 7:3-5 ESV
I clenched my hands. Clear as day, the issue was him. He was being stubborn. He wasn’t listening. He wasn’t being open to a different perspective.
But was I…?
Being open…?
Listening...?
Hearing what He was saying…?
Not really…
Jesus addressed this sort of situation when he said, “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.” (Mt. 7:3-5 ESV)
My husband and I have a phrase for this sort of finger-pointing. It’s called “You spot it, you got it.”
Meaning, if I spot my husband being stubborn, I’ve likely got stubbornness too.
If I spot that He isn’t listening, I should wonder whether I’ve got earphones on my ears also.
If I spot an inability to understand another perspective, I am wise to ask myself if I’ve got that same inability to listen.
We spot it, we got it!
When we consider that what we judge in others may be what is lurking inside of us, true spiritual progress happens. Pride is healed. Humility comes. A deeper need for God surfaces. Blind spots are seen for what they are. God’s grace is absolutely required.
What blind spots may exist within you? Let’s dive deeper…
3 Exploratory Questions to Grow Closer to God
Ask yourself:
What patterns follow me from relationship to relationship, job to job, or situation to situation? How might I blame on people, predicaments, or pressures, something God may want to heal within me?

Take a moment and reflect. Do not allow shame to convict you. Instead, allow the hard reality of truth to set you free to the life-giving power of God to help you. Pray. Ask. Seek the Lord. Repent, if needed.
How do I demand sympathy or grace from others to justify where I am? Do I give others the same sympathy and grace that I expect?
Sometimes, we have stories to keep us safe. We have a long list of reasons why we do what we do. We expect others to coddle us, instead of realizing God has more for us. Seeing the truth helps us build better relationships in the future.
Who do I keep needing to forgive? How do I gain personal sympathy by not forgiving them? If I have forgiven, have I asked God to forgive me, for my bitterness or resentment? And, most of all, have I forgiven myself?
Often, we forgive others but fail to ask God to forgive us for anger, bitterness, or thinking bad thoughts about others. Have we done this? Also, the hardest person to forgive is -- ourselves.
Additionally, when we have forgiven, but it doesn’t feel like we have, the issue is often not that we haven’t forgiven them; we are still angry. The issue is often that we are still angry at ourselves.
Take a second and forgive yourself, too.

The bottom line? To see the truth of what we haven’t seen often sets us free.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
What did these questions stir up in you? How will you change as a result? What will it look like to walk a new path?
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