The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Have you ever looked back on your life and realized how many dangerous situations could have ended differently? God’s protection is not always something we recognize in the moment. Sometimes, we only see His guiding hand years later when we consider the accidents, harmful encounters, and unexpected dangers that never became part of our story. Second Thessalonians 3:3 reminds us that the Lord is faithful, strengthening and protecting His people from evil.
While the reality of evil and the uncertainty of life can make it easy to worry about what might happen, God does not want us to live consumed by fear and anxiety. We can trust His sovereignty, rest in His presence, and thank Him for the ways He has protected us—even when we were unaware of the danger. Reflecting on God's faithfulness helps us develop a deeper sense of gratitude, recognize His care throughout our lives, and find peace in knowing that our safety ultimately rests in Him.
Highlights
How looking back on past experiences can reveal God's unseen protection.

Why we can thank God for dangers, accidents, and harmful situations that never happened.

What 2 Thessalonians 3:3 teaches us about God's faithfulness and protection from evil.

How the reality of evil can create anxiety if we focus too much on what could happen.

Why we should trust God more than human circumstances or the promises of others.

How Psalm 4:8 reminds us that we can rest peacefully because the Lord makes us dwell in safety.

How recognizing God's protection can deepen our gratitude, strengthen our faith, and help us live without fear.

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
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Full Transcript Below:
Thank God for What Never Happened
By Melinda Eye Cooper
Bible Reading:
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. - 2 Thessalonians 3:3 NIV
I like true crime shows. But only if the perpetrator is caught by the end of the program.
Honestly, I wrestled with this about myself for a while. Why? What exactly is it that I like about horrible things happening and criminals getting busted? And it boils down to one word. Justice.
I believe in justice.
These days, advances in forensic science make it possible to solve very old, cold cases.
An investigative genetic genealogist can figure out whose DNA belongs to through family trees. A perpetrator can be caught by DNA he left behind before most of us even knew what DNA was. I imagine some criminals are shaking in their boots knowing they could get busted any day for something they did thirty years ago.
Still, justice can take many years.
So, as I watch true crime shows and see how these poor folks ran into people with evil intent, I see how easily I could have been one of the victims because I’ve also found myself in many of the scenarios.
Back before cell phones and the internet, we crossed our fingers and said a prayer that we’d get wherever we were going. Once, when I was eighteen, driving home from closing a fast-food restaurant at one a.m., the alternator went out in my car. I coasted, with dimming lights, into a local cemetery entrance while my car slowly died.
Soon, a truck pulled up, and a strange man offered me assistance. Nervous, I declined and bolted across the street to a nearby house, banging on the door until an elderly lady finally answered. Thankfully, she allowed me to use her phone to call home, and soon my dad showed up, much to my relief.
That’s just one of many precarious situations I found myself in my youth.
The older and wiser I become, the more I know God has had me in His protection without a doubt. And I’m sure I’m not aware of many dangerous situations where He’s kept me safe without my knowledge.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
The truth is, not only are we subject to human nature, our own and others', but also forces of evil that would like nothing more than to cause us harm. But we could easily become full of anxiety if we allow thoughts of “what could happen” to overwhelm us. God doesn’t want us living in fear or anxiety.
We’re reminded in the Psalms:
In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. - Psalm 4:8 NIV
God is with us. He’s protecting us, and He alone is making us dwell in safety.
Sadly, people can do some awful things to other people. And we should never trust another person the way we trust God. Evil is real. The demonic spiritual realm is real.
But so is God. And He’s sovereign, faithful, and trustworthy.
Looking back through the lens of our youth, we’ll see God’s protective hands covering us more times than we can count or even imagine. The things He protected us from have allowed us to move forward and live the life He has for us.
A good life.
We may not make the connection of His protection until many years later. But He has us tight in His grip. If God allows us to experience something good or bad, there’s purpose. And He uses those things for our good, one way or another. He strengthens us as we walk with Him. He loves us more than we can comprehend and has our best interest at heart.
Throughout our lives, we might get a tiny glimpse of just how much God must love us to give His only Son to pay the price for our sin. Though we can never truly grasp the depth of His great love. We know He has good plans for our lives, and His protection is part of those plans.
Knowing it could have easily been us but wasn’t makes us grateful for His protection and guidance.
And truly thankful for things that never happened.
Father, thank You for protecting me even when I didn’t realize the danger in my midst. In the powerful name of Jesus, Amen.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Wholehearted devotion to God requires us to continually examine what has our attention, who influences our decisions, and where we look for fulfillment. Scripture calls us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength, but that commitment can weaken when we become comfortable or let other priorities take His place. Solomon’s example challenges us to guard our relationships, resist spiritual complacency, and keep pursuing Christ with intentional faith. No one is immune to spiritual drift, but we can continually return our focus to the Lord and grow in a life devoted to Him alone.
Highlights
How King Solomon went from building God's temple to constructing altars for foreign gods.

Why spiritual wisdom and a strong beginning do not guarantee lifelong faithfulness.

How relationships and outside influences can gradually pull our hearts away from God.

Why wholehearted devotion means loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and strength.

The danger of becoming spiritually complacent and taking Jesus’ saving work for granted.

How to recognize competing priorities and influences that may be becoming idols.

Practical ways to renew your love for God and remain faithful throughout your walk with Christ.

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!
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Full Transcript Below:
Pursuing Wholehearted Devotion to God
By Sophia Bricker
Bible Reading:
“On a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the detestable god of Moab, and for Molek the detestable god of the Ammonites. He did the same for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and offered sacrifices to their gods. The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the Lord, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although he had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord’s command” (1 Kings 11:7-10, NIV).
One of the most jolting accounts in Solomon’s life as king of Israel was when he built places of worship for the gods of other nations. We read about how he constructed altars for Ashtoreth, Chemosh, and Molech–false gods that would continue to ensnare the people of Israel. Sure, his act was under the guise of creating places for his wives to worship their “gods.” Yet, the most shocking aspect is that this king was the one who built the temple for the living and true God: Yahweh.
Multiple chapters in the book of Kings detail how he dutifully gathered the supplies for the magnificent Temple (1 Kings 5-7). He used the materials his father, David, had gathered and appointed a craftsman to create beautiful engravings and metalwork for the place of worship. For this was not a typical building; it would serve as the house for the Ark of the Covenant, a symbol of the Lord’s presence with His people.
At the dedication of the Temple, Solomon had lifted his hands in praise and prayer, entreating God to hear those who prayed toward His holy dwelling. Yet, those same hands later constructed stones and altars in service to idolatry.
There was no excuse. The Lord had appeared to him twice, once after he had become king and sought wisdom to rule justly, and again after the dedication of the Temple. This man, who was renowned for his knowledge and wisdom, had foolishly turned away from God. His focus was captured by his many wives, and they turned his heart away from following the Lord. Unlike his father, Solomon was not known for being a man after God’s own heart.
His example not only provides us with a warning against allowing ourselves to be led astray by others, but it also reminds us of the continual need to pursue wholehearted love for the Lord. Earlier, at the giving of the Law, the Lord had told them: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5, NIV). When Jesus, God the Son, came, He also reiterated this as the greatest command (Mark 12:30-31). Our Lord demands nothing less than our entire selves in devotion to Him, and to Him alone.
Even though we might not be tempted to bow down to a graven image or seek out rituals to honor Molech, there are other things in our lives that can tug our attention away from God. Solomon’s example shows the power of relationships in leading us astray. We are wise to guard the company we keep, including those who are closest to us (1 Corinthians 15:33).
Many of the kings who were faithful at the beginning of their reign drifted away as time went on. Likewise, if we are not careful, we can grow comfortably accustomed (and unaffected) by Jesus’ saving work and begin to look to other sources for fulfillment and happiness. Even the Apostle Paul described his effort to faithfully finish the race of life (Philippians 3:13). None of us is immune from straying from our Lord, but He remains faithful.
As followers of Christ, we are wise to reflect on the warmth of our love for our Lord, whether it is cold, warm, or lukewarm. For the same hands that are upturned in prayer to our Savior can also be used to serve idols in our lives. May we continually grow in our ability to be individuals after God’s own heart.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Are there any areas in your life that are taking your attention away from the Lord? What are some ways you can fan into flame your love for Him?
Further Reading:
Deuteronomy 17:14-20
Nehemiah 13:23-27
Philippians 3:12-14
2 Timothy 2:1-13
Hebrews 12:1-3
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

How do you trust God when money is tight and you don't know how you'll pay the bills? Financial uncertainty can bring fear, stress, and sleepless nights, especially when your income is inconsistent or unexpected expenses keep piling up. In Matthew 6:10-11, Jesus teaches us to ask God for our daily bread, reminding us that we can depend on Him for what we need each day. God's provision doesn't always arrive all at once or in the way we expect. Sometimes, He provides gradually, teaching us to release our worries, trust His timing, and seek His help one day at a time.
Highlights
Ask God for your daily bread: Explore Matthew 6:10-11 and Jesus' invitation to depend on God for your everyday needs.

Trust God during financial uncertainty: Find encouragement when inconsistent income, unpaid bills, or unexpected expenses create anxiety.

Learn to pray about your finances: Discover how bringing both big and small financial concerns to God can help you surrender what you cannot control.

Focus on today instead of worrying about tomorrow: Practice taking life one day at a time and trusting God with what you cannot yet see.

Replace financial anxiety with Scripture: Learn how focusing your thoughts on God's Word can bring peace when money worries feel overwhelming.

Practice wise financial stewardship: Consider practical ways to manage holiday spending, establish a budget, and avoid unnecessary financial pressure.

Recognize God's faithfulness in His timing: Remember that provision may not arrive all at once, but you can continue trusting God to meet your needs.

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!
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Full Transcript Below:
When God’s Provision Comes One Day at a Time
By: Michelle Laurek
Bible Reading:
“Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread.” - Matthew 6:10-11
For the past few months, my husband has worked as a transitional pastor. This means he helps churches fill the gap after a pastor leaves while they search for a new one. While the work has been good in that he can help them discuss areas of growth, resolve any issues as they await their new pastor, and help with the revitalization of certain aspects of the church, it is not always as consistent as full-time ministry.
After my husband's contract ran out with one church, we went many months without a consistent income. Even though we were content with what God was giving us, the money still wasn't enough to make ends meet. At first, my husband grumbled, and I worried. What if God wouldn't provide? What if we lost our home? What if we didn't have enough to pay the bills?
However, instead of getting stuck in a rut of complaint and fear, we decided to change our strategy. Each night, we would pray. We would present our requests to God, both big and small. The income became so unpredictable that we literally prayed each night that God would give us our daily bread. We laid all our bills figuratively before his feet and asked him to take care of them.
Although not all were paid instantly, it gave me peace to know I had given it over to the one who could truly change the situation for his good. Since he already knew what we needed, I had to trust that he would give us what we needed each week to pay all the bills we had that month.
As the holidays approach, it'll be easy for all of us to get bogged down in extra bills. Christmas gifts, holiday shopping, and holiday feasts can all take a toll on a budget, especially one as volatile as ours. However, there is hope.
First, ask Jesus for your daily bread. This is how he taught us to pray. We are to come expecting that God will provide exactly what we need. It may not always be in abundance, but he will always provide first for his children.
Second, trust that he will do his part in providing for you. Often, we take matters into our own hands and believe we need to make more to provide for ourselves. But God wants us to rely on him, not on ourselves, for our own provision.
Third, don’t bog yourself down in worry. Do you fear losing control of a situation? Do you just focus on one day at a time? Focus on the present moment and ask God what he would want you to do for today only. You may find your peace increases when you focus only on today, not the worries and cares of tomorrow. This is a great time to memorize Scripture. When we focus our minds on the Word rather than our worries, our situations feel less cumbersome.
Last, don't feel as if you must put on an elaborate holiday to win people's approval or acceptance. If this year is a thin year for you financially, make accommodations as you need. Seek to limit your budget, buy only for the kids in the family, and set limits as to how much you can spend. It is harder for God to provide all your needs when you overextend your budget. Being a good steward of life means being a good steward of finances. By doing so, you can afford and enjoy the holidays stress-free.
As the above verses indicate, God wants to provide us with our daily bread. He will give us exactly what we need when we need it. Ask him for what you need, then watch in amazement as he provides over—and sometimes even above—what you've asked for.
Lord, let us be willing to ask for our daily bread. Let us come to you with our fears about our finances. Let us trust you with our daily provision. Help us to know that you love us enough to provide for our every need. Amen.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Do you struggle to ask God for God’s provision? What prevents you from asking God for your daily bread?
Further Reading:
Matthew 6:25-34
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever overlooked a small blessing because you were waiting for God to do something extraordinary? We often associate miracles with dramatic answers to prayer, unexpected breakthroughs, or life-changing events. But God's goodness can also be found in the ordinary moments we might easily miss. In John 6:9-13, Jesus takes a young boy's small lunch of five loaves and two fish and uses it to feed thousands of people. This incredible miracle reminds us that nothing is too small for God to use and that His provision is never limited by what we think we have to offer.

Highlights
Recognize God's miracles in everyday life: Discover why God's goodness isn't limited to dramatic breakthroughs or extraordinary events.

Learn from Jesus feeding the five thousand: Explore how Jesus used five loaves and two fish to demonstrate God's abundant provision.

Understand that God can use small things: Find encouragement in knowing that what seems insignificant to you can become something extraordinary in God's hands.

Notice God's care in the details: Reflect on how Scripture reveals that God knows even the smallest details of His creation and your life.

Find blessings during difficult seasons: Learn to recognize the unexpected gifts, lessons, and moments of provision that can come through hardship and change.

Develop a habit of gratitude: Discover how recording one meaningful blessing each day can help you recognize God's faithfulness over time.

Share the joy of small miracles: Consider how noticing and appreciating everyday blessings can encourage others and help their hearts overflow with gratitude.

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:
What if the Small Thing Is the Miracle?
By: Lia Girard
Bible Reading:
“Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” – John 6:9-13, NIV
What an astounding miracle it is that everything visible and invisible originates from God on purpose, from the smallest electron through the infinite expanse of eternity. It’s also miraculous that you and I were born on a planet that’s constantly spinning in perfect balance with the sun and moon, while all of us stay grounded by gravity.
And although humans can conceive, design, build, plant, and renovate in amazing ways, our efforts are always made possible by a miraculous God. We can’t grow things without the dirt or water God made. We can’t live without the sunshine and oxygen God supplies. And as Matthew 19:26 explains, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Now, I’ve never witnessed illogical miracles, like elephants cracking out of eggshells or the sky becoming green while grass turns crystal-clear. But I’ve seen miracles of many proportions. The truth is, whatever makes any one of us exclaim, “It’s a miracle!” may seem small to someone else. But to you, any size miracle can be immensely meaningful. And I believe God loves that.
Scripture tells us that God not only knows every star in the universe by name (Psalm 147:4), but that he’s also numbered the very hairs of your head (Luke 12:7). He isn’t only present in the jaw-dropping, show-stopping miracles; he also cares deeply about the granular details of your life and every small gesture.
One of my favorite biblical stories proving that even a small thing can be a miracle is when the hungry thousands gathered to hear Jesus speak after witnessing his healing power. In this passage, Jesus chooses a small boy’s meager lunch to demonstrate his immeasurable love. With just five barley loavesand two fish, given by a child, thousands had more than enough to eat.
I think it’s valuable to note that before Jesus distributed the loaves and the fish, he gave thanks. Perhaps this is an expression of gratitude for the truth that, although the boy and the amount were small, the potential and provision within them were extraordinary.
I think about this concept of small things being wondrous even more during the approach of Thanksgiving and Christmas. The season always inspires me to give thanks for everything, including the hard parts that taught me, the meager times that disciplined me, and the sustenance gathered during phases of change or loss that surprised me. Sometimes the smallest thing can hold the most meaning, even though it doesn’t loudly “announce” itself or appear as a decadent luxury. It can lightly arrive and amaze you, nonetheless.
Small miracles like this can come in the form of unexpected quiet time in a season of overwhelm. Or finding an old memento. Or getting a phone call from an estranged family member. It may be as fleeting as a visit from a butterfly or any wild aspect of nature that a loved one treasured. It could be small enough for anyone else to overlook.
It could also be as small as a mustard seed, as we learn in Matthew 17:20. Or as gentle as the whisper Elijah heard in 1 Kings 19:12. It can also appear as vulnerable as a newborn wrapped in cloths in a manger (Luke 2:12). Size isn’t a qualifier of miracles. It’s a miracle because it feels like love, and it astonishes your heart.
As you move through Thanksgiving toward Christmas this year, allow yourself margin to look for and notice the small things that are miracles from God to you. Apart from grandiose gestures or expensive gifts, these brief moments and tiny miracles can fill your basket — and others’ — to overflowing.
Intersecting Faith & Life
As the season turns toward Thanksgiving and Christmas, here’s an easy idea:
Set a small notebook next to your bedside. Each evening before bed, write down just one thing you appreciated that day. Choose something that may seem insignificant or silly to someone else, but God knows it made you smile. In time, when you look back through your entries, you’ll witness the miracle of a grateful heart.
Further Reading:
Zechariah 4:10
Ecclesiastes 3:12-13
Luke 16:10
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Do you feel like you're constantly fighting worry, fear, and anxiety instead of living with the confidence God promises? Romans 8:37 reminds us that through Jesus Christ, we are more than conquerors. Yet when life's challenges feel overwhelming, it's easy to see yourself as a victim of your circumstances rather than an overcomer through Christ. The difference between being a worrier and a warrior comes down to where you place your confidence. A worrier tries to face every battle through personal strength and understanding, while a warrior trusts God to provide the strength, wisdom, and direction needed to overcome fear and uncertainty.
Highlights
Understand what it means to be more than a conqueror: Explore Romans 8:37 and the victory believers have through the love of Jesus Christ.

Recognize the difference between a worrier and a warrior: Learn how trusting God changes the way you respond to fear, insecurity, and uncertainty.

Understand the spiritual battle behind worry: Discover why Ephesians 6:12 reminds us that our struggles involve more than the people and circumstances we can see.

Replace anxious thoughts with biblical truth: Use God's promises to challenge fear, doubt, and the belief that you cannot overcome difficult situations.

Renew your mind through Scripture: Explore Romans 12:2 and how changing your thought patterns can transform your perspective.

Rely on God's strength instead of your own: Find encouragement in Romans 8:31 and Psalm 28:7 when you feel unprepared or overwhelmed.

Choose faith over fear: Learn how prayer and confidence in Christ can help you move from feeling like a victim to living as an overcomer.

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:
More Than a Conqueror
By Cindi McMenamin
Bible Reading:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37 NIV).
The writer of Romans 8 told us about our victory in Christ. He elaborated on our victory over sin, through Christ Jesus, and celebrated with us that there is no condemnation for those of us who are trusting in Christ Jesus for our salvation.
But do you feel victorious today? Would you consider yourself a conqueror in all things, as verse 37 states? Or do you see yourself more as a failure or, at best, one who survives?
Life gives us plenty to fear, to worry about, to become anxious over. And yet Scripture gives us every indication that worry and fear are unnecessary when we suit up in our identity as a warrior and an overcomer in Christ.
Notice I said warrior, not worrier
A worrier is one who tries to fight battles of fear, insecurity, and doubt on one’s own. A warrior, on the other hand, lets God fight those battles through him or her.
Ephesians 6:12 tells us "we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies [like the person or situation that is making your life miserable], but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places" [like the unseen thoughts, fears and frustrations that cloud your judgment, persuade you to worry, and tempt you to stress out].
But you are not destined to succumb to the battle.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Here's how you can tell if you're a worrier or a warrior:
A worrier says: "I'm so nervous about this situation. I've never done anything like this before.”
A warrior says: "God has gone before me into this situation, so I have nothing to fear."
A worrier says: "There's no hope."
A warrior says: "My hope is in the Lord..."
A worrier says: "What if something bad happens?"
A warrior says: "God causes all things (even the bad things) to work for good to those who love Him" (Romans 8:28).
A worrier says: "I'm not strong enough. Surely I will fail."
A warrior says: "The Lord is my strength" (Psalm 28:7) and "If God is for me, who can be against me?" (Romans 8:31).
Did you notice the primary difference between a worrier and a warrior? The worrier looks at the world and one’s circumstances through physical eyes. They see (or don’t see), and they fear.
The warrior is looking in the Word and has God's response for every situation he or she encounters. They see with spiritual eyes from God’s perspective—the perspective of a victor, an overcomer, a conqueror.
Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
To conform to this world is to worry like every other person in the world.
To be transformed by the renewing of your mind is to think differently—as a warrior thinks, as a warrior who knows where their strength is, where the power is, and to Whom they belong.
So which one are you? A worrier or a warrior? A victim or an overcomer? A worrier can turn into a warrior at any time. A victim can suddenly be an overcomer. Your transformation is just a prayer away.
Lord God, grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with power through Your Spirit inwardly (Ephesians 3:16-17) so that I can be a person of faith, not fear—a warrior, not a worrier, an overcomer, not a victim. It’s in the powerful, victorious, overcoming name of Jesus that I pray this. Amen.
Will you join me today in the ranks as a warrior?
Further Reading:
Ephesians 6:10-18
For more on becoming a warrior, not a worrier, see Cindi’s book, 10 Secrets to Becoming a Worry-Free Mom.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.