The Crosswalk Devotional

Our greatest gift is not having what our neighbor has, nor is it looking the same, or one-upping someone else. It is not getting more, looking better, being wiser, or having something we have always wanted. God’s truest gift for us? It is the simple things.

May the Lord give you eyes to see many opportunities to serve Him with the life He has given you. Let us have a heart of gratitude for all the finances, time, talents, and passion that we can use to glorify His name and point others to Him.

The more we grasp Christ’s heart and ways, the more we want him to reveal those things that are keeping us stuck—in anxiety, fear, anger, bitterness, rage. Whatever distorts our perspective and causes us to behave in ways contrary to who we truly are.

Enjoy a picnic with God whenever you can. Don’t wait for a special occasion. Pack a sandwich, find some grass nearby, and let the simple pleasures of God’s creation lead you back to him.

If you feel unmotivated today, you’re not alone. And you don’t have to have it all together to keep going. God simply invites you not to give up. To take one small step. To trust that even in this season, He is growing something you cannot yet see.

Trust returns when we remember that God is good. When we believe there is hope. When we repent of unbelief and decide to break up with it. When we remember, He can do the miraculous.

If you are in the valley today, instead of viewing it as something you must endure, why not view it as a blessing? Why not view our empty places as a gift and an opportunity to be filled with the presence of God?

God knows life can get hard, and our faith can waver from time to time. However, He doesn’t want us straying away from Him. He is our hiding place where we can go and find safety, security, and hope.

Grace in abundance is available to those who ask! We must learn how to ask for grace when we have reached our limit, or when we feel like we are being crushed under the weight of our suffering.

Father, let us clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, patience, and gentleness. Allow them to become a natural part of our daily lives. Let our first instinct to be one of these traits, rather than our own selfish desires. Amen.

When have you sensed God restraining you as you started to wander from Him? What might God be protecting you from in the disappointments and delays you are experiencing?

Even when we exit the pen, we remain well-protected, whether the threat comes from the devil and his minions or some other frightening or dangerous encounter. God hems us in—by His power and love. By His very self.

Take an honest look at your life right now. What’s taking the energy away from your relationship with God? Let the Master Gardener do his work to prune it away so you can grow and thrive!

Jesus was never hurried, rushed, or needed to prove His worth by His productivity. You don’t either. As you start your day, remember to slow down and spend a few moments in prayer.

I am not obligated to be best friends with everyone, but I can love them in my mind, pray for them from my heart, and extend to them a gracious act of kindness from the deep gratitude I have for what Jesus did for me. Because Jesus loved me while I was yet a sinner, I can love them too.