The Crosswalk Devotional

Next time you’re feeling worn down by life, go to God. Even if you cannot pray for a long time, simply saying “Jesus, help me” will suffice. And if you cannot even say those words silently or aloud, trust that God already heard the cry of your heart, and He will meet you in your time of need.

I easily forget that the God of the mountains is the God of the valley, and no matter my circumstances, He hears my cries. Just as with David, there will be times when I feel alone, but God never forsakes His children. He is always working for my good and His glory.

Witness the powerful divergence of two young men who once shared a profound spiritual journey, as a former youth pastor reflects on why one returned to faith while the other strayed.

What is your life reflecting about your heart? If you don't like what’s being reflected, ask God to help you see clearly and to lead you with His word and godly principles, so that others are drawn to Him, through what they’re seeing in you.

When we approach each day asking God to teach us something new that day, we can become quicker to listen, slower to judge, and much more adaptable to life’s changes than we would be otherwise.

When you’re feeling alone, remember that you’re never alone because Jesus is always with you. Turn your pain into prayers and ask Him to help you be friends with Him first, and others, second. Ask God for the community you crave and trust Him to send the right people into your life.

Have you felt like the plans you had for your own life were thwarted? If so, did your unmet expectations prompt disappointment and heartache, or were you able to recognize God was working for good on your behalf?

Are you wondering why God has allowed—or not allowed—something in your life? It's possible He wants you to be desperate for Him, too. When you and I can say our hope is in Him, not in what He will do, then we get a little clearer picture of what it means to follow Him faithfully.

We have been given the precious gift of time here on this earth; let’s not waste our time but redeem it all for God’s glory!

You don't have to be stressed by all the change around you when you remember that the Holy Spirit lives inside you.

Instead of worrying God won’t provide, why not reflect on what He has done in our lives already? It’s good to remember and recount what the Lord has done.

Make time today, this week, and every coming week to remember the Lord’s deeds and remind yourself of why it’s good to remember. Commit to making time throughout the coming year to remember the good of the past.

Not only is peace impossible when you live life according to your fears. There’s also no way to be happy. Your mind is thinking about all that is going wrong, or could go wrong, instead of the myriad of blessings we experience every day. And we do experience them daily.

Do you live in fear of the future? All of the what-ifs are out of our control, but they are safe in the loving, sovereign hands of our Savior. Jesus died on the cross, securing our eternal home. We can trust Him with our tomorrows.

There is nothing wrong with making plans and hoping for something. In fact, God often places these desires in our hearts.What about when our plans fall through? When we feel like we’re praying, begging for a breakthrough, but heaven seems silent, or worse yet, God says no?