Posts with the category “devotions”

Facing Fear with Praise – Chuck SwindollAs David faced his fears and expressed them to God in Psalm 27, he began with worship, celebrating the power and faithfulness of his God.Declaration of PraiseThe key to the entire song is verse 1. It consists of two similar sentences, each ending with a rhetorical question."The Lord is my light . . . my salvation . . . the defense of my life." Interestingly,...  Read More

 Wise Words – Chuck SwindollSolomon considered both the negative and positive uses of the tongue:The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,But the mouth of fools spouts folly. (Proverbs 15:2)The lips of the wise spread knowledge,But the hearts of fools are not so. (15:7)Just as we found five destructive uses of the tongue, so we find five ways “the lips of the wise” can benefit others.Wise...  Read More

But I Don’t Feel Like - Forward with Back to the BibleRead Acts 16:22-25 (ESV) The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened the...  Read More

Waiting with Patience – Chuck SwindollAs David concludes his song about the grinding pain of unjust treatment and his chosen responses, he then commits to patience.Resolved: I will patiently stand and wait for relief.Do not take my soul away along with sinners,Nor my life with men of bloodshed,In whose hands is a wicked scheme,And whose right hand is full of bribes.But as for me, I shall walk in m...  Read More

Fully Grasping the GiftForward with Back to the BibleRead Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind,...  Read More

When God Is Doing Something New, and We’re Still Stuck in the Oldby Debbie McDaniel"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Is. 43:18-19Sometimes...God is wanting to do something "new" and yet we're still stuck in the "old." It's hard at times. To l...  Read More

When I Grow Upby Katherine Britton"Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, then we will live and also do this or that." - James 4:15"You can be anything you want when you grow up, sweetie."My parents profoundly ignored that phrase when I was growing up. I never heard them say those words, although the self-esteem trend was certainly making its way through the schools and Saturday morning ca...  Read More

Your Life's Every DetailBy Skip HeitzigWe're all familiar with the incredible story of Joseph in the Bible. It's a riches-to-rags-to-riches tale that shows us the massive scope of God's providence. Providence is when God intervenes in natural law—the chain of cause and effect that governs our lives—to bring about a supernatural result.Perhaps the most amazing thing about Joseph's story is that, wh...  Read More

The Most Dangerous Part – Chuck SwindollSolomon had a lot to say about what we say. In fact, tongue, mouth, lips, and words occur almost 150 times in Proverbs. On average, a reference to speech appears five times in each of the thirty-one chapters. Seems to me any subject mentioned that often calls for extended attention in our examination of the book of Proverbs. So we will devote two weeks to th...  Read More

His Love Endures Foreverby Ryan DuncanOh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! - 1 Chronicles 16:34Last December I had the privilege to be part of a short-term mission trip to Vladimir, Russia, where I worked alongside Russian Christians in the city’s orphanage. The trip was incredibly challenging, but the opportunity did help me learn a lot about God and...  Read More

Missing the Forest for the TreesBy Debbie Holloway"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: ”‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:36).I j...  Read More

Fits Any Nicheby Shawn McEvoyYour word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.- Psalm 119:105All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness. - 2 Timothy 3:16-17As the editor responsible for all devotional content here at Crosswalk, one of the questions I'm asked most frequently by our beloved users goes something like t...  Read More

The Shepherd Provides Abundantly – Chuck SwindollAs David's song of the sheep concludes, he suddenly drops the analogy to consider his own experience of God, both as a simple man in need of a Savior and as a king in need of divine guidance.Verse 5No sheep ever ate at a literal "table" prepared for it. Abruptly, we are transported from the green pastures, the valley, and the rugged mountainside to ...  Read More

Pivotal Moments – Greg Laurie“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin” (Hebrews 11:24-25 NKJV).Hebrews 11, what we call the Heroes Hall of Faith, tells us about the faith of great men and women of God who made a huge difference because of the sta...  Read More

Faith Worth Rememberingby Katherine BrittonJesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told,...  Read More

Laying Bricksby Ryan DuncanWhoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." - Mark 10:43-45Sometimes, I get restless. I went to college at Taylor University, a small Christian school in the middle of Cornfield, Indiana. Though...  Read More

In the Shepherd’s Care – Chuck SwindollLike many of the songs found in the Bible, Psalm 23 states its case in the first verse and simply verifies it in the remainder of the song. The key thought is this: Because the Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing! No uncertainty should frighten me. Here is the way the theme of Psalm 23 is played out in the balance of David's famous song:I shall not lack...  Read More

God's Holiness, Your WholenessBy Skip HeitzigIf ever there was a religious sounding word, it's holy. Regardless of the context, most people probably hear it and think of cathedrals, stained glass, candlelight, and the sound of monks chanting. Step outside, and holiness evokes a desert landscape wandered by bearded men in sandals.Most of the time, our understanding of God's holiness makes Him seem ...  Read More

Bible ReadingWhen God is at the center of our theology and Christ is at the head of our lives we begin to understand the Bible as it was intended to be understood. Approaching Scripture as God’s self-disclosure instead of our tool for self-improvement will undoubtedly open up an entirely new experience of Bible study. It is not hard to see the extreme difference between hunting for verses “we like...  Read More

Listening with Retuned Ears – Chuck SwindollDavid sums up his feelings in Psalm 19 with a brief prayer. In fact, these three lines are some of the most familiar in the entire book of Psalms.Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartBe acceptable in Your sight,O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (19:14)While God may seem silent at times, the problem is not that He isn't communicating; it...  Read More

The Year of Hidden Blessingsby Katherine Britton"For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal." - Job 5:18Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. - James 1:17I'm evaluating all that happened last year. I always appreciate the post-holiday lull that allows for more quiet ref...  Read More

God’s Incomparable Word – Chuck SwindollAs David considers the impact of God's written communication in the second section of Psalm 19, he's prompted to appraise the value of Scripture. He uses two illustrations for the purpose of comparison:1. Gold . . . fine gold (19:10). As the king of Israel, David knew the value of gold. He had plenty of it! And, like today, it was considered among the most p...  Read More

The Anticipation of Christmas – Greg Laurie“The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)” (Isaiah 7:14 NLT).On the first Christmas Eve, there were no brightly colored lights on any homes. There were no stockings that had been hung with care and no visions of sugar plums on any...  Read More

Looking for Jesus – Greg Laurie“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people” (Luke 2:29-31 NLT).I don’t know about you, but waiting is not something that I like to do. I am, by nature, an impatient person. My wife (who is very patient, by the way) can attest to this.We’re all waiting for Christmas, but ...  Read More

Our Prince of Peace – Chuck SwindollIsaiah 9:6The Christmas rush is here. There are plans to make, gifts to buy, and parties to attend. Sometimes these activities leave us exhausted and cranky—instead of peace and joy, we may feel inner churning because there’s too much to do. Or perhaps this time of the year brings nothing but sad memories and loneliness. Unrealistic expectations and conflicts wi...  Read More

Secure in God – Chuck SwindollWhile salvation is entirely a work of God—an unconditional commitment on His part to preserve those He has saved (John 10:28-29; Romans 8:28-39; 2 Timothy 1:12)—He gives us a genuine stake in maintaining the quality of our spiritual lives. Those who lead lives of integrity receive something valuable for their faithfulness.The PromiseHe who does these things will never...  Read More

Christmas Memories – Charles StanleyLuke 2:1-20The first Christmas I remember was when I was three years old. My aunts and uncles came to visit, and when they opened the trunk of the car, I discovered that it was full of presents—and all of them were for me! I’m sure you, too, can recall memories from past Christmases, whether good or bad. There’s just something about that day that sticks in our m...  Read More

Where is Your Joy?by Debbie HollowayBut the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11The winter season can be bleak for many. Students are preoccupied with their work. Others become easily stressed with the pressure to plan (and cook for) f...  Read More

Learning to Be Still and Stop the RushBy Debbie McDaniel“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” - Psalm 46:10He got dressed, ate breakfast, brushed his teeth, then said, "Mom, how many minutes till I have to leave for school?""10 minutes," I yelled out as I busily worked packing lunches and backpacks.I saw him get out some paper and ...  Read More

Fellowship with God – Chuck SwindollIf you read Psalm 15 carefully, you will discover the entire song all hangs upon the first verse. Verse 1 is crucial in that it asks a probing question. That's today's devotional. David's answer forms the rest of the psalm. He then arrives at a wonderful promise. These we'll look at over the next couple of days.The QuestionDavid's psalm opens with a probing ques...  Read More

For a Fresh Start – Chuck SwindollBe gracious to me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness;According to the greatness of Your compassion blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquityAnd cleanse me from my sin. (Psalm 51:1-2)Our Father, in a dry and barren world, where sin is so rampant and society is so filthy, we need a fountain of fresh, clean water full of blessing, truth, an...  Read More

Thanking God for What Didn’t HappenBy Debbie McDaniel“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Psalms 91:1-2Sometimes we need to thank God for all the things that didn’t happen, for what He’s stopped that we never even knew about.We may not always see it, or feel it, we migh...  Read More

Don’t Let the Busyness of the Season Crowd Out What’s Most ImportantBy Debbie McDaniel“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33Just a few weeks before Christmas, maybe life seems kind of full and busy.Maybe you haven’t finished Christmas shopping yet. Or that special gift you’ve been looking for is officially out of stock, o...  Read More

Faith versus Reason – Charles Stanley1 Corinthians 1:18-31The first battle between faith and human reason took place in the garden of Eden. Spurred on by the lies of the serpent, Eve began to look at her situation from a purely logical perspective and decided she was being cheated by God out of something good. Her faith faltered as "reasonable" thoughts of self-interest filled her mind.I am not sa...  Read More

How to Trust God – Chuck SwindollAs we continue our study of Solomon’s advice concerning worry, note that the second two lines expand on the main idea to trust in the Lord. “Trusting with all your heart” involves two actions: one negative, the other positive.Today we examine the negative command: “Do not lean on your own understanding” (v. 5). The term understanding is so important that, in the He...  Read More

Daily DisciplesToday's Reading: Ezekiel 1; Hebrews 11:1-19Today's Thoughts: Faith and PrayerAnd without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. - Hebrews 11:6God rewards faith. Christianity started with the faith of Abraham. Faith means that we do not see to believe. So, praying is an act of...  Read More

Why Joy Is Never Dependent on Our CircumstancesBy Debbie McDaniel"This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." - Ps. 118:24Many of us may have heard this verse over long years. But what's interesting to know is that it's set right within a Psalm where the author is writing about huge adversity. It's not written about when times are good, but when times are hard. Situations...  Read More

The Physics of Tranquility – Chuck SwindollWorry is one of our more acceptable character faults, right alongside gluttony and perfectionism. After all, everybody worries, and no one quite knows how to stop. Furthermore, the primary victim of worry is the worrier, so it seems harmless enough. But worry is serious business. It not only causes a number of significant physical ailments, but worry can ...  Read More

A Message from God – Chuck SwindollAs though David continues his worship service, he opens his mouth and shares a message from God, which is the major theme of this composition. We can imagine his standing before the people and preaching about the needs of humanity and the grace of God.First, he considers the pitiful inadequacy of humanity. Read verses 3 and 4 slowly. Think them over and enter int...  Read More

Keep My Running Shoes OnBy Nichole HugginsI love to walk around my house barefoot. I like the feeling of soft carpet on my toes and feel more “at home” without the restriction of wearing shoes. But more and more it seems that I forgo this comfort for the functionality of keeping my running shoes on.You see, our home is different than many people’s homes. Because our son has autism, our home is lou...  Read More