Before the Lord

Happiness vs. Holiness

We evaluate our circumstances through the lens of happiness — if things are going well, we're good. If not, we complain and ask God to change it. But what if God isn't primarily working to make you comfortable? What if He's working to make you holy — and the circumstances you wish would change are the very tools He's using to shape you? That shift changes everything. Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Watchful Prayer

Most of us treat prayer like a task — check it off before the day starts. But Paul describes something different: an ongoing conversation that doesn't end at amen. Be diligent. Be watchful. Be thankful. What if the thing God laid on your heart this morning was preparation for something you haven't faced yet? That's watchful prayer — and it changes everything. Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

The Anxiety Pivot

Anxiety hit — and it wouldn't lift. After praying and seeking counsel, I found the fear behind it: history repeating itself. What the Lord revealed wasn't a formula. Two pivots — one toward Him, one toward holiness. Paul told Timothy: God already gave you a spirit of power, love, and self-control. Past tense. The question isn't whether you have what it takes — it's whether you'll access what's already been deposited. Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Costly Adjustments

Nobody likes suffering. But Peter doesn't say to brace for it — he says you're called to it. In this episode, we dig into 1 Peter 2:21 and what it means that Christ left His suffering as an example to follow, not a warning to avoid. If you've ever wondered whether the cost of obedience means you've taken a wrong turn — this one reframes the whole picture. The adjustment isn't the obstacle. It is your faith in motion. Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Set Your Mind

You had a great quiet time this morning. By lunch, you'd forgotten all about it. Sound familiar?"Set your mind on things above" sounds simple — until your day actually starts. In this episode, we dig into Colossians 3:1-2 and unpack why Paul's command isn't about trying harder to think spiritual thoughts. It's about something most of us have completely overlooked — and it changes everything about how you walk through your day.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)