The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Is your glass half-empty or half-full? In Half Empty or Half Full?, Megan J. Conner reflects on how our perspective shapes our faith. Through the story of Adam and Eve and the subtle lies of the enemy, she reveals how focusing on what we lack leads to spiritual discontent—and how gratitude and truth can shift our mindset back to the goodness of God. This episode is a powerful reminder that contentment starts with choosing to see abundance, even when circumstances tempt us to focus on what’s missing. ---------------------------------------- ✨ Highlights * How the enemy uses subtle deception to shift our focus from abundance to lack * Why gratitude is key to spiritual peace and emotional resilience * The ripple effects of perspective on our faith, speech, and actions * A look at Genesis 3 and Proverbs 18:21 to explore the power of words and choices * Practical challenge to build a daily habit of thankfulness and see your cup overflow ---------------------------------------- 💬 Join the Conversation Where have you seen God’s abundance in a place you once saw as lack? Share a moment of gratitude or a shift in perspective and tag @LifeAudioNetwork [https://www.instagram.com/lifeaudionetwork] using #GratitudeOverflow to encourage others to keep their glasses full! 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer [https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/] 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews [https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/] ---------------------------------------- Full Transcript Below: Half Empty or Half Full? By Megan J. Conner “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden...? For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” Gen. 3:1-5 (NIV) Do you classify yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? Do you see your glass as half-empty or half-full? While we may dismiss these characteristics as simple designations, there is tremendous power in what we think and even greater in what we speak. Proverbs 18:21 states, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit,” (NIV). What we recite over ourselves or rehearse with others has the ability to influence our thoughts, propel our actions, and even dictate our overall mental and spiritual states.  We all know the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  We look at their account and can easily cast judgment on their erroneous ways. We can be tempted to think there is no way we would have disobeyed God like they did. They walked with God and talked directly with Him all the time. How in the world could they just turn their backs on Him like that? We flippantly assume that if it had been us in that garden, we would have made a very different decision. Perhaps, before we cast the first stone, we should take a closer look at what might have caused them to boldly sin against God in such a manner. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?’ The woman said to the serpent, ‘We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’ ‘You will not certainly die,’ the serpent said to the woman. ‘For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.’ When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” Gen. 3:1-6 (NIV) What tactic did Satan use to convince Eve that she should disobey God? If Satan had challenged her directly to defy God’s edicts, she likely would have refused. However, his enticement was subtle, not direct. Satan artfully got Eve to see what she lacked rather than what she had. Where there was abundance, she suddenly saw deficiency. On the outside, it seems like such a small shift, yet it produced immense repercussions. It is no different for us today. Our perspectives really do change everything.  Unfortunately, we are very familiar with the long-term effects of Adam and Eve’s poor choice as generation after generation endures the consequences of this sin. However, God did not forsake us (or Adam and Eve). He chose right then and there to pay the penalty for our sins through the death and ultimate resurrection of His one and only Son so that we might be reconciled back to the Father. Yet even in this, we still have a choice. Do we recognize the gift we have been given? Or do we still see the glass as half-empty?  Gratitude is THE key to the peace and contentment we all seek in life. Perspective dictates our daily direction, and it takes intentional effort to look for the good instead of the bad. We all have a choice. No matter how difficult or disappointing our circumstances may seem, there is always something to be thankful for. May I encourage and challenge you today? Look for the good, seek out the blessings that are right there in front of you. I promise, if you go treasure hunting, you will discover riches far beyond your imagination. Your glass really can be full to overflowing. Intersecting Faith & Life: Let’s take a moment and conduct a quick survey of our lives. Set a timer for one minute and, without thinking, write down every single thing you can think of to be grateful for. Once completed, take a look at how many treasures you were able to unearth. Then, I challenge you to take five minutes each day for the next week and see how many more blessings you can add to your list. Let’s commit together to see abundance and not perceived lack. Let’s keep our glasses full! Further Reading: Phil 4:10-13 1 Thes. 5:18 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

What does “home” really mean when nothing on earth feels permanent? In Looking Forward to Home, Lynette Kittle shares a heartfelt devotional exploring how our sense of home shifts as we grow in faith. Through personal stories and Scripture, she invites us to stop anchoring ourselves to physical places and instead long for the eternal home Jesus is preparing for us. If you've ever felt displaced or like you don’t quite belong here, this episode is a beautiful reminder: our true home is with Christ. ---------------------------------------- ✨ Highlights * Why a Christian perspective on home goes beyond physical places * How moving often can actually deepen your eternal perspective * The connection between loss and longing for Heaven * Encouragement from Jesus' promise in John 14:3—He’s preparing a place for us * Reflection on how Heaven becomes more real as our loved ones go before us ---------------------------------------- 💬 Join the Conversation Have you ever felt like this world isn’t your true home? How has your view of Heaven changed over time? Tag @LifeAudioNetwork [https://www.instagram.com/lifeaudionetwork] and share your thoughts using #HeavenIsHome to inspire and encourage others who are longing for eternity with Christ. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer [https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/] 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews [https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/] ---------------------------------------- Full Transcript Below: Looking Forward to Home By Lynette Kittle “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come”--Hebrews 13:14 When we think of home, what do we think of? What comes to mind, a particular house, or city, or an area of the country or world? Some might quote the popular saying, “Home is where your heart is.” Growing up, my family moved around a lot, so I decided as a teenager that when I grew up and became an adult, I would reside in one place for the rest of my life and never move again. That was my plan. But God had different plans and knew my moving from place to place growing up was preparing me for married life, one where He has kept us on the move, relocating over 30 times and still counting, moving from East to West, South to North, from one end of the United States to the other. Needless to say, my dream of living in one place for the rest of my life didn’t pan out as we waved goodbye to the place chosen to be my “forever home”, as some might call it. Not until years later, after my parents both passed away, did I start to realize that a specific place isn’t what makes a home, but rather the people we love who live there.  While my parents were still living, I loved visiting them in the town I had planned to live out my life, not ever wanting to leave the place and area that felt like home to me. But once they passed away and were no longer living there, my desire to live there passed away, too, where even the draw and appeal of it no longer called to me, not even for a visit.  Still, it was the same place I thought was where I wanted to live out my days. So what has changed my desire so completely? The Apostle Paul explains how, “The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven” (1 Corinthians 15:47), so as His followers, we are changed from residents of the earth to residents of Heaven. In thinking about how my feelings changed drastically after my parents left this world, I considered how Jesus’ disciples and followers may have experienced similar types of feelings with His leaving and absence, like it just didn’t feel like home any longer. Maybe why Jesus assured His followers before His leaving, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3). How reassuring Jesus’ words must have been to them, after experiencing His death, resurrection, and ascension, to remember His telling them beforehand that He was preparing a place for them and would come back to take them with Him. What a comfort for His followers, then and now, to hear and know, because our real home is where He is, not a place, but with Him, so to go with Him, is to go home.  As Jesus prayed in John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given Me to be with Me where I am, and to see My glory, the glory You have given Me because You loved Me before the creation of the world.” Likewise, Revelation 21:3 describes our future home, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” Home really is where our hearts are, where we feel most connected and loved by people rather than a particular physical location. Since my parents left this world, Heaven does seem more like home than it did before. Knowing they are already there with Jesus draws me home. Intersecting Faith & Life:  Where is home for you? Do you feel at home and comfortable here on earth, or are you looking forward to living with Jesus in His home? If the thought of heaven seems too far off, or out-of-reach, ask God to draw you closer to Him.   Further Reading: A Prayer to Look Towards Heaven https://www.crosswalk.com/video/a-prayer-to-look-towards-heaven-your-daily-prayer.html [https://www.crosswalk.com/video/a-prayer-to-look-towards-heaven-your-daily-prayer.html] Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

In this moving devotional, Angela Anderson shares a real-life story of watching a woman struggle in deep waters—until she surrendered and was rescued. Through this gripping analogy, Angela unpacks the meaning of "Blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matthew 5:3) and how spiritual surrender opens the door to God’s kingdom. When we recognize our deep need for God's grace, we stop striving and allow Him to rescue us. This devotional is a reminder that salvation isn’t about striving harder—it’s about admitting we can’t do it on our own. When we surrender, we experience the richness of God's love, peace, and hope. ---------------------------------------- ✨ Highlights * What it truly means to be "poor in spirit" * Why surrender—not self-reliance—is the key to spiritual rescue * A powerful real-life metaphor for how God saves us when we stop fighting * Encouragement for those who feel like they’re drowning in life’s circumstances * The immediate promise of kingdom living for those who fully depend on God ---------------------------------------- 💬 Join the Conversation Have you had a moment when surrendering to God brought breakthrough? We’d love to hear your story. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork [https://www.instagram.com/lifeaudionetwork] and use #PoorInSpiritRichInFaith to share how God met you when you let go. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer [https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/] 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews [https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/] ---------------------------------------- Full Transcript Below: Let the Poor Say I Am Rich By Angela Anderson Bible Reading: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3 (ESV) I stood there in awe with the rest of the crowd. I wanted to scream for help, but I was speechless. I could not believe what I was witnessing, and I was terrified at the thought of a tragic outcome.  There was a woman drowning in the middle of the ocean, and no one was coming to her rescue. She accidentally fell off the pier and she was too far out for even an experienced swimmer to reach her. Her arms were flailing, water was splashing, her head was bobbing up and down, and the crowd just stood there watching it happen. There was a lifeguard nearby, and he was also a silent bystander. I was perplexed. I thought it was the responsibility of the lifeguard to save people from drowning. Why wasn’t this lifeguard jumping in the water to save this woman? A few more minutes went by. It felt like everything was happening in slow motion. I saw the woman begin to get tired. Her arms were no longer moving wildly in the air and the water around her seemed to calm down. Then the worst possible scenario occurred. The woman went under. The crowd gasped in unison. Immediately, the lifeguard dove into the water and within seconds he appeared with the woman in his arms. He swam back to the pier while pulling the woman who was serenely floating alongside the lifeguard. Once they reached the bottom of the pier, they were pulled to safety by a team of rescuers who had just arrived on the scene. Occasionally, I think about that incident and my mind goes back to the moment when the lifeguard saw the woman drowning, but he did not instantly act. It was later explained to me that the lifeguard was waiting for the woman to stop struggling in the water. If the lifeguard jumped in to save the woman while she was still fighting for her life, he might have been pulled down in the chaos, and both may have drowned. The lifeguard could not force or coerce the woman to be saved. Instead, the lifeguard had to wait until the woman surrendered and allowed herself to be saved.  It is the same way with God and His continuous desire to save us. The verse for today found in Matthew 5:3 indicates that the poor in spirit will inherit the kingdom of heaven. What does it mean to be poor in spirit? The word poor in this context does not refer to the lack of material wealth. On the contrary, to be poor in spirit is to recognize your spiritual poverty and your deep need to be saved. There is an awareness that salvation is not something that can be earned. There is an understanding that God’s favor is a gift. There is an acknowledgement that you must depend on God’s grace, rather than rely on your own righteousness, accomplishments, or strength.  For those who are poor in spirit, there is spiritual humility which is the opposite of pride or self-sufficiency. You can freely admit your need for God and His mercy. For example, the tax collector in Luke 18:13 had a heart of repentance when he prayed the words, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” This is an outward sign of dependence on God and submission to His will. Once you reach this point in your life, there is an openness to God. You are receptive to the gospel. Only those who realize their need will fervently seek and receive the promise of God’s kingdom. This promise is not a future event. Instead, it is referring to belonging to God’s kingdom in the present. Those who are poor in spirit are reaping the reward of living under God’s rule which is characterized by His grace, peace, and hope. Moreover, it is the foundation of a faithful, grace-filled life. You will experience the richness of His love. To be poor in spirit is to fully surrender. Just like the woman who was drowning, once you accept that you cannot save yourself, you stop struggling and you give God permission to act. Just like the lifeguard, God is patiently waiting for you to be still so that He can jump in and rescue you from the deep waters of your life. Intersecting Faith & Life: Are there areas of your life that you have not surrendered to God? What will it take for you to relinquish control? Further Reading: 2 Peter 3:9                                                                                                                              Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

Is singleness a gift or a flaw to be fixed? In this heartfelt devotional, Vivian Bricker invites us to rethink cultural and even church-based assumptions about being single. Drawing from 1 Corinthians 7:7 and Colossians 2:10, she reminds us that single Christians are not lacking—they are complete in Christ. Whether by choice, circumstance, or calling, singleness offers a unique opportunity to deepen our devotion to God and grow spiritually without distraction. Vivian speaks candidly from personal experience, addressing the pain, pressure, and purpose of singleness in a culture that often misunderstands it. If you’ve ever felt overlooked or “less than” because of your relationship status, this reflection will affirm your value and remind you that you are fully known and fully loved. ---------------------------------------- Highlights (What You’ll Learn) * Why singleness is not a flaw—but a God-given gift (1 Corinthians 7:7) * The emotional challenges of being a single Christian in a relationship-centered world * How Colossians 2:10 affirms that we are already complete through Christ * Common misconceptions about single believers—and why they need to change * Encouragement to embrace this season (or life calling) with purpose, dignity, and joy ---------------------------------------- 💬 Join the Conversation Have you struggled to see singleness as a gift? Or have you found freedom and growth in this season of life? Share your thoughts by tagging @LifeAudioNetwork and using #SingleAndSecure to encourage others walking a similar path. Let’s start a real conversation about what it means to be whole, chosen, and complete in Christ—no matter our relationship status. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer [https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/] 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews [https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/] ---------------------------------------- Full Transcript Below: Acceptance for the Single Christian By Vivian Bricker “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1 Corinthians 7:7).  As a single Christian, I have often been ridiculed. Many Christians view me as something that needs to be “fixed.” What these individuals don’t know is that singleness does not mean you are broken or lacking in any way. Through faith in Jesus, we have been brought to fullness (Colossians 2:10). This means we are not lacking anything in our lives. Since we are given fullness in Christ, there is no reason to be ashamed as a single Christian. It is true that single life can get lonely, and we often feel a lack of love, but it does not mean we are not complete. Many people stay single for various reasons. Some simply choose to stay single in order to be devoted to the Lord, others have bad experiences with dating, and others have never been pursued by someone. It is best not to look down on singles or to make any comments on their singleness because you don’t know why a person is single. People who are single have different feelings concerning singleness. For some, it might be painful; for others, it is a sense of Christian growth and grace. In either case, Christian singles need to be respected and treated equally with other believers. There have been too many occasions where I have been looked down upon because I am a single Christian. These individuals think that if a person is single, they are immature or incomplete. As mentioned, single Christians are complete because we know Jesus and have been given fullness in Him. All Christians, regardless of their relationship status, are worthy, valued, and enough. To say otherwise would be to call Jesus’ love and grace insufficient. As it is, Jesus’ love and grace are more than sufficient, and we are all complete in Him. Intersecting Faith & Life:  Rather than believing lies about singles, it is time to listen to what God says in His Word. While marriage is a beautiful blessing and a gift, singleness is also a gift (1 Corinthians 7:1-40). This is what Paul is saying when he makes the statement, “I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1 Corinthians 7:7).  In saying this, Paul tells us that each of us has our own gift from God. This would tell us that singleness is a gift and it is a great blessing. By being single Christians, we have much more time to devote to the Lord, go to Him in prayer, and read the Bible (1 Corinthians 7:32-35). Our top priority is God, and He always will be.   Rather than seeing singleness as a lesser state, it is important to embrace our singleness. For some, this might only be a season of life, and for others, it might be for the rest of their lives. If you are young and think you are “doomed” to be single, know that singleness is not a curse. As stated, it is a gift. Jesus tells us that we should accept singleness if we can (Matthew 19:12). The Lord is never wrong, and we need to embrace the life He has called us to. The life He has for each of us is amazing, whether that includes marriage or not.  “Dear Jesus, I often struggle with my singleness, and it makes me feel as though nobody will ever love me. Help me to know that I am complete in You and I’m not lacking anything. Please help me to also see singleness as a gift rather than a curse. My life is meant to serve You, regardless of my relationship status. Help me to remember this every day. Amen.” Have you held any distorted views of singleness in the past? The Bible tells us singleness is a gift. In what ways do you see it as a gift in your own life? Singleness can be hard for many Christians to accept. How can you work on accepting singleness in your own life this week?  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].

What do we do when we’re walking through spiritual wilderness—those dry, difficult seasons that test our faith and strip us of comfort? In this moving devotional, Megan J. Conner invites us to consider what it means to build altars in the wilderness—not as monuments to our victories, but as places of sacrifice, surrender, and transformation. Drawing from Genesis 22 and the powerful story of Abraham and Isaac, this episode explores the sacred difference between memorials and altars, and how God uses wilderness moments to draw us deeper into trust, humility, and full dependence on Him. If you’re feeling lost, weary, or stretched beyond your limits, this is a tender reminder that God meets us in the wilderness, and often calls us to lay down what’s most precious so that new life can rise. ---------------------------------------- Highlights (What You’ll Learn) * The distinction between biblical monuments and altars, and why it matters for your faith * What Abraham’s altar moment teaches us about deep surrender and costly obedience * How spiritual “wilderness” seasons are often invitations to intimacy and transformation * Why humility and sacrifice are central themes of the Christian journey * Encouragement that what you lay down in obedience, God often raises up in new life ---------------------------------------- 💬 Join the Conversation What has God asked you to surrender in a season of wilderness? How has He met you in that place? Tag @LifeAudioNetwork with #AltarInMyWilderness and share a moment when laying something down led to growth, renewal, or unexpected blessing. Your story may be the encouragement someone else needs today. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer [https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-nightly-prayer/] 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews [https://www.lifeaudio.com/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/] ---------------------------------------- Full Transcript Below: Altars in the Wilderness By Megan J. Conner The phrase “altars in the wilderness” has become somewhat of a Christian catchphrase that has gained popularity over the last several years. The expression sounds deep, compelling, romantic, even. It alludes to a sense of profound destiny, as if connected to some measure of achievement or victory. While marker stones were often set up in the Old Testament to memorialize an act of God’s deliverance or miraculous provision during wilderness wanderings, there is a significant difference between a monument and an altar.  Throughout the Old Testament, we see monuments resurrected through marker stones. Similar to our modern-day statues, granite walls, or marble towers, these memorials were built as a lasting reminder of God’s triumph over an obstacle or enemy, and His divine deliverance of His people. We see examples of this in Joshua chapter four when the twelve tribes stack stones to memorialize the crossing of the Jordan river, and again in 1 Samuel chapter seven when God delivers the Israelites from the Philistines and Samuel erects a memorial called “ebenezer,” meaning stone of help. In both of these references, God miraculously demonstrated love in action as He cared for those who belonged to Him. While faith was required to follow the Lord in each of these scenarios, it was God who was responsible for the work, not man. How different in comparison when we look at the term altar.  Again, the word stirs in us visions of majesty and the divine, but an altar at its core is not a place of glory, but of humility. The word altar, when used as a noun in Hebrew, means “place of sacrifice,” and is derived from a verb meaning “to slaughter, to offer, or to sacrifice.” There is no grandeur here; rather, there is messy, raw surrender. A total and complete resignation of one’s self.  One of the most famous biblical examples of this can be found in the story of Abraham and his son Isaac. Abraham waited decades for his promised son, Isaac. Abraham was assured he would have descendants as numerous as the stars. Yet, God calls Abraham to sacrifice his only son upon the altar of the Lord. Abraham did not fully understand the outcome of this command, but his assurance in the Lord was so unshakeable, he obeyed and trusted God would provide a solution he simply could not see. “Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, ‘Father?’ ‘Yes, my son?’ Abraham replied. ‘The fire and wood are here,’ Isaac said, ‘but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?’ Abraham answered, ‘God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.’ And the two of them went on together. When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.”  Gen. 22:6-9 (NIV) Take a look at the last sentence. Why do you think Abraham bound his own son? Because he was about to be slaughtered, and a struggle might ensue. Because to lay down one’s life is HARD, even when the heart is willing and there is confidence in the Lord. Ultimately, God provided a ram for the sacrifice, and Isaac’s life was spared. However, the intense, guttural surrender of both Abraham and Isaac upon that altar is almost incomprehensible. Yet… it was through this sincere act of sacrificial death that God birthed a nation. Just as the crucifixion of Christ continues to offer us resurrection and redemption today. The altar is a sacred place of transformation. As reflected in scripture, these opportunities to lay open our hearts upon the holy ground of self-sacrifice often arise during seasons of wilderness wanderings. Times when the world falls away, during moments of isolation and hardship, when water and sustenance seem scarce.  If you find yourself in a moment such as this, look up and look out. Likely, there is an altar ready and waiting for you in that wilderness.  Will you, like Abraham, offer what is most precious to you in surrender to the Lord? If so, what may appear as death WILL spring forth new life.  “Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it,”  Matt. 10:39 (NIV). Intersecting Faith & Life: Deep humility can be difficult. We long to feel validated in our own selves, our own efforts. We pride ourselves on what we can achieve or accomplish. We long to be in control of our own destinies. However, the Kingdom of God is an upside-down kingdom. Those who long to be first will be last, and the last will be first (Matt. 20:16). If you find yourself wandering in a wilderness today, know that God is doing a good work in you. He is not punishing or abandoning you, He is calling you into deeper surrender and relationship with Him. Will you heed that call? What can you lay down upon the altar today? Further Reading: Gen. 22 Matt. 10:34-42 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com [https://www.lifeaudio.com/] and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us [https://www.lifeaudio.com/contact-us].