The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

Trading Perfectionism for Peace

Struggling with perfectionism, productivity pressure, or the constant need to do more? This devotional reflection on Ephesians 2:8–9 reminds us that peace is found not in performance, but in God’s grace. When achievement becomes identity, rest feels uncomfortable—but Scripture gently redirects our hearts back to the truth that salvation, worth, and purpose are gifts from God, not something we earn. Through honest reflection and biblical truth, this message invites us to release perfectionism, embrace weakness, and rest in the grace of a God who completes the work He began in us. Highlights Perfectionism often disguises itself as faithfulness and diligence God’s grace, not our effort, defines our worth Productivity is not the same as purpose God’s power is made perfect in weakness, not strength Rest is an act of trust, not laziness Busyness can quietly pull our hearts away from God Peace grows when we surrender control and performance Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Trading Perfectionism for PeaceBy Megan J. Conner Bible Reading:“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 (NIV) Do you wrestle with the incessant need to do more, be more? Do you find yourself struggling to sit still? Are you bothered by empty hours or blank spaces on the planner? Do you worry about how others perceive your efforts, or lack thereof? Do you feel frustrated by days that cannot be quantified as “productive”? If any of these prompts ring true for you, know you are not alone. One of my greatest struggles in life has been my inner battle with performance and perfectionism. A typical, Type-A, first-born, I am naturally a mover, a shaker, and a doer. I can possess a fierce determination when something needs doing, and can conjure endless endurance to accomplish whatever goal lies ahead. If there is a job to do, you can likely find me in line, ready and waiting to help. Our current culture esteems and celebrates such traits, but at what cost? I used to be proud of these characteristics. However, I have learned over time that all of the “achieving” can cause unwanted repercussions. Several years back, I recognized this reality the hard way, through hurt inflicted on those I love most. Full of grief and repentance, I spent years surrendering my pursuits of performance and perfectionism to the Lord and saw a real change in my behavior and my heart, so much so that I joked that I was a recovering perfectionist. You would think, after putting so much effort towards such an outcome, I would steer clear of potential pitfalls in this area. However… “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jer. 17:9, NIV). As I reflect on where I find myself today, I am disappointed and frustrated that I have once again journeyed down the slippery slope of achievement and works. I am deeply grieved by the recognition of this repeated pattern. How do I keep ending up here? What am I doing wrong? I feel like Paul when he said, “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate,” (Rom. 7:15, NLT). Perhaps you can relate. Despite my failings, hope remains because hope stems from a source far beyond me. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 (NIV) Even further, the Bible says His power is best demonstrated through my weakness, not my strength (2 Cor. 12:9), and the good work God began in me will be completed by HIM (Phil. 1:6). I am not responsible for anything other than surrender and worship to HIM. The Lord does have work for each of us to do, but He is not requiring us to take on more than He asks. If you are anything like me, then there is a good chance you, too, are doing more than God has called you to do. He isn’t asking you to prove your worth to Him or anyone else around you. You are precious and valuable simply because you are. He is pleased with who He created you to be, and any effort to gain approval or satisfaction from busyness and productivity will only draw you farther away from Him rather than towards Him. Will you join me today in laying down the clamor and call of perfectionism? If so, pray this prayer with me: “Lord, I recognize that my longing for productivity is an attempt to validate my purpose in this world outside of you. Would you forgive me for trying to gain Your approval and the approval of others through my own efforts rather than depending on you? Would you help me to see how I can rest in You? Today, I yield my heart to you. Help me to understand how I can live differently, how I can live in the present moment, filled with peace. Thank you for your unending mercy and grace. Amen.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Where do you find yourself today? Have you overfilled your plate with endless commitments and now feel overwhelmed and exhausted? If so, spend some time with the Lord today and ask Him to reveal to you if there are any changes He is calling you to make, either now or in the future. If helpful, set a timer for ten minutes and simply sit in the quiet. Don’t pick up your phone or check your email. Don’t read a book. Just sit in the quietness and converse with your Lord. Further Reading:Ps. 46:10 2 Cor. 12:7-9 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

When We Don’t Know What to Do

Feeling overwhelmed when you don’t know what to do? This devotional reflection centers on 2 Chronicles 20:12, where King Jehoshaphat faces an impossible battle and responds with humility, prayer, and complete dependence on God. When fear rises and answers feel out of reach, Scripture reminds us that fixing our eyes on God invites His power, peace, and deliverance into our circumstances. Through Judah’s story, we see how seeking the Lord first, admitting weakness, and trusting God’s sovereignty transforms fear into faith—and reminds us that the battle ultimately belongs to Him. Highlights Fear is often the moment God invites us to deeper dependence Jehoshaphat chose prayer and fasting instead of panic Admitting “we don’t know what to do” is an act of faith, not failure God responds when His people seek Him with honesty and humility Worship came before victory, not after Faith fixes our eyes on God, even when fear is present The battle is God’s, but obedience is ours Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: When We Don’t Know What to Do By Hannah Benson Bible Reading: “O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” - 2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV One afternoon, as I flipped open my Bible, my eyes landed on 2 Chronicles 20:12. As I reread the entire chapter, I was struck by what I uncovered in that passage. Picture this. The tribe of Judah receives word that three different armies, the Ammonites, Moabites, and those from Mount Seir, are plotting to attack them. When God’s people first entered the land, He had not allowed them to conquer Ammon, Moab, or Mount Seir (see Deut. 2). And now? The enemy was coming for God’s people. Not one. Or two. But three powerful armies. King Jehoshaphat, the king reigning over Judah at the time, was afraid. He was the leader. Perhaps he was even expected to have all the answers to protect Judah from this threat. But you know what struck me the most? As we read the passage, we notice the Scripture says, “Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord” (v. 3). In addition, he proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. In the midst of fear, he turned to God and encouraged others to do the same. As I read that, I was instantly convicted. If a nation’s king could lead with such humility and grace, should not each of us respond the same? Yes, when Jehoshaphat saw that these armies were coming, he was afraid. How many of us can say the same? How many of us see something, are afraid, but then set our face to seek the Lord? How many times have I done that? Not as much as I wish. Think about it. Usually, so many of us are afraid and run to numb that fear. We often numb fear - whether through distractions or endless scrolling - instead of seeking God. It doesn’t really matter how we numb our fear. The fact is, we all have all been tempted to turn to something other than God when we are afraid. If we try to numb our fear with anything other than God, we will come away dissatisfied. Only God can truly satisfy us and give us peace. Turn to God. Not only did Jehoshaphat set his face to seek the Lord in his fear, but he chose honesty instead of what made him look good. He was upfront and honest with all of Judah, sharing in his prayer to God, “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12). He could’ve tried to appear strong, like he had all the answers. But he openly and freely admitted he didn’t. This was a fix only God could get them out of. In essence, he was saying, “God needs to do this. God needs to work because I can’t.” And then, he sought the Lord in prayer and encouraged all of Judah to seek the Lord with him. His dependence on God is what defined his leadership and set an example for the people. In addition, I noticed that Jehoshaphat recognized God’s sovereignty. In the beginning of his prayer in verse 6, he says, "O LORD, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you." He recognized that God was sovereign and the only one who could save them. Second, he clung to God’s promises, recalling how the Lord had given them the land (v. 7-9) and trusting He could deliver them again. But even though God already knows everything, the Lord loves it when we share our hearts with Him. Finally, Jehoshaphat begged God to execute judgment on their enemies. “For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (v. 12). Guess what happened next? The Spirit of the Lord came upon a man named Jehaziel, and he said (v. 15). “Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid, and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s'”. He goes on to give 3 specific instructions. Stand firm. Hold your position. See the salvation of the Lord on your behalf. Sometimes, the Lord allows us to go through difficult trials and drives us to our knees so that we can recognize and realize that we are powerless against whatever we are facing. Immediately after the Lord spoke to Jehaziel, Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground and worshipped the Lord. It is so inspiring to me that this is the first thing he did. His act of surrender and glory to God led Judah and Jerusalem to fall down on their faces, worshipping the Lord. But they didn’t stop there. Intersecting Faith & Life: The Scriptures tell us that they rose early in the morning and went out. Not only that, but they sang to the Lord and praised Him as they went out to battle. "And when they had begun to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed" (v. 22). I’m sure they still struggled with fear. But imagine if the men of Judah had allowed their fear to stop them from following God. Thank God they didn’t. This passage reminds me that fear may come, but faith fixes our eyes on God — and He fights for us. Pray with me: Dear Father God, please help me to walk in faith even when I’m afraid. To always seek Your face first instead of caving into my fears. I trust You to work everything out for my good and your glory and to make me even more like Jesus (Romans 8:28-31). In Jesus’s Name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Coming Home to the Father

Coming back to God after pain, doubt, or distance can feel overwhelming, but Luke 15:21–24 reveals the heart of a Father who welcomes His children home with compassion, grace, and celebration. Even when suffering, illness, or disappointment shake our faith, God remains loving, present, and ready to restore what feels lost. Highlights Seasons of pain and unanswered prayers can cause believers to drift from God. Feelings of doubt don’t define truth—God’s Word does. Chronic suffering can deepen faith rather than destroy it. God is not the author of pain but the author of redemption and hope. The parable of the prodigal son reveals God’s eagerness to restore, not reject. Confession leads to restoration, not punishment, in God’s kingdom. No matter how far we wander, we are always welcomed home by our Heavenly Father. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Coming Home to the FatherBy Vivian Bricker Bible Reading:“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24). Most of us have had times when we have strayed from God. Due to something bad happening in our lives, we just wanted to leave everything, including our faith. Since we know God is all-powerful, we become disheartened when He doesn’t bring us out of a troublesome time. I strayed from God when I was in the middle of being diagnosed with a now-known autoimmune disease. When I was still in the process of finding a diagnosis, I was scared of the worst-case scenario: an incurable disease. I constantly prayed to God and asked that I would not have to walk through the rest of my life with a chronic illness. During that time, I saw my faith begin to crumble. The excruciating pain I was experiencing made me question God, His goodness, and His presence in my life. I saw other people around me, who were thriving and healthy, yet here I was, sitting in a hospital, waiting to undergo another imaging test. For months, I did not talk to God, and I blamed Him for my pain. I hit rock bottom in my mental health as I fell into the belief that God didn’t love me or care about me…. But I must remember that feelings are only feelings—they are not facts. By reading the Bible and relying on what I know rather than how I feel, I have been able to make headway in renewing my mind to know that God does indeed love and care about me—and He loves and cares about you, too. While my disease hasn’t changed much from the time I was first diagnosed, my faith has changed tremendously from the days when I was doubting God. Going through that process has brought about much growth in my spiritual walk with the Lord. I no longer see God as the author behind my pain, but rather, as the author of beautiful endings. Intersecting Faith & Life: Within the Parable of the Lost Son, we are met with this wonderful encounter: “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:21-24). The prodigal son had squandered his father’s wealth in wild living and left his family behind. However, when he had passed the point of no return, he fell before his father, confessed his sins, and told him he was not worthy to be his father’s son. The father chose to have his servants bring the best robe to his son, put a ring on his finger, sandals on his feet, and celebrate with a fattened calf. This would have been a surprise to the son, as he would have expected his father to send him away, yet his father richly adorns him and throws him a celebration. The father and the son in this parable are allegorical to our relationship with God the Father. We were lost, and now we are found. Even though we might not have left God and squandered our lives in wild living, we have all drifted away from Him at some point in our Christian walk. The beautiful reminder we have here is that if we ever drift away, we are always welcomed home in the arms of our Heavenly Father. Praise God for His kindness, mercy, and love! Further Reading: Jeremiah 31:3 Joel 2:12-15 1 Corinthians 1:9 Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Carrying the Unnecessary Weight of Condemnation

Condemnation can quietly weigh down even the most faithful believers, especially when perfectionism and performance replace grace. Romans 8:1 offers freeing truth: for those in Christ Jesus, condemnation no longer exists because Jesus already carried the full weight of sin and shame on the cross. Highlights Perfectionism often disguises itself as faith but leads to exhaustion and emptiness. Guilt and shame push us away from God, while grace draws us closer. Self-condemnation is a burden Jesus never intended believers to carry. Romans 8:1 declares complete freedom from condemnation for those in Christ. Jesus paid the full debt for sin—nothing more is required from us. Our identity is found in Christ’s finished work, not our performance. Grace is a gift to rest in, not something to strive to maintain. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: Carrying the Unnecessary Weight of Condemnation By: Emily Rose Massey Bible Reading: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). For many years, I was driven by perfectionism and the feeling that I had to work successfully or perform well in life to be loved by other people… and to be loved by God. On the outside, I looked like I had it all together- high honors throughout school, hyper-involvement in extracurricular activities, serving in any ministry I was asked to be involved in, star of the high school plays and musicals, head cheerleader, first chair clarinet player in the band, and the list goes on and on. But on the inside, I was so empty and constantly searching for true fulfillment. I knew God was there for me, but somehow, I thought I could be perfect in my own strength on my walk with Him. Because we are human, we fail time and time again. We make a mess of things more often than not. Guilt and shame can often push us further away from God, instead of closer. For so long as a Christian, I was allowing self-condemnation to take root in my heart, and it weighed me down as I walked around carrying all of the baggage of my past sins and failures, thinking that I had to continue to strive to keep God’s forgiveness. Thankfully, today, I no longer live burdened by a work-based mentality. I find my identity in the finished work of Christ, and I want to encourage you, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, you should too. Grace is a gift that cannot be earned, and you do not have to strive to keep it either. In Romans 8:1, the Bible tells us that we do not have to carry condemnation in our lives when we’re truly in Christ. If you are a born-again believer, condemnation does not exist because the punishment for our failures and sins does not exist. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1, ESV). This means that when we embrace and believe what Jesus did for us on the cross, as He took the punishment for our sin that we deserved, our lives are now hidden in Christ. When we come to God with a heart full of repentance, resting in this glorious, finished work of the cross, we can stand before the throne of God without any shame because Jesus bore all of it for us. The debt we owed has been paid in full- we are free from all bondage. Intersecting Life & Faith: Jesus took all of your sin and your shame upon Himself and cast it as far as the east is from the west, friend. Do you struggle with thoughts of shame from your past? Fix your eyes on the finished work of the cross. Christ bore the weight of your sin; you no longer have to live with the weight of your failures. You can come boldly to the throne of grace, beloved, because it is grace that did the work for you. You can rest assured that God sees you as blameless and perfect because you are in Christ. There is no reason to carry that heavy burden of condemnation upon your shoulders… surrender it to Christ today. Let’s pray that you learn to no longer walk around carrying the weight of your past and stop striving for perfection. Remember, Jesus is blameless and perfect for you… lean upon Him. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

We Don’t Need a Resolution: We Need Revival

True revival doesn’t begin with better habits or stronger resolutions—it begins with humble repentance and a renewed pursuit of God. Drawing from 2 Chronicles 7:14, this devotional reminds us that healing, forgiveness, and spiritual renewal start when God’s people humble themselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from their sin. Highlights Revival is deeper than emotion; it begins with repentance. God’s call to humility starts with us, not others. Pointing out sin in the world without self-examination blocks spiritual growth. Repentance is an intentional turning away from darkness and toward God. Revival flows from obedience, not performance or perfection. When God’s people respond with humility, He promises forgiveness and healing. Personal surrender can ignite widespread spiritual renewal. Do you want to listen ad-free? When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! Sign Up Today! Full Transcript Below: We Don’t Need a Resolution… We Need Revival. By Hannah Benson Bible Reading:“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” - 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV As we are in the midst of New Year’s resolutions, I want to challenge you with an alternative option: instead of simply making New Year’s resolutions, what if we prayed for revival? Now don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with making New Year’s resolutions. There’s nothing wrong with saying “I want to do more of this” or “I want to do less of that”. But more than making New Year’s resolutions, what if we prayed for revival? We all need revival. We pray for it. We’ve seen it sweep across college campuses. We’ve studied the Great Awakenings in our history books, and now, we’re praying for it to happen again. We have always needed God, and we’ll never stop needing Him. But if we look around the shattered state of our country and our world, I think we can all agree we need Him now more than ever. Revival isn’t based on feelings. We recognize our nation needs revival, yes. Our world needs it, yes. But revival doesn’t happen because we have an amazing pastor or top-notch worship leader. I think a lot of people hear stories of revival and want the feel-good emotions they think will come with it. But honestly, revival is messy. Revival starts with us, and it starts with repentance. So many people desire the revival, but they would prefer to ignore the call to repentance that precedes the revival. Without repentance, there is no revival. Sometimes, we may look at the people around us and think, “This person needs God. They need revival, and they need to change.” Which is true. They absolutely need God, and maybe they do need to change. We all do. But look at what Jesus says in Matthew 7:3-5 (ESV): “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.” This is a call of conviction. We are so quick to look at other people, at the rest of the world (and I’m not saying this world is not messy. It absolutely is). But we all need Jesus. Your kids’ nemesis at school who just won’t seem to leave them alone.The politician who makes you so angry when he steps up to the podium. The list could go on. Me. And you. But revival starts with each one of us individually. If we want revival? We must repent. What is the first thing God commands His children to do in 2 Chronicles 7:14? Humble themselves. Not their neighbor. Not the bully at school. Not the politician in the opposing party. Themselves. Next, they need to pray and seek the Lord’s face and turn from their wicked ways. This is part of the repentance and is the decision to surrender the sin we cling to—the conscious turning away from the darkness that has crept into our hearts. Intersecting Faith & Life: If we do these things, then God promises: “I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV). Don’t get me wrong. Revival is not dependent on our good works. But we do need to be obedient to God’s call. If we keep pointing fingers and saying “They need to repent” while ignoring the log in our own eye, then we are no better than the hypocrites Jesus called out in the Bible. That humble individual act of turning away from sin and seeking the Lord—that is what is going to fan the flame and spread genuine revival throughout the entire world. Do we believe it? More importantly, do we live like it? Pray with me: Dear Father, we confess that we often desire the blessings of revival without repentance. We confess we are too quick to see the sins of others while ignoring the “log in our own eye.” Lord, make us humble. We lay down our self-righteousness today. Please help us to sincerely pray, seek Your face, and turn from our wicked ways. We ask You to forgive our sin and, starting with us, heal our land. In Jesus’s Name, Amen. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.