Your Daily Crossroad

Abby’s Prayer

Posted on Jun 6, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: 1 Timothy 2:1, Pray

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men. (1 Timothy 2:1)

When Abby was a sophomore in high school, she and her mom heard a news story about a young man who’d been critically injured in a plane accident—an accident that took the lives of his father and stepmother. Although they didn’t know this person, Abby’s mom said, “We just need to pray for him and his family.” And they did.

Fast forward a few years, and one day Abby walked into a class at her university. A student offered her the seat next to him. That student was Austin Hatch, the plane crash victim Abby had prayed for. Soon they were dating, and in 2018 they were married.

“It’s crazy to think that I was praying for my future husband,” Abby said in an interview shortly before they were married. It can be easy to limit our prayers to our own personal needs and for those closest to us, without taking the time to pray for others. However, Paul, writing to the Christians at Ephesus, told them to “pray always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints” (Ephesians 6:18). And 1 Timothy 2:1 tells us to pray “for all people,” including those in authority.

Let’s pray for others—even people we don’t know. It’s one of the ways we can “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2).

Who are the people—some you may not even know personally—who need your prayers today? How will you carve out some time to talk with God about their needs?

Jesus, open my heart to the needs of people around me—even those I don’t know. Take my heartfelt concern and intervene for them as only You can. Amen.

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Ephesians 3:19

Jun '19

Knocking Down Pins

Posted on Jun 5, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Ecclesiastes 1:9, Find joy

Jun '19

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done . . . (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

The clever lyrics by Sara Groves “Setting Up the Pins” encourages listeners to find joy in the repetitive, routine tasks that sometimes feel as pointless as manually setting up bowling pins over and over again, only to have someone knock them down.

Laundry. Cooking. Mowing the lawn. Life seems full of tasks that, once completed, have to be done again—and again. This isn’t a new struggle but an old frustration, one wrestled with in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. The book opens with the writer complaining about the endless cycles of daily human life as futile (1:2–3), even meaningless, because “what has been will be again, what has been done will be done again” (v. 9).

The writer was able to regain a sense of joy and meaning by remembering our ultimate fulfillment comes as we “fear [reverence] God and keep his commandments” (12:13). There’s comfort in knowing that God values even the ordinary, seemingly mundane aspects of life and will reward our faithfulness (v. 14).

What are the “pins” you’re continually setting up? In those times when repetitive tasks begin to feel tiring, may we take a moment to offer each task to God as an offering of love.

How might you do a task differently today knowing God values it? How does knowing this bring meaning to the mundane?

Heavenly Father, thank You for giving value to the ordinary activities of life. Help us to find joy in the tasks before us today. Amen.

What blessed me about this devotion is so often we can find ourselves frustrated when the ordinary activities of life become mundane. I pray today’s devotion uplifts and encourages you to see it all in a different light knowing God values every task you put your hand to. May we find a new sense of joy in our every day repetitive tasks.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Jun '19

The Lord Rejoices

Posted on Jun 4, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: His Love, Zephaniah 3:17

Jun '19

The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

You My grandmother recently sent me a folder full of old photographs, and as I thumbed through them, one caught my eye. In it, I’m two years old, and I’m sitting on one end of a hearth in front of a fireplace. On the other end, my dad has his arm around my mom’s shoulders. Both are gazing at me with expressions of love and delight.

I pinned this photo to my dresser, where I see it every morning. It’s a wonderful reminder of their love for me. The truth is, though, that even the love of good parents is imperfect. I saved this photo because it reminds me that although human love may fail sometimes, God’s love never fails—and according to Scripture, God looks at me the way my parents are looking at me in this picture.

The prophet Zephaniah described this love in a way that astounds me. He describes God as rejoicing over His people with singing. God’s people had not earned this love. They had failed to obey Him or to treat each other with compassion. But Zephaniah promised that in the end, God’s love would prevail over their failures. God would take away their punishment (Zephaniah 3:15), and He would rejoice over them (v. 17). He would gather His people into His arms, bring them home, and restore them (v. 20).

That’s a love worth reflecting on every morning.

How does it make you feel that God rejoices over you with singing? How have you experienced His love?

God, thank You for Your forgiveness and faithful love for us. Amen.

This devotion blessed me. I pray it opens your eyes to see just how loved you are by God. I am reminded of Luke 15:3-7. He will leave the ninety and nine to go after the one who is lost until he find it. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.What a mighty God we serve.

Have a beautiful day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is John 16:33

Jun '19

Divine Diversions

Posted on Jun 3, 2019 in Devotions | Tags: Acts 16:7, Divine

Jun '19

After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. (Acts 16:7)

It can be difficult when we’re told “no” or “not now,” especially when we sense God has opened a door for us to serve others. Early in my ministry, two opportunities came my way where I thought my gifts and skills matched the churches’ needs, but both doors eventually closed. After these two disappointments, another position came along, and I was selected. With that ministry call came thirteen years of life-touching pastoral labors.

Twice in Acts 16 Paul and company were redirected by God. First, they were “forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia” (v. 6). Then, “after they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not” (v. 7). Unknown to them, God had other plans that would be right for His work and workers. His no to the previous plans put them in a position to listen to and be confidently led by Him (vv. 9–10).

Who among us hasn’t grieved what we initially thought to be a painful loss? We’ve felt wounded when we didn’t get a certain job, when a service opportunity didn’t materialize, when a relocation got derailed. Though such things can momentarily be weighty, time often reveals that such detours are actually divine diversions that God graciously uses to get us where He wants us, and we are grateful.

What loss have you grieved only to be grateful that what you desired you didn’t get? How did the situation serve to bolster your trust in the Lord?

Father, I praise You that in Your wisdom You know how to best arrange my life. Thank You for protecting me through Your detours. Amen.

When I read this devotion I was reminded of Isaiah 55:8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. Trust Him to protect you and guide you. He is faithful, always. Divine Diversions.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Proverbs 15:1

Crossroad Fellowship

Your Daily Crossroad

Abby’s Prayer

Knocking Down Pins

The Lord Rejoices

Divine Diversions