Your Daily Crossroad

Choosing the Trail

Posted on Oct 23, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: Beauty, Crossroad, Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:14)

I have a beautiful autumn photograph of a young man on horseback in the Colorado mountains as he contemplates which trail ahead to follow. It reminds me of Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken.” In it, Frost ponders two pathways that lie before him. Both are equally inviting, but he doubts he will return to this place again, and he must choose one. Frost wrote, “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

In Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7), the Lord told His listeners, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (7:13–14).

On our journey through life, we face many choices about which road to travel. Many pathways seem promising and attractive but only one is the pathway of life. Jesus calls us to travel the road of discipleship and obedience to God’s Word—to follow Him instead of the crowd.

As we ponder the road ahead, may God give us wisdom and courage to follow His way—the road of life. It will make all the difference for us and those we love!

Lord, as we go through this day, give us eyes to see the narrow road that leads to life and the courage to follow it. Amen.

What a beautiful devotion, full of truth. I have found that even when the pathway in life to choose seems unpromising, unattractive and a bit narrow, if you seek God and He says go this way, then it will indeed be rewarding and you will find what seemed not so attractive will soon reveal beauty that you never imagined. It just takes obedience and sacrifice but worth every obedient step taken. Choose to walk the road of life with Jesus.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Galatians 6:2

Oct '18

Treasure in a Pumpkin

Posted on Oct 22, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: 2 Corinthians 4:7, treasure

Oct '18

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

As a young mother, I was determined to document my daughter’s first year of life. Each month, I took photos of her to illustrate how she had changed and grown. In one of my favorite pictures, she is gleefully sitting in the belly of a hollowed-out pumpkin I purchased from a local farmer. There she sat, the delight of my heart, contained in an overgrown squash. The pumpkin withered in the ensuing weeks, but my daughter continued to grow and thrive.

The way Paul describes knowing the truth of who Jesus is reminds me of that photo. He likens the knowledge of Jesus in our heart to a treasure stored in a clay pot. Remembering what Jesus did for us gives us the courage and strength to persevere through struggles in spite of being “troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair” (2 Corinthians 4:8). Because of God’s power in our lives, when we are “persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed,” we reveal the life of Jesus (v. 9).

Like the pumpkin that withered, we may feel the wear and tear of our trials. But the joy of Jesus in us can continue to grow in spite of those challenges. Our knowledge of Him—His power at work in our lives—is the treasure stored in our frail clay bodies. We can flourish in the face of hardship because of His power at work within us.

Dear Father, thank You for putting Your truth into my heart and life. Help me to bear up under the challenges I face with Your power. May others see Your work in my life and come to know You too. Amen.

After reading today’s devotion I am uplifted. I just love 2 Corinthians 4, what encouragement, no matter what your facing today, look up. God’s power is at work within us. I read this exact devotion a few weeks back but today it struck a coard within me and it blessed me. I love how God’s word does just that. Never stop returning to God’s word for understanding and encouragement. Even if you have read the same scripture over and over one day you will find a treasure in those words when you need it most. He is faithful.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Proverbs 15:23

Oct '18

The Right Way to Pray

Posted on Oct 19, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: Matthew 6:6, prayer

Oct '18

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. (Matthew 6:6)

I admire people who record prayer requests in journals tattered from daily handling, those who keep track of every prayer and praise and then faithfully update their lists. I’m inspired by those who gather with others to pray and whose kneeling wears out the carpet at their bedsides. For years, I tried to copy their styles, to emulate a perfect prayer life, and to imitate the eloquence of the so-much-more-articulate-than-me folks. I strived to unravel what I thought was a mystery, as I longed to learn the right way to pray.

Eventually, I learned that our Lord simply desires prayer that begins and ends with humility (Matthew 6:5). He invites us into an intimate exchange through which He promises to listen (v. 6). He never requires fancy or memorized words or phrases (v. 7). He assures us that prayer is a gift, an opportunity to honor His majesty (vv. 9–10), to display our confidence in His provision (v. 11), and to affirm our security in His forgiveness and guidance (vv. 12–13).

God assures us He hears and cares about every single spoken and unspoken prayer, as well as the prayers that slip down our cheeks as silent tears. As we place our trust in God and His perfect love for us, we can be sure praying with a humble heart that’s surrendered to and dependent on Him is always the right way to pray.

Lord, thank You for reminding us You hear every prayer. Amen.

What I love about today’s devotion is it’s an incredible reminder that everyone’s “prayer closet” looks different and it’s not for us to strive to be like any one person when we pray. Our relationship and time with God looks different from person to person but as today’s devotion states one thing should be the same and that’s praying with a humble heart that’s surrendered to and dependent on Him. Today, stop looking at your neighbor and judging yourself based on there relationship with God and focus on your own relationship with God and He will meet you right where you are when you surrender all to Him. All to Jesus I surrender and that includes my prayer life. Calling on Jesus as our loving Savior and Lord is the right way to pray.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Ecclesiastes 12:13

Oct '18

Walking God’s Way

Posted on Oct 18, 2018 in Devotions | Tags: His way, Isaiah 30:21

Oct '18

And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. (Isaiah 30:21)

“We’re going this way,” I said as I touched my son’s shoulder and redirected him through the crowd to follow his mom and sisters in front of us. I’d done this more often as the day wore on at the amusement park our family was visiting. He was getting tired and more easily distracted. Why can’t he just follow them? I wondered.

Then it hit me: How often do I do exactly the same thing? How often do I veer from obediently walking with God, enchanted by the temptations to pursue what I want instead of seeking His ways?

Think of Isaiah’s words from God for Israel: “Thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). Earlier in that chapter, God had rebuked His people for their rebelliousness. But if they would trust His strength instead of their own ways (v. 15), He promised to show His graciousness and compassion (v. 18).

One expression of God’s graciousness is His promise to guide us by His Spirit. That happens as we talk to Him about our desires and ask in prayer what He has for us. I’m thankful God patiently directs us, day-by-day, step-by-step, as we trust Him and listen for His voice.

Father, You’ve promised to guide us through the ups and downs and decisions we face in life. Help us to trust and follow You, and to actively listen for Your guiding voice. Amen.

As I was preparing to post a devotion for today I thought I had what I wanted to post but I quickly realized it wasn’t what God intended for today. I deleted what I had planned to post and went back to the drawing board, aka His word and I chose to be still and wait for His guidance and within moments He directed me to this devotion. It couldn’t have been more appropriate for what I needed to hear today and my prayer is this devotion touches someone in such a way that they find peace in there situation. Trust Him today, be still and listen for His voice and remember 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.

Have a beautiful and uplifting day in The Lord!

Today’s Reading is Psalms 119:11

Crossroad Fellowship

Your Daily Crossroad

Choosing the Trail

Treasure in a Pumpkin

The Right Way to Pray

Walking God’s Way