1 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:41,531 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,531 --> 00:00:45,171 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,251 --> 00:00:48,131 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,171 --> 00:00:54,091 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Thank devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,131 --> 00:00:57,331 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,731 --> 00:01:00,211 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,451 --> 00:01:03,211 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,451 --> 00:01:05,811 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,971 --> 00:01:08,450 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,530 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,211 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,411 --> 00:01:24,611 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you Life Audio. 13 00:01:26,450 --> 00:01:29,291 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to have you 14 00:01:29,371 --> 00:01:33,450 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is working all Things for Good. 15 00:01:34,011 --> 00:01:36,531 Speaker 2: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 16 00:01:36,531 --> 00:01:53,571 Speaker 2: our sponsor, Working all Things for Good written and read 17 00:01:53,691 --> 00:01:54,371 Speaker 2: by Megan J. 18 00:01:54,651 --> 00:01:55,011 Speaker 1: Connor. 19 00:01:56,771 --> 00:01:59,770 Speaker 2: And we know that God causes everything to work together 20 00:01:59,931 --> 00:02:02,011 Speaker 2: for the good of those who love God and are 21 00:02:02,011 --> 00:02:05,531 Speaker 2: called according to His purpose for them. For God knew 22 00:02:05,571 --> 00:02:08,571 Speaker 2: his people in advance, and he chose them to become 23 00:02:08,731 --> 00:02:10,971 Speaker 2: like his son, so that his son would be the 24 00:02:11,011 --> 00:02:14,971 Speaker 2: first born among many brothers and sisters, And having chosen them, 25 00:02:15,091 --> 00:02:18,010 Speaker 2: he called them to come to him. And having called them, 26 00:02:18,091 --> 00:02:21,371 Speaker 2: he gave them right standing with himself. And having given 27 00:02:21,411 --> 00:02:24,970 Speaker 2: them right standing, he gave them his glory. Romans eight 28 00:02:25,171 --> 00:02:29,651 Speaker 2: twenty eight through thirty NLT. Have you ever wondered if 29 00:02:29,731 --> 00:02:32,491 Speaker 2: God has a plan and a purpose for you? Or 30 00:02:32,490 --> 00:02:35,411 Speaker 2: does it seem like your life has aimlessly evolved over time? 31 00:02:36,451 --> 00:02:38,891 Speaker 2: Do you believe the circumstances as you are in now 32 00:02:38,971 --> 00:02:42,331 Speaker 2: are the result of fate or predestination, or do you 33 00:02:42,331 --> 00:02:45,251 Speaker 2: think your journey on this earth has simply been happenstance, 34 00:02:45,611 --> 00:02:48,210 Speaker 2: a completely random assortment of events with no rhyme or 35 00:02:48,291 --> 00:02:52,530 Speaker 2: reason behind each occurrence. Is your tough questions that many 36 00:02:52,571 --> 00:02:55,691 Speaker 2: of us tend to wrestle with internally, whether we share 37 00:02:55,731 --> 00:02:58,251 Speaker 2: these musings with others or not. Many of us ponder 38 00:02:58,291 --> 00:03:00,971 Speaker 2: whether our lives really have a purpose, and if so, 39 00:03:01,251 --> 00:03:05,331 Speaker 2: who or what is behind it. The world offers boundless 40 00:03:05,371 --> 00:03:10,091 Speaker 2: explanations for humanity's origin and design, from pointless existence to 41 00:03:10,131 --> 00:03:13,891 Speaker 2: eternal destiny. It seems there are ideologies ready to appease 42 00:03:13,931 --> 00:03:18,531 Speaker 2: any appetite or preference. However, an abundance of theories can 43 00:03:18,571 --> 00:03:23,250 Speaker 2: cause chaos and confusion rather than promote confident assurance. This 44 00:03:23,291 --> 00:03:25,930 Speaker 2: is why we must carefully consider and ask for God's 45 00:03:25,931 --> 00:03:28,611 Speaker 2: help with discernment as we contemplate the deeper meaning of 46 00:03:28,651 --> 00:03:31,971 Speaker 2: each of our lives, so that we won't be tossed 47 00:03:32,011 --> 00:03:35,131 Speaker 2: and blown about by every wind of new teaching, we 48 00:03:35,171 --> 00:03:37,371 Speaker 2: will not be influenced when people try to trick us 49 00:03:37,371 --> 00:03:40,571 Speaker 2: with lies so clever they sound like the truth Ephesians 50 00:03:40,571 --> 00:03:45,131 Speaker 2: four fourteen NLT. As you seek to understand your reason 51 00:03:45,211 --> 00:03:48,131 Speaker 2: for being, the answers might be much closer than you think. 52 00:03:48,771 --> 00:03:50,651 Speaker 2: You don't need to travel the world or climb the 53 00:03:50,691 --> 00:03:53,971 Speaker 2: highest mountain peak in search of purpose. You don't need 54 00:03:54,011 --> 00:03:57,971 Speaker 2: to exhaustively study to ascertain the origin of wisdom. You 55 00:03:58,011 --> 00:04:01,491 Speaker 2: simply need to look up and look out. The answers 56 00:04:01,531 --> 00:04:04,091 Speaker 2: you seek are evident right in front of your very eyes. 57 00:04:04,171 --> 00:04:08,851 Speaker 2: Through creation, Nature in all of its glory, demonstrates the divine, 58 00:04:09,611 --> 00:04:13,171 Speaker 2: majestic intelligent design causes the sun to rise and set, 59 00:04:13,571 --> 00:04:16,330 Speaker 2: the Earth to orbit through the universe, and each individual 60 00:04:16,371 --> 00:04:20,171 Speaker 2: heart to beat without conscious thought or effort. John one 61 00:04:20,251 --> 00:04:23,731 Speaker 2: three states God created everything through him, and nothing was 62 00:04:23,770 --> 00:04:29,211 Speaker 2: created except through him. NLT. Our maker separated the sky 63 00:04:29,251 --> 00:04:31,931 Speaker 2: from the waters, established all manner of life, from the 64 00:04:31,971 --> 00:04:36,770 Speaker 2: smallest seed to the giants equiz and formed you personally, individually, 65 00:04:37,010 --> 00:04:40,491 Speaker 2: uniquely in your mother's wim Psalm one thirty nine thirteen. 66 00:04:41,451 --> 00:04:44,051 Speaker 2: He knew you before you spoke your first word. He 67 00:04:44,171 --> 00:04:46,891 Speaker 2: treasured you before you were even aware of His existence. 68 00:04:48,051 --> 00:04:50,531 Speaker 2: So great is God's love for you that he chose 69 00:04:50,611 --> 00:04:54,051 Speaker 2: to proactively cover your sin and separation from God through 70 00:04:54,091 --> 00:04:57,371 Speaker 2: the sacrifice of his only son John three point sixteen, 71 00:04:57,651 --> 00:05:01,851 Speaker 2: Romans five eight. Even further, he has caused all things 72 00:05:01,891 --> 00:05:05,091 Speaker 2: to work together for your good. Your life is not 73 00:05:05,211 --> 00:05:08,211 Speaker 2: an accident. It is not the result of an arbitrary 74 00:05:08,251 --> 00:05:12,411 Speaker 2: series events. He has known you and chosen you. His 75 00:05:12,571 --> 00:05:15,491 Speaker 2: eye has been upon every moment of your life. He 76 00:05:15,531 --> 00:05:18,371 Speaker 2: has predestined your steps so that you would be drawn 77 00:05:18,491 --> 00:05:23,450 Speaker 2: closer to Him and share in his glory. Intercepting faith 78 00:05:23,531 --> 00:05:26,770 Speaker 2: in life, do you feel that your life has meaning 79 00:05:26,811 --> 00:05:29,330 Speaker 2: and purpose or do you wrestle with a lack of 80 00:05:29,331 --> 00:05:33,130 Speaker 2: fulfillment and clarity. Have you wondered if your journey through 81 00:05:33,171 --> 00:05:36,731 Speaker 2: life has been a haphazard assortment of random events, or 82 00:05:36,771 --> 00:05:38,971 Speaker 2: do you believe God has a plan and a purpose 83 00:05:39,051 --> 00:05:43,371 Speaker 2: behind every step? Regardless of which side you find yourself on. 84 00:05:43,571 --> 00:05:45,611 Speaker 2: May I encourage you to take some time to reflect 85 00:05:45,611 --> 00:05:49,291 Speaker 2: on today's truths. If you read these words with confidence 86 00:05:49,331 --> 00:05:51,571 Speaker 2: and assurance that God has been at work in your life, 87 00:05:52,011 --> 00:05:54,091 Speaker 2: take some time to thank Him for his good work. 88 00:05:54,731 --> 00:05:57,651 Speaker 2: Think through specific circumstances where you know God was a 89 00:05:57,731 --> 00:05:59,811 Speaker 2: lamp unto your feet and a light into your path, 90 00:06:00,130 --> 00:06:04,130 Speaker 2: and offer a prayer of gratitude. If today's message was 91 00:06:04,211 --> 00:06:07,291 Speaker 2: unfamiliar and challenged you to consider God's presence in the 92 00:06:07,291 --> 00:06:09,450 Speaker 2: design of your life, May I encourage you to recite 93 00:06:09,491 --> 00:06:12,770 Speaker 2: this simple prayer below. As you pray, ask the Lord 94 00:06:12,811 --> 00:06:15,331 Speaker 2: to give you eyes to clearly see how He has 95 00:06:15,371 --> 00:06:19,411 Speaker 2: been at work in and through your life. Lord, I 96 00:06:19,491 --> 00:06:22,171 Speaker 2: come to you today unsure of your plans and purpose 97 00:06:22,211 --> 00:06:25,091 Speaker 2: in my life. Would you help me to visibly see 98 00:06:25,130 --> 00:06:27,131 Speaker 2: how you have been present and at work in my 99 00:06:27,211 --> 00:06:30,811 Speaker 2: journey thus far. Even though I'm still a bit unsure, 100 00:06:31,331 --> 00:06:33,570 Speaker 2: I choose to believe that you see me and know me. 101 00:06:34,171 --> 00:06:37,130 Speaker 2: Help me to fully comprehend your love for me. Amen. 102 00:06:38,331 --> 00:06:41,371 Speaker 2: For further reading, take a look at Romans five, verses 103 00:06:41,411 --> 00:06:49,251 Speaker 2: five through eleven, and John through sixteen. Thanks for listening 104 00:06:49,291 --> 00:06:52,171 Speaker 2: to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, 105 00:06:52,371 --> 00:06:54,931 Speaker 2: we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 106 00:06:55,331 --> 00:06:58,770 Speaker 2: Your Daily Prayer. When you follow your daily Prayer in 107 00:06:58,811 --> 00:07:01,971 Speaker 2: your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer 108 00:07:01,971 --> 00:07:05,651 Speaker 2: and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation 109 00:07:05,771 --> 00:07:09,091 Speaker 2: with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer or 110 00:07:09,211 --> 00:07:11,971 Speaker 2: start your day with your heart focused on the right things, 111 00:07:12,531 --> 00:07:16,571 Speaker 2: search for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app 112 00:07:16,811 --> 00:07:19,091 Speaker 2: and be sure to follow the show so you get 113 00:07:19,131 --> 00:07:22,331 Speaker 2: a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.