1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:04,170 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,860 --> 00:00:14,140 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is how God will help 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,790 Speaker 2: you overcome fear. We'll return with the devotional after a 5 00:00:22,829 --> 00:00:39,970 Speaker 2: brief message from our sponsors. Do Not Fear, written and 6 00:00:40,030 --> 00:00:44,270 Speaker 2: read by Whitney Hopler. So do not fear, for I 7 00:00:44,330 --> 00:00:47,290 Speaker 2: am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am 8 00:00:47,330 --> 00:00:50,310 Speaker 2: your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I 9 00:00:50,810 --> 00:00:55,820 Speaker 2: will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41.10 10 00:00:55,820 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 2: NIV I once went to a party store in October 11 00:01:01,020 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 2: with my son and daughter to buy my daughter's Halloween costume. 12 00:01:05,700 --> 00:01:08,060 Speaker 2: My son was in preschool at the time and And 13 00:01:08,110 --> 00:01:12,850 Speaker 2: the moment we walked inside, he saw scary Halloween decorations everywhere. 14 00:01:13,870 --> 00:01:17,570 Speaker 2: There was a robotic talking skeleton with glowing red eyes, 15 00:01:18,330 --> 00:01:23,470 Speaker 2: a cackling inflatable witch, and other scary displays. He was 16 00:01:23,530 --> 00:01:26,270 Speaker 2: so afraid that he closed his eyes and refused to 17 00:01:26,410 --> 00:01:30,020 Speaker 2: open them. My daughter and I gently held his hands 18 00:01:30,170 --> 00:01:33,100 Speaker 2: and guided him through the store like a blind person 19 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 2: because he simply could not bear to look. We hurried 20 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:40,390 Speaker 2: to find the costume, paid for it, and got out 21 00:01:40,410 --> 00:01:43,570 Speaker 2: of there as quickly as we could. My son felt 22 00:01:43,670 --> 00:01:46,590 Speaker 2: safe because he knew we were with him, even though 23 00:01:46,630 --> 00:01:50,930 Speaker 2: he couldn't see where he was going. You'll encounter many 24 00:01:51,030 --> 00:01:55,660 Speaker 2: scary situations in this fallen world, but God encourages you 25 00:01:55,780 --> 00:02:00,460 Speaker 2: in Isaiah 41.10 not to be afraid because he is 26 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 2: with you and will help you. You don't have to 27 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:08,850 Speaker 2: fear because God is with you. God's presence changes everything. 28 00:02:09,720 --> 00:02:12,700 Speaker 2: Just as my son found comfort because he knew his 29 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,820 Speaker 2: family was beside him, you can find peace because your 30 00:02:16,880 --> 00:02:22,220 Speaker 2: loving Heavenly Father never leaves your side. Even when you 31 00:02:22,260 --> 00:02:25,870 Speaker 2: can't see what lies ahead, God sees the whole path 32 00:02:25,930 --> 00:02:30,630 Speaker 2: before you. God knows every challenge you'll encounter and every 33 00:02:30,690 --> 00:02:35,590 Speaker 2: need you'll have along the way. Nothing surprises God And 34 00:02:35,669 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 2: no scary situation is too hard for God to handle. 35 00:02:40,260 --> 00:02:44,120 Speaker 2: God also promises to strengthen you. There may be days 36 00:02:44,160 --> 00:02:47,400 Speaker 2: when you feel too weak to manage the challenges you're facing. 37 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,230 Speaker 2: But God doesn't expect you to find strength on your own. 38 00:02:52,570 --> 00:02:55,230 Speaker 2: He promises to give you the strength you need for 39 00:02:55,350 --> 00:03:01,530 Speaker 2: each step. God's power is greater than your weakness. As 40 00:03:01,570 --> 00:03:04,889 Speaker 2: you rely on God's strength, you'll discover that God will 41 00:03:04,930 --> 00:03:09,690 Speaker 2: empower you to deal with situations that once seemed impossible 42 00:03:09,750 --> 00:03:15,239 Speaker 2: to manage. God also promises to help you. You never 43 00:03:15,280 --> 00:03:19,240 Speaker 2: have to face your struggles by yourself. God sees every 44 00:03:19,300 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 2: problem you're facing and hears every prayer you pray for help. 45 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: God will walk closely with you as your personal guide, 46 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: ready to help at just the right time. Sometimes God 47 00:03:32,139 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: will help you by changing your circumstances. At other times, 48 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 2: God will give you the grace and endurance to keep 49 00:03:39,660 --> 00:03:44,780 Speaker 2: trusting him as you go through challenging circumstances. Either way, 50 00:03:45,470 --> 00:03:50,230 Speaker 2: God will faithfully work for your good. Finally, God says 51 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:54,710 Speaker 2: he will uphold you with his righteous right hand. That 52 00:03:54,790 --> 00:03:58,170 Speaker 2: means God will hold you securely so you can be 53 00:03:58,230 --> 00:04:03,040 Speaker 2: secure in even when your life feels unsteady. Even when 54 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:06,220 Speaker 2: you feel like you might fall, God is able to 55 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:10,350 Speaker 2: keep you standing. God's loving hand on you is stronger 56 00:04:10,390 --> 00:04:14,630 Speaker 2: than anything that tries to pull you down. So instead 57 00:04:14,670 --> 00:04:17,990 Speaker 2: of focusing on the fear you feel, focus on God's 58 00:04:18,050 --> 00:04:22,690 Speaker 2: promises to you. When fear leads you to think you're alone, 59 00:04:23,230 --> 00:04:24,490 Speaker 2: remember that God says. 60 00:04:24,510 --> 00:04:25,450 Speaker 1: I am with you. 61 00:04:26,500 --> 00:04:30,090 Speaker 2: When fear tells you that you're too weak, remember that 62 00:04:30,130 --> 00:04:34,130 Speaker 2: God says, I will strengthen you. When fear says no 63 00:04:34,450 --> 00:04:38,500 Speaker 2: one can help you, remember that God says, I will 64 00:04:38,510 --> 00:04:42,920 Speaker 2: help you. When fear tells you that you'll fall, remember 65 00:04:42,980 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 2: that God says, I will uphold you. Don't let fear 66 00:04:47,460 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 2: take control of your life. Each day is another opportunity 67 00:04:52,120 --> 00:04:56,220 Speaker 2: to trust God's promises instead of your feelings. As you 68 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,490 Speaker 2: spend time reading the Bible and and bring your worries 69 00:04:59,550 --> 00:05:03,190 Speaker 2: to God in prayer, your confidence in God will grow. 70 00:05:04,089 --> 00:05:07,010 Speaker 2: Little by little, you'll learn that God's peace is stronger 71 00:05:07,029 --> 00:05:10,500 Speaker 2: than your fear because God's presence is always with you. 72 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: Choose to trust God instead of fear to lead you forward. 73 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:18,900 Speaker 2: You don't have to walk through life with your eyes closed, 74 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,290 Speaker 2: wondering what will happen next. God is walking beside you 75 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 2: every step of the way. God's love is constant. God's 76 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:32,850 Speaker 2: strength never fails, and God's faithful hand is holding you securely. 77 00:05:33,670 --> 00:05:36,710 Speaker 2: Because God is with you, you don't have to fear. 78 00:05:38,330 --> 00:05:42,470 Speaker 2: Intersecting Faith and Life As you consider how God will 79 00:05:42,510 --> 00:05:47,380 Speaker 2: help you overcome fear, reflect on these questions. What fear 80 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,020 Speaker 2: are you carrying today that you need to give to God? 81 00:05:51,260 --> 00:05:54,580 Speaker 2: How have you experienced God's help during a difficult season 82 00:05:54,660 --> 00:05:59,260 Speaker 2: in your life? Which promise in Isaiah 41.10 speaks the 83 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,089 Speaker 2: most to you today? What's one way you can choose 84 00:06:03,170 --> 00:06:07,350 Speaker 2: faith instead of fear this week? How can remembering that 85 00:06:07,390 --> 00:06:10,430 Speaker 2: God is always with you change the way you face 86 00:06:10,470 --> 00:06:14,990 Speaker 2: today's challenges? Further reading. Psalm 23.4 Deuteronomy 31.8 2. 87 00:06:14,940 --> 00:06:32,100 Speaker 3: Timothy 1.7 Joshua 1.9 John 14, 27. Thanks for listening 88 00:06:32,200 --> 00:06:33,359 Speaker 3: to today's devotional. 89 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:35,580 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 90 00:06:35,620 --> 00:06:39,140 Speaker 1: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 91 00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: When you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 92 00:06:43,430 --> 00:06:46,190 Speaker 1: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day 93 00:06:46,610 --> 00:06:50,130 Speaker 1: so your days begin in conversation with God. If you're 94 00:06:50,150 --> 00:06:52,920 Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer, or start your day with 95 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,620 Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 96 00:06:56,720 --> 00:07:00,280 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, and be sure 97 00:07:00,320 --> 00:07:02,739 Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 98 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: delivered straight to you each morning. 99 00:07:12,270 --> 00:07:15,730 Speaker 4: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 100 00:07:15,790 --> 00:07:19,470 Speaker 4: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 101 00:07:19,530 --> 00:07:22,410 Speaker 4: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 102 00:07:22,450 --> 00:07:28,290 Speaker 4: deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 103 00:07:28,450 --> 00:07:31,600 Speaker 4: and a little community all in one place. 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