1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to have you 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 2: listening with us. Today's topic is on settling for less 4 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 2: when God just might want you to have faith for more. 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 2: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from 6 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 2: our sponsors. Are you settling for Less? Written and read 7 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: by Cindy mcmanumon Now to Him who is able to 8 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:49,239 Speaker 2: do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according 9 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: to His power that is at work within us Ephesian's 10 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: three twenty new International version. Do you long for something 11 00:00:57,120 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: more in your life and yet constantly. 12 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 3: Feel that you should? Whether you're longing for marriage, or 13 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 3: for more intimacy in your marriage, or for a child, 14 00:01:06,200 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 3: or for a more fulfilling career. I'm sure you've experienced 15 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 3: your share of those well intentioned remarks. At least you 16 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:16,560 Speaker 3: have a family that loves you. At least you have 17 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,039 Speaker 3: a husband. At least you already have a child. You 18 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 3: may not enjoy it, but at least you have a job. Well, 19 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,640 Speaker 3: at least you're healthy. At least you still have dot 20 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,680 Speaker 3: dot dot. At least you don't suffer with and fill 21 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:34,520 Speaker 3: in the blank, Oh, the sting of well intentioned remarks, 22 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 3: and ohe the sting of those two guilt written words. 23 00:01:38,560 --> 00:01:42,400 Speaker 3: At least so many of us settle for, at least 24 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:45,559 Speaker 3: in our lives. And yet, since God went to such 25 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 3: great extremes to show his love for you and me 26 00:01:48,720 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 3: by having his only son die on the cross for 27 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 3: our sin, then certainly he did not intend for us 28 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:59,040 Speaker 3: to be content with the bare minimum. Yes, God's word 29 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 3: says we are to be thankful in all circumstances for 30 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 3: Thessalonians five eighteen. We're also told from scripture that godliness 31 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 3: with contentment is great gain for Timothy sixty six. But 32 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 3: God doesn't want our gratitude and contentment to be a 33 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:17,920 Speaker 3: form of resignation, like when we say, I guess I 34 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 3: should be happy with this, since it's all I will 35 00:02:20,200 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 3: ever get anyway. Rather, God wants his children to be 36 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 3: full of faith and anticipation for the more that He 37 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 3: is so capable of giving, to the point that we 38 00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: thank him ahead of time for all that he is 39 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 3: about to do. This, God, who tells us to be 40 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 3: thankful in all things, actually raises the bar when we 41 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 3: decide to settle for less or at least what life 42 00:02:43,480 --> 00:02:48,520 Speaker 3: brings us in the New King James version Ephesians three 43 00:02:48,680 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 3: twenty says God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above 44 00:02:53,880 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: all that we ask or think, according to the power 45 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 3: that works in us. You and I often hear or 46 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:03,399 Speaker 3: think or say the words, at least when it comes 47 00:03:03,480 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 3: to our lives. And yet God's words says, if you believe, 48 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 3: you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer Matthew 49 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,760 Speaker 3: twenty one twenty two. Ask and you will receive, so 50 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 3: that your joy may be made full. John sixteen twenty four. 51 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 3: Without faith, it is impossible to please him Hebrews eleven six. 52 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 3: Those words, my friend, come from a God who is 53 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 3: not stingy, and who doesn't bow out after he's done 54 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 3: the bare minimum in your life. He is instead the 55 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 3: God who says, if you, then, though you are evil, 56 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 3: know how to give good gifts to your children. How 57 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: much more will your father in heaven give good gifts 58 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 3: to those who ask him Matthew seven eleven. Intersecting faith 59 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 3: in life, You and I have our reasons for not 60 00:03:53,520 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 3: coming to God and pouring out our hearts. Sometimes it's 61 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 3: because we feel guilty about asking God for something. Other 62 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,360 Speaker 3: times it's because we don't really believe that he would 63 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 3: want to bless us, or we feel we don't deserve 64 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 3: anything more from him. When you and I say I 65 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,960 Speaker 3: don't really deserve any more than I have right now, 66 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 3: we are actually correct in our assumption because God doesn't 67 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,760 Speaker 3: give us good gifts because we deserve them. He gives 68 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 3: us good gifts because He is good and compassionate and 69 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 3: wants to bless his children, especially when we seek to 70 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,919 Speaker 3: be obedient and please his heart. So what are you 71 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 3: settling for? A dating relationship with someone you know is 72 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 3: not right for you, A job you tolerate because you 73 00:04:40,120 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 3: don't believe God has something better for you, A diagnosis 74 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 3: that appears untreatable, a marriage that is just okay but 75 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 3: not truly glorifying God. Don't fall into the mindset of 76 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,200 Speaker 3: saying I don't believe God can or will give me 77 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 3: anything better, or I don't believe deserve more than what 78 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:05,200 Speaker 3: I already have. Instead, remember that God can do anything, 79 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 3: and he loves to bless his children. He excels in 80 00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 3: situations that you and I think are hopeless. Don't be 81 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 3: reluctant to pour out your heart to Him rather than 82 00:05:17,480 --> 00:05:21,239 Speaker 3: settle for the least in your life. Surrender to His best, 83 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,919 Speaker 3: and allow for the possibility that God may want to 84 00:05:24,960 --> 00:05:28,839 Speaker 3: do immeasurably more than all you can ask or imagine, 85 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:34,159 Speaker 3: many times with what you already have. For further reading, 86 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 3: see Psalm thirty seven, verses four through six, and for 87 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:40,599 Speaker 3: daily reminders of all God can do in your life 88 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: and the lives of others, see my book, The New 89 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:48,360 Speaker 3: Loneliness Devotional, Fifty Days to a Closer Connection with God. 90 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 1: The Crosswalk Devotional is a production of Life Audio and 91 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: Salem Media. If you liked what you heard today, please 92 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,480 Speaker 1: take a second to rate and review this podcast in 93 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 1: your favorite podcast app so that more listeners like you 94 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: can find the show. For more faith filled inspirational podcasts, 95 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 1: visit us at lifeaudio dot com.