1 00:00:02,650 --> 00:00:12,900 Speaker 1: Life Audio Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. 2 00:00:13,580 --> 00:00:15,700 Speaker 2: We are so glad to have you listening with us 3 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:19,220 Speaker 2: here today. Today's topic is how to focus on the 4 00:00:19,300 --> 00:00:22,780 Speaker 2: best that could happen instead of the worst. We will 5 00:00:22,820 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 2: return after a brief message from our sponsor. Focus on 6 00:00:39,550 --> 00:00:42,750 Speaker 2: the best that could happen instead of the worst. Written 7 00:00:42,990 --> 00:00:48,529 Speaker 2: by Leah Gerard. Read by Rochelle Alberti. Bible reading. May 8 00:00:48,570 --> 00:00:51,370 Speaker 2: the God of hope fill you with all joy and 9 00:00:51,430 --> 00:00:53,890 Speaker 2: peace as you trust in Him, so that you may 10 00:00:54,030 --> 00:00:56,710 Speaker 2: overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 11 00:00:57,350 --> 00:01:02,750 Speaker 2: Romans 15.13 NIV I wish I were the only one 12 00:01:02,950 --> 00:01:05,730 Speaker 2: who struggles with what a former counselor of mine called 13 00:01:06,190 --> 00:01:12,010 Speaker 2: anticipatory anxiety, or feeling physical and mental consequences from something 14 00:01:12,050 --> 00:01:15,130 Speaker 2: that hasn't happened yet or might not happen at all. 15 00:01:16,470 --> 00:01:18,550 Speaker 2: But if this were true, and I was the only 16 00:01:18,590 --> 00:01:22,170 Speaker 2: person prone to overthinking and overstressing, there wouldn't be so 17 00:01:22,209 --> 00:01:25,429 Speaker 2: many reminders in the Bible to cast our cares and 18 00:01:25,490 --> 00:01:29,670 Speaker 2: not worry and fear not. The One who made each 19 00:01:29,780 --> 00:01:32,220 Speaker 2: one of us knows that fearing what might not even 20 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 2: happen can upset anyone's equilibrium. This inclination to auto-traumatize potential 21 00:01:38,940 --> 00:01:42,940 Speaker 2: outcomes can dig a familiar rut. I've even heard people 22 00:01:42,980 --> 00:01:45,780 Speaker 2: say it feels safer or more comfortable to not get 23 00:01:45,819 --> 00:01:48,840 Speaker 2: their hopes up. But what if I were just as 24 00:01:48,940 --> 00:01:54,550 Speaker 2: possible to be intentionally hopeful? What if you and I 25 00:01:54,610 --> 00:01:57,830 Speaker 2: could decide, in the middle of our rising fear and discomfort, 26 00:01:58,230 --> 00:02:02,380 Speaker 2: to always ask, what's the best that could happen? Instead 27 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: of expecting the worst because we're trying to dull any 28 00:02:05,340 --> 00:02:09,110 Speaker 2: disappointment we might endure if hopes are dashed, there's also 29 00:02:09,150 --> 00:02:13,330 Speaker 2: the biblical option to believe in better days ahead, even 30 00:02:13,770 --> 00:02:18,650 Speaker 2: to expect miracles. You see, even though David was cornered 31 00:02:18,690 --> 00:02:22,310 Speaker 2: by enemies who were plotting to destroy him, he proclaims 32 00:02:22,370 --> 00:02:27,590 Speaker 2: in Psalm 27 13, I remain confident of this. I 33 00:02:27,650 --> 00:02:30,070 Speaker 2: will see the goodness of the Lord in the land 34 00:02:30,110 --> 00:02:35,500 Speaker 2: of the living. Here's the reality. You can't control everything, 35 00:02:36,320 --> 00:02:40,380 Speaker 2: but you can control your own choices. You can choose 36 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,530 Speaker 2: to trust Romans 8 28, which promises God works all 37 00:02:44,570 --> 00:02:46,930 Speaker 2: things together for the good of those who love him. 38 00:02:48,150 --> 00:02:50,530 Speaker 2: And as you trust in God's ability to bring forth 39 00:02:50,590 --> 00:02:54,750 Speaker 2: good things from all our combined circumstances, you can also 40 00:02:54,810 --> 00:02:57,710 Speaker 2: give yourself this valuable pep talk found in Romans 15 13. 41 00:02:57,690 --> 00:03:12,329 Speaker 2: May the God of hope Are you noticing the energy 42 00:03:12,410 --> 00:03:15,329 Speaker 2: in this verse? Not just fill you with a bit 43 00:03:15,370 --> 00:03:18,730 Speaker 2: of joy or even fill you to the brim, but 44 00:03:18,770 --> 00:03:21,389 Speaker 2: to fill you with all joy and peace so that 45 00:03:21,430 --> 00:03:26,570 Speaker 2: you overflow with hope. This kind of experience can transform 46 00:03:26,610 --> 00:03:29,970 Speaker 2: your day and even inspire others to choose hope too. 47 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:34,410 Speaker 2: Best of all, none of this is accomplished by your 48 00:03:34,510 --> 00:03:38,190 Speaker 2: power alone. When you trust in God, the power of 49 00:03:38,230 --> 00:03:41,570 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit can generate hope in such abundance that 50 00:03:41,630 --> 00:03:45,790 Speaker 2: it spills out into your own and others' lives. Pay 51 00:03:45,850 --> 00:03:49,490 Speaker 2: attention here, too, to who fills you with joy and peace. 52 00:03:50,270 --> 00:03:55,000 Speaker 2: Not your work plan or your accomplishments. Not your bestie 53 00:03:55,380 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: or your spouse. The one who provides the joy and 54 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:06,070 Speaker 2: peace you need It becomes clear after parsing through Romans 55 00:04:06,070 --> 00:04:09,730 Speaker 2: 15.13 that your only part is to trust in Him. 56 00:04:10,550 --> 00:04:13,690 Speaker 2: Trust in all His promises, such as Jeremiah 29.11. This 57 00:04:13,750 --> 00:04:30,110 Speaker 2: is yours to claim too. God wrote you a love 58 00:04:30,150 --> 00:04:33,909 Speaker 2: letter so you would tuck what is possible, divine and true, 59 00:04:34,390 --> 00:04:38,770 Speaker 2: in your heart and know it well. Especially during times 60 00:04:38,890 --> 00:04:41,210 Speaker 2: you may feel tempted to look for the worst possible 61 00:04:41,330 --> 00:04:45,780 Speaker 2: outcome instead of what His goodness can make happen. Why 62 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: not try it today? After all, what's the best that 63 00:04:49,580 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 2: could happen? Intersecting Faith in Life Knowing that God desires 64 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:58,930 Speaker 2: you to feel hopeful rather than fearful is can help 65 00:04:59,050 --> 00:05:01,250 Speaker 2: pull you out of the rut we all get stuck 66 00:05:01,310 --> 00:05:05,740 Speaker 2: in sometimes. Try writing down and remembering rising verses like 67 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: these during challenging times. Isaiah 40, 31 Hebrews 6, 19 68 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:12,060 Speaker 2: We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm, 69 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:34,330 Speaker 2: and secure. Ephesians 3.20 Now to Him who is able 70 00:05:34,370 --> 00:05:37,570 Speaker 2: to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, 71 00:05:38,070 --> 00:05:41,290 Speaker 2: according to His power that is at work within us. 72 00:05:42,890 --> 00:05:47,540 Speaker 2: Further reading Looking back with gratitude, looking ahead with hope. 73 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 2: The Crosswalk Devotional A prayer to not fret in confusing times. 74 00:05:54,300 --> 00:06:05,470 Speaker 3: Your daily prayer. Hope Bible Verses BibleStudyTools.com Thanks for listening 75 00:06:05,550 --> 00:06:08,289 Speaker 3: to today's devotional. If you liked what you heard today, 76 00:06:08,310 --> 00:06:11,180 Speaker 3: we want to make sure you know about our sister podcast, 77 00:06:11,560 --> 00:06:15,060 Speaker 3: Your Daily Prayer. When you follow Your Daily Prayer in 78 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:18,180 Speaker 3: your favorite podcast app, you'll get a brand new prayer 79 00:06:18,260 --> 00:06:21,940 Speaker 3: and devotional each day, so your days begin in conversation 80 00:06:21,980 --> 00:06:25,340 Speaker 3: with God. If you're looking to grow in prayer or 81 00:06:25,460 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 3: start your day with your heart focused on the right things, 82 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:32,740 Speaker 3: Search for Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app 83 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,300 Speaker 3: and be sure to follow the show so you get 84 00:06:35,339 --> 00:06:38,500 Speaker 3: a new prayer delivered straight to you each morning.