1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Cross Lot devotional. We're glad to have 3 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 2: you listening with us. Today's topic is about how Jesus 4 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 2: Christ is our lifeline. Will return with the devotional after 5 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 2: a message from our sponsors. Our lifeline, written and read 6 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 2: by alexis a goring. We who have run for our 7 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 2: very lives to God have every reason to grab the 8 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:56,160 Speaker 2: promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's 9 00:00:56,280 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 2: an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to 10 00:01:02,720 --> 00:01:06,640 Speaker 2: the very presence of God. Whereas Jesus, running on ahead 11 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 2: of us, has taken up his permanent posts as high 12 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 2: priests for us in the Order of Melchizedek Hebrews, Chapter six, 13 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: verses eighteen through twenty, the Message Bible. A few years ago, 14 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 2: while waiting to be seen in a hospital, I stepped 15 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: into the women's restroom and saw something that inspired this 16 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,120 Speaker 2: emotional a lifeline. It was a red label with words 17 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 2: and white ink that instructed me to pull the attached 18 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:42,800 Speaker 2: red string if I needed help. The sight of this 19 00:01:42,959 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: made me think about how Jesus Christ is our lifeline. 20 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: Earlier this year, I saw a real via Instagram of 21 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 2: a young girl around age eleven or twelve. She was 22 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: captured on camera as she rushed into the concert stage 23 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 2: before security could catch her and embraced her favorite singer. 24 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: Prior to this happening, I could see that the single 25 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 2: was performing at a calm and steady pace as she 26 00:02:08,960 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 2: walked across the stage while holding a microphone near her 27 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 2: face as she performed. When the young girl rushed into 28 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 2: this stage, the singer was not phased. She let the 29 00:02:19,040 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 2: young girl wrap her arms around her waist and rest 30 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 2: her head on her midsection as she leaned in for 31 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 2: a tight hug that obviously meant the world to her. 32 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: This girl, we sayed the ten second embrace before security 33 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 2: reached her and carried her away. When I saw this rule, 34 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 2: it spoke volumes to me because it helped me realize 35 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:43,560 Speaker 2: several things. I realized that I had been there before too, 36 00:02:43,840 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: because I have had favorite singers over the years, secular 37 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,760 Speaker 2: and Christian, and I know what it's like to cope 38 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: with their music to the point where it feels like 39 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:56,639 Speaker 2: your favorite singer and their songs are your lifeline. When 40 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:59,520 Speaker 2: feeling sad or depressed, I would listen to a song 41 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:03,079 Speaker 2: that served best Etharsis for my feelings. Working it out 42 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 2: of my system until I felt better. It was obvious 43 00:03:06,880 --> 00:03:09,920 Speaker 2: to me that the singer in this Instagram rele was 44 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: that young girl's lifeline. Her music must have brought this 45 00:03:13,840 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 2: young girl through tough times and inspired her heart, whether 46 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 2: feeling happy or sad. The singer's song for obviously the 47 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:24,720 Speaker 2: soundtrack to her friend's life. It was obvious that she 48 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 2: loved this musician with all her heart. It was also 49 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 2: clear that the singer appreciated her fans because she let 50 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 2: this young girl hug her for more than a second 51 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 2: without pushing her away. Jesus Christ also never pushes us away, 52 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 2: and unlike any human, famous singer or not, he is 53 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: our true lifeline. Only Jesus can save our souls, and 54 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 2: he gave us a beautiful way to reach him as 55 00:03:49,880 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: our lifeline. That gift is prayer. I follow a page 56 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 2: on Instagram that's hosted by Ellie Munt. Last year, Ellie 57 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 2: said something very found about prayer being our lifeline. These 58 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: are a few quotes from her post on Instagram that 59 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:10,240 Speaker 2: support my devotional message today. First, Albie acknowledges that life 60 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: can be heard for most people. She said, life often 61 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,400 Speaker 2: feels like a series of challenges, and roadblocks that drain 62 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 2: our strength. We try to be strong to figure it 63 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,719 Speaker 2: all out on our own, but sometimes it just feels 64 00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:27,039 Speaker 2: like too much. In those moments, we must remember we 65 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 2: did not walk alone. Second, she reminds us that Jesus 66 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: Christ walks with us. She delivers a powerful line about 67 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:37,240 Speaker 2: the gift God gave us to reach him and communicate 68 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: with him. She said, prayer is more than a religious 69 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 2: habit or a last resort. It is a lifeline. It 70 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:47,640 Speaker 2: is a personal conversation with the God who created you, 71 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 2: who sees everything you face, and who cares about every 72 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 2: detail of your life. When you cannot handle the weight 73 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:56,480 Speaker 2: of your problems, you can bring them to the one 74 00:04:56,520 --> 00:04:59,320 Speaker 2: who can. God does not ask you to be perfect, 75 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: to come to him just as you are. Third, Ellie 76 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 2: reminds us that God wants to hear our heart no 77 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:10,599 Speaker 2: matter how we feel or how messy it seems. She said, 78 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:13,720 Speaker 2: you can be honest with him. You can tell him 79 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 2: your fears, your doubts, your confusion, and your pain. There 80 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:20,799 Speaker 2: is nothing too small or too big for God to handle. 81 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: He is not bothered by your questions or your tears. 82 00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:27,280 Speaker 2: He welcomes them. He is a father who wants to 83 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 2: help you and walk with you through every season. Finally, 84 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: Ellie gives us a word of encouragement for when we 85 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: feel too discouraged to pray. She said, don't let discouragement 86 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,600 Speaker 2: silence your voice. Don't let fear steal your hope. Keep praying, 87 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,279 Speaker 2: keep trusting. God hears every word, even the ones you 88 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,840 Speaker 2: cannot say out loud. He sees your heart and he 89 00:05:51,920 --> 00:05:54,400 Speaker 2: is working even when you did not see it. You 90 00:05:54,480 --> 00:05:58,720 Speaker 2: were not alone, You are not forgotten, You were not powerless. 91 00:05:59,040 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 2: You were loved by a God who listens. And closing, 92 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 2: I like to say, be careful not to make any 93 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 2: human or any other thing that is not God your 94 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:13,240 Speaker 2: God or your lifeline, because there is only one true 95 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:17,240 Speaker 2: God and one way to heaven. The way is Jesus Christ, 96 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: John Chapter fourteen, verse six. He is our lifeline. We 97 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: need to cling to Christ more than we cling to 98 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 2: anybody or anything else. Before you go, please listen to 99 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: these four songs and reflect on the lyrics. Song of 100 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:37,279 Speaker 2: Reflection number one, Lifeline by Mendisa, Song and Reflection number 101 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:41,520 Speaker 2: two That's Who You Are an original song by Megan Tibbets. 102 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:46,239 Speaker 2: Song and Reflection number three Don't Stop Praying by Matthew 103 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 2: West songa Reflection Number four. Jesus Walks with Me by 104 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:56,039 Speaker 2: b Stills Studios, intersecting faith in life. How does it 105 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,280 Speaker 2: feel to know that Jesus Christ is our lifeline? What 106 00:06:59,480 --> 00:07:03,400 Speaker 2: have you been thanking to you more than Christ? Further 107 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:08,120 Speaker 2: reading Late Chapter eighteen, verse one, John Chapter three, Verses 108 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:12,920 Speaker 2: sixteen through seventeen. John Chapter eleven, Versus twenty five through 109 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:18,160 Speaker 2: twenty six, John Chapter fifteen, verse five, Hebrey Chapter four, 110 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 2: verse sixteen. 111 00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 1: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. If you liked what 112 00:07:26,600 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: you heard today, we want to make sure you know 113 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,640 Speaker 1: about our sister podcast, your Daily Prayer. When you follow 114 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: your daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, you'll get 115 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,160 Speaker 1: a brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your 116 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,840 Speaker 1: days begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to 117 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:45,640 Speaker 1: grow in prayer or start your day with your heart 118 00:07:45,720 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: focused on the right things, search for your daily prayer 119 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:53,000 Speaker 1: in your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow 120 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:55,960 Speaker 1: the show so you get a new prayer delivered straight 121 00:07:56,040 --> 00:07:57,480 Speaker 1: to you each morning