1
00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:13,440
Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Crosswalk devotional. We're glad to

2
00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,720
Speaker 1: have you listening with us. Today's topic is why it's

3
00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,480
Speaker 1: important to seek God and His strength whenever you need help.

4
00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,720
Speaker 1: We'll return with the devotional after a brief message from

5
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:40,200
Speaker 1: our sponsors. God's strength will empower you. Written and read

6
00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,640
Speaker 1: by Whitney Hoppler. Seek the Lord and his strength. Seek

7
00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:48,879
Speaker 1: his presence continually, remember the wondrous works that He has done,

8
00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:53,280
Speaker 1: his miracles, and the judgments he uttered. First Chronicles sixteen

9
00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:58,920
Speaker 1: eleven through twelve esp the twenty twenty six Winter Olympics,

10
00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:03,320
Speaker 1: Milano Courtina twenty twenty six shine a spotlight on some

11
00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:07,120
Speaker 1: of the strongest athletes in the world. No matter what

12
00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,360
Speaker 1: sport they compete in, Olympic athletes are constantly seeking strength.

13
00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,080
Speaker 1: Many of them pray for God's help to be the

14
00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:18,280
Speaker 1: best they can be, both physically and mentally. That includes

15
00:01:18,319 --> 00:01:21,240
Speaker 1: help from God for the discipline and endurance they need

16
00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:24,880
Speaker 1: to practice and compete well. But you don't have to

17
00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,880
Speaker 1: be a down hell skier or a figure skater to

18
00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,040
Speaker 1: understand why it's important to be strong. Whether you're launching

19
00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:35,880
Speaker 1: a new project at work, dealing with a challenging health situation,

20
00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:40,080
Speaker 1: trying to resolve a family conflict, or facing any other

21
00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,119
Speaker 1: stressful situation in this fallen world. You know how much

22
00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:47,880
Speaker 1: God's strength can empower you. God's help is vital to

23
00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:51,240
Speaker 1: succeeding with whatever you're trying to do, whether or not

24
00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:54,640
Speaker 1: you'll get a gold medal when you win. In First

25
00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:59,040
Speaker 1: Chronicle sixteen eleven through twelve, the Bible encourages you to

26
00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,040
Speaker 1: look beyond your own limited power to seek God's strength,

27
00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,120
Speaker 1: which can empower you without limits. These verses call you

28
00:02:06,240 --> 00:02:10,000
Speaker 1: to seek God's presence continually. Instead of just saying a

29
00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:13,639
Speaker 1: one time prayer during a crisis, you should notice God's

30
00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:16,440
Speaker 1: presence with you throughout your day and check in with

31
00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,760
Speaker 1: God regularly through prayer. When you make a habit of

32
00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,760
Speaker 1: seeking God's strength, you'll find the power you need to

33
00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:25,920
Speaker 1: help you with any kind of situation, even the most

34
00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,280
Speaker 1: challenging situations that seem like they would be impossible to overcome.

35
00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:35,359
Speaker 1: These Bible verses also encourage you to remember wondrous works

36
00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:40,640
Speaker 1: God has done, like his miracles and judgments. Olympic commentators

37
00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,239
Speaker 1: love to talk about an athlete's track record. They look

38
00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:48,920
Speaker 1: back at each athlete's past competition results and other informations

39
00:02:48,960 --> 00:02:53,840
Speaker 1: in the past, like injuries and recoveries, to predict future success.

40
00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:57,520
Speaker 1: You can do the same with your faith. When you

41
00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,080
Speaker 1: feel overwhelmed by a challenge you're facing right now, look

42
00:03:01,160 --> 00:03:03,920
Speaker 1: back on how God has helped you in the past.

43
00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,880
Speaker 1: Think of the times when You've already experienced the wonder

44
00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:11,679
Speaker 1: of God's work in your life, like when God provided

45
00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:14,760
Speaker 1: exactly what you needed, or when God empowered you to

46
00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:18,080
Speaker 1: do something you couldn't do on your own. The more

47
00:03:18,120 --> 00:03:22,040
Speaker 1: you remember God's past faithfulness, the more that will fuel

48
00:03:22,080 --> 00:03:24,959
Speaker 1: your faith. To look for the wonder of God's work

49
00:03:25,000 --> 00:03:28,480
Speaker 1: in your life every day and let that evidence inspire

50
00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:32,679
Speaker 1: you to trust God now. In this year's Winter Olympics,

51
00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:36,920
Speaker 1: thousands of athletes will chase gold, silver, and bronze medals,

52
00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:41,840
Speaker 1: but those prizes are temporary. God's presence with you is

53
00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,000
Speaker 1: something you can enjoy both now and forever. As you

54
00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,120
Speaker 1: work towards your own goals and pursue your own adventures

55
00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,040
Speaker 1: this year, don't get so caught up in trying to

56
00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:56,320
Speaker 1: achieve temporary results that you miss your wonderful Creator and

57
00:03:56,440 --> 00:04:00,640
Speaker 1: heavenly Father walking right beside you. Where you reach the

58
00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:03,640
Speaker 1: podium of success or make mistakes that hurt like you

59
00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,680
Speaker 1: fell on ice, God will be there with you, empowering

60
00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:11,520
Speaker 1: you with his strength. You can afford to bravely take

61
00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,840
Speaker 1: big risks to keep learning and growing, just like Olympic

62
00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,440
Speaker 1: athletes do. Your worth doesn't come from your performance. It

63
00:04:19,480 --> 00:04:22,120
Speaker 1: comes from your relationship with God as one of his

64
00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:27,279
Speaker 1: beloved children. So whatever challenge you're facing today, seek God

65
00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,760
Speaker 1: and his strength. God is with you, and He's ready

66
00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:33,200
Speaker 1: to give you everything you need for the journey ahead.

67
00:04:34,279 --> 00:04:38,640
Speaker 1: Intersecting faith in life. As you consider why it's important

68
00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,880
Speaker 1: to seek God in his strength, reflect on these questions.

69
00:04:43,200 --> 00:04:45,600
Speaker 1: If you are training for your current life season like

70
00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,679
Speaker 1: an olympian. What's the one area where you most need

71
00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,360
Speaker 1: God's strength right now? How can you seek God's presence

72
00:04:54,440 --> 00:04:58,520
Speaker 1: continually rather than just when you're facing a challenge? What

73
00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:01,120
Speaker 1: will help you remembered to ask for more strength on

74
00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:06,000
Speaker 1: a regular basis. Think of one wondrous work or miracle

75
00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,440
Speaker 1: God has done in your past. How does remembering that

76
00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,240
Speaker 1: help you face a fear you have today? What's one

77
00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:15,800
Speaker 1: way you can celebrate this week to thank God for

78
00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,000
Speaker 1: answering a prayer you prayed in the past. Can you

79
00:05:19,040 --> 00:05:21,440
Speaker 1: plan to look at old photos that remind you of

80
00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:25,520
Speaker 1: God's answer, post about it on social media, or share

81
00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:31,520
Speaker 1: the story with a friend. Further reading Isaiah forty thirty one,

82
00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:38,480
Speaker 1: Philippians four thirteen, Psalm one oh five four, Hebrews twelve one,

83
00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:47,479
Speaker 1: Psalm seventy seven eleven. The Crosswalk Devotional is a production

84
00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:51,280
Speaker 1: of Life Audio and Salem Media. If you liked what

85
00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,800
Speaker 1: you heard today, please take a second to rate and

86
00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,240
Speaker 1: review this podcast in your favorite podcast app so that

87
00:05:57,279 --> 00:06:01,320
Speaker 1: more listeners like you can find the show. For more

88
00:06:01,400 --> 00:06:06,279
Speaker 1: faith filled inspirational podcasts, visit us at life audio dot

89
00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:13,960
Speaker 1: com