1 00:00:10,820 --> 00:00:14,620 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so glad to 2 00:00:14,660 --> 00:00:18,349 Speaker 1: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 3 00:00:18,390 --> 00:00:22,930 Speaker 1: about identifying and letting go of burdens we may be carrying. 4 00:00:23,670 --> 00:00:26,650 Speaker 1: We will return after a brief message from our sponsor. 5 00:00:40,090 --> 00:00:44,089 Speaker 1: What are you carrying into the next season? By Aaliyah Girard. 6 00:00:44,630 --> 00:00:50,510 Speaker 1: Read by Rochelle Alberti. Bible Reading The beginning of wisdom 7 00:00:50,570 --> 00:00:54,570 Speaker 1: is this. Get wisdom, though it costs you all you have. 8 00:00:55,090 --> 00:01:01,490 Speaker 1: Get understanding. Proverbs 4-7 NIV As a Christian, I am 9 00:01:01,530 --> 00:01:04,370 Speaker 1: very familiar with the truth that Jesus' yoke is light, 10 00:01:04,950 --> 00:01:08,060 Speaker 1: that taking His teachings to heart and living by them 11 00:01:08,190 --> 00:01:12,890 Speaker 1: is liberating. He offers each of us the continual opportunity 12 00:01:12,970 --> 00:01:15,569 Speaker 1: to cast our cares on Him and trust Him for 13 00:01:15,590 --> 00:01:18,810 Speaker 1: the outcome. I know this can relieve me of weighty 14 00:01:18,870 --> 00:01:23,630 Speaker 1: mental and spiritual burdens. Yet, I still have to make 15 00:01:23,670 --> 00:01:28,190 Speaker 1: myself stop and take inventory, because I can collect a 16 00:01:28,270 --> 00:01:31,209 Speaker 1: lot of worries along my way. I can wind up 17 00:01:31,250 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: choosing to carry around some unnecessary things season after season 18 00:01:36,800 --> 00:01:40,170 Speaker 1: or year after year, Because I haven't learned to let 19 00:01:40,190 --> 00:01:44,110 Speaker 1: go of their memory. What's more, their buildup can start 20 00:01:44,150 --> 00:01:47,910 Speaker 1: to control the way I'm living now. Have you ever 21 00:01:48,030 --> 00:01:52,290 Speaker 1: noticed this habit in yourself? It's natural. Each of us 22 00:01:52,350 --> 00:01:56,350 Speaker 1: accumulates experiences that wind up causing a multitude of effects 23 00:01:56,490 --> 00:02:00,930 Speaker 1: in our lives and hearts. However, thanks to new mercies, 24 00:02:01,410 --> 00:02:04,570 Speaker 1: tomorrow is always a new day and a new year 25 00:02:04,830 --> 00:02:10,649 Speaker 1: is always ahead. Wherever and however you live, you may 26 00:02:10,690 --> 00:02:13,770 Speaker 1: encounter seasons when it feels right to examine your life, 27 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: spiritually and physically, to prepare for the months ahead. In 28 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: any of these time passages, you may decide to declutter 29 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:28,700 Speaker 1: your home, your calendar, your perspective, or your heart. Even 30 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: though life up to now may have cost you time, money, 31 00:02:31,940 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: or peace, Proverbs 4-7 advises that the best thing to 32 00:02:36,940 --> 00:02:40,019 Speaker 1: bring forward with you is the wisdom you find in 33 00:02:40,060 --> 00:02:44,360 Speaker 1: it all. This isn't to say you can't own boxes 34 00:02:44,500 --> 00:02:48,579 Speaker 1: of seasonal decorations or keep special items. It's to encourage 35 00:02:48,620 --> 00:02:51,639 Speaker 1: you to explore what might be weighing you down and 36 00:02:51,700 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: then decide what you'll carry. Parsing through all you've gathered 37 00:02:55,500 --> 00:02:59,369 Speaker 1: seasonally is a practical way to discern wisdom. You can 38 00:02:59,410 --> 00:03:01,930 Speaker 1: then lay down the things of the past at the 39 00:03:01,970 --> 00:03:06,560 Speaker 1: feet of Jesus and move forward enlightened. You can also 40 00:03:06,620 --> 00:03:09,820 Speaker 1: look to the book of Proverbs for direction. A large 41 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,519 Speaker 1: portion of this treasury was authored by King Solomon to 42 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,340 Speaker 1: teach us the value of wisdom. He asserts that wisdom 43 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:20,690 Speaker 1: is the principal thing to gain in life and urges 44 00:03:20,750 --> 00:03:25,230 Speaker 1: it above all else. I find it interesting that a 45 00:03:25,290 --> 00:03:28,709 Speaker 1: leader who likely had amassed a family and a comfortable 46 00:03:28,770 --> 00:03:32,750 Speaker 1: life doesn't advise you and me to hold on to things, riches, 47 00:03:33,250 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: or regrets. In fact, he says that wisdom is worth 48 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 1: the cost of all you have. Throughout Proverbs 4, King 49 00:03:41,780 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 1: Solomon explains that the wisdom you gain, otherwise known as 50 00:03:45,700 --> 00:03:49,840 Speaker 1: the valuable lessons that are maturing you, can guard your heart, 51 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,470 Speaker 1: keep you on the right path, and protect you from ruin. 52 00:03:54,790 --> 00:03:57,390 Speaker 1: So what has this past season taught you about what 53 00:03:57,430 --> 00:04:01,510 Speaker 1: you value most? Have there been special places, people, or 54 00:04:01,570 --> 00:04:04,400 Speaker 1: purchases that that have entered your life or continue to 55 00:04:04,460 --> 00:04:08,110 Speaker 1: shape you? Have you noticed a habit or commitment that's 56 00:04:08,150 --> 00:04:12,210 Speaker 1: making a positive impact? What does all of this show 57 00:04:12,290 --> 00:04:15,390 Speaker 1: you about what kind of life brings you peace and 58 00:04:15,450 --> 00:04:19,070 Speaker 1: what kind of person you desire to be? As you 59 00:04:19,100 --> 00:04:22,620 Speaker 1: look forward to what's next on your calendar, I hope 60 00:04:22,660 --> 00:04:25,400 Speaker 1: you make time to answer questions like these for yourself. 61 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:30,620 Speaker 1: And then you can, as Proverbs 4.25 advises, let your 62 00:04:30,800 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: eyes look straight ahead Fix your gaze directly before you 63 00:04:35,260 --> 00:04:40,660 Speaker 1: and keep on learning. Intersecting Faith and Life As a 64 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,700 Speaker 1: new season approaches, consider these ideas. Mark off time to 65 00:04:45,740 --> 00:04:48,460 Speaker 1: bring your past burdens to God in prayer and ask 66 00:04:48,520 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: for His wisdom. Pencil a decluttering day on your calendar 67 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,940 Speaker 1: and donate at least one physical item from your life 68 00:04:55,980 --> 00:04:59,060 Speaker 1: that no longer serves you and could serve someone else 69 00:04:59,140 --> 00:05:03,450 Speaker 1: in need. Try to articulate the lesson learned from a 70 00:05:03,529 --> 00:05:06,650 Speaker 1: hard season and commit to holding on to the wisdom, 71 00:05:07,290 --> 00:05:12,380 Speaker 1: not the worry. List three things, blessings or relationships that 72 00:05:12,420 --> 00:05:16,859 Speaker 1: you truly love and thank God for them. Make yourself 73 00:05:16,920 --> 00:05:19,740 Speaker 1: a promise to spend a little less money on purchases 74 00:05:19,940 --> 00:05:22,460 Speaker 1: and a little more time with people who need you, 75 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:34,089 Speaker 1: including yourself. Further reading, Isaiah 43, 18-19 says, 2 Corinthians 5.17, 76 00:05:34,089 --> 00:05:45,110 Speaker 1: Romans 12.2, Philippians 3.13-14. Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 77 00:05:45,410 --> 00:05:47,370 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 78 00:05:47,390 --> 00:05:50,910 Speaker 1: make sure you know about our sister podcast, Your Daily Prayer. 79 00:05:51,430 --> 00:05:54,870 Speaker 1: When you follow Your Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app, 80 00:05:55,190 --> 00:05:57,910 Speaker 1: you'll get a brand new prayer and devotional each day, 81 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,890 Speaker 1: So your days begin in conversation with God. If you're 82 00:06:01,910 --> 00:06:04,690 Speaker 1: looking to grow in prayer or start your day with 83 00:06:04,730 --> 00:06:08,409 Speaker 1: your heart focused on the right things, search for Your 84 00:06:08,490 --> 00:06:12,050 Speaker 1: Daily Prayer in your favorite podcast app and be sure 85 00:06:12,089 --> 00:06:14,510 Speaker 1: to follow the show so you get a new prayer 86 00:06:14,570 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: delivered straight to you each morning.