1 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:41,531 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,531 --> 00:00:45,171 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,251 --> 00:00:48,131 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,171 --> 00:00:54,051 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Thank devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,131 --> 00:00:57,331 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,731 --> 00:01:00,170 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,451 --> 00:01:03,211 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,451 --> 00:01:05,811 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,971 --> 00:01:08,450 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,530 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,211 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,411 --> 00:01:15,530 Speaker 1: We'd love to have you. 13 00:01:18,371 --> 00:01:23,171 Speaker 2: Life Audio. 14 00:01:26,531 --> 00:01:30,250 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We are so glad to 15 00:01:30,291 --> 00:01:33,971 Speaker 3: have you listening with us here today. Today's topic is 16 00:01:34,011 --> 00:01:38,291 Speaker 3: about cultivating our faith. We will return after our brief 17 00:01:38,330 --> 00:01:54,971 Speaker 3: message from our sponsor. Cultivating the Faith to keep Going, 18 00:01:55,611 --> 00:02:02,651 Speaker 3: written by Vivian Bricker, read by Rochelle Alberti. Bible reading now. 19 00:02:02,731 --> 00:02:05,891 Speaker 3: Faith is confidence and what we hope for an assurance 20 00:02:06,011 --> 00:02:11,250 Speaker 3: about what we do not see Hebrews eleven to one. 21 00:02:11,411 --> 00:02:14,971 Speaker 3: Otto Frank, the sole survivor of the eight Jews hiding 22 00:02:14,971 --> 00:02:18,811 Speaker 3: within the secret Annex, would have felt intense loss. Upon 23 00:02:18,851 --> 00:02:22,731 Speaker 3: his return to Amsterdam after the Ally's defeat of Nazi Germany, 24 00:02:23,571 --> 00:02:26,731 Speaker 3: he was already notified by previous prisoners about the death 25 00:02:26,731 --> 00:02:30,131 Speaker 3: of his wife, Edith. She had died in Auschwitz due 26 00:02:30,171 --> 00:02:34,091 Speaker 3: to starvation. However, he had hoped that his two daughters, 27 00:02:34,131 --> 00:02:37,851 Speaker 3: Margot and Anne, were still alive. This was the hope, 28 00:02:37,851 --> 00:02:42,251 Speaker 3: hope that ultimately kept him alive. Through the Red Cross 29 00:02:42,531 --> 00:02:47,611 Speaker 3: sisters Yanni and Leen Beale, Slipper contacted Otto and notified 30 00:02:47,691 --> 00:02:50,411 Speaker 3: him of the death of his two daughters. They had 31 00:02:50,451 --> 00:02:54,731 Speaker 3: both died of Typhus and bergen Belsen. Unable to stand 32 00:02:54,731 --> 00:02:57,531 Speaker 3: the pain, he confided in the helpers of this secret 33 00:02:57,531 --> 00:03:03,811 Speaker 3: annex Meat Geese Yan Geese Victor Kugler Johannes Kleeman Bet 34 00:03:03,931 --> 00:03:08,011 Speaker 3: both Schedule and Johannva's schedule. Although several of them had 35 00:03:08,011 --> 00:03:11,171 Speaker 3: been taken by the Nazis after their hiding place was discovered, 36 00:03:11,611 --> 00:03:14,211 Speaker 3: they were able to escape or be released based on 37 00:03:14,291 --> 00:03:18,171 Speaker 3: medical reasons. Once Meat was notified that Anne had passed 38 00:03:18,211 --> 00:03:22,370 Speaker 3: away in bergen Belsen, she handed Anne's beloved diary to Otto. 39 00:03:23,851 --> 00:03:26,811 Speaker 3: At first, Otto could not bring himself to read it, 40 00:03:27,531 --> 00:03:30,411 Speaker 3: yet with time he became absorbed in his daughter's writing. 41 00:03:31,171 --> 00:03:33,571 Speaker 3: He would later reflect that it was only through Anne's 42 00:03:33,651 --> 00:03:37,611 Speaker 3: diary that he truly knew her. In Anne's diary and 43 00:03:37,651 --> 00:03:41,211 Speaker 3: the disclose how there were two versions of herself, the outgoing, 44 00:03:41,251 --> 00:03:46,051 Speaker 3: bubbly version and the quiet, reserved and thoughtful version, Otto 45 00:03:46,171 --> 00:03:49,291 Speaker 3: said he never knew his daughter held such expressive views 46 00:03:49,331 --> 00:03:52,851 Speaker 3: on thoughts. He encouraged every parent to truly get to 47 00:03:52,851 --> 00:03:56,091 Speaker 3: know the child, support them, and be the parent you 48 00:03:56,171 --> 00:03:59,491 Speaker 3: wanted your parents to be to you. For the rest 49 00:03:59,531 --> 00:04:02,771 Speaker 3: of his life, Otto dedicated his time and energy to 50 00:04:02,851 --> 00:04:07,491 Speaker 3: bringing awareness to Anne's diary, advocating for acceptance over hate 51 00:04:07,771 --> 00:04:11,451 Speaker 3: and the need to end anti Semitism. To prevent the 52 00:04:11,491 --> 00:04:15,891 Speaker 3: past from repeating, we must learn from it. Although Otto 53 00:04:15,931 --> 00:04:19,931 Speaker 3: had been through unspeakable pain, he used what resources he 54 00:04:20,010 --> 00:04:23,851 Speaker 3: had to keep the memory of his daughter alive. Through Otto, 55 00:04:24,211 --> 00:04:29,010 Speaker 3: the Anne Frank Faunds were founded in January nineteen sixty three. 56 00:04:29,051 --> 00:04:32,131 Speaker 3: He also founded the Anne Frank House, which attracts over 57 00:04:32,251 --> 00:04:38,491 Speaker 3: one point three people every year. Intersecting faith in life, 58 00:04:38,691 --> 00:04:41,971 Speaker 3: the Bible tells us now faith is confidence and what 59 00:04:42,010 --> 00:04:45,450 Speaker 3: we hope for, and assurance about what we do not see. 60 00:04:45,811 --> 00:04:50,210 Speaker 3: Hebrews eleven one. Although Otter's hope was dashed to pieces 61 00:04:50,251 --> 00:04:53,691 Speaker 3: after hearing the news of his daughter's deaths, he pushed 62 00:04:53,731 --> 00:04:57,010 Speaker 3: forward in life. He had a purpose to make his 63 00:04:57,130 --> 00:04:59,931 Speaker 3: daughter's mary known to the world and to fulfill her 64 00:04:59,971 --> 00:05:03,091 Speaker 3: wish to become a writer. In our own lives, we 65 00:05:03,171 --> 00:05:07,091 Speaker 3: must advance with the same confidence. If we have faith 66 00:05:07,091 --> 00:05:11,890 Speaker 3: in God, nothing can hinder our lives. Cultivating faith in 67 00:05:11,931 --> 00:05:15,291 Speaker 3: God can be challenging, especially if we have experienced a 68 00:05:15,331 --> 00:05:20,411 Speaker 3: troubling time, but we are never without help. The Father, 69 00:05:20,651 --> 00:05:24,731 Speaker 3: Jesus and the Holy Spirit can foster a steadfast hope 70 00:05:24,771 --> 00:05:29,051 Speaker 3: within us. This hope is like an everlasting candle, a 71 00:05:29,091 --> 00:05:34,690 Speaker 3: candle that can never burn out. What's currently bringing doubts 72 00:05:34,731 --> 00:05:38,091 Speaker 3: into your heart? Perhaps you are doubtful that God will 73 00:05:38,091 --> 00:05:40,811 Speaker 3: bring you out of this difficult season, or if you 74 00:05:40,851 --> 00:05:44,411 Speaker 3: will overcome a certain sin you are struggling with. Rather 75 00:05:44,451 --> 00:05:48,051 Speaker 3: than doubt in God, believe, as the father of a 76 00:05:48,091 --> 00:05:52,530 Speaker 3: sick child said, I do believe. Help me overcome my belief, 77 00:05:53,051 --> 00:05:58,131 Speaker 3: Mark nine twenty four. Overcoming doubts and unbelief can be 78 00:05:58,211 --> 00:06:01,690 Speaker 3: realized by spending time with God in prayer and Bible reading. 79 00:06:02,571 --> 00:06:06,811 Speaker 3: By actively participating in your relationship with God, your faith 80 00:06:06,851 --> 00:06:10,291 Speaker 3: in Him will grow. There may be difficult times ahead, 81 00:06:10,731 --> 00:06:13,531 Speaker 3: but if your faith in God is strong, you can 82 00:06:13,811 --> 00:06:18,130 Speaker 3: overcome even the toughest of situations. As the writer of 83 00:06:18,171 --> 00:06:22,330 Speaker 3: hebrew says, without faith, it is impossible to please God, 84 00:06:22,771 --> 00:06:25,450 Speaker 3: because anyone who comes to him must believe that He 85 00:06:25,571 --> 00:06:29,291 Speaker 3: exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek him 86 00:06:29,771 --> 00:06:34,690 Speaker 3: Hebrews eleven six. Foster hope in God. He will never 87 00:06:34,851 --> 00:06:35,291 Speaker 3: fail you. 88 00:06:36,651 --> 00:06:40,011 Speaker 2: Do you doubt God in your daily life? What are 89 00:06:40,051 --> 00:06:44,051 Speaker 2: some ways you can cultivate hope, confidence and trust in God. 90 00:06:45,611 --> 00:06:52,731 Speaker 2: Further reading Sewod Corinthians five seven, Romans fifteen thirteen, Isaiah 91 00:06:52,971 --> 00:06:54,971 Speaker 2: forty three two. 92 00:06:58,411 --> 00:07:00,531 Speaker 3: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 93 00:07:00,731 --> 00:07:02,811 Speaker 2: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 94 00:07:02,811 --> 00:07:06,331 Speaker 2: make sure you know about our sister podcast, your Daily Prayer. 95 00:07:06,771 --> 00:07:10,331 Speaker 2: When you follow your daily prayer in your favorite podcast app, 96 00:07:10,531 --> 00:07:11,091 Speaker 2: you'll get a. 97 00:07:11,051 --> 00:07:14,331 Speaker 3: Brand new prayer and devotional each day, so your days 98 00:07:14,371 --> 00:07:18,011 Speaker 3: begin in conversation with God. If you're looking to grow 99 00:07:18,051 --> 00:07:21,011 Speaker 3: in prayer or start your day with your heart focused 100 00:07:21,011 --> 00:07:25,011 Speaker 3: on the right things, search for your daily prayer in 101 00:07:25,091 --> 00:07:27,971 Speaker 3: your favorite podcast app and be sure to follow the 102 00:07:28,011 --> 00:07:31,051 Speaker 3: show so you get a new prayer delivered straight to 103 00:07:31,131 --> 00:07:36,171 Speaker 3: you each morning.