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The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

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To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Waiting on God can feel unbearable when it seems like everyone else is moving ahead—marriages, milestones, ministries, or dreams fulfilled—while you’re still praying, still waiting, still wondering. In tonight's prayer and devotional, we reflect that in our fast-paced world, waiting feels like falling behind. But Scripture reminds us that God’s timeline isn’t bound by human standards.

When Jesus said, “The last will be first, and the first will be last,” He turned the world’s idea of success upside down. God’s grace and favor aren’t determined by timing, productivity, or performance. What looks like delay to us is often divine preparation.

If you feel overlooked or behind today, take heart: you’re right on schedule in the Kingdom of God. He sees you, He’s with you, and He’s working behind the scenes in ways you can’t yet see. Every moment of waiting is a moment of shaping.

God’s plan doesn’t rush—and it never runs late. His pace is patient, His purpose precise. You haven’t missed your moment; He’s preparing you for it.

Tonight’s Scripture: Matthew 20:16 (NIV)

“The last will be first, and the first will be last.”
Read more on BibleStudyTools.com

Your Nightly Prayer

Dear Lord,
As I lie down tonight, I bring You my comparisons, my impatience, and my fear of being left behind. I confess that I’ve measured my worth by the world’s timelines instead of Yours. Help me release the pressure to “catch up” and rest in Your perfect pace. Teach me to trust Your unhurried process and to find joy in what You’re doing right now, even when I can’t yet see the full picture.

Tonight, I surrender my striving and my envy. Fill my heart with peace and contentment, reminding me that I am not behind—I’m being prepared for Your perfect plan, in Your perfect time.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.

Three Things to Meditate Upon

1. God’s Timing Is Perfect, Not Pressured:
   Ask yourself: have I surrendered my definition of success to God’s timeline—or am I still clinging to the world’s clock?

2. Comparison vs. Trust:
   Am I measuring progress by comparison or by how deeply I trust God’s process?

3. You Haven’t Missed Your Moment:
   Reflect on this truth—nothing meant for you will pass you by. Every delay can be divine preparation for something greater.

Next Steps: 

• ️ Spend 5 quiet minutes tonight thanking God for one blessing in this season, even if it feels slow.

• Share this devotion with a friend who feels like life has passed them by—they may

Connect with God — on Abide, a Christian meditation app that provides a biblically grounded place to experience peace and progress in your relationship with Christ. Use this biblical meditation, narrated by Jennifer Clark, to center yourself on the truth in God's word. It’s okay to not be okay. Meditate on Psalm 25:16-18. Allow the music & nature sounds, deep breathing, prayer, and scripture help you connect with God in a new way. 

For a 30 day free trial of our premium ad-free content, your trusted friend for meditation is right here: https://abide.com/peace

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Wondering about the power of God’s Word and your own calling? Megan J. Conner reflects on John 1:1-5, showing how God’s Word has been present since the beginning, creating life and shining light into the darkness. This devotional reminds us that we carry God’s light within us and are called to bear it in the world.

Highlights

• God’s Word existed from the beginning and created all life (John 1:1-3).

• The light of God penetrates darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it (John 1:4-5).

• Believers carry God’s light within them, called to be ambassadors of His mission (Matt. 5:14).

• God’s Word guides, transforms, and shapes our lives, even fulfilling dreams He places in our hearts.

• Personal stories illustrate how God fulfills His promises in unexpected and meaningful ways.

Join the Conversation

What dreams or callings has God placed in your heart? How are you letting His light shine through your life today? Share your reflections and encourage others to trust God’s Word. Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #LightInTheDarkness #GodsWord #CalledToShine to join the conversation.

 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer

Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Full Transcript Below:

In the Beginning…
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5 (NIV)

It was 2001, and I was working in a faith-based coffeeshop and bookstore (a revolutionary concept back then), when a man struck up what would be a life-altering conversation with me. He had traveled up from Los Angeles to my city and stumbled across our unique shop. He started chatting and shared with me that he had formed his own Christian theater company. As an actor, dancer, choreographer, and director within the performing arts arena myself, this was beyond inspiring.  Something in my spirit leaped inside of me, and I had this glimpse, this knowing, that one day I would walk in similar footsteps. 

I daydreamed while he continued to talk, and I imagined a dark stage illuminated by a single light and this exact scripture from John chapter 1, echoing through the auditorium. To this day, nearly 25 years later, the impact of that scripture has never left me.  It has become deeply etched into my heart and has served as an anchor to my soul in both the good times and the bad.

In the beginning was the Word. The Bible tells us that God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. The One who was, and is, and always will be (Rev. 1:8). He was there

Children naturally imitate those they love and trust. In our daily prayer and devotional, we remember how they learn by watching, copying, and repeating what they see. In the same way, God calls His children to imitate Him—to reflect His love, compassion, and holiness in our daily lives.

Emily Rose Massey reminds us that just as parents model godly character for their children, we are called to model our lives after Christ. Jesus’ life was the ultimate picture of selfless love—He “gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Imitating Him means walking in humility, extending grace to others, and choosing love even when it costs us something.

Imitating Christ also means learning from the examples of faithful believers who have gone before us—like Paul, who urged the early Church to follow his example as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). Paul’s life was marked by joy in suffering and unwavering trust in God. He modeled what it looks like to prioritize God’s glory over comfort and ease.

As we spend time in God’s Word, abide in His presence, and walk alongside other believers, we are shaped into His likeness little by little. This lifelong process of imitation transforms us from the inside out, teaching us to love sacrificially and live for the glory of God rather than for ourselves.

Today's Bible Reading:

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." – Ephesians 5:1-2, ESV

Key Takeaways

• We are called to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ loved and sacrificed for us.

• True imitation begins with abiding in Christ and being transformed by His Spirit.

• Surround yourself with mentors and believers who model Christlike living.

• Every act of selfless love becomes a fragrant offering of worship to God.

Let’s Pray Together

Heavenly Father, thank You for saving me and calling me to walk in Your love. Help me to imitate Christ in every area of my life—my words, actions, and thoughts. Strengthen me to live with humility, grace, and boldness for Your glory. Surround me with believers who encourage me to walk faithfully and remind me to fix my eyes on Jesus, the perfect example of love and obedience. In His name I pray, Amen.

Related Resources

• What Does It Mean to Imitate God? – Crosswalk.com

• How to Walk in Love Like Jesus – Bib

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.

.

If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange

.

The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here:  https://amzn.to/41v1DKh

.

To email John Stange directly, please send your message to [email protected].

Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Are you afraid you'll miss God's plan for your life? Chaplain Ferguson's advice to new Marines struggling with their calling is the answer you need. The conversation turns spiritual as former Marine officer Jeremy Stalnecker and Chaplain Ferguson discuss the power of trusting God's guidance through life's biggest decisions, especially when ministry "was not in the cards". 

Together, they discuss the calling of military chaplaincy, the unseen emotional weight of ministering in war, and the spiritual history of Camp David, one of the most private and powerful places in American history.

Ferguson’s new book, “Presidential Seclusion: The Power of Camp David,” pulls back the curtain on stories that shaped nations and souls alike. This conversation explores faith, leadership, calling, and what it means to serve where the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Get "Presidential Seclusion": https://a.co/d/4C96SrI 

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For many of us, slowing down feels impossible. In our nightly prayer and devotional, we remember that the world constantly urges us to fill every moment with movement—more productivity, more noise, more plans. But when our days are dictated by urgency, we lose sight of the One who never rushes.

Isaiah 30:15 offers a divine invitation: to find salvation in rest and strength in quiet trust. The Lord never intended for our lives to be a constant race. He calls us to walk in rhythm with Him—to live intentionally, purposefully, and with space to breathe. The enemy loves to keep us running, distracted, and exhausted so that we forget the simple truth: peace is found in God’s presence, not in our performance.

God’s pace isn’t hurried. It’s holy. It’s steady. When we surrender the endless striving and embrace the “pace of grace,” we discover freedom. Our strength is renewed, our purpose becomes clearer, and our souls finally exhale.

Let this be your reminder tonight: you don’t have to do it all. You only have to walk in step with the One who already holds it all.

Tonight’s Scripture: Isaiah 30:15 (NIV)

“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.”
Read more on BibleStudyTools.com

Your Nightly Prayer

Jesus,
Thank You that Your way is better than mine. Help me to release my grip on the constant rush of life and find rest in You. Teach me to slow down and notice Your presence in every moment. Let me walk at the pace of grace—unhurried, unburdened, and full of peace. Give me wisdom to choose what matters most and courage to say no to what doesn’t. Thank You for the quiet spaces where I can meet You and be restored.
Amen.

Three Things to Meditate Upon

1. When was the last time you truly rested in God’s presence? Take time this week to pause, breathe, and sit quietly before Him.

2. How can you create more margin in your days—space for reflection, creativity, and joy?

3. Remember: God isn’t stressed. His way is calm and purposeful. Ask Him to help you prioritize peace over productivity.

Calls to Action

• Take five minutes before bed tonight to sit in silence with God—no agenda, just presence.

• ️ Share this devotion with a friend who feels weary or overwhelmed.

• Sign up for the Your Nightly Prayer newsletter to receive nightly encouragement to help you end your day with peace and reflection.

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