Evening Scripture

1 John, Chapter 1
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.

Evening Reflection 

Ever stood on the edge of a pool, hesitating to jump in? So many stand on the very edges of a deep relationship with Jesus – afraid to step out of the darkness and into the very bright light of Christ. Walking in the light of Christ means we live our lives as He has taught us – a life that is entirely different from the darkness we have been in. So different that Jesus warns us to “count the cost.” (Luke 14:28) It is far more than simple belief – it is a lifelong commitment. A change of life; of who we are – we are a new creation in Him. Imagine exiting the darkness of the cave in which we exist to the sudden bright light of a whole new world – because it is a new world for us. We move into a realm where we live out what we say we believe. Our new world calls us to live in the Truth of Christ – embracing all that means. We are called to follow His teachings – to study and apply those teachings. To live in His righteousness – aligning our lives with His character.

We walk in the acknowledgment of our sin and need for forgiveness through Jesus’ sacrifice. We live in recognition of the new emphasis on the reality of Christ Jesus in our lives. When we walk in the light, we are to study His word and apply those teachings to our lives - living with honesty and integrity. We are called to love our neighbors as we love ourselves – to be reflected in our behavior and words – showing kindness and compassion to those around us. As we walk out of the darkness and into the light, we should seek to continue growing deeper in our relationship with the Lord – engaging in prayer, worship, and fellowship, avoiding sin, and confessing our sins when we fail.

We are to reflect the light of Christ to others, sharing our faith and the hope we have found in Him. Stepping out of the darkness and into the light of Christ demands commitment – a commitment to obedience, to faith in Christ Jesus, and to loving others. A commitment to display that light in every part of our lives.

Evening Prayer

Father,
Thank you for showing me the true light of your Son. I know I am a sinner, and thank you for the grace and forgiveness He has given me. Please help me to display His light in how I live my life every single day.
Amen.

Want More?

This week, we're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoo

Today's Bible Verse: "Hear this, you kings! Listen, you rulers! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will praise the Lord, the God of Israel, in song." — Judges 5:3 

When you're facing uncertainty, anxiety, or fear about the future, how can you find peace and learn to trust God? Judges 5:3 reminds us that one of the most powerful ways to strengthen our faith is to remember God's faithfulness and praise Him for what He has already done.

Remembering God's faithfulness changes our perspective. When we focus only on what we cannot control, uncertainty can quickly become overwhelming. But when we look back at God's provision, protection, guidance, and promises, we are reminded that the same God who has been faithful in the past is still with us today.

Resources:

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Loved this episode? Hear more from Jennifer at Faith Over Fear

Meet Today’s Host: Jennifer Slattery

Discover more devotions with Jennifer at Your Daily Bible Verse on LifeAudio

Jennifer Slattery is a national speaker and multi-published author, She’s passionate about helping believers live with bold faith, rooted in surrender to Christ’s purpose.

Jennifer co-hosts both Your Daily Bible Verse and Faith Over Fear, encouraging listeners to step into their God-given identity. Her teachings blend Scripture with personal insight to help others embrace God’s power over fear and move forward with confidence.

Learn more at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutLoud.com

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

Something dangerous is rising in the modern church—and 60 percent of pastors may be caught up in it.

Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more content that informs, inspires, and empowers.

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

"AI is not your friend, even though it sounds friendly." A back-to-school conversation every parent needs.

LINKS: Freebie: Drive Time Conversations Fruit of the Spirit Download How to Pray God's Word for Your Children

Follow Everyday Prayers @millionprayingmoms

Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use!

Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon.

What Every Mom Should Know About AI this School Year by Nicolet Bell & Tara L. Cole

Reference: Hebrews 13:8

Prayer: In a world that is ever-changing, Lord remind me that you remain the same. In Jesus' name, amen. 

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

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

Emily Rose Massey explores biblical marriage, selflessness, forgiveness, and Christ-centered love, reminding us that marriage is one of the ways God shapes us to become more like Jesus.

Through Philippians 2:3-5, we are encouraged to look beyond our own desires and consider the needs of others. Marriage reveals areas of selfishness while creating opportunities to practice humility, grace, and forgiveness. Rather than viewing marriage as a limitation, Scripture shows us that it is a gift God uses to transform our hearts and teach us how to love sacrificially.

Highlights:

• Discover how marriage reflects Christ’s sacrificial love for the Church.
• Learn why humility and selflessness are essential for a healthy marriage.
• Understand how God uses marriage to reveal and transform selfishness in our hearts.
• Be encouraged to extend forgiveness and grace to your spouse.
• Explore how God’s grace empowers us to grow in Christlikeness.
• See marriage as an opportunity to reflect Jesus through love and sacrifice.

Want more encouragement throughout your week? Subscribe to The Good Word, LifeAudio’s free weekly newsletter.

Sign up at LifeAudio.com/thegoodword

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Finding the Sacrificial Beauty in Marriage 

By: Emily Rose Massey

Bible Reading:

“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5, ESV).

Summertime in America is marked by so many celebrations and wonderful holidays: graduation parties, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, lots of pool days and BBQs with friends and family, and of course, weddings upon weddings! I’m sure you know at least one couple who is getting married this summer or who at least celebrate their anniversary in June, July, or August. It is truly a very popular time of year to get married– so much so that many people call it “wedding season.” I guess my husband and I wanted to go against the norm, as we so often do, and went to the opposite end of the calendar and got married in December. I truly look forward to celebrating with loved ones who “tie the knot” during this season. Almost 20 years later, I still get choked up witnessing someone else’s “big day.” 

Weddings are so lovely and fun, but they clearly represent something so much more important and beautiful that the Lord has providentially ordained that we should give our attention to outside of that one special day: marriage. The union of marriage is so important to God that His word equates it to the love that Christ has for the church, His Bride (Ephesians 5:22-33). 

Reflecting upon that kind of love that Christ has for

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

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.  You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website.

.

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.

Second Timothy 1:5 is often quoted to celebrate the faithful discipleship of Lois and Eunice, and rightly so. But it is equally a portrait of Timothy stepping into his own personal faith — moving beyond the foundation his grandmother and mother provided and owning that faith as his own as he began to preach and lead. Paul was writing to encourage Timothy to stand on what he now personally believed, not simply on what he had been handed. The same invitation extends to every believer who has grown up surrounded by the faith of others. There is a moment when borrowed faith must become personal. When kneeling before God and surrendering is no longer someone else's story but your own. The foundation provided by faithful parents and grandparents is a profound gift. But the blessings of following Christ are only fully experienced when we move from inheriting a faith to genuinely living it ourselves.

Today's Bible Verse

"I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also."
— 2 Timothy 1:5, NIV

Ponder Today

1. Inherited faith provides a foundation, but it must become personal to bear lasting fruit. Growing up surrounded by Christianity is a gift. But the blessings of following Christ are only fully experienced when that faith moves from borrowed to genuinely owned.
2. Timothy's faith was celebrated not just because of Lois and Eunice, but because it now lived in him personally. Paul's encouragement to Timothy was a call to step fully into his own faith and lead from it — no longer leaning on his family's belief, but standing in his own.
3. A decade of running from God does not disqualify a person from a profound personal encounter with Him. The return to faith — the moment of surrender — can arrive at any point, and God is fully capable of meeting us wherever and whenever we come back.
4. Borrowed faith may sustain us through seasons of wandering, but it cannot produce transformation. Living on goldfish-and-apple-juice Sunday School memories and someone else's prayers is not the same as personally pursuing Christ, studying Scripture, and allowing truth to take root in your own heart.
5. Give thanks for those who built the foundation, then own what they gave you. Honor the Loises and Eunices in your life by moving from gratitude for their investment into active, personal growth in Christ — and then pour that same investment into someone else.

A Prayer for You Today

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of family, friends, teachers, and others who have poured into my life and taught me about You and Your Word. May I move from an inherited faith to a personal relationship with You, supported and strengthened by time in Scripture and bathed in prayer. Provide a Christian community to help me grow in my pursuit of knowing You more and applying the timeless truths of Scripture to my life. When I experience opposition or confusion in this journey, give me the strength to seek wise counsel and continue in Your ways. I love You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Want More?

This week, we're excited to introduce The Good Word, a new way to receive weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement right in your inbox. Join our community today: https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/ 

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

This episode is part 14 in a study of the book of Exodus. Moses on Mount Sinai getting instructions from God. Moses gets instructions for the construction of the tabernacle, alter, and courtyard.

https://thebiblestudypodcast.com/exodus-26-27-the-tabernacle/

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

Episode Summary:

What if the tears, stomachaches, or sudden mood swings your child is experiencing right now aren’t just “back-to-school nerves”…but signs of anxiety their brain doesn’t yet know how to process?

As backpacks are packed and school doors reopen, many families are quietly navigating a surge of stress, fear, and emotional overwhelm. Your child may not have the words to explain what they’re feeling—but their behavior is speaking loudly. And if you’ve ever felt unsure how to respond…wondered whether to push them forward or pull them close…or questioned if you’re helping or accidentally making it worse—you are not alone. In today’s episode, we’re uncovering what’s really happening beneath the surface of back-to-school anxiety and equipping you with both the neuroscience and the Scripture-based truth you need to help your child move from fear to peace—and from overwhelm to confidence.

Quotables from the episode:

• At its core, anxiety is the brain’s response to perceived threat or uncertainty. Back-to-school introduces a lot of “unknowns”—new teachers, new routines, social dynamics, academic expectations.
• What looks like defiance or avoidance is often distress.
• Anxiety in children is often expressed through the body or behavior rather than words. You might see stomachaches, headaches, irritability, tears, avoidance, or even perfectionism.
• As a parent, I encourage you to look at three things: intensity, duration, and impact. If your child’s distress is ongoing, escalating, or interfering with daily life—like sleep, appetite, or school attendance—it’s likely more than typical stress.
• The key is that we need to learn how to better respond to anxiety, NOT try to avoid it.
• Comforting is good, but what children need first is validation, not correction.
• The goal isn’t to remove anxiety—it’s to teach children how to move through it with confidence.
• Children borrow our nervous system. If we are anxious, they will feel it. But when we are calm, we communicate safety.
• Confidence comes from experience—not avoidance. Each time a child faces something hard and gets through it, the brain rewires to say, “I can handle this.”
• Your presence matters more than your perfection. Your child doesn’t need a flawless parent—they need a connected one.

Scripture References:

• Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.”
• Colossians 3:12 encourages us to “clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
• 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
• Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous…for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
• Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
• Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you… I will strengthen you and help you.”
• Galatians 6:2 reminds us to “carry each other’s burdens.”
• Proverbs 11:14 says, “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.”
• Philippians 4:6–7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God…”
• Isaiah 26:3 says, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

Recommended Resources:

• Reframing Rejection: How Looking Through a Different Lens Changes Everything By Jessica Van Roekel