Inseparable - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 10 

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Inseparable
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading: 
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword...? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like God was nowhere to be found? Chaos and confusion seem to be your constant companions, yet it appears you are battling through it all alone. Despite your best efforts, you fail to recognize the presence of the Lord with you. The silence and His apparent absence leave you discouraged and disappointed. Where is the Lord?

The Word of God assures us that “…the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you, (Deut. 31:6, NIV).” Even when we can’t see it, He is with us.  His Holy Spirit remains within us.  His Word also promises, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Why do we feel so distant from our Heavenly Father if these promises are true?

The perceived chasm between us and the Lord is likely the result of our choices and actions. Our disappointment, hurt, or confusion about circumstances in our lives often causes us to retreat from our trustworthy source of comfort. We may be fully aware of this withdrawal if there is apparent resentment or frustration. Perhaps we question God’s goodness and justice when faced with unwelcome and sometimes shocking dilemmas. In other seasons, we find ourselves far from the Lord and have no idea how we got there. We believe God has abandoned us, but the truth is, we allowed distraction, the busyness of life, and the things of this world to consume our thoughts.  Before we know it, our hearts have waxed cold, and we struggle to feel a sense of intimacy with the One we love.

Regardless of how or why we may have wandered away from the source of Living Water, there is less distance than we imagine between us and the Lord. Today, our scripture from Romans chapter eight boldly declares that there is NOTHING that can separate us from the love of God. Not hardship, not persecution; not famine or sword, not height or depth, not even death or life… There is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God. Isn’t that so incredibly powerful? Nothing you can or cannot do would cause the Lord to abandon you.  There are no circumstances that would compel Him to distance Himself from you. No failures, no sin… not even the finality of death itself can disconnect you from your Heavenly Father.

This kind of constancy is unfathomable to us.  In a world where divorce rates are high, loved ones are lost to disease, and everything here on earth comes to an end, an eternal, unconditional commitment to love us and remain with us is almost beyond our comprehension. Yet, this is the height and the depth of God’s love for us. No matter where you find yourself today, He is near.  He has not left you or abandoned you. Turn to Him today and remember… His love for you is inseparable.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Have you felt like God was distant in your life? If so, how does today’s devotional shift your perspective? Can you see how scripture clearly illustrates God’s faithfulness and nearness to you? Do you believe that the Lord would never abandon or forsake you? Why or why not?

Take some time today to ask the Lord to show you areas of your heart where you have wandered from Him. Have you been distracted, preferring and prioritizing the things of this world and the busyness of life instead of spending time with Him? Or have painful experiences caused you to question God’s goodness in the midst of your hardships? No matter where you find yourself today, know that the Lord is there and patiently waiting for you to crack open the door of your heart and invite Him again.

Further Reading:
Romans 8
Psalm 145

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/sutlafk 

Megan Conner bio pic author profileMegan J. Conner is an author, editor, speaker, avid consumer of literature, writing consultant, and overall lover of all things creative!  She is passionate about the written word and compelling storytelling. Whether that is through imaginative and whimsical children’s literature or faith-based works that allow readers to be immersed in narratives of authentic faith shared through the lives of imperfect people, Megan hopes to remind audiences of the beauty and power of shared stories.

To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter.  If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com

Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

 

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Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

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Inseparable - The Crosswalk Devotional - May 10 

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

The Crosswalk Devotional updated banner logo

Inseparable
By Megan J. Conner

Bible Reading: 
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger, or sword...? For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:35-39 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like God was nowhere to be found? Chaos and confusion seem to be your constant companions, yet it appears you are battling through it all alone. Despite your best efforts, you fail to recognize the presence of the Lord with you. The silence and His apparent absence leave you discouraged and disappointed. Where is the Lord?

The Word of God assures us that “…the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you, (Deut. 31:6, NIV).” Even when we can’t see it, He is with us.  His Holy Spirit remains within us.  His Word also promises, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” Why do we feel so distant from our Heavenly Father if these promises are true?

The perceived chasm between us and the Lord is likely the result of our choices and actions. Our disappointment, hurt, or confusion about circumstances in our lives often causes us to retreat from our trustworthy source of comfort. We may be fully aware of this withdrawal if there is apparent resentment or frustration. Perhaps we question God’s goodness and justice when faced with unwelcome and sometimes shocking dilemmas. In other seasons, we find ourselves far from the Lord and have no idea how we got there. We believe God has abandoned us, but the truth is, we allowed distraction, the busyness of life, and the things of this world to consume our thoughts.  Before we know it, our hearts have waxed cold, and we struggle to feel a sense of intimacy with the One we love.

Regardless of how or why we may have wandered away from the source of Living Water, there is less distance than we imagine between us and the Lord. Today, our scripture from Romans chapter eight boldly declares that there is NOTHING that can separate us from the love of God. Not hardship, not persecution; not famine or sword, not height or depth, not even death or life… There is nothing in all of creation that can separate us from the love of God. Isn’t that so incredibly powerful? Nothing you can or cannot do would cause the Lord to abandon you.  There are no circumstances that would compel Him to distance Himself from you. No failures, no sin… not even the finality of death itself can disconnect you from your Heavenly Father.

This kind of constancy is unfathomable to us.  In a world where divorce rates are high, loved ones are lost to disease, and everything here on earth comes to an end, an eternal, unconditional commitment to love us and remain with us is almost beyond our comprehension. Yet, this is the height and the depth of God’s love for us. No matter where you find yourself today, He is near.  He has not left you or abandoned you. Turn to Him today and remember… His love for you is inseparable.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

Have you felt like God was distant in your life? If so, how does today’s devotional shift your perspective? Can you see how scripture clearly illustrates God’s faithfulness and nearness to you? Do you believe that the Lord would never abandon or forsake you? Why or why not?

Take some time today to ask the Lord to show you areas of your heart where you have wandered from Him. Have you been distracted, preferring and prioritizing the things of this world and the busyness of life instead of spending time with Him? Or have painful experiences caused you to question God’s goodness in the midst of your hardships? No matter where you find yourself today, know that the Lord is there and patiently waiting for you to crack open the door of your heart and invite Him again.

Further Reading:
Romans 8
Psalm 145

Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/sutlafk 

Megan Conner bio pic author profileMegan J. Conner is an author, editor, speaker, avid consumer of literature, writing consultant, and overall lover of all things creative!  She is passionate about the written word and compelling storytelling. Whether that is through imaginative and whimsical children’s literature or faith-based works that allow readers to be immersed in narratives of authentic faith shared through the lives of imperfect people, Megan hopes to remind audiences of the beauty and power of shared stories.

To read more from Megan, check out her Blog, Just One More Chapter.  If you would like to connect further with Megan, you can discover more on her Website, on Facebook, or Instagram.

Check out fantastic resources on Faith, Family, and Fun at Crosswalk.com

Listen to the Jesus Calling Podcast!

Welcome to this special bonus episode of the Jesus Calling Podcast, inspired by the topical themes from Sarah Young’s seasonal prayer devotional Jesus Listens: Prayers for Every Season. Today, we are featuring guests who speak to themes that all of us might be experiencing in this season of winter. As the days grow shorter and the night longer, we are offered a rare gift: permission to stop. This season can be a challenging time for many, and if you are struggling with low spirits, please know you are not alone, and help is available. This episode is an opportunity to honor your weariness, to resist the urge to rush, and to discover the profound healing that happens when we simply let ourselves rest in the stillness. If you like what you hear, be sure to follow Jesus Calling on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!

 

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