How to Know God's Hope in Hard Seasons - The Crosswalk Devotional - October 19

PLUS...6 Strategies for Parents to Combat Spiritual Attacks in the Family  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ &zwnj [Crosswalk.com Logo]( The Crosswalk Devotional  [Devotionals](        [Newsletters](        [e-Cards](      [The Crosswalk Devotional updated banner logo] How to Know God's Hope in Hard Seasons By Jennifer Slattery Bible Reading Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the [resurrection]( of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the [salvation]( that is ready to be revealed in the last time. - [1 Peter 1:1-3]( Imagine losing your job and many of your friends and maybe even experiencing rejection from your extended family. How might you feel, and how might your hardship and pain affect your faith? While I don’t know how I’d respond in such a situation, I do know how I reacted decades ago when a series of difficult events left my family and me in a three-year period of constant transition, loss, and uncertainty. Initially, I felt abandoned by God, not chosen and loved. But God used that dark season to deepen my faith and the bonds within our family. That said, I’ve never experienced persecution like the Christ-followers addressed in 1 Peter. After turning to Christ for salvation, these mainly Gentile believers “suffer[ed] grief in all kinds of trials” inflicted by their Greek and Jewish neighbors. If evaluating their standing from their circumstances alone, these precious men and women would not have felt chosen. Therefore, the opening of Peter’s letter must’ve felt like an assuring balm to their wounded souls.  [CONTINUE READING →](            You May Also Like:        [6 Strategies for Parents to Combat Spiritual Attacks in the Family](  Katie T. Kennedy The article advises families to prepare for spiritual attacks by staying vigilant, relying on God's strength, memorizing Scripture, praying, and engaging with a biblical church community. It emphasizes that through these practices, Christians can protect themselves and their families from spiritual warfare.  [CONTINUE READING →](       [5 Things Christians Can Pray for This Election Season](  Elizabeth Delaney The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be one of the most volatile in American history, with voters across the board deeply concerned about the economy and inflation. Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are currently running neck and neck, making every vote count. Christians have a unique opportunity to make a difference, but many still aren’t registered or skip the polls altogether. With so much at stake, it’s a crucial time to pray for believers to step up, vote, and steward their influence to shape the nation’s future. The PDF below contains 5 prayer topics Christians can use to guide them in prayer this election season. Download now! Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Tetra Images  [CONTINUE READING →](            [Celtic Woman's Outstanding 'Amazing Grace' Cover Shines in Music Video](  GodTube.com The Celtic Woman’s outstanding ‘Amazing Grace’ cover shines in this stunning music video nestled in the hills of Ireland. Celtic Woman delivers a stirring rendition of ‘Amazing Grace' that touches the soul in a captivating music video that unfolds amidst the serene beauty of a castle and its lush surroundings.  [WATCH NOW →](        [A Prayer to Let Go of Past Regrets and Move Forward - Your Daily Prayer - October 17](  Alisha Headley It’s easy to look back on your life and have regrets. Sometimes, you regret things you did or wish you made different decisions, and then there are other times you regret the things you didn’t do. But the truth is, you can’t change the past, no matter how hard you try.  [CONTINUE READING →](                            Bible Trivia Question of the Day                                           What color robe was put on Jesus after his trial before Pilate? A. white B. purple C. red D. black [ANSWER THE QUESTION →](     [Crosswalk.com Logo](  [Read about Salem Web Network](  |  [Unsubscribe](   [Email Preference Center](  |  [View in Browser](   © 2024 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Crosswalk. Â