Before the Lord

Paul told the Corinthians that the only thing required of a steward is faithfulness — not success, not popularity, not approval. So why do we spend so much energy performing forpeople instead of serving the Lord? In this episode, we explore what it means to stop filtering your obedience through other people’s opinions — and why the servant who knows their audience will always know which voice to follow.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Jesus wept — the shortest versein the Bible, and maybe the most revealing. But if Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead, why did He weep? In this episode, we explore what those two words reveal about how God meets us in our grief — and why His tears tell us more about His heart than His miracles.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

When I think about my faith, I think about Jesus — God’s Son. But there’s another sun worth thinking about, too. In this episode, we explore Colossians 1:17 and what the Sun teaches us about life with Christ — why even a small shift in orbit changes everything, and what to do when you realize you’ve drifted further from center than you thought.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

There are seasons when your faith feels like it’s running on fumes — when your quiet time goes dry, your service feels pointless, and discouragement settles in like fog. In this episode, we look at 1 Corinthians 15:58 and the promise Paul makes to people who are tired: your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Not some of it. All of it.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

When I think about my faith, I think about Jesus — God’s Son. But there’s another sun worth thinking about, too. In this episode, we explore Colossians 1:17 and what the Sun teaches us about life with Christ — why even a small shift in orbit changes everything, and what to do when you realize you’ve drifted further from center than you thought.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We celebrate bold action — decisive leaders, fearless risk-takers, the ones who charge ahead. But Solomon says the person who masters themselves has achieved something greater than a warrior who takes a city. In this episode, we dig into Proverbs 16:32 and explore why patience is the harder victory — and why the kind that comes from waiting on God will always outweigh the kind that comes from avoiding what’s hard.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We tend to think of love as warmth — patience, kindness, showing up when it counts. But in Romans 12:9, Paul connects genuine love to something unexpected: moral backbone. In this episode, we explore why love without moral clarity isn’t genuine — it’s merely agreeable — and what it looks like to be anchored in truth as a continuing quality of life.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We tend to think of pride as something obvious — arrogance, ego, the need to be right. But what if the most dangerous kind of pride is the kind you’d never think to confess? In this episode, we look at James 4:6, the story of Haman, and the subtle pride that keeps us from receiving the grace God is offering — the belief that we shouldn’t need it as often as we do.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We often think of disobedience as the easy road — until the day we try to come back. In Ezra 9–10, Israel’s return to obedience meant tearing apart families that never should have been built. In this episode, we dig into Galatians 6:7 and the devastating reality that sin doesn’t stay contained — and when God calls you back, the cost of obedience often falls on more than just you.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

In first-century Jewish culture, who you ate with said something about who you were. So when Jesus sat down at a table full of tax collectors and sinners, every Pharisee in the room knew exactly what He was doing — and they were offended. In this episode, we dig into Matthew 9:13 and the scandal of who Jesus chose to eat with. Because the real question isn’t whether you’re worthy of a seat at His table. It’s whether you’ll stop performing your way toward Him and just sit down.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Most of us treat God’s shelter like a storm cellar — a place we visit when things fall apart and leave when the pressure lifts. But the Hebrew word for “dwells” in Psalm 91:1 doesn’t describe a visit. It describes a life. In this episode, we dig into the difference between being a visitor in God’s presence and making your home there— and why that distinction changes everything about how you walk through pressure.Subscribe to receive Before theLord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Jesus says no one lights a lamp just to hide it — so why do we treat Scripture that way? In this episode, we unpack Luke 8:16–18 and the sharp connection between the Parable of the Sowerand the lamp on a stand. What you do with the light you’ve been given determines whether more is coming — or whether what you have slips away.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox:www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord)and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Psalm 13 opens with raw despair and ends with confident praise — all in six verses. That’s not an emotional roller coaster. That’s a faith being refined. In this episode, we explore why the lows of your faith journey aren’t signs that something is broken — they’re often the very ground on which growth happens. If you’ve been in a hard season and are wondering what it means, this one’s for you.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox:www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord)and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Most Christians would check the “salvation by grace” box on a statement of faith — then spend the week living as if a missed quiet time put them back at square one. In this episode, we diginto Colossians 1:21–23 and the Greek word behind that unsettling “if.” What we find isn’t a warning — it’s a confidence. And the gap between knowing that theologically and living it practically is where most of us get stuck.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lordon Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

David called himself a broken vessel — forgotten, used up, shattered. And yet in the very same Psalm, he lands on bold courage. What happened between verse 12 and verse 24? In thisepisode, we trace the turn David made from grief to God’s goodness and explore what it looks like to stop magnifying our troubles and start anchoring to the One who outweighs them all.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox:www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord)and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We naturally gravitate toward what makes us feel capable — and away from what makes us feel inadequate. But what if some of those uncomfortable places are exactly where God is callingyou? In this episode, we look at Philippians 2:13 and 2 Corinthians 3:5 to understand why your sufficiency was never the point — and how God provides both the desire and the ability to step into what He’s prepared for you.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Most of us read Scripture daily — but are we actually meditating on it? George Muller compared the difference to water running through a pipe versus food nourishing the body. In thisepisode, we explore what it means to slow down, invite the Spirit into your reading, and let the Word take root. If your Bible reading feels routine, thisone’s for you. Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

We evaluate our circumstances through the lens of happiness — if things are going well, we're good. If not, we complain and ask God to change it. But what if God isn't primarily working to make you comfortable? What if He's working to make you holy — and the circumstances you wish would change are the very tools He's using to shape you? That shift changes everything.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Most of us treat prayer like a task — check it off before the day starts. But Paul describes something different: an ongoing conversation that doesn't end at amen. Be diligent. Be watchful. Be thankful. What if the thing God laid on your heart this morning was preparation for something you haven't faced yet? That's watchful prayer — and it changes everything.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Anxiety hit — and it wouldn't lift. After praying and seeking counsel, I found the fear behind it: history repeating itself. What the Lord revealed wasn't a formula. Two pivots — one toward Him, one toward holiness. Paul told Timothy: God already gave you a spirit of power, love, and self-control. Past tense. The question isn't whether you have what it takes — it's whether you'll access what's already been deposited.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.com / Follow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Nobody likes suffering. But Peter doesn't say to brace for it — he says you're called to it.In this episode, we dig into 1 Peter 2:21 and what it means that Christ left His suffering as an example to follow, not a warning to avoid. If you've ever wondered whether the cost of obedience means you've taken a wrong turn — this one reframes the whole picture. The adjustment isn't the obstacle. It is your faith in motion.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

You had a great quiet time this morning. By lunch, you'd forgotten all about it. Sound familiar?"Set your mind on things above" sounds simple — until your day actually starts. In this episode, we dig into Colossians 3:1-2 and unpack why Paul's command isn't about trying harder to think spiritual thoughts. It's about something most of us have completely overlooked — and it changes everything about how you walk through your day.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Ever let a word slip and immediately wish you could take it back? We've all been there. But what if the problem isn't your mouth — it's what's behind it?In this episode, we dig into Colossians 3:8 and what Paul really means by "obscene talk." Spoiler: it's not just about curse words. It's about what your language reveals about the condition of your heart — and what to do when frustration takes over before you can stop it.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook and Instagram: @beforethelorddevo

Jesus is in the boat. The storm is raging. And He's asleep. So the disciples wake Him — but what comes out of their mouths isn't a prayer. It's an accusation: "Don't you care that we're dying?"In this episode, we dig into Mark 4:37-38 and the difference between crying out to God in faith and accusing Him of indifference. If you've ever been in a season where God felt silent and you started wondering if He even cared — this one's for you.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

You've probably spent a lot of energy thinking about the words you shouldn't say. But when was the last time you thought about the words you should?In this episode, we look at Proverbs 10:11 and what it means for your mouth to be a "fountain of life." Most of us are focused on taming the tongue — avoiding the sharp comment, biting our lip. But there's a whole side of our words we've been neglecting. Silence isn't always neutral.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

God doesn't just cut away what's dead. He cuts back what's growing. That's the part nobody talks about.In this episode, we dig into John 15:2 and why God prunes branches that are already bearing fruit. If you've ever had something good taken from you and couldn't understand why — a relationship, a season, a comfort you thought was fine — this one might reframe everything. Sometimes the kindest thing God does is the thing that makes no sense at the time.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

Most Christians don't choose darkness. They just quietly drift toward the shadows — the private compromise, the hidden struggle nobody sees. And they call it "managing."In this episode, we look at 1 John 1:5-6 and what it actually means to walk in the light. It's not about being perfect. It's about being honest — and the surprising thing that happens to your fellowship with God when you stop hiding.Subscribe to receive Before the Lord devotionals in your inbox: www.blakescrawford.comFollow Before the Lord on Facebook (@BeforeTheLord) and Instagram (@beforethelorddevo)

The Spirit is already in you — the question is whether you're letting Him work. In today's devotional, we look at John 16:7 and why the Holy Spirit isn't a distant force but God as close as your next breath.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

God's word was never meant to stop at your ears — when it reaches your heart, it moves your feet. In today's devotional, we look at James 1:22 and what happens when faith becomes mechanical and obedience becomes optional.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

You don't have to keep building on something that was never meant to hold you. In today's devotional, we look at Luke 6:47–49 and the invitation to tear down what was built on broken ground and rebuild on the only foundation that will never fail — Christ Himself.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

Your mind is either working for you or against you — there's no middle ground. In today's devotional, we look at Philippians 4:8 and why you cannot consistently think wrong thoughts and live a right life.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

Don't make your plans and then ask God to bless them — include Him from the start. In today's devotional, we look at Proverbs 19:21 and the difference between inviting God into your plans and actually surrendering them to Him.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

The company you keep quietly shapes the person you become. In today's devotional, we look at Proverbs 13:20 and why walking with the wise isn't accidental — it's a daily, deliberate choice for yourself and your family.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

You can't microwave a deep relationship with God. In today's devotional, we look at Mark 1:35 and why knowing Him requires what it has always required — consistent, intentional, unhurried time in His presence.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

Holiness isn't perfection — it's direction. In today's devotional, we look at 1 Peter 1:15–16 and what it means to be set apart for God. You can't white-knuckle your way to a clean heart, but you can turn toward the One who makes you clean.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

What does it look like to stop writing your own story and start living into God's? In today's devotional, we look at Romans 12:1–2 and what it means to live with Him, under His authority, and for His glory.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe to receive devotionals in your inbox at blakescrawford.com/sign-up

Your old nature says curse them. Your new nature says bless them. In today's devotional, we look at Romans 12:14 and why blessing those who hurt you isn't weakness — it's Christ-centered love, and it's the key that unlocks the prison of bitterness.Follow Coram Deo on Facebook and Instagram for daily encouragement. Subscribe at blakescrawford.com/sign-up