1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:03,620 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:16,050 --> 00:00:19,090 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, helping 3 00:00:19,110 --> 00:00:21,669 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,750 --> 00:00:22,510 Speaker 2: you need it most. 5 00:00:22,770 --> 00:00:25,540 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, we believe. 6 00:00:25,300 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 2: Prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first and best 7 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:31,420 Speaker 2: response in parenting. And every day, we come together to 8 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:32,870 Speaker 2: partner with God to pray for our family. For the 9 00:00:32,950 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 2: hearts of our children. Today's devotion is written and read 10 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 2: by me. It comes from my new book, Everyday Prayers 11 00:00:39,340 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 2: for Moms. This is day 21 from the book, and 12 00:00:43,720 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 2: it is titled, Prayer Changes Us. 13 00:00:46,300 --> 00:00:48,199 Speaker 1: But I'm calling this devotional today. 14 00:00:48,220 --> 00:00:53,050 Speaker 2: A Prayer for Fresh Fruit. I'm sharing a story about 15 00:00:53,070 --> 00:00:56,570 Speaker 2: doing a fruit check in our lives where we look 16 00:00:56,650 --> 00:00:58,889 Speaker 2: and see if the fruit we're producing changes. 17 00:00:59,390 --> 00:01:02,130 Speaker 1: Is good fruit that is benefiting. 18 00:01:01,690 --> 00:01:04,750 Speaker 2: Others or is it rotten? And asking the Lord to 19 00:01:04,830 --> 00:01:07,790 Speaker 2: help us with the rotten fruit. Help us get that 20 00:01:07,910 --> 00:01:11,390 Speaker 2: out of our lives. I pray that this blesses you 21 00:01:11,780 --> 00:01:16,740 Speaker 2: today where you're at in your motherhood journey. And I 22 00:01:17,180 --> 00:01:21,460 Speaker 2: hope that it will encourage you along the way. To 23 00:01:21,500 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 2: learn more about Everyday Prayers for Moms or more about 24 00:01:24,740 --> 00:01:30,170 Speaker 2: our ministry, visit millionprayingmoms.com. After a quick word from our sponsors, 25 00:01:30,209 --> 00:01:38,180 Speaker 2: we will pray together for our families. I am the vine, 26 00:01:38,459 --> 00:01:41,660 Speaker 2: you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I 27 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: in him, he it is that bears much fruit. For 28 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:48,880 Speaker 2: apart from me, you can do nothing. John 15 5 29 00:01:48,880 --> 00:01:52,780 Speaker 2: A few weeks back, I bought a big bag of 30 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,740 Speaker 2: lemons at Costco. You know, the bag that fills up 31 00:01:55,820 --> 00:01:59,630 Speaker 2: an entire big bowl on your kitchen counter. The next day, 32 00:01:59,730 --> 00:02:01,770 Speaker 2: I grabbed a lemon out to cut up for some 33 00:02:01,810 --> 00:02:04,590 Speaker 2: lemon water. When I reached my hand in the bowl, 34 00:02:04,890 --> 00:02:08,310 Speaker 2: I noticed that the lemons were covered in mold. Yuck! 35 00:02:08,889 --> 00:02:12,670 Speaker 2: How could they go bad that quickly? That same day, 36 00:02:12,690 --> 00:02:15,710 Speaker 2: I was preparing to speak at a women's conference. This 37 00:02:15,770 --> 00:02:18,930 Speaker 2: preparation included reading and studying the fruit of the Spirit. 38 00:02:19,730 --> 00:02:22,829 Speaker 2: My mind immediately jumped to the rotten lemons, and I 39 00:02:22,870 --> 00:02:25,730 Speaker 2: thought about how often in my life I need a 40 00:02:25,790 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: fruit check. I need to make sure the fruit my 41 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:35,660 Speaker 2: life is producing isn't rotten. In chapter 15 of John's gospel, 42 00:02:35,820 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 2: Jesus compares our relationship with him to that of a 43 00:02:39,220 --> 00:02:42,490 Speaker 2: vine and branches with the father as the vine dresser. 44 00:02:43,150 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: In verses 4 through 11, John uses the word abide 45 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,550 Speaker 2: 10 times. If we look at the entire gospel of John, 46 00:02:50,930 --> 00:02:53,170 Speaker 2: we see that he uses the same word 40 times. 47 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,020 Speaker 2: And if we broaden out from there and look at 48 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 2: John's first, second, and third letters, we discover John has 49 00:03:01,580 --> 00:03:06,139 Speaker 2: used the word abide around 60 times, making it one 50 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:10,390 Speaker 2: of John's most frequently used words and a signature theme 51 00:03:10,590 --> 00:03:14,079 Speaker 2: in his writing. The majority of the times he uses it, 52 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:20,170 Speaker 2: he is referring to our relationship with God. Something to 53 00:03:20,210 --> 00:03:26,299 Speaker 2: think about. I've heard the saying, Although this is a 54 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:31,030 Speaker 2: good reminder, we can sometimes misunderstand the biblical meaning of 55 00:03:31,070 --> 00:03:35,250 Speaker 2: the word abide. The word itself is an action verb, 56 00:03:35,730 --> 00:03:40,550 Speaker 2: but its very essence has a restfulness to it. Other translations, 57 00:03:40,610 --> 00:03:45,250 Speaker 2: such as the New International Version, use the word remain instead. 58 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:51,450 Speaker 2: Abiding is about aligning our lives with God. It's not 59 00:03:51,530 --> 00:03:53,850 Speaker 2: kicking our feet up on the couch and letting go. 60 00:03:54,730 --> 00:03:59,660 Speaker 2: Abiding is about actively attaching ourselves to the vine and 61 00:03:59,820 --> 00:04:05,380 Speaker 2: then resting in His nourishment and provision. Jesus tells His 62 00:04:05,420 --> 00:04:08,260 Speaker 2: followers that when they abide in Him, they will bear 63 00:04:08,620 --> 00:04:12,700 Speaker 2: much fruit in John 15 5. This is a promise 64 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 2: and a guarantee from Jesus. When I read Paul's writings 65 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: on the fruit of the Spirit, I hear echoes of Jesus' 66 00:04:19,620 --> 00:04:23,529 Speaker 2: teaching in John 15. Paul writes, but the fruit of 67 00:04:23,589 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 2: the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 68 00:04:34,700 --> 00:04:38,600 Speaker 2: Against such things there is no law. And those who 69 00:04:38,620 --> 00:04:42,060 Speaker 2: belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its 70 00:04:42,140 --> 00:04:46,310 Speaker 2: passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let 71 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 2: us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5, 72 00:04:50,740 --> 00:04:58,770 Speaker 2: 22-25 Paul lists specific fruit that followers of Christ should display. 73 00:04:59,650 --> 00:05:04,090 Speaker 2: When I read this list, I am immediately convicted. I 74 00:05:04,250 --> 00:05:09,980 Speaker 2: desperately need that fruit check. How often is my patience spoiled? 75 00:05:10,740 --> 00:05:15,900 Speaker 2: How often do I lack kindness and self-control, especially in 76 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:19,470 Speaker 2: interactions with my children? Paul says that when we live 77 00:05:19,490 --> 00:05:21,890 Speaker 2: by the Spirit and keep in step with the Spirit, 78 00:05:22,750 --> 00:05:26,890 Speaker 2: this fruit will be evident in our lives. There is 79 00:05:26,930 --> 00:05:30,140 Speaker 2: a direct correlation between the measure of the Spirit in 80 00:05:30,180 --> 00:05:33,380 Speaker 2: my life and the measure of fruit. This can leave 81 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,020 Speaker 2: me feeling defeated, like I don't have what it takes. 82 00:05:36,820 --> 00:05:41,080 Speaker 2: That's exactly the place that God wants to use. In 83 00:05:41,180 --> 00:05:45,220 Speaker 2: John 15, Jesus tells his disciples,' Apart from me you 84 00:05:45,260 --> 00:05:49,659 Speaker 2: can do nothing.' Anything good in us is from God. 85 00:05:50,620 --> 00:05:55,620 Speaker 2: This should allow us to exhale and breathe deeply. We 86 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 2: don't have what it takes. We can't do it on 87 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,169 Speaker 2: our own. Through the Holy Spirit, we have been given 88 00:06:03,570 --> 00:06:08,290 Speaker 2: everything we need for life and godliness, 2 Peter 1.3, 89 00:06:08,290 --> 00:06:11,390 Speaker 2: and are able to bear fruit that lasts, fruit that 90 00:06:11,529 --> 00:06:15,669 Speaker 2: won't spoil but has eternal value in God's kingdom. 91 00:06:16,870 --> 00:06:17,350 Speaker 1: Let's pray. 92 00:06:18,690 --> 00:06:21,610 Speaker 2: Father, thank you for your spirit working in us to 93 00:06:21,670 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 2: display your fruit. Protect our hearts from thinking we can 94 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: do anything apart from you. Help us to abide in 95 00:06:29,580 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: you so we can bear your fruit and so prove 96 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: to be your disciples. Remove in us what has become 97 00:06:36,980 --> 00:06:41,820 Speaker 2: rotten or sour and replace it with fresh fruit from 98 00:06:41,860 --> 00:06:45,380 Speaker 2: your spirit. Help us to model a life and step 99 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: with your spirit for our children. 100 00:06:48,180 --> 00:06:49,860 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. 101 00:06:51,080 --> 00:06:53,099 Speaker 2: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 102 00:06:53,180 --> 00:06:57,360 Speaker 2: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 103 00:06:57,600 --> 00:06:58,260 Speaker 2: your children. 104 00:06:59,100 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: My newest book, Everyday Prayers. 105 00:07:00,860 --> 00:07:04,060 Speaker 2: For Moms, Praying God's Word for Your Children from Newborn 106 00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:08,340 Speaker 2: to Emptiness, is a great resource for moms who desire 107 00:07:08,420 --> 00:07:11,130 Speaker 2: to pray for their kids. I don't know if you've 108 00:07:11,210 --> 00:07:12,910 Speaker 2: ever looked up at the end of the day and 109 00:07:12,950 --> 00:07:16,530 Speaker 2: realized that you didn't pray at all. So often we 110 00:07:16,610 --> 00:07:20,050 Speaker 2: have this desire to pray, but we may not know 111 00:07:20,250 --> 00:07:22,870 Speaker 2: how to put that desire. 112 00:07:22,530 --> 00:07:23,750 Speaker 1: In to practice. 113 00:07:24,210 --> 00:07:27,150 Speaker 2: I'm learning in motherhood that my prayers adapt and change 114 00:07:27,250 --> 00:07:29,830 Speaker 2: based on the season that we're in as a family. 115 00:07:30,270 --> 00:07:34,590 Speaker 2: I'm also learning to give myself grace in those different seasons. 116 00:07:34,850 --> 00:07:38,390 Speaker 2: I know God isn't after perfect, polished prayers. He's after 117 00:07:38,430 --> 00:07:43,010 Speaker 2: my heart, and He's after yours too. So my plan 118 00:07:43,130 --> 00:07:46,610 Speaker 2: is to be intentional, whatever that looks like in this season. 119 00:07:47,110 --> 00:07:50,860 Speaker 1: I hope that is your plan as well. God sees 120 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:55,260 Speaker 1: our hearts. He's honored by our desire to connect with Him. 121 00:07:55,720 --> 00:07:56,980 Speaker 1: If you're feeling stuck in. 122 00:07:56,940 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 2: Your prayer life, I've got a new free download, a 123 00:08:01,100 --> 00:08:06,460 Speaker 2: five-day prayer reset. It's a great guide to help you 124 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:11,460 Speaker 2: get started, jump back in, stay consistent, grow deeper in 125 00:08:11,500 --> 00:08:12,700 Speaker 2: your prayers for your kids. 126 00:08:13,100 --> 00:08:14,840 Speaker 1: It's also a great tool to. 127 00:08:14,820 --> 00:08:18,410 Speaker 2: Share with your friends or with your family members that 128 00:08:18,490 --> 00:08:22,850 Speaker 2: may be seeking to know God deeper in prayer as 129 00:08:22,910 --> 00:08:25,530 Speaker 2: they're wanting to pray for their kids. I hope you 130 00:08:25,550 --> 00:08:30,110 Speaker 2: will grab your copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. We'll also put 131 00:08:30,190 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 2: a link in our show notes. Until next time, friends, 132 00:08:34,900 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 2: may the Lord bless you and keep you. 133 00:08:37,860 --> 00:08:40,620 Speaker 1: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 134 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:44,930 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor upon you and give 135 00:08:44,970 --> 00:08:45,790 Speaker 2: you His peace.