1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,060 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:16,050 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, helping 3 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:21,380 Speaker 2: you pray God's Word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,520 --> 00:00:24,620 Speaker 2: you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:24,680 --> 00:00:27,930 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:28,030 --> 00:00:30,850 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:34,379 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. Friends, 8 00:00:34,420 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 2: don't forget it's time to pre-order our newest devotional, Everyday 9 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:41,279 Speaker 2: Prayers for Moms, praying God's word for your children from 10 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,800 Speaker 2: newborn to empty nest. If you pre-order today, you receive 11 00:00:44,940 --> 00:00:48,050 Speaker 2: early access to our new prayer course that is a 12 00:00:48,130 --> 00:00:51,630 Speaker 2: great preview or a companion for the book. Find a 13 00:00:51,650 --> 00:00:54,470 Speaker 2: pre-order link in our show notes. Today's devotion is written 14 00:00:54,490 --> 00:00:58,430 Speaker 2: in red by Phil Acemouse, author of With You Always, 15 00:00:58,530 --> 00:01:01,290 Speaker 2: The Practice of the Presence of God for Kids. To 16 00:01:01,310 --> 00:01:05,770 Speaker 2: learn more about Phil or more about our ministry, visit millionprayingmoms.com. 17 00:01:06,350 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 2: After a quick word from our sponsors, we'll pray together 18 00:01:08,860 --> 00:01:09,540 Speaker 2: for our families. 19 00:01:14,860 --> 00:01:17,759 Speaker 1: There's a time for everything and a season for every 20 00:01:17,900 --> 00:01:23,430 Speaker 1: activity under heaven, Ecclesiastes 3.1. Two children went for a 21 00:01:23,470 --> 00:01:26,250 Speaker 1: walk with their father. It was a beautiful morning. The 22 00:01:26,310 --> 00:01:29,209 Speaker 1: sun was shining. The birds were singing. The air was 23 00:01:29,270 --> 00:01:32,810 Speaker 1: cool and light. Everywhere they turned, the whole earth was 24 00:01:32,890 --> 00:01:37,550 Speaker 1: rejoicing in glorious worship to its heavenly father. One child 25 00:01:37,650 --> 00:01:41,010 Speaker 1: took delight in the amazing beauty all around her. The 26 00:01:41,330 --> 00:01:46,050 Speaker 1: other child tugged and pulled and whined and complained every 27 00:01:46,230 --> 00:01:49,770 Speaker 1: step along the way. Both children were surrounded by the 28 00:01:49,810 --> 00:01:53,980 Speaker 1: same beauty. but only one child enjoyed the journey their 29 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 1: father took them on that day. As we walk the 30 00:01:57,780 --> 00:02:00,620 Speaker 1: path our father has placed before us, it can be 31 00:02:00,770 --> 00:02:03,850 Speaker 1: easy to lose sight of where we are in our 32 00:02:03,890 --> 00:02:08,049 Speaker 1: relentless pursuit of where we want to be. It's true 33 00:02:08,090 --> 00:02:11,109 Speaker 1: that where we are may be a million miles from 34 00:02:11,169 --> 00:02:14,049 Speaker 1: where we want to be, and where we want to 35 00:02:14,110 --> 00:02:16,850 Speaker 1: be may feel like a dream that will never come true, 36 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: but we must remember that where we are right now 37 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,760 Speaker 1: right this minute, is the place where Jesus lives. It's 38 00:02:25,820 --> 00:02:28,139 Speaker 1: the place he longs to meet us, and it's the 39 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:32,140 Speaker 1: place he will meet us if we slow down, open 40 00:02:32,240 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: our hearts, and thank him for this day, this place, 41 00:02:37,220 --> 00:02:46,030 Speaker 1: these people, these problems, and this crazy, confusing, impossible, unsolvable situation. 42 00:02:46,710 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 1: Jesus is here, right now, always. We simply need to 43 00:02:52,139 --> 00:02:55,579 Speaker 1: slow down so he can get past the door and 44 00:02:55,620 --> 00:02:58,960 Speaker 1: get into the room where he can fill us with 45 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:03,260 Speaker 1: his beauty. Yes, there is beauty in this day, no 46 00:03:03,300 --> 00:03:07,299 Speaker 1: matter how dark or concerning our situation may appear. And 47 00:03:07,340 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: that beauty can be found, but we must be willing 48 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:13,930 Speaker 1: to surrender our desire to be where we want to 49 00:03:13,990 --> 00:03:17,990 Speaker 1: be and fully embrace the place where Jesus has placed 50 00:03:18,150 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: us right now. Think about it. What would happen if 51 00:03:22,300 --> 00:03:25,240 Speaker 1: a farmer decided to plant corn in the dead of winter? 52 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 1: Or what if a man chose to laugh while everybody 53 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:33,100 Speaker 1: around him was weeping? What if he reopened a wound 54 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,340 Speaker 1: just as it was beginning to heal? These things are 55 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: so obvious they hardly seem worthy of consideration. But is 56 00:03:40,660 --> 00:03:43,950 Speaker 1: it possible we do the exact same thing in a 57 00:03:44,050 --> 00:03:47,970 Speaker 1: million little ways each and every day? There will always 58 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:49,920 Speaker 1: be challenges on the road the Lord places before us. 59 00:03:49,940 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: But when we learn to trust Him completely, allow Him 60 00:03:51,820 --> 00:04:17,620 Speaker 1: to direct our paths, and then learn to enjoy the ride. 61 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: We'll find the clouds will part, and the light of 62 00:04:21,220 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: God will once again begin to shine wherever we are 63 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:30,089 Speaker 1: and wherever we're going. This truly is the path to joy, peace, 64 00:04:30,450 --> 00:04:34,729 Speaker 1: and a life worthy of the sacrifice of our mighty Savior. 65 00:04:35,630 --> 00:04:39,850 Speaker 1: Let's pray. Jesus, teach me to enjoy the path you've 66 00:04:39,930 --> 00:04:43,450 Speaker 1: set before me today. Let my heart be thankful for 67 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:47,740 Speaker 1: everything Let me meet this new day with the confidence, joy, 68 00:04:47,880 --> 00:04:52,260 Speaker 1: and faith that knows you are always here. You've selected 69 00:04:52,320 --> 00:04:55,599 Speaker 1: this road for me. You're walking it with me, and 70 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,260 Speaker 1: you are working all things together for my good. 71 00:04:59,060 --> 00:05:02,420 Speaker 2: Amen. As part of our Fruit of the Spirit prayers 72 00:05:02,500 --> 00:05:05,960 Speaker 2: and everyday prayers for the school year book club, Tara 73 00:05:06,040 --> 00:05:09,790 Speaker 2: Cole and I created a free car conversations guide for 74 00:05:09,820 --> 00:05:13,330 Speaker 2: your family to use this fall. The car is sometimes 75 00:05:13,350 --> 00:05:17,909 Speaker 2: the best place for our most precious conversations with our kids. 76 00:05:18,410 --> 00:05:20,690 Speaker 2: As we are praying through the fruit of the Spirit, 77 00:05:20,850 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: our hope is that you can have meaningful conversations with 78 00:05:24,330 --> 00:05:27,920 Speaker 2: your kids about what living out these fruit looks like 79 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,860 Speaker 2: in their daily lives. Tara and I created a series 80 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: of quick questions. She wrote some for the older kids. 81 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:35,820 Speaker 2: I wrote some for younger kids. And we share a 82 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:38,940 Speaker 2: prayer that you can share with your children about each 83 00:05:39,020 --> 00:05:42,280 Speaker 2: of the fruit of the Spirit. Download your copy for 84 00:05:42,339 --> 00:05:44,900 Speaker 2: free on our website or the link in our show notes. 85 00:05:45,610 --> 00:05:49,610 Speaker 2: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 86 00:05:50,670 --> 00:05:53,580 Speaker 2: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 87 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 88 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:57,420 Speaker 2: you peace.