1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:14,800 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 2: You're listening to everyday Prayers with million praying moms helping 3 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:20,959 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:24,080 Speaker 2: you need at most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here 5 00:00:24,160 --> 00:00:27,400 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:27,440 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 2: Today's division is part of our start your Summer with 9 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 2: Psalm series and is written and read by me. We 10 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:42,040 Speaker 2: will be in Psalm twenty three, one of my very favorites, 11 00:00:42,320 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: and will pray for our children to know that even 12 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:47,800 Speaker 2: when they walk through the valley, they are never alone. 13 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 2: We are spending two weeks praying the Psalms together for 14 00:00:50,360 --> 00:00:52,800 Speaker 2: our children as we jump into summer. Then we will 15 00:00:52,840 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 2: begin our summer book club on June fifteenth, just a 16 00:00:56,520 --> 00:00:59,920 Speaker 2: few days away, featuring the book When Mothering Is Hard 17 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 2: and No One Sees by Shaline Roberts. You have got 18 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 2: to get a copy of this and read it with 19 00:01:04,120 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 2: us this summer. It is so good and I can't 20 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 2: wait for us to read it together as a community. 21 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:11,240 Speaker 2: All you need to do to join is grab a 22 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:13,280 Speaker 2: copy of the book and make sure you are on 23 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,240 Speaker 2: our email list. You can do both of those things 24 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: at Million Prayingmoms dot com. There's a link in our 25 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,320 Speaker 2: show notes. After a quick word from our sponsors, we'll 26 00:01:22,319 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 2: pray together for our children. Psalm twenty three. The Lord 27 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,880 Speaker 2: is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me 28 00:01:35,000 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 2: lie down in green pastures. He leads me besides still waters. 29 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 2: He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of 30 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,720 Speaker 2: righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through 31 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:51,640 Speaker 2: the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear 32 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,880 Speaker 2: no evil, for you are with me. Your ride and 33 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 2: your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before 34 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 2: me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my 35 00:02:03,120 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 2: head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy 36 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:12,720 Speaker 2: shall follow me all the days of my life, and 37 00:02:12,760 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 2: I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 38 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:22,000 Speaker 2: Psalm twenty three is one we probably have heard many 39 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:26,200 Speaker 2: many times. We have heard it in sermons. Maybe you 40 00:02:26,320 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: committed it to memory as a child or as an adult. 41 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: It is one that is very, very familiar to many 42 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 2: of us. And sometimes that's a great thing and a 43 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 2: great comfort, and sometimes we can miss things in passages 44 00:02:40,520 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 2: that are very familiar to us. I've taught an eight 45 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,960 Speaker 2: week Bible study on Psalm twenty three, so we certainly 46 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: could spend so much time unpacking all of the truths 47 00:02:52,639 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 2: and just a beautiful reassurance in Psalm twenty three. But 48 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: we don't have time to do that today our short 49 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: devotional time together. So we will point out a few 50 00:03:04,360 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 2: highlights that will help us to pray for our children. 51 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,120 Speaker 2: I want to start at the very top in verse one, 52 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:14,000 Speaker 2: the Lord is my shepherd. 53 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: I shall not want. 54 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: Another translation reads I have everything that I need. And 55 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: that is something that we can certainly pray for ourselves 56 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: and for our children in our society, where we are 57 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: bombarded by influencer culture, in all of the social posts 58 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 2: in Instagram, on TikTok, in all of the places that 59 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 2: we are being pressured to want things that we do 60 00:03:43,560 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 2: not have. Here, the Scripture is showing us another way, 61 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: the way of contentment, the way of Christ, the way 62 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: of not comparing what we have to those around us, 63 00:03:55,760 --> 00:04:00,360 Speaker 2: but finding true contentment and satisfaction in our play place 64 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: with God. When the Lord is our shepherd, when we 65 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: trust God as our shepherd, we are trusting him as 66 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:10,640 Speaker 2: the one who is taking care of us and providing 67 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 2: everything that we need. The sheep can't plant the food 68 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,800 Speaker 2: for themselves, they can't find the pasture that they need, 69 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:23,120 Speaker 2: they can't locate the water. The shepherd leads them and 70 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 2: helps them have everything that they need. And that's what 71 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: we want our children to trust God with. 72 00:04:30,880 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: That's how we. 73 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 2: Want our children to be in relationship with God. We 74 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 2: want them to see Him as their good shepherd, the 75 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 2: one who has everything they need. We want them to 76 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 2: know that nothing in this world can satisfy but that 77 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 2: God alone can satisfy their thirsty souls. He gives them 78 00:04:48,839 --> 00:04:50,559 Speaker 2: everything that they need. 79 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: So we want to. 80 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 2: Pray for contentment for our children, and that's something that 81 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: Psalm twenty three helps us to do. Secondly, as we 82 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 2: read on, I want my children to know that peace 83 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 2: comes from God. When I read, he makes me lie 84 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: down in green pastures, He leads me besides still waters, 85 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 2: He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of 86 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: righteousness for His name sake. When I read this, I 87 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 2: just see the peace of God. And we want our 88 00:05:23,080 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 2: children to know that peace comes from God alone. It 89 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 2: doesn't come from the things of this world. It doesn't 90 00:05:28,360 --> 00:05:31,479 Speaker 2: come from trying to earn. 91 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:32,680 Speaker 1: Or to satisfy. 92 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: That peace comes from the green pastures of God, from 93 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 2: the still waters, the water that He gives us that 94 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 2: leads up, it bubbles up to eternal life, These peaceful 95 00:05:45,680 --> 00:05:51,599 Speaker 2: waters that he leads us beside that He restores our souls. 96 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 2: That restoration and peace come from Him alone. And that's 97 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 2: what we want our children to know, and we want 98 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 2: to pray that over them as we continue down in 99 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 2: Psalm twenty three, this maybe is one of the most 100 00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 2: famous verses from Psalm twenty three. You've probably heard it, 101 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 2: probably at funerals. I've heard this verse a lot at funerals. 102 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 2: In verse four, even though I walk through the valley 103 00:06:16,480 --> 00:06:19,800 Speaker 2: of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, 104 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 2: for you are with me. Your rod and your staff 105 00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:28,920 Speaker 2: they comfort me. We see this sheep metaphor, this shepherd 106 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 2: and sheep metaphor continuing here as describing walking through a 107 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 2: dangerous valley and being led knowing that they are not alone, 108 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:42,640 Speaker 2: the sheep being led knowing that they are not alone. 109 00:06:42,760 --> 00:06:45,599 Speaker 2: But what really stands out to me in this passage 110 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:49,839 Speaker 2: is that David doesn't write maybe when I walk through 111 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,520 Speaker 2: the valley of the shadow or death of even if 112 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,640 Speaker 2: I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, No, 113 00:06:55,760 --> 00:07:01,960 Speaker 2: he says, when even though I walk through the valley 114 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: of the shadow of death. And as we read this 115 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:07,680 Speaker 2: verse in the context of the rest of Scripture, we 116 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 2: know that all of us will face these challenging points 117 00:07:11,520 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: in our life, and our children will as well. As 118 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: much as we want to protect them from the things 119 00:07:16,800 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 2: of this world, and friend, I think we certainly should. 120 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:22,560 Speaker 2: In a lot of ways we are in charge of 121 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 2: protecting our children, there are certain things that we cannot 122 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:31,320 Speaker 2: protect them from. They will face hardship, they will face 123 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 2: hurt and pain that we cannot protect them from. And 124 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 2: Psalm twenty three gives me a lot of comfort when 125 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:42,280 Speaker 2: I'm praying for my children, because even when my children 126 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: walk through the valley, even the valley of the shadow 127 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 2: of death, they can be confident and assured that God 128 00:07:52,840 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: is with them, that they are led by His rod 129 00:07:57,040 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: in his staff, that He is with them and are 130 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 2: never alone. And that is where I want to focus 131 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 2: my prayers, that when my kids bump up against something 132 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,320 Speaker 2: that is hard or is challenging, that they would be 133 00:08:10,480 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 2: assured and comforted and reminded in so certain that God 134 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 2: is with them and that they are not alone. That 135 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,840 Speaker 2: they are not alone, and we can pray that when 136 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,120 Speaker 2: they face these hard times they can be reassured of this. 137 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 2: It makes me think of Jesus' words in John sixteen 138 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 2: thirty three, where he says, in this world you will 139 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,760 Speaker 2: have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world. 140 00:08:38,400 --> 00:08:43,079 Speaker 2: He gives trouble or trials or hardship as a guarantee 141 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:46,079 Speaker 2: to his followers. He says, in this world you will 142 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 2: same thing, not if not, maybe not might, but you 143 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: will have trouble. But we can take heart because He 144 00:08:52,320 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 2: has overcome the world. Here David says, even when I 145 00:08:55,640 --> 00:08:58,840 Speaker 2: walk through the valley, I know that you are with me, 146 00:08:59,280 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: you are right beside me, and I can take confidence 147 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 2: and have hope in that promise. As we end and 148 00:09:08,600 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 2: wrap up Psalm twenty three, it ends in verse six, 149 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:16,440 Speaker 2: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days 150 00:09:16,440 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 2: of my life, and I shall dwell in the House 151 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 2: of the Lord forever. It makes me think a few 152 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 2: years back, my brother got an Australian shepherd puppy with 153 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: an auburn coat and piercing blue eyes. Australian shepherds are 154 00:09:32,160 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 2: hurting dogs, and my brother was told that Sidney would 155 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,640 Speaker 2: have hurting traits and may try to herd his humans. 156 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:40,680 Speaker 1: When he went out of town. 157 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 2: I got to puppy set Sidney and we joked that 158 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,599 Speaker 2: Sidney thought Josie was his little lamb when she was 159 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 2: a baby. I have a vivid memory of Josie toddling 160 00:09:49,880 --> 00:09:54,600 Speaker 2: about while Sydney was nosing her heels, hurting her alone. 161 00:09:55,000 --> 00:09:58,360 Speaker 2: He was so gentle with her, but kept up with 162 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 2: her every step. When she was napping, he would lie 163 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 2: down right outside her door waiting for her to wake up. 164 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 2: When she cried, he would come and get me and bark. 165 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 2: When I read this verse from Psalm twenty three, I 166 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 2: think about Sydney hurting Josie along. It's how I picture 167 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 2: goodness and mercy following us right at our heels, leading 168 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 2: us in the right direction, showing us where to turn 169 00:10:24,200 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 2: and when. 170 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: To stay straight ahead. 171 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 2: David's use of the word surely in this Psalm really 172 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 2: resonates with me. It's a promise. It's something that we 173 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 2: can count on as moms. We can take comfort that 174 00:10:36,920 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 2: wherever our children go goodness and mercy will follow them. 175 00:10:42,920 --> 00:10:46,600 Speaker 2: God will pursue them continually. We can rest assured that 176 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: no matter where they are, He will be right on 177 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 2: their heels in the very best way. In my son's room, 178 00:10:55,520 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 2: I have framed the Lord's promise to Joshua and Joshua 179 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 2: one nine for the Lord Lord, your God is with 180 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:04,679 Speaker 2: you wherever you go. And that's how I picture this 181 00:11:04,840 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: goodness and mercy following along beside our children, along behind 182 00:11:09,040 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 2: our children, leading them down these paths of righteousness, assuring 183 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,120 Speaker 2: them of who God is and that they can trust 184 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:22,080 Speaker 2: Him in their lives. Let's pray together, Father, help my 185 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:25,520 Speaker 2: children to know that they have everything they. 186 00:11:25,400 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: Need in you. 187 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:32,680 Speaker 2: Give them contentment and peace in your presence. Reassure them 188 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 2: that in your green pastures and still waters, they can 189 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:42,240 Speaker 2: find peace in you alone. When they walk through the valley, 190 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:48,560 Speaker 2: May they know for sure you are with them. Remind 191 00:11:48,640 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: them that they are never alone. Help me to trust 192 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:57,400 Speaker 2: that Your goodness and mercy are right on their heels, 193 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 2: pursuing them in the best way. I put my whole 194 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:08,559 Speaker 2: hope and trust in you, Jesus, Amen. I hope you're 195 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,439 Speaker 2: planning to join us for our summer book. Club beginning 196 00:12:11,520 --> 00:12:14,600 Speaker 2: on June fifteenth. Head to the homepage to our website 197 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 2: to find out more. Until next time, friends, may the 198 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:22,079 Speaker 2: Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine 199 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,600 Speaker 2: upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord 200 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 2: look with favor on you and give you peace.