1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:14,920 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,160 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 2: You're listening to everyday prayers with Million Praying Moms, helping 3 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 2: you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Belle. Here 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 2: Today's devotion is written and read by Elizabeth Good, author 9 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,239 Speaker 2: of Speak the Unspeakable. Elizabeth shares a prayer for a 10 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,559 Speaker 2: safe home where gentle words can be shared with a 11 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,640 Speaker 2: steady spirit, and for the Lord to give us grace 12 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 2: to listen well to our children. To find out more 13 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 2: about Elizabeth, or to learn more about the ministry of 14 00:00:52,440 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 2: Million Praying Moms, visit Millionprayingmoms dot com. You'll find a 15 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,120 Speaker 2: link in our show notes after a quick word from. 16 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:01,639 Speaker 1: Our sponsors, pray together for our families. 17 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 3: Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for 18 00:01:08,440 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 3: one another so that you may be healed. James five sixteen. 19 00:01:13,000 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 3: Most moms want the same thing, a home that feels safe, 20 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:20,440 Speaker 3: not perfect, not polished, just safe, a place where your 21 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 3: kids can breathe, where they could be honest, where they 22 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:26,959 Speaker 3: could come to you even when they're scared. But safe 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 3: does not happen by accident. Safe is built. It is 24 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,759 Speaker 3: built with little choices, day after day. Safe is built 25 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:38,840 Speaker 3: when we listen without rushing, when we don't shame, when 26 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,520 Speaker 3: we don't snap back with why would you do that. 27 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,119 Speaker 3: Safe is built when we keep our voice calm, even 28 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:49,880 Speaker 3: if our heart is racing inside. The truth is Families 29 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 3: can learn to live with secrets. Sometimes we can learn 30 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 3: to smile while something heavy sits in the middle of 31 00:01:56,560 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 3: the room. We may even learn how to quickly change 32 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 3: into subject. We can learn to pretend, and over time, 33 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 3: pretending starts to feel normal. But secrets they don't stay 34 00:02:10,280 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 3: quiet on the inside. They leak. They show up as anger, fear, anxiety, hiding, 35 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 3: or sometimes even shutting down. They show up as a 36 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 3: child who won't talk, or a teenager who won't come home, 37 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:27,239 Speaker 3: or a mom who feels alone even in a full house. 38 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:31,080 Speaker 3: God didn't design us to carry the heart stuff by ourselves. 39 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 3: He made us for truth, for healing, for real connection. 40 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 3: James five point sixteen is not a harsh command, It 41 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 3: is an invitation. Confession is not about punishment. It's about freedom. 42 00:02:44,840 --> 00:02:46,959 Speaker 3: It is a way that God turns on the lights 43 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,880 Speaker 3: in a dark room, not to embarrass us, but to 44 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,040 Speaker 3: help help us find the door. As moms, we don't 45 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 3: have to have perfect words. We could start simple. We 46 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 3: can say you could tell me anything. We could prove 47 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:06,320 Speaker 3: it with our tone, our face, our patience. We can 48 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:09,919 Speaker 3: say I won't be mad that you told me. I'll 49 00:03:09,919 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 3: be glad that you came to me. We could also say, 50 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: if you ever feel unsafe, we will get help. Together. 51 00:03:17,520 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 3: That one sentence can change a child's whole world. A 52 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 3: safe home is not a home with no problems. It 53 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 3: is a home where problems are not hidden, where truth 54 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 3: is welcome, where prayer is normal, where kids learn. In 55 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 3: this family, we bring things into the light. Let's pray, God, 56 00:03:39,040 --> 00:03:42,920 Speaker 3: thank you for my family. Thank you for trusting me 57 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 3: with these hearts. Help me build a home where truth 58 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 3: could be spoken. Show me where I've been afraid of 59 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 3: hard conversations. Forgive me for the times I rushed, judged, 60 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 3: or shut things down because I felt uncomfortable. Teach me 61 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 3: Lord how to listen well. Give me gentle words and 62 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 3: a steady spirit. Make our home a safe place where 63 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 3: my kids can come close, tell the truth and find help. 64 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 3: When something is hidden, bring it into the light with love, 65 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 3: heal what needs healing in us, and let our family 66 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 3: be stronger because we chose honesty in Jesus' name. We 67 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:23,160 Speaker 3: pray Amen. 68 00:04:25,120 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: I hope you are following along with us in our 69 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:31,080 Speaker 2: summer book club featuring the book When Mothering His Heart 70 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 2: and No One Sees by Scheline Roberts. If you have 71 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:37,320 Speaker 2: not joined us yet, it's not too late to jump in. 72 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: Head to the homepage of our website to find out more. 73 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 2: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 74 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: Make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. 75 00:04:48,480 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 76 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 2: you his peace.