1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:10,200 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, where 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 2: we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for their 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,600 Speaker 2: families in the areas they need it most. I'm your host, 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:20,159 Speaker 2: Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've helped thousands of 6 00:00:20,239 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 2: moms make prayer a priority for their families. Our mission 7 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:26,920 Speaker 2: is to help you do the same. Prayer is not 8 00:00:27,000 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: a last resort. It's our first and best response to 9 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:33,479 Speaker 2: the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the hearts of 10 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:37,960 Speaker 2: our children that God invites us into. Today's devotion is 11 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: written and read by Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers 12 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 2: for Love. To learn more about Rachel, or to learn 13 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:46,680 Speaker 2: more about how you can get involved in the ministry 14 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:52,080 Speaker 2: of Million Praying Moms, visit Today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms 15 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,240 Speaker 2: dot Com. This week, the advent focus is love, So 16 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,760 Speaker 2: Rachel will kick us off and then we'll spend the 17 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,920 Speaker 2: week with Stacy Thacker in our new book, Everyday Prayers 18 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:05,559 Speaker 2: for Christmas. After a word from our sponsors, will pray 19 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: together for our children. 20 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, 21 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,840 Speaker 1: but do not have love, I am only a resounding 22 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:19,000 Speaker 1: gong or a clanging symbol. If I have the gift 23 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:22,640 Speaker 1: of prophecy and can fathom all the mysteries in all knowledge, 24 00:01:23,040 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: and if I have the faith that can move mountains, 25 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,840 Speaker 1: but do not have love, I am nothing. If I 26 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: give all I possess to the poor, and give over 27 00:01:31,560 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: my body to hardship, that I may boast, but do 28 00:01:34,280 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: not have love, I gain nothing Corinthians thirteen one through three. 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: Christmas is a big deal around our house. We all 30 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 1: love the festivities surrounding the holiday, especially gift giving. I 31 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: wake up early every year and fight the crowds to 32 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: shop on Black Friday. The night before, I scour the 33 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 1: sales circulars to make my list and figure out my 34 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:00,240 Speaker 1: game plan for the next day. The long lines are 35 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: worth the money saved, at least that's what I tell 36 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: my husband. But by the end of the day, my 37 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: car is usually so packed I can barely see out 38 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: of the rear view mirror. With my heart and trunk full, 39 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,200 Speaker 1: head home to unload the goodies in my secret hiding spot. 40 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: On Christmas Eve, my husband and I assemble the presents 41 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:19,360 Speaker 1: that haven't been wrapped yet. We've been known to stay 42 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:22,920 Speaker 1: up until after midnight building a dollhouse or securing a 43 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,239 Speaker 1: basketball goal to surprise the kids. It is one of 44 00:02:26,280 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: our greatest joys to watch the excitement on our children's 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: faces when they wake up the next morning to discover 46 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: what we bought for them. I always take special care 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 1: to balance the presence so that I've spent an equal 48 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,679 Speaker 1: amount on each child and the number of boxes to 49 00:02:39,760 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: unwrap scenes Even however, we always explain that an item 50 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 1: in a small box could be more valuable than an 51 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,880 Speaker 1: item in a large box. It's important to us that 52 00:02:47,960 --> 00:02:50,560 Speaker 1: both kids fell lavish with love all year round, but 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:55,360 Speaker 1: especially on Christmas. While we enjoy all the merriment, Jesus, 54 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: of course, is the greatest gift. I know the real 55 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,360 Speaker 1: reason for the season is not about the presence, but 56 00:03:01,400 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: about celebrating his birth. We certainly make an effort to 57 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,360 Speaker 1: focus on him during the hustle and bustle of the holiday. 58 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:12,079 Speaker 1: But beyond the gold, frankincense and myrrh the wise men 59 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:15,120 Speaker 1: brought to celebrate him, I'm reminded of the scripture that 60 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: tells us every good and perfect gift is from above. 61 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:22,920 Speaker 1: We don't just receive gifts from God on specific dates. 62 00:03:23,280 --> 00:03:26,960 Speaker 1: We are the recipients of his generosity all year long. 63 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: God has already given us all will ever require, His son, 64 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: his Holy Spirit forgiveness and eternal life. Even so, he 65 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 1: encourages us to ask him for whatever. We need. To 66 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:44,080 Speaker 1: explain this concept to his disciples, Jesus taught which of you, 67 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:47,720 Speaker 1: if his son asks for bread, will you give him 68 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will 69 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: give him a snake. If you, then, though you are evil, 70 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: know how to give good gifts to your children, how 71 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: much more will your father in heaven give good gifts 72 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:05,000 Speaker 1: to those who ask him. In his teaching, Christ explains 73 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:08,200 Speaker 1: the heart of the Father God is not stingy. We 74 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: don't have to grovel with our requests because He is 75 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 1: a loving father who cares. If humans can be generous, 76 00:04:15,320 --> 00:04:19,720 Speaker 1: imagine how big hearted God is. He has given us 77 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,320 Speaker 1: all special treasures. These are different according to the grace 78 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:26,720 Speaker 1: given to each of us. One is not superior to another. 79 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: We should treat everyone's talents and abilities as valuable to God. 80 00:04:32,040 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 1: They are bestowed upon each person by the Holy Spirit 81 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,880 Speaker 1: to serve God and enhance the lives of others. As 82 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:42,240 Speaker 1: you seek to identify and utilize what God has blessed 83 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 1: you with. Make loving God and fellow Christians your inspiration. 84 00:04:47,400 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 1: Spiritual gifts, like great faith, acts of dedication and sacrifice, 85 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: produce very little without love. As believers, we may have 86 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: different abilities, but we have a common goal to share 87 00:05:00,480 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: what we've been granted, so unbelievers will come to know 88 00:05:03,560 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 1: the gift giver themselves, for he always gives lavishly. Let's pray, Lord, 89 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: thank you for all you've given me and your son, 90 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit and the hope of eternity. Help me 91 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: to grasp the magnitude of the gifts you have lavished 92 00:05:21,360 --> 00:05:25,039 Speaker 1: upon me as your child. Remind me that it was 93 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: never anything I earned or deserved, but your generosity to me. 94 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,400 Speaker 1: Help me to steward what you have given me well 95 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:35,360 Speaker 1: and share it cheerfully, because it's not about me, but 96 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:41,520 Speaker 1: always about you and for you. In Jesus's name, Amen, I. 97 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,280 Speaker 2: Hope you're enjoying reading along with us this month in 98 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,480 Speaker 2: our new book, every Day Prayers for Christmas. Grab your 99 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,239 Speaker 2: copy and a few for gifts wherever books are sold. 100 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,720 Speaker 2: If you love the Everyday Prayers podcast, consider joining our 101 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,159 Speaker 2: community with a ten dollars monthly donation through Patreon. When 102 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 2: you join, you automatically receive a new downloadable scripture inspired 103 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,479 Speaker 2: prayer calendar every month, plus the devotions and prayers from 104 00:06:05,520 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 2: this month in written form, along with an invitation to 105 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 2: our monthly live mom chat. Learn more in today's show 106 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 2: notes or at Million Prayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 107 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,120 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 108 00:06:23,279 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 109 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.