1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:09,840 Speaker 2: You are listening to every Day Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 3 00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 2: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 4 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 2: their families in the areas they need it most. 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. 6 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: Over the last decade, we've helped thousands of moms make 7 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 2: prayer a priority for their families. Our mission is to 8 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 2: help you do the same. Prayer is not a last resort. 9 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 2: It's our first and best response to the challenges of parenting, 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 2: a partnership for the hearts of our children that God 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,080 Speaker 2: invites us into. Today's devotion is written and read by 12 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 2: Brooke McLoughlin, founder of Million Praying Moms and author of 13 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,280 Speaker 2: Everyday Prayers for Peace. To learn more about Brooke, or 14 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: to learn more about how you can get involved in 15 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,879 Speaker 2: the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit Today's show notes 16 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 2: or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a word from our sponsors, 17 00:00:56,720 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 2: will pray together for our children. 18 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: Proverbs sixteen thirty two. Patience is better than power, and 19 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: controlling one's emotions than capturing a city. Losing control of 20 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:17,199 Speaker 1: our emotions at its heart is about a lack of power. 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,119 Speaker 1: I know that seems like a bold statement to start 22 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,400 Speaker 1: a devotion, but I wanted to get right to the point. 23 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 1: Before I had children, I didn't realize I had a 24 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: problem controlling my emotions. I knew I liked being in control, 25 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: but my situation's pre children never caused me to lose 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:36,240 Speaker 1: control of myself. I look back now with the perspective 27 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: of almost twenty years, and I can see hints here 28 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,040 Speaker 1: and there. But I really didn't know I had something 29 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 1: sinister lurking in my heart until the right set of 30 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: circumstances made it spill out. And that set of circumstances 31 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 1: were my two boys. Maybe it was because my husband 32 00:01:51,680 --> 00:01:54,520 Speaker 1: has always worked shift work and never ever had a 33 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:57,600 Speaker 1: normal schedule. Maybe it was because God gave me two 34 00:01:57,640 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: of those boys, the ones who are two hundred and 35 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: fifty percent boy, loud, aggressive, impulsive, and did I say loud. 36 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: Or maybe it was just because I am not naturally 37 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:11,280 Speaker 1: gifted with younger children. Whatever the reason, my children brought 38 00:02:11,280 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: out the worst and me more than I'd care to remember. 39 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:16,720 Speaker 1: They showed me that a monster lived in my heart, 40 00:02:17,040 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: a monster that looked much like a mad two year 41 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:22,200 Speaker 1: old who hadn't gotten her way. I stamped my feet 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 1: figuratively in perhaps literally a few times as a young 43 00:02:26,120 --> 00:02:28,160 Speaker 1: mother because I couldn't get my children to act the 44 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:31,840 Speaker 1: way I wanted them to. I lost control, lost my patience, 45 00:02:32,000 --> 00:02:36,680 Speaker 1: and lost my emotions. Patience is required for military conquests, 46 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,800 Speaker 1: those of old and those today. I don't think we 47 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: need to see our children as military adversaries, but they 48 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: will often feel like the opposition. And while there may 49 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: not be many parenting formulas given in the Bible, there 50 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 1: is certainly a theme of strategic action in both the 51 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: Old and New Testaments that encourages us to control what 52 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 1: comes out of our hearts and mouths so that we 53 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:02,119 Speaker 1: can have a kingdom impact on those around us. According 54 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:05,119 Speaker 1: to Today's verse, this is harder to do than overtaking 55 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,080 Speaker 1: an entire city, but there is a way. I find 56 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: it interesting that Paul's warning to put on the full 57 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: armor of God in Ephesians six eleven comes just a 58 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: few verses after he talks about the relationship between parents 59 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: and their children. It's almost like he knew there would 60 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:22,880 Speaker 1: be a struggle here and gave us the tools we 61 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: need to be patient and be careful what we say. 62 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,200 Speaker 1: I love that he uses wartime language, because learning to 63 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 1: control ourselves is letting go of our need for power 64 00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: and doing battle in God's power instead. Consider Ephesians six 65 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:40,160 Speaker 1: thirteen through eighteen. Take up the full armor of God, 66 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 1: so that you may be able to resist in the 67 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: evil day, and having prepared everything to take your stand, 68 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:50,360 Speaker 1: stand therefore with truth like a belt around your waist, 69 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:54,800 Speaker 1: Righteousness like armor on your chest, and your feet sandaled 70 00:03:54,840 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: with readiness for the Gospel of peace in every situation. 71 00:03:59,120 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: Take up the shield of faith, with which you can 72 00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take 73 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, 74 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 1: which is the Word of God. Pray at all times 75 00:04:09,680 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 1: in the Spirit, with every prayer and request, and stay 76 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:16,440 Speaker 1: alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. 77 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: What does a mom need to wear each day in 78 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:21,719 Speaker 1: order to find true power and have patience with her children? 79 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 1: This is what Ephesian six tells us. Number one, the 80 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:29,080 Speaker 1: bulk of truth time in God's word. Only the truth 81 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: can push out the lives of the world. Number two, 82 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: the armor of righteousness. Knowing who you belong to at 83 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: all times and making sure your identity is firmly rooted 84 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,640 Speaker 1: in this Number three the sandals of the Gospel, preparing 85 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,320 Speaker 1: you for walking into situations where you can be the 86 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: peace that comes from knowing Jesus. Number four the shield 87 00:04:50,720 --> 00:04:54,599 Speaker 1: of faith against the roller coaster of life, the unknowns 88 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: and the plans of the enemy. Number five the helmet 89 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,920 Speaker 1: of salvation to cover your most most important asset your 90 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: mind with the knowledge of your salvation, empowered by your 91 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: knowledge and faith in the Word of God. And number 92 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 1: six prayer at all times and in every way. Put 93 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,040 Speaker 1: on the whole armor and invite God into your mess. 94 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,880 Speaker 1: Let it be his power that conquers your home today 95 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 1: and gives you peace. Let's pray, Father, help me make 96 00:05:22,839 --> 00:05:25,120 Speaker 1: good use of the tools You've made available to me 97 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:27,640 Speaker 1: in your word, those that can change me from the 98 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 1: inside out, and prepare me for battle so that I 99 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: can be all you desire me to be for those 100 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 1: I love most. In Jesus' name, Amen. 101 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,359 Speaker 2: Friends, We have completely revamped our Patreon tears. Now with 102 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: a ten dollars monthly donation, you automatically receive our favorite 103 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 2: monthly downloadable prayer calendar of curated scripture inspired prayers that 104 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:52,839 Speaker 2: complement the devotions and prayers from the podcast. You also 105 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 2: receive each day's devotion and prayer in written form, including 106 00:05:57,160 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: reflection questions, to accompany your quiet time. Many of our 107 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: members enjoy having the ability to read the day's devotion 108 00:06:04,600 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 2: or to save the prayer for future use. Lastly, when 109 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 2: you become a Praying Mom, you're invited to a monthly 110 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 2: mom chat with me and surprise guests from our other 111 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:18,720 Speaker 2: Million Praying Mom authors. You can learn more in today's 112 00:06:18,720 --> 00:06:24,239 Speaker 2: show notes or at Millionprayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 113 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 114 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 115 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.