1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,600 Speaker 1: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 3 00:00:12,640 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: their families in the areas they need at most. I'm 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: your host, Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've helped 5 00:00:19,040 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,800 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,520 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,839 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by Jennifer Watson, author of 11 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:44,240 Speaker 1: What If You're Doing Better Then You Think. To learn 12 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: more about Jennifer, or to learn more about how you 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: can get involved in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 14 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:54,880 Speaker 1: visit Today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a 15 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:58,400 Speaker 1: quick word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our families. 16 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 2: Come to me all who are weary and burdened, and 17 00:01:04,720 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 2: I will give you rest. Matthew eleven, twenty eight. There's 18 00:01:08,680 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 2: a special kind of exhaustion that mothers know too well, 19 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,160 Speaker 2: the kind that goes deeper than physical tiredness. It's a 20 00:01:15,200 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 2: way to being everything for everyone. You wake up already behind, 21 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,680 Speaker 2: pour coffee over cold prayers, and spend the day juggling 22 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: car lines, emails, meals, and emotions that aren't just your own. 23 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,720 Speaker 2: Somewhere between helping with homework and folding laundry, you realize 24 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: your heart has been quietly running on empty. Sometimes we 25 00:01:34,560 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 2: were busy. Like a badge of honor. We say yes 26 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 2: to everyone because saying no feels like failing someone we love. 27 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: We over commit like it's an extreme sport, forgetting that 28 00:01:43,959 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 2: God never asked us to meet every need or carry 29 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: every burden. What he asks is much simpler, come to me. 30 00:01:51,160 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 2: But in our striving we often treat rest like a 31 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: reward instead of a requirement. Over time, that imbalance catches 32 00:01:58,160 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 2: up with us. We start to feel resent or disconnected, 33 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:04,640 Speaker 2: wondering why the joy we once had feel so distant. 34 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: We may even begin to start to believe that our 35 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 2: needs don't matter, as if caring for ourselves somehow makes 36 00:02:10,080 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 2: us less loving. Yet, Jesus, the one who gave himself 37 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 2: for others, often withdrew to quiet places to pray. He 38 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 2: modeled a rhythm of service and stillness, reminding us that 39 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 2: even the most faithful hearts need rest. When we pause 40 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 2: long enough to breathe, we remember that God isn't measuring 41 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: our worth by our productivity. He delights in our presence 42 00:02:32,760 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 2: more than our performance. And when we learn to rest, 43 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 2: we teach our children something powerful. That peace is found 44 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: not in doing more, but trusting more. Maybe today you 45 00:02:43,520 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: feel stretched then, unsure how to keep up with all 46 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,480 Speaker 2: the needs around you. Friend, you are not called to 47 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: carry at all. You're called to walk closely with the 48 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: one who meets you and carries you. Rest isn't giving up, 49 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,280 Speaker 2: it's giving God's space to renew your strength. Let him 50 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 2: meet you right where you are, in the carpool line, 51 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 2: by the kitchen sink, or the late night quiet after 52 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: everyone's asleep. His rest is not just for your body, 53 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: before your soul. Let's pray, Father, you see the mother 54 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:14,400 Speaker 2: whose hands are full and whose heart feels weary. Thank 55 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: you for being near when we're weary and stretched beyond 56 00:03:17,080 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: what we can imagine. Forgive us for the times we 57 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 2: tried to be everything to everyone instead of coming to 58 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: you first. Teach us to slow down without guilt, to 59 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: rest without apology, and a love from a heart that's 60 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 2: been filled by your presence. Lord, help us remember that 61 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 2: we are not the savior of our homes. 62 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:34,639 Speaker 1: You are. 63 00:03:35,240 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: Give us courage to say no when we need to, 64 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: and wisdom to know when to step back and Breathe. 65 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: Restore our joy in the small, ordinary moments, and remind 66 00:03:44,120 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 2: us that peace isn't found in perfection, but in your presence. 67 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: Angor our hearts and rest Today. 68 00:03:50,280 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: Amen, friends, we have completely revamped our Patreon tears. Now 69 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: with a ten dollars monthly donation, you automatically receive our 70 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:03,880 Speaker 1: favorite mone monthly downloadable prayer calendar of curated scripture inspired 71 00:04:03,880 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: prayers that complement the devotions and prayers from the podcast. 72 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:11,760 Speaker 1: You also receive each day's devotion and prayer in written form, 73 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: including reflection questions to accompany your quiet time. Many of 74 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:19,080 Speaker 1: our members enjoy having the ability to read the day's 75 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: devotion or to save the prayer for future use. Lastly, 76 00:04:23,720 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: when you become a Praying Mom, you're invited to a 77 00:04:26,080 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: monthly mom chat with me and surprise guests from our 78 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: other Million Praying Mom authors. You can learn more in 79 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 1: today's show notes or at Millionprayingmoms dot com Until next time, friends, 80 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:43,800 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 81 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:47,680 Speaker 1: shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the 82 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.