1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,360 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:09,400 --> 00:00:12,200 Speaker 1: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word over 3 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: their families and the areas they need it most. I'm 4 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 1: your host, Nicolette Belle. Over the last decade, we've helped 5 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:24,640 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:30,319 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:37,920 Speaker 1: devotion is written by Brook McLoughlin, founder of Million Praying 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: Moms and author of Praying for Teen Boys. To learn 12 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:43,879 Speaker 1: more about Brook, or to learn more about how you 13 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: can get involved in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: visit Today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. After a 15 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:55,040 Speaker 1: quick word from our sponsors, will pray together for our children, 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,640 Speaker 1: Psalm twenty three one through two. The Lord is my shepherd. 17 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: I shall not want. He makes me lie down in 18 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: green pastures, He leads me beside still waters. For the 19 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:12,279 Speaker 1: past few months, my children and I have been working 20 00:01:12,319 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: through the names of God in our personal Bible time. 21 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,039 Speaker 1: When we came to shepherd, I asked my children what 22 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 1: they thought a shepherd does for his sheep, and their 23 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:23,479 Speaker 1: responses caused me to pause as we considered how many 24 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: ways the good shepherd takes care of us. When my 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: son spoke up with his thoughts on the importance of 26 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: a shepherd carefully watching, protecting, and caring for his flock, 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: my heart lurched in thankfulness. My son shared how grateful 28 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: he was that a shepherd would not forget his sheep 29 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: even when it was lost. His vivid explanation of the 30 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:47,639 Speaker 1: shepherd's relentless search, care and comfort for his sheep touched 31 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: a soft place in my son's heart as he was 32 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: struggling with his own recent behavior issues and felt like 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:55,480 Speaker 1: he kept getting stuck in his efforts to find his 34 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 1: way back to his time with the Lord. What a 35 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 1: true shepherd we have who comforts and cares for us 36 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: even when we wonder. As a mama investing daily into 37 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:08,800 Speaker 1: her children, I grow weary and worried in the journey. 38 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: I watch my children making choices and know that although 39 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: I can lead them in the way they should go, 40 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:16,520 Speaker 1: it's only the good shepherd who can care for them 41 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:19,400 Speaker 1: when they get stuck or need comfort I can't give. 42 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 1: Will I lead my children to the good Shepherd, who 43 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:24,640 Speaker 1: can care for them like only a true shepherd can. 44 00:02:25,280 --> 00:02:28,840 Speaker 1: There is no pretending that we ourselves are prone to 45 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:32,239 Speaker 1: wonder and forget to rest when everything the world has 46 00:02:32,280 --> 00:02:36,040 Speaker 1: to offer distracts us. Jesus, our good Shepherd, will take 47 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,440 Speaker 1: our hand and lead us to the quiet places. It's 48 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: here we can release our cares and find comfort and 49 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: rest in his promises. He has brought me to a 50 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: peaceful place of rest so many times over and restored 51 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: my souls so I could give back to my family again. 52 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: A full schedule and an empty heart are sure signs 53 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: it's time to stop seek and draw closer to Jesus, 54 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: the good Shepherd. He's promised I will lack nothing, and 55 00:03:04,680 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: I discover that each time I come close to him 56 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 1: again and again. Will I intentionally seek Christ, allowing him 57 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:13,760 Speaker 1: to meet all my desires and be enough that my 58 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:17,240 Speaker 1: soul is satisfied. Let's lead our children by the hand, 59 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 1: introducing them to the Lord, our shepherd, and be reminded 60 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: he is always there waiting for his sheep to come 61 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 1: to him. In today's versus, David is speaking of our wants, 62 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 1: which refer to our desires, meaning not only can God 63 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 1: take care of my physical needs, but he can also 64 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: fulfill me. He can satisfy my heart. A shepherd knows 65 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,760 Speaker 1: sheep are prone to stray, but what a comfort to 66 00:03:41,800 --> 00:03:44,320 Speaker 1: know he knows us, and it brings him joy to 67 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:48,160 Speaker 1: care for us. A shepherd has deep concern and care 68 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:50,680 Speaker 1: not only for all of its sheep as a whole, 69 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: but also for each and every single one individually. This 70 00:03:55,480 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: is how God cares for us. He knows each of 71 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: our comings and goings, He knows every hair on our heads, 72 00:04:02,600 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 1: He knows when even one of us is lost, and 73 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 1: he has made every provision to find us through his son, 74 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Let's pray, Dear Lord, help me to lead 75 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,240 Speaker 1: my children to you and remind them that you are 76 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,919 Speaker 1: our comforter, our loving shepherd who will lead us to 77 00:04:19,960 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 1: places of peace and restoration. Help me to live with 78 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:26,880 Speaker 1: a satisfied soul, so that my children will see and 79 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:30,760 Speaker 1: know that you are truly enough. In Jesus' name. Amen, 80 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: are you a visual learner? Would you like to receive 81 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:36,799 Speaker 1: our daily devotions in written form? Right to your inbox. 82 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 1: Then join our Patreon community of Praying Moms. Not only 83 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,240 Speaker 1: will you receive the transcripts of each podcast devotional, you 84 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: will also receive a monthly prayer calendar and surprise bonus content. 85 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: Learn more about our Praying mom community in today's show 86 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:56,520 Speaker 1: notes or at million prayingmoms dot com. Till next time, friends, 87 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,839 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 88 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:03,440 Speaker 1: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 89 00:05:03,480 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.