1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. 4 00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:27,920 Speaker 1: Here we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our 5 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: first and best response in parenting, and every day we 6 00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 1: come together to partner with God for the hearts of 7 00:00:33,240 --> 00:00:36,960 Speaker 1: our children. Today's division is written and read by Rachel Hartzel, 8 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: author of The Garden Sprouts, helping families understand how to 9 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:44,520 Speaker 1: live out the fruit of the Spirit. In today's episode, 10 00:00:44,680 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: Rachel encourages us how to share our faith with gentleness. 11 00:00:49,080 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: To learn more about Rachel or the Million Praying Mom's ministry, 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:56,320 Speaker 1: visit Millionprayingmoms dot com. You can find a link in 13 00:00:56,320 --> 00:00:59,200 Speaker 1: our show notes. After a quick word from our sponsors, 14 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:00,880 Speaker 1: we'll pray to get there for our children. 15 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:09,039 Speaker 2: Colossians four five through six Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,759 Speaker 2: making the best use of the time. Let your speech 17 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 2: always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may 18 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 2: know how you ought to answer each person. A few 19 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: months ago, my daughter's teacher gave her a fanny pack 20 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: for Christmas. My daughter loved it and started filling it 21 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:27,399 Speaker 2: with all of her eight year old essentials, random trinkets, 22 00:01:27,520 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 2: some loose change, and her lip bum One evening, my 23 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 2: family and I were sitting down at a restaurant when 24 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,280 Speaker 2: my daughter reached into her bag and pulled out a 25 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: small toy lamb to quietly entertain herself while she waited 26 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: for her food. As I watched her, I was struck 27 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:46,200 Speaker 2: by how simple and unassuming that one little lamb was, 28 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 2: yet how powerful a tool it could become. It made 29 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,120 Speaker 2: me think about how much pressure we put on ourselves 30 00:01:55,160 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: as Christian moms to share our faith with our children. 31 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 2: Oftentimes we believe we have to have a perfectly worded 32 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 2: lesson or intricate activity for deep, meaningful discipleship with our kids. 33 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,200 Speaker 2: We fear saying too much and they'll tune us out. 34 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,800 Speaker 2: Sometimes that fear keeps us from saying anything at all, 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:21,520 Speaker 2: and we miss the moment entirely. But Scripture reminds us 36 00:02:21,639 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: that God often works through those small moments. Paul encourages 37 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: us in Colossians to walk in wisdom and let our 38 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 2: words be gracious, not forceful, not overwhelming, just seasoned with grace. 39 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 2: Our everyday conversations, actions, and even ordinary objects can gently 40 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: point our kids to the Gospel and the truth of 41 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 2: who God is. Zechariah four to ten tells us not 42 00:02:56,639 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: to despise the day of small beginnings. The work God's 43 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 2: doing through us in those small, unassuming moments with our 44 00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:09,880 Speaker 2: kids will be multiplied and grow into something way greater 45 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: than we can imagine. And in First Corinthians three six 46 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: through seven, Paul reminds us of our role in those 47 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 2: moments when he writes, I planted Apollos watered, but God 48 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:28,680 Speaker 2: gave the growth. Sweet friend, hear me when I say this. 49 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: As Christian moms, we are called to plant seeds in 50 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 2: our kids. We are not responsible for the results God is. 51 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 2: We are responsible for obeying our Father and being faithful. 52 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: Through Paul, God is telling us he didn't intend for 53 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 2: us to bear the entire burden of saving our children. 54 00:03:54,600 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: So take a moment and allow yourself to breathe. Sharing 55 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:08,320 Speaker 2: the Gospel doesn't always look perfect. It doesn't need to 56 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,760 Speaker 2: be a sermon or meticulously planned object lesson although they 57 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: have their place. Truth is, some of the best discipleship 58 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: moments will be unplanned, and you'll be flying by the 59 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:26,640 Speaker 2: seed of your pants, but that's okay. Who knows, Maybe 60 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: you'll luck out and your child will pull out a 61 00:04:28,880 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 2: toy lamb at dinner and you can ask if she 62 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: wants to hear a story about a lost sheet. No 63 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 2: matter what kind of discipleship moments you have, those are 64 00:04:38,560 --> 00:04:43,760 Speaker 2: still seeds and God is faithful to grow them all. 65 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 2: I want to encourage you to track the seeds you 66 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 2: plant with your kids for the next week. This can 67 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:55,040 Speaker 2: be as simple or as detailed of a tracking system 68 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: as you want to make it. You could just make 69 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 2: tally marks on a screen a piece of paper and 70 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:04,279 Speaker 2: keep it on the fridge. There's no right or wrong 71 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 2: way to do this. This exercise isn't meant to be 72 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,600 Speaker 2: overwhelming by any means. It's a visual to show you 73 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 2: the impact you're making in your family. At the end 74 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 2: of seven days, look back at your tracker. My hope 75 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:22,719 Speaker 2: is that you'll see that you plant more seeds than 76 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: you realize. All you have to do is trust God 77 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: with the growth and rest in knowing that your faithfulness, 78 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 2: no matter how small it seems, matters. Let's pray, Dear 79 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 2: Heavenly Father. I often find myself burdened with the weight 80 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 2: of parenting. I want my kids to know you and 81 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:51,119 Speaker 2: become strong Christians in your kingdom. Lord, help me let 82 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,240 Speaker 2: go of the responsibility I've been holding on to for 83 00:05:54,320 --> 00:05:58,159 Speaker 2: the growth of their faith. I know this is your 84 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:03,160 Speaker 2: responsibility alone. Strengthen me in your wisdom. So my actions 85 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:06,240 Speaker 2: and speech may be salty as I plant seeds in 86 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:11,200 Speaker 2: my kids' lives. Help me approach my kids with gentleness 87 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:15,520 Speaker 2: and grace in those moments. In Jesus' name Amen. 88 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: May is the month to celebrate moms, and we've updated 89 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: our mom shop just in time with some of our 90 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,239 Speaker 1: favorite resources. Be sure to check out our updated shop 91 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 1: at Million Prayingmoms dot com, forward slash shop, or click 92 00:06:29,600 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: shop from our homepage. Until next time, friends, the Lord 93 00:06:33,480 --> 00:06:36,919 Speaker 1: bless you and keep you. Make his face shine upon 94 00:06:36,960 --> 00:06:39,720 Speaker 1: you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look 95 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: with favor on you and give you peace.