1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:19,230 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:19,410 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:25,940 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:26,000 --> 00:00:29,540 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:29,700 --> 00:00:33,300 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 6 00:00:33,340 --> 00:00:37,140 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. Friends, 7 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,690 Speaker 1: I'm coming to you today with a quick announcement. In 8 00:00:39,729 --> 00:00:42,570 Speaker 1: my current season of motherhood, and as I am launching 9 00:00:42,610 --> 00:00:45,949 Speaker 1: a book and we approach the holidays, I am going 10 00:00:46,010 --> 00:00:49,410 Speaker 1: to drop down to three podcast episodes a week for 11 00:00:49,430 --> 00:00:52,970 Speaker 1: a little while. I absolutely love getting to share God's 12 00:00:52,990 --> 00:00:55,690 Speaker 1: word with all of you and bring you voices from 13 00:00:55,770 --> 00:00:58,770 Speaker 1: trusted authors and speakers to encourage you in your prayer life. 14 00:00:59,630 --> 00:01:03,240 Speaker 1: Our heart for daily prayer for our families isn't going anywhere. 15 00:01:03,940 --> 00:01:06,740 Speaker 1: I just need a more manageable pace in this season 16 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,460 Speaker 1: with a young baby, and I know this community of 17 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,310 Speaker 1: moms will understand. To continue connecting in daily prayer, I 18 00:01:13,350 --> 00:01:17,429 Speaker 1: encourage you to download our monthly scripture-inspired prayer calendar or 19 00:01:17,730 --> 00:01:20,190 Speaker 1: pick up a copy of one of our Everyday Prayers devotionals. 20 00:01:20,910 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: The podcast will drop Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. These additional 21 00:01:25,140 --> 00:01:28,020 Speaker 1: resources will be great to use other days of the week. 22 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: The founder of Million Praying Moms, my mentor and friend, 23 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:34,860 Speaker 1: Brooke McLaughlin, always told me she wouldn't allow the ministry 24 00:01:34,890 --> 00:01:38,209 Speaker 1: to interfere with her family. I'm taking her advice and 25 00:01:38,270 --> 00:01:40,289 Speaker 1: listening to what I believe the Lord is telling me 26 00:01:40,350 --> 00:01:44,470 Speaker 1: in this season. I'm so glad you are here. Make 27 00:01:44,530 --> 00:01:47,050 Speaker 1: sure you are connected with us on socials. We're at 28 00:01:47,090 --> 00:01:50,350 Speaker 1: Million Praying Moms everywhere. And through our newsletter, you can 29 00:01:50,390 --> 00:01:54,330 Speaker 1: sign up at millionprayingmoms.com. I'm looking forward to praying with 30 00:01:54,380 --> 00:01:58,930 Speaker 1: you for our families on Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Our 31 00:01:58,950 --> 00:02:01,860 Speaker 1: devotion today is written and read by Gianna Joy Guzman, 32 00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,500 Speaker 1: a 16-year-old author. Yes, you heard me right. Of God 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:09,419 Speaker 1: Sees Us, a 40-day devotional for teens by a teen 34 00:02:09,900 --> 00:02:13,889 Speaker 1: on anxiety, bullying, body image, and more. I know this 35 00:02:13,950 --> 00:02:15,770 Speaker 1: is a bit different for us, but after I had 36 00:02:15,790 --> 00:02:19,250 Speaker 1: the opportunity to meet Gianna and her mom, Rebecca, I 37 00:02:19,290 --> 00:02:21,630 Speaker 1: invited her to submit a devotional. I think you will 38 00:02:21,650 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: be blessed by her unique perspective. To learn more about 39 00:02:24,919 --> 00:02:29,820 Speaker 1: Gianna or more about our ministry, visit millionprayingmoms.com. We'll pray 40 00:02:29,860 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: together for our families after a quick word from our sponsors. 41 00:02:38,090 --> 00:02:43,030 Speaker 2: Psalms 127.3 NLT Version Children are a gift from the Lord. 42 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:46,810 Speaker 2: They are a reward from Him. Understanding your teenager can 43 00:02:46,830 --> 00:02:50,010 Speaker 2: be a struggle for parents sometimes. Teens want help with 44 00:02:50,070 --> 00:02:52,269 Speaker 2: what they are struggling with, yet don't know how to 45 00:02:52,330 --> 00:02:55,230 Speaker 2: explain it in words or ask for help. Often, when 46 00:02:55,250 --> 00:02:58,470 Speaker 2: parents have good intentions of helping, they can sometimes make 47 00:02:58,510 --> 00:03:00,730 Speaker 2: it hard for their teenagers to come talk to them 48 00:03:01,070 --> 00:03:04,190 Speaker 2: because of how they come across. Some parents think teens' 49 00:03:04,270 --> 00:03:06,910 Speaker 2: lives are so much easier now than when they grew up. 50 00:03:07,210 --> 00:03:09,270 Speaker 2: They sometimes say, well, when I was a kid, dot 51 00:03:09,310 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 2: dot dot. But here is something I hope you can understand. 52 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,060 Speaker 2: Comparing your life as a child to your teenager doesn't 53 00:03:16,160 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 2: help him or her. want to talk to you, it 54 00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,830 Speaker 2: makes them want to push you away because teenagers already 55 00:03:21,870 --> 00:03:24,630 Speaker 2: compare themselves to everyone. They think, I'm not smart enough, 56 00:03:24,690 --> 00:03:27,710 Speaker 2: I'm not cool enough, I'm not skinny enough. So when 57 00:03:27,910 --> 00:03:31,169 Speaker 2: you say life isn't hard, it makes teenagers think they 58 00:03:31,210 --> 00:03:34,489 Speaker 2: are the problem or that their feelings are invalid when 59 00:03:34,530 --> 00:03:37,130 Speaker 2: they aren't. So parents, if you want to connect with 60 00:03:37,150 --> 00:03:39,670 Speaker 2: your teens and make sure you have a good relationship 61 00:03:39,690 --> 00:03:43,070 Speaker 2: with them, please don't make everything about yourself. So often 62 00:03:43,130 --> 00:03:45,630 Speaker 2: people want to relate to their kids, but then they 63 00:03:45,650 --> 00:03:48,970 Speaker 2: tell a story about themselves and And that focus shifts 64 00:03:49,070 --> 00:03:52,290 Speaker 2: from your teen to yourself. You are the parent. Your 65 00:03:52,340 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 2: children are blessings. When you want to talk to them 66 00:03:55,020 --> 00:03:59,660 Speaker 2: about their life, just listen. Listen well. Don't compare. Don't 67 00:03:59,740 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: try to relate unless they ask. You as the parent 68 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:06,690 Speaker 2: can listen and help, but please don't come across as judgmental. 69 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:09,350 Speaker 2: Even when parents say, I'm not judging you, it can 70 00:04:09,470 --> 00:04:12,670 Speaker 2: feel like they are. Sometimes your teen will go through 71 00:04:12,710 --> 00:04:15,990 Speaker 2: something and perhaps isolate themselves. Give it time. And I 72 00:04:16,029 --> 00:04:18,940 Speaker 2: don't mean two minutes. When your teenager is ready, they 73 00:04:18,980 --> 00:04:21,380 Speaker 2: will talk to you. Respecting your teenager is a way 74 00:04:21,420 --> 00:04:24,230 Speaker 2: of getting close to them. When teens struggle, we need 75 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:26,750 Speaker 2: our parents, but it's hard to become vulnerable instead of 76 00:04:26,830 --> 00:04:29,430 Speaker 2: hiding it. You don't know what your teenager might be 77 00:04:29,470 --> 00:04:32,650 Speaker 2: going through. You might have hurt them, and they are 78 00:04:32,730 --> 00:04:35,729 Speaker 2: healing in their own way, so they are avoiding you 79 00:04:35,810 --> 00:04:39,250 Speaker 2: because they feel broken. They are not holding grudges, but healing. 80 00:04:39,570 --> 00:04:43,930 Speaker 2: When kids go through their hard things, they understand life 81 00:04:44,010 --> 00:04:48,140 Speaker 2: more than you think they may. They aren't just little kids. 82 00:04:48,300 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: They are young adults. Give them the opportunity to grow 83 00:04:51,220 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 2: and thrive in hardship. Don't hold them back because you 84 00:04:54,260 --> 00:04:56,940 Speaker 2: missed the control of when they were young. Have an 85 00:04:57,000 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: open mind. Understand where they are coming from and let 86 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: them make mistakes. And they will come to you out 87 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,339 Speaker 2: of love and not fear. Let's pray. Dear Heavenly Father, 88 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,180 Speaker 2: I come to you to ask for patience and understanding 89 00:05:08,220 --> 00:05:10,520 Speaker 2: for my teenager. Give me the wisdom to know what 90 00:05:10,560 --> 00:05:12,860 Speaker 2: to say and when to listen. Let my child be 91 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:15,040 Speaker 2: healed from the past hurt or things I may have done. 92 00:05:15,450 --> 00:05:18,210 Speaker 2: Let my teenager grow in the light of you and 93 00:05:18,230 --> 00:05:21,230 Speaker 2: have faith in their troubles. Let me be able to 94 00:05:21,290 --> 00:05:24,790 Speaker 2: help and know where their boundary is. Give me guidance 95 00:05:24,890 --> 00:05:26,970 Speaker 2: on how to be there for them and love them, 96 00:05:27,510 --> 00:05:30,469 Speaker 2: even when they push me away. In Jesus' name, amen. 97 00:05:31,620 --> 00:05:33,620 Speaker 1: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 98 00:05:33,710 --> 00:05:37,920 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 99 00:05:38,140 --> 00:05:42,620 Speaker 1: your children. My newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying 100 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:45,980 Speaker 1: God's word from your children from newborn to emptiness is 101 00:05:46,140 --> 00:05:50,180 Speaker 1: a great resource for moms who desire to pray for 102 00:05:50,220 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: their kids. I don't know if you've ever looked up 103 00:05:52,380 --> 00:05:54,260 Speaker 1: at the end of the day and realized that you 104 00:05:54,290 --> 00:05:58,589 Speaker 1: didn't pray at all. So often we have this desire 105 00:05:58,650 --> 00:06:01,870 Speaker 1: to pray. But we may not know how to put 106 00:06:01,970 --> 00:06:06,250 Speaker 1: that desire into practice. I'm learning in motherhood that my 107 00:06:06,330 --> 00:06:09,350 Speaker 1: prayers adapt and change based on the season that we're 108 00:06:09,470 --> 00:06:12,290 Speaker 1: in as a family. I'm also learning to give myself 109 00:06:12,470 --> 00:06:17,420 Speaker 1: grace in those different seasons. I know God isn't after perfect, 110 00:06:17,500 --> 00:06:22,020 Speaker 1: polished prayers. He's after my heart. And He's after yours, too. 111 00:06:22,720 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 1: So my plan is to be intentional, whatever that looks like, 112 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,960 Speaker 1: in this season. I hope that is your plan. as well. 113 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: God sees our hearts. He's honored by our desire to 114 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:38,230 Speaker 1: connect with Him. If you're feeling stuck in your prayer life, 115 00:06:38,550 --> 00:06:43,970 Speaker 1: I've got a new free download, a five-day prayer reset. 116 00:06:44,370 --> 00:06:48,910 Speaker 1: It's a great guide to help you get started, jump 117 00:06:48,970 --> 00:06:52,690 Speaker 1: back in, stay consistent, grow deeper in your prayers for 118 00:06:52,730 --> 00:06:55,789 Speaker 1: your kids. It's also a great tool to share with 119 00:06:56,160 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 1: with your friends or with your family members that may 120 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:03,690 Speaker 1: be seeking to know God deeper in prayer as they're 121 00:07:03,870 --> 00:07:06,250 Speaker 1: wanting to pray for their kids. I hope you will 122 00:07:06,270 --> 00:07:10,750 Speaker 1: grab your copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. We'll also put a 123 00:07:10,810 --> 00:07:15,570 Speaker 1: link in our show notes. Until next time, friends, may 124 00:07:15,590 --> 00:07:18,970 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face 125 00:07:19,010 --> 00:07:22,320 Speaker 1: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 126 00:07:22,380 --> 00:07:26,290 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor upon you and give you His peace.