1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:06,519 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 2: You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 3 00:00:09,280 --> 00:00:11,960 Speaker 2: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 4 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 2: their families in the areas they need it most. 5 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:16,439 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. 6 00:00:17,239 --> 00:00:19,920 Speaker 2: Over the last decade, we've helped thousands of moms make 7 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 2: prayer a priority for their families. 8 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 9 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:27,040 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. 10 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 2: It's our first and best response to the challenges of parenting, 11 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 2: a partnership for the hearts of our children. 12 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:35,200 Speaker 1: That God invites us into. 13 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 2: Today's devotion is written and read by Rachel Adams, author 14 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 2: of Everyday Prayers for Love, a part of our Million 15 00:00:41,600 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 2: Praying Moms every Day Prayers devotional series. I recently reread 16 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 2: this devotional and it blessed me tremendously. Rachel provides beautiful 17 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 2: reminders of how God loves us just because we are His, 18 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 2: not because of anything we can do to earn it 19 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 2: or deserve it, and we are invited to love others 20 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 2: from a place of knowing that we are beloved. 21 00:01:04,760 --> 00:01:05,319 Speaker 1: If you don't have. 22 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:07,319 Speaker 2: A copy of this book, you're going to want to 23 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:09,800 Speaker 2: grab one for yourself and maybe even for a friend. 24 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,399 Speaker 2: Every Day Prays for Love is available wherever books are sold. 25 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: This month, I've invited Rachel to share excerpts from her 26 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,240 Speaker 2: book that help us break down the famous love passage 27 00:01:19,240 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 2: one Corinthians thirteen, specifically focusing on verses four through eight 28 00:01:23,480 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: that read, love is patient, Love is kind. It does 29 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 2: not envy, It does not boast. It is not proud. 30 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 2: It does not dishonor others. It is not self seeking. 31 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. 32 00:01:38,480 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. 33 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:48,800 Speaker 2: It always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres. Love 34 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:53,760 Speaker 2: never fails. We've heard this verse at weddings, we've heard 35 00:01:53,760 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: it in the church. But this is one of those 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: passages that is beautiful and easy to read but hard 37 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 2: to put into practice, isn't it. I don't know about you, 38 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:05,600 Speaker 2: but I know that I need more patience and kindness 39 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: in my parenting. 40 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:09,000 Speaker 1: Rachel weaves in scripture. 41 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 2: From throughout the Bible to help us truly understand the 42 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: type of love that Paul is describing here in his 43 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 2: letter to the Corinthians. Our prayer and hope is that 44 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 2: this month. As we pray this together, our understanding of 45 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 2: God's love would grow deeper. To learn more about Rachel, 46 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: or to learn more about how you can get involved 47 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 2: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit Today's show 48 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: Notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. After a quick word from 49 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 2: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 50 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 3: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the 51 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 3: one who humbles himself will be exalted. Luke, Chapter eighteen, 52 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,959 Speaker 3: verse fourteen. Do you need help? An elderly gentleman asked 53 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,239 Speaker 3: as I struggled to grab groceries from my car and 54 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 3: recently started volunteering with Project fifty eighteen, a feeding program 55 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,679 Speaker 3: inspired by a Say fifty eight ten that provides prepacked 56 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,840 Speaker 3: meals for hungry children in my community. The nonprofit began 57 00:03:07,000 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 3: when a bystander witnessed a child eating paper one Friday 58 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 3: afternoon at school, trying to fill her stomach before the weekend. 59 00:03:14,040 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 3: These families humble themselves and graciously accept aid from complete strangers, 60 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 3: something I tend to struggle to do myself. I first 61 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 3: began volunteering with Project fifty eight ten when Will was 62 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 3: a toddler and Kate was a baby. Attempting to deliver 63 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,519 Speaker 3: cases of food with a baby and toddler and tow 64 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 3: proved to be challenging, to say the least. I had 65 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:33,920 Speaker 3: Kate secured to my chest with a cloth wrap and 66 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,440 Speaker 3: held Will's hands so he wouldn't venture into the street. 67 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,160 Speaker 3: With my one free hand, I carried the grocery shipment. 68 00:03:39,720 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 3: So when this stranger approached me and asked if I 69 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 3: needed help, my first reaction was to refuse his offer. 70 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:48,120 Speaker 3: I could carry these heavy loads with two kids attached. 71 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: Insert eye roll. 72 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:51,960 Speaker 3: It might take me twice as long, but I was 73 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,920 Speaker 3: determined to do this job all on my own. But 74 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,160 Speaker 3: when I saw the kindness in the man's eyes, I 75 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 3: laid down my stubborn pride and accept is helping hand. 76 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 3: This man saw a woman in distress and reacted with generosity. 77 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:09,840 Speaker 3: Unloading my bags was a simple gesture at the time. Subsequently, 78 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 3: he began serving regularly in the Project fifty eight ten 79 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,320 Speaker 3: ministry and delivering the bags to schools and children's homes 80 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 3: in the summer. Spending so much time together tending to 81 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:22,279 Speaker 3: the needs of others forged a treasured bond between us 82 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 3: and resulted in the unexpected blessing of another grandfather figure 83 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,240 Speaker 3: whom we now know is Jim, enriching the lives of 84 00:04:29,279 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 3: my family. Often think about what would have happened if 85 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,360 Speaker 3: I'd let my ego win and refused his assistance. Pride 86 00:04:36,560 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 3: tops the list of sins that God hates. Proverbs six 87 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 3: seventeen refers to it as haughty eyes. Pride can mean 88 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 3: a feeling of superiority or exaggerated self esteem. Not only 89 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 3: does the Bible say God opposes the proud, but it 90 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,760 Speaker 3: warns pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall, 91 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 3: the opposite of our ego driven failings. Humility. John the 92 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:06,560 Speaker 3: baptized epitomize a humble spirit. To contextualize his story, we 93 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,600 Speaker 3: must remember that Israel had not seen a prophet for 94 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 3: more than four hundred years. People were eagerly awaiting the messiahs, 95 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 3: so when John began prophesying, many confused him for the 96 00:05:17,560 --> 00:05:21,800 Speaker 3: long awaited savior. He spoke with authority, causing multitudes to 97 00:05:21,880 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 3: respond to his message of repentance. However, even as crowds 98 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 3: were drawn to him, he pointed beyond himself, never forgetting 99 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:32,840 Speaker 3: that his main role was to announce the arrival of Jesus. 100 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 3: Although John was well known, he was content for Jesus 101 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,960 Speaker 3: to take the higher place. When the people questioned who 102 00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 3: he was, John responded that he was not even worthy 103 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,919 Speaker 3: to be Christ's slave to perform the humble task of 104 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 3: unfastening his shoes. Yet Jesus said John was the greatest 105 00:05:50,160 --> 00:05:53,360 Speaker 3: of all the prophets. If an individual, if such renown, 106 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,480 Speaker 3: felt inadequate to even be Christ's slave, how much more 107 00:05:57,560 --> 00:06:01,360 Speaker 3: should we lay aside our prideful nature. Our vanishes when 108 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,719 Speaker 3: we realize who Jesus is. He came as a servant 109 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 3: and taught for all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, 110 00:06:08,520 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 3: and those who humble themselves will be exalted. Our self 111 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 3: importance smelts away when we truly understand the character of Christ. 112 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,960 Speaker 3: May we have the posture of John the Baptist so 113 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 3: that we can love others as he and Jesus exemplified 114 00:06:22,440 --> 00:06:27,919 Speaker 3: through their servanthood. Let's pray Lord, change the posture of 115 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 3: my heart. Reinforce that my purpose is to point people 116 00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 3: to You. Forgive me for behaving pridefully. I know you 117 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:39,039 Speaker 3: oppose the proud and show favor to the humble. Help 118 00:06:39,120 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 3: me to be content to let you take the higher place. 119 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 3: May I accept help willingly and offer aid generously in 120 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:47,640 Speaker 3: Jesus's name. 121 00:06:47,960 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: Amen, friend, we are so glad that you are a 122 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:52,360 Speaker 2: part of our community here on the podcast. 123 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: If you love everyday prayers in the ministry. 124 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 2: Of Million Praying Moms, I invite you to join our 125 00:06:57,520 --> 00:06:59,440 Speaker 2: praying mom community on Patreon. 126 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 1: For just ten dollars a month. 127 00:07:01,440 --> 00:07:04,920 Speaker 2: You can connect deeper through a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar, 128 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:09,359 Speaker 2: each day's devotion in written form and bonus content only 129 00:07:09,400 --> 00:07:12,800 Speaker 2: available to our Patreon family. Learn more in today's show 130 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:17,760 Speaker 2: notes or at Million Prayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 131 00:07:18,240 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 132 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 2: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 133 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:28,040 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.