1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: word for their families in the areas they need it most. 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: helped thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by Rachel Adams, author of 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers for Love, a part of our Million Praying 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: Moms Everyday Prayers devotional series. I recently reread this devotional 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: and it blessed me tremendously. Rachel provides beautiful reminders of 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: how God loves us just because we are His, not 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: because of anything we can do to earn it or 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: deserve it, and we are invited to love others from 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: a place of knowing that we are beloved. If you 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: don't have a copy of this book, you're going to 19 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: want to grab one for yourself and maybe even for 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: a friend. Every Day Prays for Love is available wherever 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: books are sold. This month, I've invited Rachel to share 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: excerpts from her book that help us break down the 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: famous love passage one Corinthians thirteen, specifically focusing on verses 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: four through eight that read, love is patient, Love is kind. 25 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: It does not envy, It does not boast. It is 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: self seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no 28 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 1: record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: always perseveres. Love never fails. We've heard this verse at weddings, 31 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: we've heard it in the church. But this is one 32 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: of those passages that is beautiful and easy to read 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: but hard to put into practice, isn't it. I don't 34 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: know about you, but I know that I need more 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: patience and kindness in my parenting. Rachel weaves in scripture 36 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: from throughout the Bible to help us truly understand the 37 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: type of love that Paul is describing here in his 38 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: letter to the Corinthians. Our prayer and hope is that 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: this month. As we pray this together, our understanding of 40 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: God's love would grow deeper. To learn more about Rachel, 41 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: or to learn more about how you can get involved 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a quick word from 44 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 45 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 2: Love each other deeply because love covers over a multitude 46 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 2: of sins. Firse Peter, Chapter four, verse eight. When my 47 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: daughter Kate was in preschool, she gave my husband Brian 48 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: a Father's Day gift we still treasure. The heart shaped 49 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:55,680 Speaker 2: paper cutout prompted her to fill in the blanks about 50 00:02:55,680 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 2: what she loved about her father. In one of these blanks, 51 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 2: she wrote that her dad protected her. Even at such 52 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: a young age, Kate recognized she felt safe with her father. 53 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 2: I'm so thankful that my daughter feels this way about 54 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 2: her father. Don't we all long for this kind of 55 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 2: safe place, a space where we feel loved for who 56 00:03:14,200 --> 00:03:17,079 Speaker 2: we are, A place where we don't have to pretend, 57 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: where we can relax and be transparent. To be entirely 58 00:03:20,919 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 2: known and still be fully loved is one of our 59 00:03:23,440 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 2: ultimate desires, right Maybe you have been fortunate enough to 60 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 2: have this experience with your family or friends. Perhaps you haven't. 61 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: You may feel the exact opposite. Whatever your reality, I 62 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 2: hope you take comfort in knowing you have a heavenly 63 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 2: Father with whom you can feel safe, whose love protects you. 64 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 2: As we continue our journey through First Corinthians thirteen four 65 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 2: through eight, we read that God's love always protects in 66 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: the NIV translation of verse seven, but some other Bible 67 00:03:55,320 --> 00:04:00,160 Speaker 2: translations say love bears all things. Upon first reading, the 68 00:04:00,200 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 2: concept of love bearing all things seems to communicate the 69 00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 2: need for patient endurance. However, in the original Greek language, 70 00:04:07,880 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 2: the word translated to bear means to cover closely, to 71 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,839 Speaker 2: bear up under. Ever since Genesis in the Garden of Eden, 72 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 2: God's love has always covered us. When Adam and Eve's sinned, 73 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,960 Speaker 2: they hid and made coverings out of fig leaves to 74 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 2: conceal their nakedness. But God, in his loving kindness, didn't 75 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,359 Speaker 2: want them to feel ashamed. Instead, he clothed them with 76 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 2: garments of skin. Some Biblical scholars believe these garments must 77 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,679 Speaker 2: have originated from a sacrificed animal, the shedding of blood 78 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 2: to atone for their sin. From the very beginning, we 79 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 2: all hide in shame and attempt to disguise our sins. Thankfully, 80 00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:52,119 Speaker 2: God redeems our disgrace and envelops us with his love. 81 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: Even more unfathomably, Jesus endured our humiliation on the cross. 82 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: He was the offering instead of an ana animalst sacrifice 83 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 2: mentioned in the Old Testament. He was pierced for our 84 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 2: transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. To absolve all our sins, 85 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 2: Jesus bore our due penalty so that we would have 86 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 2: the freedom to live for righteousness. When Jesus died in 87 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: our place, we were spared the punishment we deserved. This 88 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 2: is called substitutionary atonement. The original Hebrew word for atonement 89 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:31,400 Speaker 2: also means to cover over. Jesus could have protected himself 90 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: from the pain on the cross, yet he chose to 91 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:37,159 Speaker 2: suffer for our sakes so that we would be acceptable 92 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: to God. What can we say to such love? Better? Yet, 93 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: what will we do with such love? One of Jesus's 94 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:50,640 Speaker 2: twelve disciples gives us a good place to start. Peter says, 95 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 2: above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over 96 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: a multitude of sins. This doesn't mean we brush our 97 00:05:59,640 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 2: feelings under the rug will allow sin to remain unaddressed. 98 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:08,280 Speaker 2: We should acknowledge trespasses, then extend forgiveness to ourselves and 99 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:13,160 Speaker 2: others that God has mercifully bestowed upon us. His love 100 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:17,400 Speaker 2: covers a multitude of sins, not ours. It is his 101 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:22,440 Speaker 2: grace that is tangibly expressed through us. Our hatred only 102 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:27,160 Speaker 2: stirs up a dissension, but God's love covers over all wrongs. 103 00:06:27,800 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 2: None of us are without failures, but we are blanketed 104 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 2: by His love. This gives us security, both now and 105 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: for eternity. I don't know how you would fill in 106 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: the blank of your heart shaped paper cutout if you 107 00:06:41,080 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 2: were to notate the treasured qualities of your earthly father, 108 00:06:45,680 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 2: but I do know how we can all fell in 109 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 2: the blank about our heavenly Father. His love will always 110 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 2: protect us. You can take refuge in the shelter of 111 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 2: his wings, for the Lord is your strength and shield. 112 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:01,599 Speaker 2: His love is always available to guard you and make 113 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:06,960 Speaker 2: you feel secure. Let's pray, Father. I am grateful for 114 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: how you protect me physically many times without me realizing it. 115 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:14,160 Speaker 2: Thank you Jesus for covering mussin and shame with your 116 00:07:14,200 --> 00:07:17,560 Speaker 2: blood on the cross. Mad never take for granted your 117 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: atoning sacrifice on my behalf. Maintain a hedge of protection 118 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,600 Speaker 2: around me in those I love, Keep us safe, Help 119 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 2: me to lead others into the safety of your arms 120 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:32,000 Speaker 2: to be covered by your love in Jesus's name. 121 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 1: Amen, friend, we are so glad that you are a 122 00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: part of our community here on the podcast. If you 123 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:40,520 Speaker 1: love everyday prayers in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 124 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: I invite you to join our Praying mom community on Patreon. 125 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: For just ten dollars a month. You can connect deeper 126 00:07:47,080 --> 00:07:50,920 Speaker 1: through a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar. Each day's devotion 127 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: and written form and bonus content only available to our 128 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: Patreon family. Learn more in today's show notes or at 129 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: Million Praying Moms. Until next time, friends, the Lord bless 130 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 1: you and keep you. Make His face shine upon you 131 00:08:07,560 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: and be gracious to you. May the Lord look with 132 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:12,680 Speaker 1: favor on you and give you peace.