1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: word for their families in the areas they need it most. 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolatte Bell. Over the last decade, we've 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: helped thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: devotion is written by Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: for Love, a part of our Million Praying Moms every 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 1: Day Prayers devotional series. This month, with Rachel as our guide, 13 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: we are walking through some excerpts from this book as 14 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: we focus on what it means to truly love God, 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: love others, and even ourselves. Our prayer and hope is 16 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: that this month our understanding of God's love would grow 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: deeper as we pray together. To learn more about Rachel, 18 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: or to learn more about how you can get involved 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:14,840 Speaker 1: notes or million Prayingmoms dot Com. After a brief word 21 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 22 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: As high as the heavens are above the earth, So 23 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 2: great is his love for those who fear him. As 24 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 2: far as the east is from the west, So far 25 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:32,520 Speaker 2: has he removed our transgressions from us Psalm Chapter one three, 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 2: verse eleven and twelve. I surveyed the Lamplet room of 27 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 2: middle and high school age girls, deep in thought. The 28 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:42,839 Speaker 2: glow made them look so beautiful, but I could see 29 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: the hurt in their eyes even with the dim lighting. 30 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,960 Speaker 2: During this night of agape for preteen and teen girls, 31 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 2: we'd laughed after I showed pictures of myself at their age, 32 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 2: especially the photographs with my barrel rolled bangs and rollerblades. 33 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 2: But the night took a more serious turn when I 34 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 2: shared my cuestom and some of my core beliefs I 35 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:05,360 Speaker 2: had about myself as a young woman. Those beliefs greatly 36 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 2: affected choices I made and the consequences that stemmed from 37 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: those decisions. After delivering my story, I allowed the young ladies' 38 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: time for introspection. They were each given a blank canvas 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: and tasked withdrawing the outline of a cross inside the frame. 40 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: I instructed them to know anything they metaphorically wanted to 41 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: lay down on the cross. I offered them space to 42 00:02:27,440 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 2: write out any dismal thoughts that came to their minds 43 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:34,120 Speaker 2: about themselves, decisions they regretted, mistakes they've made since they'd committed, 44 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 2: or feelings of inadequacy or worthlessness because of what others 45 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 2: had said or done to them. I was amazed at 46 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:43,519 Speaker 2: how full the crosses were on each of the five 47 00:02:43,639 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 2: x seven inch canvasses that were blanked just five minutes prior. 48 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 2: Girls wrote steadily and without hesitation, pouring their feelings out 49 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: to the Lord. As I walked around the room, glancing 50 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:58,640 Speaker 2: at their souls inscribed on the coarse cloth, my heart 51 00:02:58,680 --> 00:03:01,960 Speaker 2: grieved as I noticed ripti and similarity in their pain 52 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 2: and shame. But then, with even more vitality, my heart 53 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 2: left with hope as I realized God already knew everything 54 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:12,640 Speaker 2: those girls had written. There were no surprises here. God 55 00:03:12,720 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 2: still loved them despite it all. To complete the activity, 56 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 2: I gave each young woman a red marker. I asked 57 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,760 Speaker 2: them to cross out everything that they had previously listed 58 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: on the canvass, symbolizing God's a gota love, vanquishing the 59 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: darkness of their past they had just laid down. There 60 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 2: was something therapeutic about the exercise, seeing each transgression canceled 61 00:03:33,960 --> 00:03:36,520 Speaker 2: with every red swipe, until all they could see was 62 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 2: Christ's blood, erasing years of heartache. The teenage girls at 63 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 2: this special event learned God does not keep a log 64 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:50,880 Speaker 2: of our trespasses. Isn't this unfathomable? When God forgives our sin, 65 00:03:51,040 --> 00:03:54,000 Speaker 2: he separates the offense from us and doesn't even remember it. 66 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: While we may have difficulty forgetting, the Lord absolves our 67 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:03,640 Speaker 2: feelings as we confess and repent, And once we receive 68 00:04:03,800 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: his merciful gift, we must pass it on to others. 69 00:04:07,000 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 2: For we are told bear with each other and forgive 70 00:04:09,960 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: one another. If any of you has a grievance against someone, 71 00:04:13,760 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: forgive as the Lord forgave you. Remembering how much God 72 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 2: has forgiven you is the key to extending the same 73 00:04:21,000 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 2: grace to those who may have done you wrong. What 74 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:27,159 Speaker 2: would happen if we too, remove the transgressions of others 75 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: as far as the east is from the west. Instead 76 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: of wallowing an offence and dredging at the past, What 77 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: if we wiped everyone's slates clean? Are you keeping score? Today? 78 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:40,960 Speaker 2: I pray we no longer keep a record of wrongs 79 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,560 Speaker 2: and instead choose to forgive, forget, and reconcile with others, 80 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: as far as it is up to us. This concept 81 00:04:47,640 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 2: applies to our own account of sin, holding on to 82 00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 2: a ledger of our misconduct as well. If I were 83 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: with you right now, I'd hand you a canvass and 84 00:04:57,440 --> 00:05:00,920 Speaker 2: a red marker. And while it's true, our vises would 85 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:05,000 Speaker 2: likely be overflowing with failures, through true repentance, the blood 86 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: of Jesus Christ erases our past, present and future offenses. 87 00:05:09,800 --> 00:05:13,160 Speaker 2: Allow this truth to wash over your heart today. No 88 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: matter what you've done or what's been done to you, 89 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 2: Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as 90 00:05:18,960 --> 00:05:23,279 Speaker 2: white as snow. Sweet friend, God views you as an 91 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: untarnished blank canvas. Let's no longer keep an inventory of 92 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: all of our mistakes. If we keep an account, may 93 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 2: it only be of His great love that has wiped 94 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 2: it all clean. Let's pray, Lord, thank you for pardoning 95 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 2: me for my sins and erasing their very existence. Please 96 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:46,720 Speaker 2: help me to accept your mercy, absolve myself, and release 97 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: those in my life who have hurt me, produce in 98 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: me a generous attitude of grace toward others the way 99 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: you've extended it to me. Show me if there is 100 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 2: someone in my life whom I may have hurt, and 101 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,040 Speaker 2: give me the strength to humbly ask them for their forgiveness. 102 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,839 Speaker 2: Help us all to see our lives as a blank canvas, 103 00:06:06,880 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: like you do. In Jesus's name. Amen, are you a 104 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: visual learner? Would you like to receive our daily devotions 105 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,040 Speaker 2: and written form Write to your inbox then join our 106 00:06:18,080 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 2: Patreon community of Praying Moms. Not only will you receive 107 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 2: the transcripts of each podcast devotional, you will also receive 108 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:28,960 Speaker 2: a monthly prayer calendar and surprise bonus content. Learn more 109 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 2: about our Praying mom community in today's show notes or 110 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:37,039 Speaker 2: at million prayingmoms dot com. Till next time, friends, the 111 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face shine 112 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 2: upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord 113 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 2: look with favor on you and give you peace.