1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms helping 3 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:21,400 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,480 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 2: you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,240 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,480 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 2: Today's devotion is written and read by Bunny Pound's, author 9 00:00:38,400 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 2: of Stepping Up to Lead in the Visionary Behind America 10 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 2: reads the Bible Today. Bunny shares about leadership from the 11 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 2: Book of Nehemiah, and she shares encouragement about how the 12 00:00:49,280 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 2: Lord can use our current situations for our future good. 13 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: To find out more about Bunny or to learn more 14 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,480 Speaker 2: about the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit Million Praying 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 2: Moms dot com. You'll find a link in our show notes. 16 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 2: After a quick word from our sponsors, will pray together 17 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 2: for our families. 18 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:15,760 Speaker 1: A prayer for favor to lead by Bunny Pounds. And 19 00:01:15,800 --> 00:01:18,160 Speaker 1: I said to the King, if it pleases the King, 20 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: and if your servant has found favor in your sight, 21 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,960 Speaker 1: that you would send me to Judah to the city 22 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 1: of my father's sepulchers, that I may build it Niemiah 23 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 1: two five. Niamiah was a highly effective and favored leader 24 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: who had been prepared, just like Queen Esther for such 25 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:44,080 Speaker 1: a time as this Esther four fourteen. Through his prayer life, 26 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: this man of God already knew how to listen and 27 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: respond to the Lord's direction for his life. When he 28 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: heard the news that the walls of Jerusalem were broken 29 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 1: down and that the people of God there were suffering, 30 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: he felt and reacted to that burden from the Lord quickly. 31 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 1: He immediately went into three days of prayer and fasting 32 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: Niemiah one, and at the end of that period responded 33 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 1: to the call of God on his life with a 34 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,119 Speaker 1: big yes in his heart. He felt the burden, went 35 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,480 Speaker 1: to prayer and fasting, heard the call of God, then 36 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,880 Speaker 1: stepped out in obedience and faith. Then, in a divine moment, 37 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: the favor of God fell on Nehemiah in a moment 38 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: he least expected it. This favor to lead enabled him 39 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: to fulfill everything that God was putting on his heart 40 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 1: to accomplish. The King not only gave him time off 41 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: work to go back to Jerusalem, but gave him everything 42 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 1: else that he asked for, supplies, resources, a security team, 43 00:02:43,600 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 1: and even papers to go through the neighboring nations in peace. 44 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,360 Speaker 1: Before his official story of leadership begins, Niamiah was already 45 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: being developed for the role that God would give him 46 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 1: in the future. Neamiah had served in the courts of 47 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 1: King Exerxes for years. He was a simple cupbearer, making 48 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,480 Speaker 1: sure the king was safe by tasting his wine before 49 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,560 Speaker 1: he gave it to him. Neamiah may have been in 50 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 1: charge of organizing the king's schedule, ensuring he stopped the 51 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 1: work of the court to eat and drink, and served 52 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: him however else he could. We don't know the exact 53 00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,440 Speaker 1: nature of Neamiah's job, but we know it was a 54 00:03:25,480 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: critical one, not to be underestimated in its importance. As moms, 55 00:03:31,560 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: the most important job we will ever have is to 56 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: raise up our children to love God and love our 57 00:03:36,520 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: neighbors well. Though Namiah looked like he had a simple 58 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: job of service, God was investing in his leadership and 59 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: giving him wisdom for his next season, even in the 60 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 1: mundane tasks. So often, as moms taking care of kids 61 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:54,080 Speaker 1: in many days just trying to survive, we might not 62 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 1: feel like we have much to give to the world. 63 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: But God is working and moving in our lives in 64 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,080 Speaker 1: ways we might not identify. In the moment, as we 65 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 1: are faithful to serve our families, as Neemiah simply served 66 00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 1: the King, God is preparing us for all he has 67 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: for us. In a quick moment, God called Neemiah and 68 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:18,960 Speaker 1: shifted his whole life. This simple cupbearer heard the walls 69 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 1: of Jerusalem were broken down. He felt a burden come 70 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: on him and responded, running to the place of prayer 71 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: and fasting. Then God brought great favor and blessings upon 72 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: this man who was willing to step out and be obedient. 73 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: The Lord took him out of a place of obscurity 74 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: into massive favored leadership to bless the Israelites. There he 75 00:04:41,640 --> 00:04:44,960 Speaker 1: thrived and helped the people of God rebuild their walls 76 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: of defenses in only fifty two days. In the same 77 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 1: way that God used Nehemiah, he can use you and 78 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: I to impact our nation wherever we are. We have 79 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:58,200 Speaker 1: to just simply respond to His voice and move out 80 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 1: in his favor. Pray Jesus, thank you for taking every 81 00:05:04,480 --> 00:05:07,240 Speaker 1: part of my life in my current season to prepare 82 00:05:07,279 --> 00:05:09,840 Speaker 1: me for all that you have for me now and 83 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 1: into the future. Help me to be content and to 84 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 1: learn so I can follow you to help others in 85 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 1: the days ahead. I want to be a favored leader 86 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,680 Speaker 1: like Nehemiah that blesses my children and the people around me, 87 00:05:21,760 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 1: at my church, in my community, in across our nation. 88 00:05:25,760 --> 00:05:28,000 Speaker 1: In Jesus's name, Amen. 89 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 2: I hope you are following along with us in our 90 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 2: summer book club featuring the book When Mothering Is Hard 91 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 2: and No One Sees by Scheline Roberts. If you have 92 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 2: not joined us yet, it's not too late to jump in. 93 00:05:40,800 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 2: Head to the homepage of our website to find out more. 94 00:05:43,960 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 2: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 95 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:51,240 Speaker 2: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 96 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 97 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:55,760 Speaker 2: you his peace.