1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: their families in the areas they need at most. I'm 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: your host, Nicolette Belle. Over the last decade, we've helped 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,599 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: devotion is written by Stacy Thacker, author of ten books, 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: including our brand new book, Every Day Prayers for Christmas. 12 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: To learn more about Stacy, or to learn more about 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: how you can get involved in the ministry of Million 14 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, visit Today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,320 Speaker 1: After a word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our. 16 00:01:01,280 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 2: Children walking in the light. But if we walk in 17 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: the light as He is in the light, we have 18 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 2: fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus's Son 19 00:01:13,360 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 2: cleanses us from all sin. First John one seven, my 20 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 2: daughter who was about five years old at the time, 21 00:01:19,040 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 2: must have been chattering to me for several minutes. I 22 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 2: was a bit distracted, but I could have sworn I 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 2: heard her say Borneo and something about chickens. Mommy, she exclaimed, 24 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: louder than before. I want to give my birthday present 25 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: for Jesus to Borneo. What did my five year old 26 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,360 Speaker 2: just say Borneo? Okay, honey, let's see what we can do, 27 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 2: I said, Well, googling where in the world Borneo was located. 28 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 2: It's a large island in the Southeast Asia that's part 29 00:01:44,200 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 2: of Malaysia and Indonesia. Okay, sweetie, I told her, Mommy 30 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 2: has a friend who's a missionary in Indonesia, and I 31 00:01:50,800 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 2: will send her an email and ask her how close 32 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,840 Speaker 2: she lives to Borneo. Maybe she can help us out. 33 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: Let me explain what initiated this conversation that happens every 34 00:02:00,440 --> 00:02:04,360 Speaker 2: Christmas at our house during our seasonal advent celebration. We 35 00:02:04,440 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: give our girls small gifts each week, but on Christmas Eve, 36 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,919 Speaker 2: instead of giving them a gift, they choose a gift 37 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 2: to give to Jesus, just like the wise men who 38 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 2: brought gifts for the newborn King, and over the years 39 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: our family has given money to build wells in Africa, 40 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,519 Speaker 2: support homes for expectant mothers and other countries, helped for 41 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:27,360 Speaker 2: family going through a hard time, and supported local ministries 42 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,639 Speaker 2: that partner with our church. But this year, out of nowhere, 43 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,359 Speaker 2: my daughter wanted to give chickens to someone living in Borneo, Indonesia. 44 00:02:35,040 --> 00:02:38,079 Speaker 2: As it turns out, my friend actually lived in Borneo. 45 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 2: My five year old was not surprised. She knew God 46 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,280 Speaker 2: was in it. Through a discussion via email, I explained 47 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: our tradition of giving our girls thirty dollars on Christmas 48 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 2: Eve to buy a gift for Jesus. I told her 49 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 2: my five year old wanted to give her birthday gift 50 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 2: for Jesus to Borneo. She replied with a couple of 51 00:02:56,120 --> 00:03:00,000 Speaker 2: choices for my girl and she chose, you guessed it, chickens. 52 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: My friend told me that the local woman receiving the 53 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 2: chickens recently had her chicken stolen. Not only would this 54 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:09,040 Speaker 2: help her, but it would also grow her business bigger 55 00:03:09,080 --> 00:03:13,360 Speaker 2: than before. Something to think about. Did you know that 56 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:17,120 Speaker 2: walking in the light has a beautiful byproduct? First John 57 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: one seven says when we walk in the light, we 58 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 2: have fellowship with others who are also walking in the light. 59 00:03:23,000 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 2: The word for fellowship here is a Greek word and 60 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:32,079 Speaker 2: it means fellowship, commission, participation, and sharing. Basically, it means 61 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:36,040 Speaker 2: we share our lives with others. What makes this possible 62 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:38,839 Speaker 2: is that first we share our lives with Jesus, who 63 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: is the perfect embodiment of light. And as we walk 64 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,360 Speaker 2: with him, we act like him and we're transformed. We 65 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 2: become like him, we think like him, we give generously 66 00:03:49,160 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: like him. It doesn't mean we're perfect. It means that 67 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: as we walk with Jesus and participate in community with 68 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,640 Speaker 2: other believers, we can trust the blood of Jesus to 69 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: wash us clean and to keep us well connected to others. 70 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:05,840 Speaker 2: I've heard people say I love Jesus, but his people 71 00:04:05,840 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 2: are another story. I get it. Church people can be difficult. 72 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 2: We're all sinners saved by grace, and sometimes we put 73 00:04:12,680 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: that grace to the dust. And even though I understand 74 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 2: the bad rep that church sometimes get, maybe we could 75 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,720 Speaker 2: recognize when we get it right and which happens more 76 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,000 Speaker 2: than we realize. I think it happens when we notice 77 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 2: a single mom at church who needs money for her groceries. 78 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,840 Speaker 2: It happens when we stop and pray with someone who 79 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: we know is hurting. It also happens when we celebrate 80 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,440 Speaker 2: a new believer's baptism or serve in a preschool classroom. 81 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:43,159 Speaker 2: And yes, it happens when a five year old gives 82 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 2: Jesus a birthday present that results in a woman in 83 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,799 Speaker 2: Borneo restarting her chicken business. Walking in the light brings 84 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:55,800 Speaker 2: us into life giving beautiful community with others who are 85 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: also walking in the light, and it's a blessing. Let's 86 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: enco courage each other with these truths. Let's pray, Father, 87 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 2: thank you that I can walk with you in the light. 88 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 2: Please help me make progress and look like you every day. 89 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 2: Thank you for other believers who walk in the light 90 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 2: with me and let me share my life with them 91 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,520 Speaker 2: in a way that blesses them and honors you in 92 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: Jesus name. Amen. 93 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: I hope you're enjoying reading along with us this month 94 00:05:25,040 --> 00:05:28,159 Speaker 1: in our new book, every Day Prayers for Christmas. Grab 95 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 1: your copy in a few for gifts wherever books are sold. 96 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: If you love the Everyday Prayers podcast, consider joining our 97 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:38,039 Speaker 1: community with a ten dollar monthly donation through Patreon. When 98 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,479 Speaker 1: you join, you automatically receive a new downloadable scripture inspired 99 00:05:42,520 --> 00:05:46,360 Speaker 1: prayer calendar every month, plus the devotions and prayers from 100 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: this month in written form, along with an invitation to 101 00:05:49,760 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 1: our monthly live mom chat. Learn more in today's show 102 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: notes or at Million Prayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 103 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face 104 00:06:04,160 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 105 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,839 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.