1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,640 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:09,760 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: their families in the areas they need it most. I'm 4 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: your host, Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've helped 5 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,680 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:30,240 --> 00:00:33,839 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting. A partnership for the 9 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:38,159 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by Shaleene Roberts, author of 11 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:46,200 Speaker 1: When Mothering Is Hard and No One Sees, releasing later 12 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:50,279 Speaker 1: this spring. You can pre order your copy today. To 13 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,199 Speaker 1: learn more about Seleen, or to learn more about how 14 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 1: you can get involved in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 15 00:00:56,120 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: visit today's show Notes or Million Praying Moms Dot. After 16 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:05,120 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children, 17 00:01:09,120 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: A prayer. 18 00:01:09,640 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 2: For when things feel hard. John sixteen thirty three. I 19 00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: have told you these things so that in me you 20 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, 21 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,600 Speaker 2: but take her. I have overcome the world. I remember 22 00:01:21,640 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: a night several years ago when I was deep in 23 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:27,040 Speaker 2: the throes of life with littles. It was around eight pm, 24 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,320 Speaker 2: and there I was wrestling a two year old into 25 00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 2: pajamas and periodically breaking into a chase when she slipped 26 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 2: out of my grasp and went riding around the living room. 27 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 2: My son was tearfully venting some frustration, and my four 28 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 2: year old wasn't feeling well. Later, as I rested beside 29 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: the two year old, listening to the rhythmic cadence of 30 00:01:43,600 --> 00:01:47,200 Speaker 2: her breathing, I was consumed with guilt. I had spoken 31 00:01:47,240 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 2: in harsh tones, the day had ended on a sour note, 32 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,120 Speaker 2: and I was emotionally and physically trained. Maybe you've had 33 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 2: moments like mine. Maybe you've had days that leave you 34 00:01:56,760 --> 00:01:58,960 Speaker 2: wanting to throw on the towel, or nights that leave 35 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: you considering writing resignation letter. Motherhood is beautiful, but it's 36 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: also really hard. It should come as no surprise. Really, 37 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 2: we sinful humans bring sinful children into a sinful world, 38 00:02:09,760 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 2: and it's a recipe ripe for refining, stretching, molding, and shaping. 39 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:16,400 Speaker 2: We can't escape the hardships. The question then, is how 40 00:02:16,400 --> 00:02:18,760 Speaker 2: do we overcome them with grace? How do we love 41 00:02:18,800 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 2: and lead our children in a way that reflects forgiveness, 42 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:25,520 Speaker 2: mercy and compassion. In John sixteen thirty three, Jesus tells 43 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:28,200 Speaker 2: his disciples, I have told you these things so that 44 00:02:28,240 --> 00:02:30,640 Speaker 2: in me you may have peace. In this world, you 45 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 2: will have trouble, But take heart, I have overcome the world. 46 00:02:34,560 --> 00:02:37,000 Speaker 2: You and I aren't guaranteed a trouble free life or 47 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 2: stress free motherhood. On the contrary, Christ tells us to 48 00:02:40,680 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 2: expect trouble, But in the same breath he also tells 49 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: us we have his promise that He has overcome, and 50 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 2: that's the promise to which we must clean. You and 51 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: I can't love and lead with grace out of our 52 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,960 Speaker 2: own sheer will. We can't teach repentance and model forgiveness 53 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,440 Speaker 2: out of our own ability, and we certainly can't redeem 54 00:02:57,480 --> 00:02:59,640 Speaker 2: the hard times and point our kids to Christ with 55 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:03,120 Speaker 2: our own good intentions. We can only overcome hardship with 56 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: grace when we trust in the overcomer and invite him 57 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:09,239 Speaker 2: to work through us. So when the days stretch long 58 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: and the night's longer, still, remember that Christ has promised 59 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 2: to carry you through. He is your light upon the path, 60 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,320 Speaker 2: your guidepost through the journey, your shelter from the storm, 61 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:20,840 Speaker 2: and you and I can do the hard, stretched, then 62 00:03:21,000 --> 00:03:26,200 Speaker 2: sanctifying work because He has already overcome it. Let's pray, 63 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 2: Dear Lord. Some days can feel overwhelmingly difficult, whether it's 64 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,880 Speaker 2: relationship conflict, financial stress, health concerns, or a plethora of 65 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: other worries that can consume us. This life can feel 66 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: really heavy at times when we're in the middle of 67 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 2: a hardship. Help us to remember to take heart because 68 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:45,000 Speaker 2: you have overcome the world. 69 00:03:45,640 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: Friends, we have completely revamped our Patreon tears Now. With 70 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 1: a ten dollars monthly donation, you automatically receive our favorite 71 00:03:54,240 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: monthly downloadable prayer calendar of curated scripture inspired prayers that 72 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 1: complement the devotions and prayers from the podcast. You also 73 00:04:02,800 --> 00:04:06,960 Speaker 1: receive each day's devotion and prayer in written form, including 74 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,760 Speaker 1: reflection questions to accompany your quiet time. Many of our 75 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: members enjoy having the ability to read the day's devotion 76 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: or to save the prayer for future use. Lastly, when 77 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:20,800 Speaker 1: you become a praying mom, you're invited to a monthly 78 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: mom chat with me and surprise guests from our other 79 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,600 Speaker 1: Million Praying Mom authors. You can learn more in today's 80 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:34,120 Speaker 1: show notes or at Millionprayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 81 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 82 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the 83 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,239 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.