1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,620 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:16,050 --> 00:00:18,530 Speaker 2: You are listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 3 00:00:18,550 --> 00:00:20,810 Speaker 2: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 4 00:00:20,910 --> 00:00:24,430 Speaker 2: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:24,570 --> 00:00:27,380 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:27,460 --> 00:00:30,420 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 7 00:00:30,480 --> 00:00:32,940 Speaker 2: together to pray. to partner with God for the hearts 8 00:00:33,140 --> 00:00:37,330 Speaker 2: of our children. I pray that it encourages you wherever 9 00:00:37,390 --> 00:00:40,910 Speaker 2: you are in your prayer journey today. To learn more 10 00:00:40,930 --> 00:00:43,450 Speaker 2: about Everyday Prayers for Moms or more about our ministry, 11 00:00:43,510 --> 00:00:46,870 Speaker 2: visit millionprayingmoms.com and we'll have a link in our show notes. 12 00:00:47,340 --> 00:00:49,740 Speaker 2: After a quick word from our sponsors, we'll pray together 13 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:50,519 Speaker 2: for our families. 14 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 3: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you 15 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:01,820 Speaker 3: face trials of many kinds. Because you know that the 16 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 3: testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work, 17 00:01:07,240 --> 00:01:11,220 Speaker 3: so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 18 00:01:11,700 --> 00:01:18,050 Speaker 3: James 1, 2-4 Remember when life was easier? I've asked 19 00:01:18,069 --> 00:01:21,350 Speaker 3: that question before, and maybe you have too. But was 20 00:01:21,410 --> 00:01:25,450 Speaker 3: it really ever easier? Although my grandkids are older now, 21 00:01:25,870 --> 00:01:28,010 Speaker 3: I never passed up the chance to pick them up 22 00:01:28,030 --> 00:01:33,220 Speaker 3: from school. Those seemingly ordinary captive audience car conversations became 23 00:01:33,300 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 3: some of my most memorable moments, like the time one 24 00:01:36,780 --> 00:01:41,550 Speaker 3: of my grandsons said something profound, more profound than he realized. 25 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,970 Speaker 3: Using the open-ended question angle, I asked how he liked 26 00:01:46,030 --> 00:01:49,050 Speaker 3: his first year of middle school so far. His answer? 27 00:01:49,070 --> 00:01:54,750 Speaker 3: He liked elementary school better. Uh-oh. My Gammy Bear radar 28 00:01:54,790 --> 00:01:57,650 Speaker 3: went up in a flash. I asked why and whether 29 00:01:57,710 --> 00:01:59,990 Speaker 3: any of the kids were giving him trouble or if 30 00:02:00,030 --> 00:02:03,190 Speaker 3: he had a problem with a teacher. His answer? 31 00:02:03,210 --> 00:02:04,050 Speaker 2: No. 32 00:02:04,750 --> 00:02:09,770 Speaker 3: Elementary school was just easier. Phew, what a relief. Thankful 33 00:02:09,810 --> 00:02:12,030 Speaker 3: to learn there were no bullies stealing his lunch money. 34 00:02:12,510 --> 00:02:15,830 Speaker 3: I took advantage of a teachable moment. I shared that 35 00:02:15,870 --> 00:02:19,769 Speaker 3: while elementary school might seem easier now, it probably didn't 36 00:02:19,850 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 3: feel that way when he first started. And if I 37 00:02:22,380 --> 00:02:25,459 Speaker 3: had asked him the same question back then, he might 38 00:02:25,500 --> 00:02:28,940 Speaker 3: have said he liked preschool better because it was just easier. 39 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:32,860 Speaker 3: Then I kept it going, pointing out that one day 40 00:02:33,060 --> 00:02:35,829 Speaker 3: middle school will seem easier than high school, and high 41 00:02:35,889 --> 00:02:40,149 Speaker 3: school will seem way easier than adulting 101 with grown-up 42 00:02:40,190 --> 00:02:44,310 Speaker 3: responsibilities like working, paying bills, and getting the oil changed. 43 00:02:45,389 --> 00:02:47,630 Speaker 3: It was a deep conversation in the span of about 44 00:02:47,870 --> 00:02:51,250 Speaker 3: a 15-minute car ride, and I never forgot it. And 45 00:02:51,290 --> 00:02:54,510 Speaker 3: I hope he never forgot it either. On those days 46 00:02:54,570 --> 00:02:56,890 Speaker 3: when we feel like throwing in the towel and staying 47 00:02:56,950 --> 00:02:59,880 Speaker 3: in bed with the covers over our heads, maybe we're 48 00:02:59,919 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 3: focusing too much on what used to be. A time 49 00:03:03,020 --> 00:03:06,500 Speaker 3: when we thought life was easier. Our memories can fool 50 00:03:06,580 --> 00:03:09,700 Speaker 3: us into thinking what used to be was easier and 51 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,029 Speaker 3: that nothing has ever been this hard before. But what 52 00:03:13,070 --> 00:03:17,270 Speaker 3: we remember as easier probably wasn't easy at first. The 53 00:03:17,310 --> 00:03:20,850 Speaker 3: hard became easier because of what we learned along the way. 54 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 3: Even when we feel we're not doing such a bang-up 55 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:27,410 Speaker 3: job of moving through the hard days, the key words 56 00:03:27,490 --> 00:03:30,950 Speaker 3: here are moving and through. And we can do that 57 00:03:31,130 --> 00:03:37,270 Speaker 3: because of Jesus. Navigating uncharted waters and traipsing through unknown 58 00:03:37,310 --> 00:03:41,350 Speaker 3: territory can bring a longing for easier times. But when 59 00:03:41,390 --> 00:03:44,780 Speaker 3: those seasons come, we just need a blessed assurance reminder 60 00:03:45,140 --> 00:03:47,700 Speaker 3: that God goes before us and He is with us. 61 00:03:48,460 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 3: His grace is sufficient. And instead of longing for the easy, 62 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:55,220 Speaker 3: we can consider the hard things pure joy because the 63 00:03:55,280 --> 00:04:00,900 Speaker 3: testing of our faith produces perseverance. Be encouraged that the 64 00:04:00,940 --> 00:04:03,620 Speaker 3: hard thing you might be walking through right now will 65 00:04:03,660 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 3: stretch you and grow you in ways you could never 66 00:04:06,280 --> 00:04:11,120 Speaker 3: have imagined possible. Give yourself grace and find thanksgiving in 67 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:14,460 Speaker 3: how far you've come. You are where you are meant 68 00:04:14,500 --> 00:04:17,039 Speaker 3: to be in this moment and God is not done 69 00:04:17,240 --> 00:04:22,300 Speaker 3: with your story. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for 70 00:04:22,339 --> 00:04:25,360 Speaker 3: the blessed assurance that you go before us and are 71 00:04:25,420 --> 00:04:28,180 Speaker 3: always with us. Help us to remember that when life 72 00:04:28,220 --> 00:04:31,580 Speaker 3: feels hard, we can consider it pure joy because the 73 00:04:31,620 --> 00:04:34,919 Speaker 3: testing of our faith brings perseverance. May we look at 74 00:04:35,100 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 3: uncharted waters and unknown territory in a fresh new way, 75 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:42,859 Speaker 3: without fear, but with thanksgiving for where you are taking 76 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,820 Speaker 3: us and how far we've come in our walk with you. 77 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:47,940 Speaker 3: In Jesus' name, amen. 78 00:04:49,140 --> 00:04:51,160 Speaker 2: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 79 00:04:51,240 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 2: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 80 00:04:55,680 --> 00:05:00,140 Speaker 2: your children. My newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying 81 00:05:00,190 --> 00:05:03,510 Speaker 2: God's Work from Your Children from Newborn to Emptiness, is 82 00:05:03,690 --> 00:05:07,490 Speaker 2: a great resource for moms who desire to pray. 83 00:05:07,589 --> 00:05:08,270 Speaker 1: For their kids. 84 00:05:08,670 --> 00:05:10,070 Speaker 2: I don't know if you've ever looked up at the 85 00:05:10,150 --> 00:05:12,450 Speaker 2: end of the day and realized that you didn't pray 86 00:05:12,550 --> 00:05:16,550 Speaker 2: at all. So often we have this desire to pray. 87 00:05:17,010 --> 00:05:20,359 Speaker 1: But we may not know how to put that desire 88 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:21,839 Speaker 1: in to practice. 89 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,219 Speaker 2: I'm learning in motherhood that my prayers adapt and change 90 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,900 Speaker 2: based on the season that we're in as a family. 91 00:05:28,339 --> 00:05:29,580 Speaker 1: I'm also learning to give. 92 00:05:29,460 --> 00:05:33,950 Speaker 2: Myself grace in those different seasons. I know God isn't 93 00:05:34,130 --> 00:05:37,890 Speaker 2: after perfect, polished prayers. He's after my heart, and He's 94 00:05:38,070 --> 00:05:42,310 Speaker 2: after yours too. So my plan is to be intentional, 95 00:05:42,770 --> 00:05:44,740 Speaker 2: whatever that looks like in this season. 96 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: I hope that is your plan. 97 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:47,500 Speaker 2: As well. 98 00:05:48,420 --> 00:05:51,880 Speaker 1: God sees our hearts. He's honored by our desire to 99 00:05:51,940 --> 00:05:55,050 Speaker 1: connect with Him. If you're feeling stuck in. 100 00:05:55,010 --> 00:05:58,510 Speaker 2: Your prayer life, I've got a new free download, a 101 00:05:59,170 --> 00:06:04,510 Speaker 2: five-day prayer reset. It's a great guide to help you 102 00:06:05,110 --> 00:06:09,540 Speaker 2: get started, jump back in, stay consistent, grow deeper in 103 00:06:09,570 --> 00:06:12,700 Speaker 2: your prayers for your kids. It's also a great tool 104 00:06:12,720 --> 00:06:15,810 Speaker 2: to share with with your friends or with your family 105 00:06:15,850 --> 00:06:19,950 Speaker 2: members that may be seeking to know God deeper in 106 00:06:20,029 --> 00:06:22,990 Speaker 2: prayer as they're wanting to pray for their kids. I 107 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:27,590 Speaker 2: hope you will grab your copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. We'll 108 00:06:27,650 --> 00:06:32,060 Speaker 2: also put a link in our show notes. Until next time, friends, 109 00:06:32,960 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 2: may the Lord bless you and keep you. Make His 110 00:06:36,300 --> 00:06:39,740 Speaker 2: face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May 111 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,150 Speaker 2: the Lord look with favor upon you and give you 112 00:06:43,350 --> 00:06:43,850 Speaker 2: His peace.