1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: word for their families in the areas they need it most. 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: helped thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by Rachel Adams, author of 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers for Love, a part of our Million Praying 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: Moms Everyday Prayers devotional series. I recently reread this devotional 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: and it blessed me tremendously. Rachel provides beautiful reminders of 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: how God loves us just because we are His, not 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: because of anything we can do to earn it or 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: deserve it, and we are invited to love others from 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: a place of knowing that we are beloved. If you 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: don't have a copy of this book, you're going to 19 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: want to grab one for yourself and maybe even for 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: a friend. Every Day Prays for Love is available wherever 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: books are sold. This month, I've invited Rachel to share 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: excerpts from her book that help us break down the 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: famous love passage one Corinthians thirteen, specifically focusing on verses 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: four through eight that read, love is patient, Love is kind. 25 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: It does not envy, It does not boast. It is 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: self seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no 28 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 1: record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: always perseveres. Love never fails. We've heard this verse at weddings, 31 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: we've heard it in the church. But this is one 32 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: of those passages that is beautiful and easy to read 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: but hard to put into practice, isn't it. I don't 34 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: know about you, but I know that I need more 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: patience and kindness in my parenting. Rachel weaves in scripture 36 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: from throughout the Bible to help us truly understand the 37 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: type of love that Paul is describing here in his 38 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: letter to the Corinthians. Our prayer and hope is that 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,600 Speaker 1: this month. As we pray this together, our understanding of 40 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: God's love would grow deeper. To learn more about Rachel, 41 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: or to learn more about how you can get involved 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 1: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: Notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a quick word from 44 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 45 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:42,120 Speaker 2: Therefore, as it is written, let the one who boasts 46 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:47,359 Speaker 2: boast in the Lord. First Corinthians one thirty one. There 47 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 2: was a college aged girl whose voice I love to 48 00:02:50,320 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 2: hear as she led worship on Sundays. She was a 49 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 2: summer intern, and I had the opportunity to meet her 50 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 2: family one Sunday morning after service. As I celebrated their 51 00:03:01,080 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 2: daughter's God given talent, her parents' eyes lit up with delight. 52 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:07,680 Speaker 2: What makes your daughter so unique is that she doesn't 53 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: realize how special she is, or at least she doesn't 54 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:13,680 Speaker 2: let on that she does. I continued in praise of 55 00:03:13,760 --> 00:03:17,519 Speaker 2: her vocal ability and humble posture. Of all the times 56 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: I'd heard her singing, I never had the impression that 57 00:03:20,600 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: she gloated in the giftings the Lord had given her, 58 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,280 Speaker 2: which makes her talent all the more beautiful for everyone 59 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 2: in the congregation to receive her dad agreed with me, wholeheartedly, 60 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 2: bursting with pride as he told me more stories about 61 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,640 Speaker 2: his daughter. The college age worship leader blushed an embarrassment 62 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,120 Speaker 2: and asked her dad to quit exalting her. He smiled 63 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,000 Speaker 2: and obliged, declaring that praising her was one of his 64 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: favorite pastimes. As a fellow parent, I understood his sentiment. 65 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:53,640 Speaker 2: I'm the same way with my children. I don't know 66 00:03:53,680 --> 00:03:56,520 Speaker 2: how often I catch myself saying, not to brag, but 67 00:03:56,720 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 2: let me just tell you what will or Kate did 68 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 2: and said. During my conversation that Sunday, it occurred to 69 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:07,960 Speaker 2: me that our heavenly father likely feels the same way 70 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:12,360 Speaker 2: about us as his children. Imagine him saying, let me 71 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:17,680 Speaker 2: tell you what insert your first name did today. I'm 72 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 2: so proud of how she used the abilities I gave 73 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: her without expecting any accolades or glory for herself. There 74 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:29,119 Speaker 2: was no hint of self importance or need to be seen. 75 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 2: Have you ever considered that God looks upon us as 76 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 2: his daughters, and when we use the talents he has 77 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: given us, he rejoices over us with singing. He longs 78 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:45,400 Speaker 2: to commend us like any other proud parent would. Don't 79 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 2: you love the thought of that. If there is anyone 80 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,120 Speaker 2: in the Bible who could laud his accomplishments, it's Paul. 81 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 2: I imagine people admired him during his lifetime, and it 82 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: would have been tempting to draw attention to him. So, 83 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,719 Speaker 2: but because of his love for Christ, he focused his 84 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: testimony on all God had done in his life. In 85 00:05:07,800 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: Tewod Corinthians, chapter eleven, verses twenty one through thirty, he says, 86 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: whatever anyone else dares to boast about, I'm speaking as 87 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:20,840 Speaker 2: a fool. I also dare to boast about. Are they Hebrews? 88 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,160 Speaker 2: So am I? Are they Israelites? So am I? Are 89 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: they Abraham's descendants? So am I? Are they servants of Christ? 90 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: I'm out of my mind to talk like this. I 91 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:37,040 Speaker 2: am more. I have worked much harder, been in prison 92 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:41,479 Speaker 2: more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to 93 00:05:41,560 --> 00:05:45,400 Speaker 2: death again and again. Five times I received from the 94 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:49,000 Speaker 2: Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was 95 00:05:49,040 --> 00:05:53,080 Speaker 2: beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three 96 00:05:53,160 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: times I was shipwrecked. I spend a night and a 97 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,800 Speaker 2: day in the open sea. I've been constantly on the move. 98 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: I've been in danger or from rivers, in danger from bandits, 99 00:06:02,240 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: and danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from gentiles, 100 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 2: and danger in the city, in danger in the country, 101 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 2: in danger at sea, and in danger from false believers. 102 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 2: I have labored and toiled, and have often gone without sleep. 103 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:20,400 Speaker 2: I have known hunger and thirst, and have often gone 104 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:25,000 Speaker 2: without food. I have been cold and naked. Besides everything else, 105 00:06:25,080 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 2: I face daily the pressure of my concern for all 106 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,599 Speaker 2: of the churches. Who is weak and I do not 107 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,560 Speaker 2: feel weak? Who is led into sin? And I do 108 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,239 Speaker 2: not inwardly burn? If I must boast, I will boast 109 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 2: of the things that show my weakness. In addition to 110 00:06:44,320 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: this discourse, Paul called all he accomplished rubbish compared to 111 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 2: the greatness of knowing Christ. Paul did not depend on 112 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,919 Speaker 2: deeds to please God or confirm his own value, and 113 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:01,640 Speaker 2: neither should we, because the most impressive human credentials will 114 00:07:01,760 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 2: all fall short of God's holy standards. Even when Jesus 115 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:09,920 Speaker 2: lived among us, he never magnified his miraculous works and 116 00:07:09,960 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 2: good deeds. Instead, he proclaimed, by myself, I can do nothing. 117 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: His motive was to please his father and to glorify 118 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: the one who sent him. This too, should be our 119 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 2: goal as we express our love to others through our actions, talents, 120 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,600 Speaker 2: and resources. May we give credit where credit is due. 121 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,840 Speaker 2: The next time we are tempted to brag, May our 122 00:07:32,920 --> 00:07:35,560 Speaker 2: love for the Lord lead us to boast of his 123 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 2: great name. He alone is worthy of our praise. Let's pray, Father, 124 00:07:42,920 --> 00:07:46,360 Speaker 2: thank you for all you have given me. Forgive me 125 00:07:46,480 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 2: for taking credit or trying to gain glory for what 126 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:53,600 Speaker 2: you alone deserve. Cleanse my heart from any impure motive 127 00:07:53,800 --> 00:07:56,680 Speaker 2: or a thought that causes me to extol myself and 128 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: seek man's applause. If I boast, may it be of 129 00:08:00,800 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 2: the ways you have blessed me and worked in my life. 130 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:07,560 Speaker 2: I pray, if I make much of anything, I make 131 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 2: much of you, May my desire be to make your 132 00:08:11,760 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 2: name known and exalted in Jesus's name. 133 00:08:15,720 --> 00:08:18,000 Speaker 1: Amen, friend, we are so glad that you are a 134 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: part of our community here on the podcast. If you 135 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: love everyday prayers in the Ministry of Million Praying Moms, 136 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 1: I invite you to join our Praying mom community on 137 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:29,640 Speaker 1: Patreon for just ten dollars a month. You can connect 138 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: deeper through a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar, each day's 139 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 1: devotion in written form and bonus content only available to 140 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: our Patreon family. Learn more in today's show notes or 141 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:46,200 Speaker 1: at Millionprayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, the Lord 142 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:50,439 Speaker 1: bless you and keep you. Make His face shine upon you, 143 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: and be gracious to you. May the Lord look with 144 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:55,640 Speaker 1: favor on you and give you peace.