1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer, 2 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:17,799 Speaker 1: where we help you find the words you need to 3 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what's happening 4 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,160 Speaker 1: in your life today, you can trust that God wants 5 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 1: to hear from you. Right after this short word from 6 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray through today's prayer for joyful Obedience. 7 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:52,040 Speaker 1: A Prayer for Joyful Obedience written by Christine F. Perry 8 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: read by Leah Gerard. This is to my Father's glory 9 00:00:56,640 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: that you bear much fruit showing yourselves to be my 10 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: decide piples. As the Father has loved me, so have 11 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: I loved you, now remain in my love. If you 12 00:01:07,200 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 1: keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just 13 00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:12,960 Speaker 1: as I have kept my father's commands and remain in 14 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: his love. I have told you this so that my 15 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,840 Speaker 1: joy may be in you, and that your joy may 16 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 1: be complete. My command is this, love each other as 17 00:01:23,560 --> 00:01:26,800 Speaker 1: I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, 18 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are 19 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:36,399 Speaker 1: my friends if you do what I command John fifteen 20 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: eight through fourteen. As believers, we know that Psalm one 21 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: thirty nine assures us we have a heavenly father who 22 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 1: made us and has ordained each of our days. We 23 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 1: also know that he chastens those he loves, as we 24 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: read in Hebrews twelve six. Being chastened or disciplined isn't pleasant. 25 00:01:58,720 --> 00:02:02,160 Speaker 1: But when we obey and stop fighting the Lord, joy 26 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: is the gift that follows. We may be in situations 27 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 1: right now that we do not like. That may be 28 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:13,960 Speaker 1: a difficult work situation, an extended time of unemployment, a 29 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 1: long health battle for you or for someone you love, 30 00:02:17,080 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: a strained relationship, infertility, or drawn out singleness. When I'm struggling, 31 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: it does help me to look at Jesus's life on earth. 32 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: His brothers were against him, He was misunderstood, wrongly accused, beaten, 33 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: had no place to lay his head, was well acquainted 34 00:02:38,440 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: with grief, and was a man of sorrow. Yet look 35 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:45,800 Speaker 1: what Jesus said in John six thirty eight. For I 36 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,519 Speaker 1: have come down from heaven not to do my own will, 37 00:02:49,040 --> 00:02:53,000 Speaker 1: but the will of him who sent me. Hebrews twelve 38 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: two says about Jesus, for the joy set before him. 39 00:02:57,480 --> 00:03:01,080 Speaker 1: He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down 40 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: at the right hand of the throne of God. Jesus 41 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: obeyed despite a grueling death. He knew that on the 42 00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:14,919 Speaker 1: other side was joy. Whatever we may be facing today, 43 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: remember this is not the end of your story. You 44 00:03:18,639 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 1: may need to take drastic measures. Cut off an unequally 45 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: yoked relationship, surrender the substance whatever it may be, cut 46 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:28,640 Speaker 1: up the credit cards, or you may just need to 47 00:03:28,680 --> 00:03:31,079 Speaker 1: block off a time to meet with the Lord each day. 48 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:33,919 Speaker 1: You may need to go back to some people who 49 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: have been praying for you and apologize whatever needs to 50 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: die in your life. Remember, when we obey, joy awaits us. 51 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:48,760 Speaker 1: Psalm sixteen eleven offers this reassurance, you will show me 52 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. 53 00:03:53,840 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: At your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Let's pray, dear 54 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: heavenly Father, thank you for your sacrifice and for the 55 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: example of Jesus's obedience. Lord, your word says that though 56 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: he was God's son, he learned obedience by the things 57 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 1: he suffered. If that's true of Jesus, how much more 58 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 1: is that true for us? Help us to look at 59 00:04:18,279 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: our circumstances as an avenue to know You better and 60 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 1: to enjoy a deeper joy and peace with you when 61 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:30,279 Speaker 1: our momentary troubles pass. Lord, please help us to meet 62 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 1: with you each morning. Please order our steps, help us 63 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:37,039 Speaker 1: to have hearts to love you, and minds to know you, 64 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:40,640 Speaker 1: and wills to obey you. Lord, help us take our 65 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 1: eyes off what's in front of us and direct them 66 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:46,480 Speaker 1: to You. And when we can't or calling on you, 67 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: the lifter of our heads, to do what we cannot. 68 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:53,880 Speaker 1: I want to pray, as Moses prayed in Psalm ninety fifteen, 69 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,679 Speaker 1: that you will make us glad according to the days 70 00:04:57,680 --> 00:04:59,960 Speaker 1: in which you have afflicted us, the years in wich 71 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,359 Speaker 1: which we've seen evil. We love you. Help us to 72 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: know you better each and every day. Amen. Your Daily 73 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: prayer is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 74 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, be sure to 75 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: follow our sister show your nightly prayer. You can find 76 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 1: your nightly prayer at lifeaudio dot com or in your 77 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:38,680 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app. By following your daily prayer and your 78 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 1: nightly prayer, you can be sure that your day begins 79 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 1: and ends centered on the Word of God and prayer.