1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,320 --> 00:00:18,079 Speaker 2: You're listening to everyday Prayers with a Million Praying Moms 3 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 2: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 4 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 2: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:28,160 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:28,200 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 2: Over the next several days, we are unpacking the final 9 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 2: prayers of Jesus as we journey towards Easter. As we 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 2: break them down, I believe these prayers will show us 11 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 2: the heart of God and can teach us so much 12 00:00:45,040 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 2: about connecting with the Father in prayer. In today's episode, 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:52,680 Speaker 2: we're looking at how Jesus prays for others and how 14 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: we should do the same. While we follow Jesus's example 15 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 2: in prayer, our kids will follow our example as well. 16 00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 2: To learn more about Million Praying Moms, visit Millionprayingmoms dot com. 17 00:01:03,840 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 1: You can find a link in our show notes after. 18 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 2: Our brief word from our sponsors, will pray together for 19 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: our children, John seventeen eight through ten. For I have 20 00:01:17,520 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 2: given them the words that you gave me, and they 21 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:22,839 Speaker 2: have received them and have come to know in truth 22 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:25,880 Speaker 2: that I am from you, and they have believed that 23 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 2: you sent me. I am praying for them. I am 24 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:32,240 Speaker 2: not praying for the world, but for those whom you 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:37,280 Speaker 2: have given me, for they are yours, all mine are yours, 26 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 2: and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 27 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:44,920 Speaker 2: Here we see a beautiful picture of Jesus praying for 28 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: the Disciples, his closest friends, and we are to follow 29 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: his example and how we pray for others as Jesus 30 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 2: prays for the disciples and those who will come to 31 00:01:55,320 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: believe in him, that includes you and me. He says, 32 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: I told the many things while I was with them 33 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: in this world, so they would be filled with my joy. 34 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:08,760 Speaker 2: By this statement, Jesus reveals that the purpose or en 35 00:02:08,880 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 2: result of what he has said to the disciples at 36 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: this point was joy. All of his teachings in this 37 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 2: farewell Discourse, these last conversations with Jesus leading up to 38 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,240 Speaker 2: his death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, 39 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 2: All of his statements in the prayer culminate in end 40 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 2: and purpose in joy. However, when we read what he prays, 41 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,480 Speaker 2: this can be hard for us to grasp Jesus, praise 42 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: to the Father. I have given them your word, and 43 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: the world has hated them because they are not of 44 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 2: the world, just as I am not of the world. 45 00:02:47,040 --> 00:02:51,520 Speaker 2: John seventeen fourteen. Jesus reiterates that life as one of 46 00:02:51,560 --> 00:02:55,399 Speaker 2: his followers is not easy or trouble free. He acknowledges 47 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,239 Speaker 2: that they will be hated by others and also acknowledges 48 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,519 Speaker 2: that he knows what that feels like. Then he prays 49 00:03:02,560 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: something hard for us to read. He prays to the 50 00:03:05,919 --> 00:03:09,959 Speaker 2: Father and ask, I do not ask that you take 51 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 2: them out of the world, but that you guard them 52 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:18,120 Speaker 2: from the evil one John seventeen fifteen. My initial question 53 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: when I read this is why why not just take 54 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 2: us out of the world if it's hard, and if 55 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,680 Speaker 2: where you're going is better Jesus. Jesus always displays great 56 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:31,519 Speaker 2: intentionality behind what he says and does. There is meaning 57 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 2: behind this statement. Any suffering we face will result in 58 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 2: our good in his glory Romans eight twenty eight. This 59 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 2: part of the prayer echoes one of my favorite verses 60 00:03:43,960 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 2: John sixteen thirty three, where Jesus tells his disciples in 61 00:03:47,680 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 2: this world you will have trouble, but take heart or 62 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 2: be of good year. 63 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: I have overcome the world. 64 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: In his prayer to the Father, Jesus restates that trouble 65 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 2: is a guarantee for his followers. Reflecting on how Jesus 66 00:04:06,040 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 2: prays on behalf of his disciples in their collective time 67 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 2: of trouble, I think about how Preston has done this 68 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: for me and our marriage. Analogies of our human experience 69 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 2: fall short when attempting to demonstrate the things of God. 70 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 2: Still we will use a human analogy because it's what 71 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 2: we have available. Preston often prays for me when I 72 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,160 Speaker 2: don't know what to pray for myself. If I am 73 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 2: particularly stressed, worn down, exhausted, or sick, he will often 74 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 2: sense that in me, and before we retire for the night, 75 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: he will kneel down next to our bed, reach over, 76 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 2: take hold of my hand, and pray the words that 77 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:44,160 Speaker 2: I don't have to pray at that moment. I remember 78 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 2: one particular night when I had allowed my worries from 79 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: the day to get the best of me. I responded 80 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 2: to Preston with a short temper, and he reached over, 81 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:54,279 Speaker 2: grabbed my hand and said, can I pray for you? 82 00:04:55,200 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: And my answer came as quick and as fast as 83 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: my anger. No, thank you. I took my hand back 84 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,320 Speaker 2: and I turned the other way. A few minutes later, 85 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 2: I looked at him, I reached for his hand, and 86 00:05:08,720 --> 00:05:13,279 Speaker 2: I said, please pray for me. At the moment of 87 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: his original invitation, I was not responding in the ways 88 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,520 Speaker 2: of the spirit. I gave in to worry and fear 89 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: and resisted God's gentle nudging through my husband. I didn't 90 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 2: want to talk to God at that moment because I 91 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 2: knew I wasn't obeying him, I wasn't acting like him, 92 00:05:26,800 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: and I wasn't living out love. We often resist God 93 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,480 Speaker 2: when we know we aren't living like him, but these 94 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:35,279 Speaker 2: are the precise moments when we must come to him. 95 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: When I took a minute to think about it, I 96 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: knew prayer was exactly what I needed. And I also 97 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:43,719 Speaker 2: knew that allowing Preston to pray over me the words 98 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:46,279 Speaker 2: that I couldn't pray for myself, was the best thing 99 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,320 Speaker 2: that I could do. Then, as he prayed, I nodded 100 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: in agreement. As tears rolled down my cheeks. I was 101 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 2: assured of God's love for me and his desire to 102 00:05:55,360 --> 00:05:59,240 Speaker 2: draw me back to himself. I recall other instances where 103 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: the reverse has been true, when Preston experienced something particularly 104 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 2: difficult and I have had the privilege of praying over him. 105 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:10,600 Speaker 2: Jesus modeled this for his disciples. Imagine how they would 106 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,039 Speaker 2: have felt after hearing all that Jesus had said to 107 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:16,200 Speaker 2: them up until this point in the Farewell Discourse, all 108 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: of their conversation about Jesus leaving and going away. They 109 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: would have been unsettled, confused, and most likely afraid. Jesus 110 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 2: could sense this in his closest friends, so he stopped 111 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:34,520 Speaker 2: and he prays for them. Prayer is a personal practice, 112 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: but it's also a communal practice. We are to pray 113 00:06:38,600 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 2: for one another in life's difficult moments. Do we have 114 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:44,880 Speaker 2: the courage to offer prayer to those around us? In 115 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: my experience, I have found that people rarely refuse prayer, 116 00:06:49,760 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 2: even if they don't have an active relationship with God 117 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,960 Speaker 2: or if they practice another religion. People usually don't turn 118 00:06:56,080 --> 00:07:00,560 Speaker 2: down an offer to pray. In the South, where I live, 119 00:07:00,800 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 2: we habitually say, oh, I'll pray for you, and unfortunately, 120 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:09,120 Speaker 2: this statement is often equivalent to bless your heart. It's 121 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 2: something that is said because it's what good Christians say, 122 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:15,200 Speaker 2: and then most people move on. And I wonder how 123 00:07:15,280 --> 00:07:18,520 Speaker 2: many times people actually pray for what they say they 124 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 2: will pray for. I wonder what would change we would 125 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 2: see if we could truly begin to pray for those 126 00:07:24,960 --> 00:07:29,480 Speaker 2: around us. May we be genuine and bold in offering 127 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 2: prayer to those that God has placed in our lives. Recently, 128 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 2: a friend I hadn't seen in a while shared a 129 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:39,640 Speaker 2: particularly difficult situation that he was walking through. I listened intently, 130 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: and when the conversation wrapped up, I resisted the desire 131 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 2: to offer them my feedback or my commentary, sensing from 132 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: the spirit that they didn't need that they need a prayer. 133 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:54,760 Speaker 2: So I took a deep breath and I asked, can 134 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 2: I pray for you? We bought our heads in the 135 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 2: middle of a parking line on a hot summer day 136 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:02,000 Speaker 2: in Mississippi, and I offered a simple prayer for the 137 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,240 Speaker 2: Lord to meet them in their time of trouble and 138 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 2: give them the wisdom and peace to walk through it. 139 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,440 Speaker 2: I asked that God's presence would surround them. I didn't 140 00:08:10,440 --> 00:08:14,120 Speaker 2: say anything profound or significant, but their damp eyes told 141 00:08:14,160 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 2: me that the spirit's leading is always the best thing 142 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 2: to follow. In the same way, it's so important for 143 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:23,560 Speaker 2: us to pray for others in front of our children. 144 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 2: Like we follow Jesus's example, our kids will follow our example. 145 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:31,000 Speaker 2: I often ask Josie in the car on the way 146 00:08:31,000 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 2: to school, who can we pray for today? So, friend, 147 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:42,400 Speaker 2: who can you pray for today? Let's pray together? Father, 148 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 2: let us not neglect the power of praying for those 149 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:49,560 Speaker 2: you have placed in our lives. I confess that I 150 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 2: so often want to do something to help or to 151 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:57,920 Speaker 2: fix a situation. Today, I rest in the truth that 152 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:03,120 Speaker 2: prayer is my first and best response. I believe that 153 00:09:03,160 --> 00:09:05,520 Speaker 2: prayer has the power to make a difference from my 154 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:09,440 Speaker 2: loved ones. But I so often neglect bringing request for 155 00:09:09,559 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 2: others to You. Help me today to allow my belief 156 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: in the power of prayer fuel the prayers that I 157 00:09:17,840 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 2: bring before you on behalf of those that I love 158 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 2: in Jesus name. Amen. Are you a visual learner? Would 159 00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,559 Speaker 2: you like to receive our daily devotions in written form? 160 00:09:27,600 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 2: Write to your inbox then join our Patreon community of 161 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 2: Praying Moms. Not only will you receive the transcripts of 162 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,640 Speaker 2: each podcast devotional, you will also receive a monthly prayer 163 00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:41,480 Speaker 2: calendar and surprise bonus content. Learn more about our praying 164 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: mom community in today's show Notes or at million prayingmoms 165 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 2: dot com. Till next time, friends, the Lord bless you 166 00:09:49,840 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 2: and keep you. Make his face shine upon you, and 167 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,520 Speaker 2: be gracious to you. May the Lord look with favor 168 00:09:56,559 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: on you and give you peace.