WEBVTT - A Prayer to Disciple the Next Generation

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<v Speaker 1>Life Audio. Thank you for listening to your daily prayer,

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<v Speaker 1>where we help you find the words you need to

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<v Speaker 1>connect to your Father in Heaven. No matter what is

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<v Speaker 1>happening in your life today, you can trust that God

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<v Speaker 1>wants to hear from you. Right after this short word

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<v Speaker 1>from our sponsors, we'll pray God today's prayer to Disciple

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<v Speaker 1>the Next Generation. A Prayer to Disciple the Next Generation,

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<v Speaker 1>written by Laura Bailey, read by Kerrie Eichberger. And so

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<v Speaker 1>is my word that goes out from my mouth. It

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<v Speaker 1>will not return to be empty, but will accomplish what

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<v Speaker 1>I desire and achieve the purpose for which I scent it.

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<v Speaker 1>I say a fifty five verse eleven. Okay, girls, what

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<v Speaker 1>are you all learning in Sunday school? I asked my

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<v Speaker 1>three daughters on our way to our doctor's appointment. The

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<v Speaker 1>car has quickly become where we spend most of our

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<v Speaker 1>waking hours together as a family during the school year.

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<v Speaker 1>Between drop offs, pickups, and shuffling from practices, appointments and meetups,

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<v Speaker 1>we spend hours on the road. In an attempt to

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<v Speaker 1>redeem this time. I decided a few years ago to

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<v Speaker 1>use it for faith filled conversations. My daughters range from

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<v Speaker 1>twelve to seven, so the conversations and their spiritual maturity theory. Yet,

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<v Speaker 1>for the most part, we can, for at least a

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<v Speaker 1>few minutes, have good dialogue around what's going on in

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<v Speaker 1>their lives, what they are learning, and what questions they

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<v Speaker 1>have about their faith. I've learned over time that one

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<v Speaker 1>of the best ways to engage all three at their

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<v Speaker 1>level is to ask what they are learning. In Sunday school,

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<v Speaker 1>we are talking about Moses and the Ten Commandments, my

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<v Speaker 1>youngest daughter shared. We are going through the Book of

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<v Speaker 1>Acts and disgusting how to share the gospel? My oldest

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<v Speaker 1>daughter interjected, what about you? I turned to my middle

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<v Speaker 1>daughter as I could see her brain working by the

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<v Speaker 1>wrinkles on her forehead. Well, we have been learning about

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<v Speaker 1>the Lord's prayer, but I have a question. Do I

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<v Speaker 1>pray to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit? Or can

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<v Speaker 1>I just say all three? She inquired. My mama's heart

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<v Speaker 1>did a little flip. One because I was so excited

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<v Speaker 1>to see her learning and asking good questions about her faith,

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<v Speaker 1>And two I was a bit nervous about how to

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<v Speaker 1>answer her. Still, I said a silent prayer, asking that

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<v Speaker 1>the Holy Spirit guide my response. That's a good question.

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<v Speaker 1>Will all three? The Holy Spirit helps you know what

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<v Speaker 1>to say. You are praying to Jesus and he's interceding

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<v Speaker 1>or taking our prayers to God side. Note No, there

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<v Speaker 1>is more I could have said, but understand I have

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<v Speaker 1>elementary and tweens. I try to answer theologically accurate in

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<v Speaker 1>a way they can understand within their attention time limits.

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<v Speaker 1>Everyone was nodding. I received a few oh, that makes sense,

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<v Speaker 1>and then my youngest daughter spoke up. But Mom, I

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<v Speaker 1>have another question. I braced myself, eager to hear what

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<v Speaker 1>she would add to our lively conversation. What are we

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<v Speaker 1>going to have for supper? I couldn't help but laugh.

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<v Speaker 1>Do I think she was listening to our conversation? Yes?

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<v Speaker 1>But do I think she is an easily distracted seven

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<v Speaker 1>year old too. Yes. Discipling our children and the next

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<v Speaker 1>generation isn't always a social media pinterest worthy event. In fact,

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<v Speaker 1>most of the time it looks like my har right experience,

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<v Speaker 1>which can leave us wondering if we are even making

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<v Speaker 1>a difference. I understand its importance intellectually, but at times

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<v Speaker 1>wonder whether they are too young or not yet spiritually

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<v Speaker 1>mature to talk through difficult questions or even to dive

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<v Speaker 1>into the complexity of scripture. Isaya fifty five eleven always

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<v Speaker 1>encourages me when I question the impact of sharing God's

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<v Speaker 1>word with my children. This verse reminds us that God's

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<v Speaker 1>word will never return void. While on the surface it

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<v Speaker 1>may feel that difficult truths aren't penetrating little hearts and minds,

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<v Speaker 1>we know that God's purposes and plans will prevail. It

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<v Speaker 1>is never wasted. When we read the Bible, pray over

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<v Speaker 1>and with, and talk with our children about our faith.

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<v Speaker 1>The Lord is always working and using our obedience to

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<v Speaker 1>disciple the next generation be encouraged today if you've had

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<v Speaker 1>a similar expi sperience to mine. God's word will achieve

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<v Speaker 1>its purposes of transforming hearts and minds, but it's on

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<v Speaker 1>God's timetable and plan, not ours. How privileged though, like

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<v Speaker 1>the prophet Isaiah, that God invites us to co labor

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<v Speaker 1>with him in sharing his word and teaching the next generation.

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<v Speaker 1>I don't know exactly how God will use those car conversations,

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<v Speaker 1>but I do know He is working in their lives

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<v Speaker 1>all for His glory and our good Let's pray Heavenly Father,

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<v Speaker 1>thank you for the gift of your word. I know

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<v Speaker 1>it often take for granted the luxury of reading the scriptures,

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<v Speaker 1>communing with you through prayer, and openly gathering with the

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<v Speaker 1>community of believers. Help me to abide in your word

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<v Speaker 1>daily so that I will be prepared to share with others,

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<v Speaker 1>specifically the next generation. Lord, I ask that your truth

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<v Speaker 1>will penetrate the hearts and minds of the those who

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<v Speaker 1>hear it. May they feel the weight of conviction and

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<v Speaker 1>turn to you. For those in Christ, I ask that

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<v Speaker 1>your word will give them strength and guide them as

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<v Speaker 1>they desire to live in a way that is wholly

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<v Speaker 1>unpleasing to you. Give me the knowledge and encouragement to

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<v Speaker 1>continue talking with my children about You, their faith, and

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<v Speaker 1>the scriptures, even when I wonder whether they are comprehending

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<v Speaker 1>or even listening. I know that your word never returns empty,

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<v Speaker 1>and I can trust that you are always at work

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<v Speaker 1>in Jesus name. Amen. Your Daily Prayer is a production

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<v Speaker 1>of Life Audio in Sale Media. If you haven't already,

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