1 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life audio. 2 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,680 Speaker 2: You're listening to everyday prayers with million praying moms helping 3 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:20,160 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 2: you need at most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:26,720 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:30,160 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,200 --> 00:00:33,199 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 2: Today's devotion is written and read by Marcy Gorley, a 9 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,840 Speaker 2: licensed professional counselor and author of two hundred and fifty 10 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 2: Great Things About America. Today's devotion is a prayer for 11 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,400 Speaker 2: a sound mind. After a quick word from our sponsors, 12 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:48,840 Speaker 2: we'll pray together for our. 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 1: Families Philippians for eight reads. Finally, Brothers and sisters, whatever 14 00:00:56,160 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, 15 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:08,200 Speaker 1: whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is excellent 16 00:01:08,360 --> 00:01:13,880 Speaker 1: or praiseworthy, think about such things. There are days when 17 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,840 Speaker 1: our thoughts feel like they're running faster than we can 18 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:21,760 Speaker 1: keep up. We wake up already carrying something, perhaps an 19 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: unfinished conversation, a looming responsibility, a subtle sense of unease 20 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: we can't quite name, And before our feet even hit 21 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: the floor. Our minds are off replaying, predicting, analyzing, bracing. 22 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: In motherhood and in everyday life, there's rarely a pause 23 00:01:45,040 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 1: long enough to sort through it all. So the thoughts 24 00:01:48,800 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: keep coming, and if we're not intentional, they begin to 25 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: shape not just our mood, but our responses, our tone, 26 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 1: and the emotional climate of our home. We often think 27 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:07,640 Speaker 1: emotional regulation starts with calming our feelings, but the truth 28 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 1: is it begins with the posture of our hearts and 29 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:17,639 Speaker 1: directing our thoughts intentionally. Those words in Philippians four eight 30 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: are not simply a suggestion for positive thinking. They are 31 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:28,639 Speaker 1: an invitation into intentional focus and a gentle, steadying recalibration 32 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:33,320 Speaker 1: for a mind that is drifted into overwhelm. Because the 33 00:02:33,400 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: truth is, our minds will think about something. The question 34 00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:42,519 Speaker 1: is what are we allowing to take up space? When 35 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,200 Speaker 1: our thoughts are filled with worst case scenarios, comparison, prostration, 36 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: or constant input from the outside world, it becomes increasingly 37 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 1: difficult to stay grounded. Our nervous systems respond to what 38 00:02:58,120 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: our mind rehearses. But when we begin, even slowly and imperfectly, 39 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 1: to redirect our thoughts toward what is true, noble, right, 40 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: and lovely, something internally shifts in my own life. I've 41 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:21,240 Speaker 1: come to see this as a core part of staying steady, 42 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: not controlling every thought that enters, but choosing which ones 43 00:03:25,880 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 1: I allow to stay. It's a quiet practice of noticing, pausing, 44 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,200 Speaker 1: and gently guiding my mind back to what is anchored 45 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: and life giving. That sometimes looks like replacing a spiraling 46 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: thought with truth, or stepping away from input that is 47 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: over stimulating, And sometimes it simply means asking, is what 48 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: I'm dwelling on right now? Helping me stay steady. This 49 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:59,280 Speaker 1: isn't about ignoring reality or pretending everything is perfect. It's 50 00:03:59,320 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 1: about recognizing that where our thoughts settle, our hearts often follow, 51 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 1: and in a world that constantly competes for our attention, 52 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 1: choosing what we dwell on is one of the most 53 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 1: powerful ways we can care for our minds and in turn, 54 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: the people around us. A steady mind doesn't happen by accident. 55 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 1: It is cultivated, one thought at a time. Let's pray, Lord, 56 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: you know how quickly my thoughts can drift, how easily 57 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:38,359 Speaker 1: my mind fills with worry, distraction, and noise. Today I 58 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:41,320 Speaker 1: ask you to help me become more aware of what 59 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:44,799 Speaker 1: I'm dwelling on, so I can also be a mirror 60 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: of your steadiness. For my family created me a steady 61 00:04:49,640 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: mind rooted in your truth. Let what I think about 62 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: shape my heart in ways that reflect your peace, your goodness, 63 00:04:58,000 --> 00:05:01,720 Speaker 1: and your presence in my life and Jesus precious me. 64 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 2: Amen, friend, it is not too late to join us 65 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 2: for our summer book club featuring the book When Mothering 66 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 2: Is Hard and No One Sees by my friend Selene Roberts. 67 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,200 Speaker 2: It's happening now through the end of July, and we 68 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 2: want you to join us. Head to the homepage of 69 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 2: our website, Million Prayingmoms dot com to find out more 70 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:25,440 Speaker 2: and use the code book Club twenty for twenty percent 71 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:30,040 Speaker 2: off your order from our mom Shop. Until next time, friends, 72 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 73 00:05:34,520 --> 00:05:38,359 Speaker 2: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 74 00:05:38,440 --> 00:05:41,599 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.