1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:17,759 Speaker 2: You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 3 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,000 Speaker 2: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 4 00:00:20,040 --> 00:00:23,919 Speaker 2: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,080 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,120 --> 00:00:32,800 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 2: In the month of April, we are hosting the Everyday 9 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 2: Prayers for Gentleness book Club on the podcast to celebrate 10 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: our newest release. 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,080 Speaker 1: We're So Glad you're here today. 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: The author of our new book and mom of three, 13 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 2: Christy Thomas, will lead our devotion in prayer to challenge 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:49,720 Speaker 2: us and encourage us on our journey to grow in gentleness. 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:52,879 Speaker 2: To learn more about Christy, our new book, and the 16 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 2: Million Praying Mom's ministry, visit Millionprayingmoms dot com. You can 17 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 2: find a link in our show notes. After a brief 18 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,480 Speaker 2: word from our sponsors, will pray together for our children. 19 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:08,319 Speaker 3: Matthew twenty six, Verse fifty three says, or do you 20 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:11,399 Speaker 3: think that I cannot call on my father and He 21 00:01:11,440 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 3: will provide me here and now? With more than twelve 22 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 3: legions of angels. If you had an angel army at 23 00:01:18,360 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: your disposal, what would you do with it? Would you 24 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,120 Speaker 3: command the army to personally escort your vehicle to work 25 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 3: each day, or perhaps to keep your children from all 26 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 3: kinds of harm, or maybe just to save you a 27 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 3: spot in line at costco In Matthew twenty six, verse 28 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 3: fifty three, Jesus said he had immediate access to at 29 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 3: least twelve legions of angels. If you've ever wondered exactly 30 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 3: how many angels, that is, each Roman legion had four 31 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 3: to six thousand soldiers, So Jesus was referring to an 32 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,800 Speaker 3: army of at least forty eight thousand angels. That's an 33 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 3: immense amount of power, and yet Jesus chose not to 34 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 3: use this army in his time of need. Imagine you 35 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 3: were there in the garden of Casemone with Jesus and 36 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 3: his disciples. Stars peeked out from behind alive leaves, and 37 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 3: a nighttime animal snuffled nearby. Your big dinner made you drowsy, 38 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,640 Speaker 3: and you struggled to keep your eyes open. Then you 39 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:16,760 Speaker 3: heard a rhythmic clanking coming from the other end of 40 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:19,880 Speaker 3: the garden. You jolted awake because you grew up to 41 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,919 Speaker 3: the sounds of marching soldiers, and you know it bodes ill. 42 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,679 Speaker 3: The clanking got louder, and torches bobbed through the night, 43 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 3: until the crowd surrounded you and your friends. It was 44 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,280 Speaker 3: a face off Jesus and his team versus the religious 45 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 3: leaders and their team, except for your friend Judas, who 46 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 3: very strangely appeared to be on the wrong team. John eighteen, 47 00:02:41,120 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 3: verses four to six says, Then Jesus, knowing everything that 48 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 3: was about to happen to him, went out and said 49 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 3: to them, who is it that you're seeking, Jesus of Nazareth. 50 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:54,680 Speaker 3: They answered, I am he. Jesus told them Judas, who 51 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 3: betrayed him, was also standing with them. When Jesus told them, 52 00:02:58,480 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 3: I am he, they stepped back and fell to the ground. 53 00:03:03,160 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 3: Jesus displayed his power in a single phrase, echoing the 54 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:10,399 Speaker 3: name the One True God gave himself Am in Exodus three, 55 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 3: verse fourteen. I am who I am? And what impact 56 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 3: did that name have on the listeners? They stumbled backward 57 00:03:18,080 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 3: and fell down. I've never introduced myself and had someone 58 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 3: fall over at the sound of my name. He just 59 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 3: doesn't have that kind of power. But Jesus name and 60 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 3: his truthful identification with the eternal God was enough to 61 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,680 Speaker 3: knock over the soldiers. They had to pick themselves up 62 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 3: off the ground. John eighteen seven to ten says, Then 63 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 3: he asked them again, who is it that you're seeking 64 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:45,280 Speaker 3: Jesus of Nazareth. They said, I told you I am he. 65 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 3: Jesus replied, so, if you're looking for me, let these 66 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 3: men go. This was to fulfill the words he had said, 67 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 3: I have not lost one of those you have given me. 68 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 3: Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, threw it, struck 69 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 3: the high priest servant and cut off his right ear. 70 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 3: The servant's name was Malchus. At every point in this 71 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:08,360 Speaker 3: true story, Jesus had the choice to end at all 72 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 3: by calling down his angel army or continuing to lay 73 00:04:12,320 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 3: down his power for the sake of humanity. I think 74 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 3: you know what he chose. Matthew twenty six fifty two 75 00:04:18,200 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 3: to fifty four says. Then Jesus told him put your 76 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,600 Speaker 3: sword back in its place, because all who take up 77 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 3: the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you 78 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:30,039 Speaker 3: think that I cannot call on my father and he 79 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:32,479 Speaker 3: will provide me Here and now with more than twelve 80 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,720 Speaker 3: legions of angels, how then would the scriptures be fulfilled 81 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:37,680 Speaker 3: that say it. 82 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Must happen this way? 83 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 3: The Great i Am chose to withhold his power so 84 00:04:44,240 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 3: the scriptures could be fulfilled. Jesus knew Isaiah had predicted 85 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 3: that he would be despised, rejected, and led like a 86 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:54,920 Speaker 3: lamb to the slaughter, not because he needed to be humiliated, 87 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 3: but because of God's promise in Isaiah fifty three, verse five. 88 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 3: He was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of 89 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:05,520 Speaker 3: our iniquities. Punishment for our peace was on him, and 90 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 3: we are healed by his wounds. With this goal in mind, 91 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:12,240 Speaker 3: Jesus could move forward in gentleness, even in a time 92 00:05:12,240 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 3: of great personal vulnerability, choosing to lay down his immense 93 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,200 Speaker 3: power in order to bring healing and reconciliation. As followers 94 00:05:20,200 --> 00:05:23,120 Speaker 3: of Jesus, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us 95 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 3: and the power of Christ at our disposal. Knowing that 96 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 3: the power of Heaven is backing us up, we can 97 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 3: choose to work for reconciliation without fear. If Christ is 98 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:40,040 Speaker 3: for us, who can stand against us? Let's pray Jesus, 99 00:05:40,120 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 3: we thank you for choosing to lay down your right 100 00:05:43,279 --> 00:05:46,280 Speaker 3: to defend yourself so that we could be healed and 101 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 3: brought into a right relationship with you. You had the 102 00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 3: ability to call down legions of angels, but you didn't 103 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 3: do so in order that the scriptures could be fulfilled. 104 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,599 Speaker 3: Thank you for valuing us that much in Jesus name. 105 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 2: As part of our book called this Month, we are 106 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: making all of the wonderful perks of our paid Patreon 107 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 2: members available at the free tier. That's right, The daily 108 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: devotionals in written form, bonus materials, special previews, and more 109 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,120 Speaker 2: free to you this month only. See the link in 110 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,280 Speaker 2: our show notes are on our website to get connected. 111 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,680 Speaker 2: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 112 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 2: Make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 113 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:30,240 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor upon you and give 114 00:06:30,279 --> 00:06:31,080 Speaker 2: you peace.