1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,880 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Welcome to the Everyday Prayers Podcast with Million 2 00:00:08,920 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: Praying Moms. I'm Nicolette Bell, your host, and I have 3 00:00:13,240 --> 00:00:16,800 Speaker 1: loved our Fridays in February when we have been getting 4 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:21,160 Speaker 1: to have conversations with author Rachel Adams. Rachel, welcome back 5 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:21,760 Speaker 1: to the show. 6 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 2: Hey, Nichola, thanks for having me. 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: Yes, we have been talking about all things love. Rachel 8 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: is authored to our book every Day Prayers for Love, 9 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:33,239 Speaker 1: our thirty one day devotional that's such a great resource 10 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,280 Speaker 1: for helping us learn about receiving God's love, loving God, 11 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: loving others, and even loving yourself. So our conversations on 12 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,640 Speaker 1: Fridays this month have revolved around that. If you've missed 13 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:45,199 Speaker 1: any of them, I encourage you to go back and 14 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: grab those episodes. But even if you have it, you 15 00:00:47,479 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: can be part of our conversation today as we really 16 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:55,279 Speaker 1: dive in on what does it mean to love yourself? 17 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:58,960 Speaker 1: And Rachel, I am. I've been most excited I think 18 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: about this conversation because I want to hear what you 19 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 1: have to say about it as someone who's really studied 20 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,240 Speaker 1: this topic and really looked at it in the scriptures 21 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: and spent time with it. What does it mean to 22 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,839 Speaker 1: you to love yourself in a biblical sense. 23 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:23,199 Speaker 2: So I really struggle with this. I am really hard 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: on myself, and so this probably of all the things 25 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 2: we've talked about, has maybe been the most difficult for me. 26 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 2: I can tell a brief story. This was my kids 27 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 2: were toddlers. We were at the pool and I only 28 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 2: have two children, and at this pool one day, a 29 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 2: lady comes up to me and she said, Rachel, I 30 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 2: didn't know you were expecting. Again, well, I wasn't. I 31 00:01:45,959 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: wasn't pregnant. I just was carrying some baby wait still 32 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:52,160 Speaker 2: in my midsection. And so I got home and it 33 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 2: just threw me. And it sounds so superficial. I mean, 34 00:01:55,400 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: it's something so silly, but just being kind of an 35 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 2: insecure person and feeling inadequate in all areas of my life, 36 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 2: not just physically but emotionally spiritually, and just the way 37 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: that I have felt gifted, sometimes I struggle. And so 38 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:12,240 Speaker 2: I came home and I told my husband about that. 39 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 2: I should have gone to the Lord, but I went 40 00:02:13,720 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: to my husband. And the next morning there was an 41 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 2: index card on my mirror and it said, Rachel, you 42 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:24,800 Speaker 2: are God's workmanship, And what a beautiful work he has created. 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:28,560 Speaker 2: And so this was probably thirteen years ago, but I 44 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,359 Speaker 2: still have that index card as a reminder to me 45 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 2: of not only you know how my husband sees me, 46 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:39,360 Speaker 2: but more importantly, how the Lord sees me. And that 47 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 2: verse is for you are God's workmanship. It created to 48 00:02:44,280 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: do good works, which we talked about last week, to 49 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,800 Speaker 2: love others and to love God. But I think we 50 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 2: have to start there to realize what does God say 51 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,480 Speaker 2: about us? And when he created Adam and Eve, he 52 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 2: looked upon his creation and he said it was very good, 53 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 2: and I believe he says it same thing over us. 54 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,000 Speaker 2: Our God does not make mistakes. He's given us the 55 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:09,799 Speaker 2: exact body type, the exact giftings, the everything he has done, 56 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:13,119 Speaker 2: the way he has shaped us was on purpose, for 57 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: a purpose, And so I think that we really have 58 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 2: to start there. That God loves us and he created us, 59 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 2: and so we can love what he created, not necessarily 60 00:03:28,520 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: just put ourselves on a pedestal, but to put God 61 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,080 Speaker 2: on a pedestal and to honor him and to see 62 00:03:34,120 --> 00:03:37,520 Speaker 2: ourselves as his creation whom he dearly loves. 63 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 1: Such a beautiful story of that, I think that so 64 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: much of what you said has so much truth in 65 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: it for so many of us as women of just 66 00:03:46,760 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: you know, struggling with what that looks like. And I 67 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:54,280 Speaker 1: think also sometimes our Christian culture can almost feed into that, 68 00:03:54,440 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: not intentionally, I don't think, but when we look at 69 00:03:57,200 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 1: you know, scriptures like in for Samuel, where David is 70 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: being called as king, he's like, well, the Lord doesn't 71 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: look at outward appearance. He looks at the heart. And yes, 72 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,119 Speaker 1: the scripture says that, but it also says that we're 73 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 1: made in his image and that he looks at us 74 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:16,560 Speaker 1: he genuinely thinks that we are beautiful and that he 75 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:20,920 Speaker 1: has made us to be like him. And he did 76 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 1: say it was very very good. And I think you're 77 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 1: so right that that is exactly how he looks at us, 78 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: looks at us now, in both the physical sense and 79 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: in the spiritual sense and emotional sense and in all 80 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 1: of the ways. So, Rachel, what do you what do 81 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,880 Speaker 1: you think is particularly you touched on this a little bit, 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:44,919 Speaker 1: but maybe specifically, what are some of the challenges with 83 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,080 Speaker 1: really kind of living that out in our lives? Like 84 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 1: the example you gave was a comment from somebody, but 85 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 1: what are some other things that make it challenging? To 86 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,359 Speaker 1: love ourselves or see ourselves maybe as lovable. 87 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 2: I think because we know our selves, we know every 88 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: thought that we have had, we know every mistake and 89 00:05:05,000 --> 00:05:08,440 Speaker 2: sin that we have committed, and so so many times 90 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,919 Speaker 2: we feel like failures because we have failed so many times, 91 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: and so to to not just I find sometimes not 92 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:18,960 Speaker 2: only do I not love myself, but I don't even 93 00:05:19,080 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 2: like myself. And that's a really hard place to be. 94 00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: And so you know, the Lord knows all of those things. 95 00:05:25,520 --> 00:05:28,679 Speaker 2: But yeah, he still loves us, and I'm so thankful 96 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:32,560 Speaker 2: for that truth. But I think that when we look 97 00:05:32,600 --> 00:05:34,960 Speaker 2: and see ourselves and our sinful fall in nature, and 98 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 2: then we also compare ourselves to other people, I think 99 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: it gets really hard there too. It's like, well, she's 100 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,040 Speaker 2: doing all of these other things better than me, and 101 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:47,560 Speaker 2: so you just it's almost becomes like a self loathing. 102 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: And but again, what the struggle is is, I've said 103 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:55,720 Speaker 2: this word so many times. It's a focus on self. 104 00:05:56,440 --> 00:06:00,360 Speaker 2: And that is even in an insecurity. From that frame 105 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 2: of mind, it's still a focus on self, which is 106 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: still prideful in some ways. Sometimes we think it's humble 107 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,880 Speaker 2: and humility, but it's really not. Our eyes need to 108 00:06:09,920 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: be fixed on God and what God has made and 109 00:06:13,960 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 2: his forgiveness. And so I think we've got to shift 110 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,839 Speaker 2: our eyes and shift our focus to not be looking 111 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 2: at other people and not being continuing to harp on 112 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:28,480 Speaker 2: and look at ourselves and feel guilt and shame over 113 00:06:28,520 --> 00:06:30,800 Speaker 2: what we have done, because that's what the enemy would 114 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 2: love to have us continue to do. But that's not 115 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: the Lord's way. He may gently convict, but he's not 116 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 2: going to condemn. And I think many of us are 117 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,359 Speaker 2: stuck in that place of condemnation and that self loathing. 118 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 2: And that's what I pray that we start to move 119 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 2: out of. Because when the scripture talks about loving our 120 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 2: neighbors as ourselves, like we talked about last week loving 121 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 2: other people, we can't love other people well if we 122 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 2: aren't loving ourselves, because if we're going to be ugly 123 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,839 Speaker 2: to ourselves and you know, shaming and talking negatively, that's 124 00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 2: not how we're supposed to love other people. So when 125 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 2: that scripture says love your neighbor as yourself, how are 126 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: you loving yourself? Are you caring for yourself? Are you 127 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:18,480 Speaker 2: setting boundaries? Are you giving yourself compassion and grace? Because 128 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,680 Speaker 2: that when you start there with that foundation, that's then 129 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:23,240 Speaker 2: what you can extend to other people. 130 00:07:23,360 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: That really gives a lot of context around you know, 131 00:07:25,840 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: what it means to really love yourself? You know when 132 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: I when you hear this, and I think you know, 133 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: so much of the what we hear and read and 134 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:41,120 Speaker 1: consume is this kind of self care dialogue that our 135 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:45,400 Speaker 1: society really is about right now. And this you know, 136 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: treat yourself. You see it in commercials and on influencers 137 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: saying the things on Instagram. Like I was laughing this morning. 138 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,560 Speaker 1: I was telling our babysitter that's here today. Uh, Like 139 00:07:56,640 --> 00:07:59,840 Speaker 1: this watch I'm wearing is a non smart watch, but 140 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: I was influenced to buy it, right, and it's like 141 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: an influencer like watch or whatever. And it was twenty 142 00:08:04,640 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: bucks on Amazon. But like I didn't know I needed 143 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:08,960 Speaker 1: this watch. I didn't think I needed this watch until 144 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: I saw somebody else that had it. Right, But it's 145 00:08:10,560 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: this whole like treat yourself, do this thing like go 146 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:17,280 Speaker 1: buy the latte, get a massage, you know whatever it means. 147 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:19,520 Speaker 1: Like that's I feel like what we can think about 148 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,480 Speaker 1: when we are thinking about like loving ourselves, and that's 149 00:08:24,560 --> 00:08:27,840 Speaker 1: just not the biblical concept of that, So how do 150 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:32,079 Speaker 1: we kind of differentiate like caring for ourselves. Sometimes a 151 00:08:32,160 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: latte hits right, like right in postpartum, I'm like, yes, 152 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: give me the vanilla la te. But by figurrel over here, 153 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 1: give me the vanilla te. But you know what does 154 00:08:43,040 --> 00:08:46,559 Speaker 1: that look like in the biblical sense of caring for ourselves? First, 155 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: I know that before I need a latte, I need 156 00:08:49,160 --> 00:08:51,160 Speaker 1: the word of God. I need to come to him 157 00:08:51,160 --> 00:08:53,960 Speaker 1: in career. That's the most important thing I can do 158 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:57,720 Speaker 1: in caring for my child, even in this season of newbornhood. 159 00:08:57,800 --> 00:08:59,000 Speaker 1: So talk to us about that a bit. 160 00:08:59,640 --> 00:09:02,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think so often in our culture 161 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 2: today we view self love as selfish, like you were 162 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: just talking about, like the self care movement, and all 163 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 2: of those things are good. You know, we can't show 164 00:09:14,960 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 2: up as our best self if we are super depleted, 165 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,720 Speaker 2: if we're coming from an empty cup and an empty heart, 166 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,199 Speaker 2: then we're no good to anybody. And so I think 167 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 2: there is an element of that to not be so 168 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 2: sacrificial in so many words, that you have completely become 169 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,960 Speaker 2: a dormat and you're letting everybody and everything come first. 170 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 2: And so I do want to touch on that that 171 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 2: it's okay to take time for yourself. I think that 172 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 2: that is important. And even Jesus went away to a 173 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 2: quiet place away from people to pray with his father 174 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 2: in heaven, so there is an element of that, and 175 00:09:54,720 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 2: so don't feel guilty or shame if you need to 176 00:09:56,960 --> 00:10:02,840 Speaker 2: take that time. But again, I think that the where 177 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,200 Speaker 2: we come to a little bit of an issue is 178 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 2: if we are constantly so self focused, which is what 179 00:10:11,880 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 2: we talked about earlier. So I think that the key 180 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 2: is is that we have to start to see ourselves 181 00:10:18,280 --> 00:10:20,440 Speaker 2: through God's eyes. And I have a brief story to 182 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 2: tell that. My husband years ago he just said, Rachel, 183 00:10:24,760 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 2: if only you could see yourself through my eyes, it 184 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 2: would change your world. Because there was some other instance 185 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:34,480 Speaker 2: where I was kind of having a self loathing self, 186 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,080 Speaker 2: just feeling insecure about something that I had done, and 187 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 2: so he said that, and I thought, really, not just 188 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: again my husband's saying that, but if we could all 189 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 2: start to realize that God is speaking that over us 190 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 2: as his daughter's daughter, if you could only see yourself 191 00:10:49,840 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: through my eyes, it would change your world. So I 192 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 2: think we're just looking at ourselves through the wrong lens, 193 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 2: and we're focusing on the wrong things and so shifting 194 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 2: our focus and truly saying like God loves us and 195 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,960 Speaker 2: he wants us to love ourselves, and then through that 196 00:11:06,120 --> 00:11:09,480 Speaker 2: overflow that can extend to the relationships around us. 197 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 1: Right, I think we can kind of go one of 198 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:12,600 Speaker 1: two ways. 199 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:12,839 Speaker 2: Right. 200 00:11:12,880 --> 00:11:17,120 Speaker 1: We can either like jump off and completely be like 201 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,920 Speaker 1: we've got to do all these things, like completely selfish 202 00:11:20,320 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: going down, you know, don't I am doing these things 203 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:25,880 Speaker 1: for myself, that self care movement of all the way 204 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,280 Speaker 1: like in and it's all about me and what I 205 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: need and no sacrifice and this is what's happening here. 206 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:36,360 Speaker 1: Or we can go the other way and completely be 207 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,880 Speaker 1: the opposite of that and run ourselves ragged and not 208 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: take any time for ourselves and show up just completely 209 00:11:42,320 --> 00:11:44,800 Speaker 1: empty and depleted like you were talking about. And I 210 00:11:44,840 --> 00:11:47,079 Speaker 1: think that that's what the enemy would like us to do, 211 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: one of those two extremes. And I think based on 212 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,760 Speaker 1: kind of our personalities and maybe the way we were 213 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:54,160 Speaker 1: raised or maybe what generation we find ourselves in, right, 214 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: that we can be more out to one or the other. 215 00:11:58,280 --> 00:12:01,839 Speaker 1: But really, the the life that Christ modeled for us 216 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 1: is inviting us to that middle place, right, he did 217 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 1: go away to pray, and then there was another instance 218 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: where he stayed and he healed longer and did more 219 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,960 Speaker 1: because the people needed it in that instance. And so 220 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:17,720 Speaker 1: we find that balance in the life that she modeled 221 00:12:18,160 --> 00:12:21,040 Speaker 1: for us, and that's what we're seeking. And when we 222 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,720 Speaker 1: kind of go one of those other ways, we feel 223 00:12:23,720 --> 00:12:27,880 Speaker 1: off balance, we feel unlovable, we feel like we're not 224 00:12:28,320 --> 00:12:31,920 Speaker 1: in where we should be because that's not the way 225 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: that we were created to live. But when we are 226 00:12:34,480 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: in that place of receiving God's love and caring for ourselves, 227 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: then we can extend that love to others, to those 228 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: around us, and so we can ask God to help 229 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:50,880 Speaker 1: us find that balance or that rhythm in between. Somewhere. 230 00:12:50,960 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: I have a friend that's like, I don't like the 231 00:12:52,320 --> 00:12:54,320 Speaker 1: word balance. It's not a good word. But we can 232 00:12:54,360 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: never find balance as moms. And that may be a 233 00:12:57,400 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: good point. But just kind of that middle ground where 234 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:03,199 Speaker 1: the world wants us to be one or two extremes, 235 00:13:03,559 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: that God is really inviting us to this other way, 236 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 1: this kind of path down the middle, I feel. 237 00:13:08,360 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 2: Like, yeah, no, I completely agree. And I think that's 238 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:16,600 Speaker 2: where prayer comes into play again. Lord, just leave God 239 00:13:16,720 --> 00:13:19,240 Speaker 2: and direct me and every moment of every single day. 240 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:21,679 Speaker 2: Is this something that I need to lay down? Am 241 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:23,840 Speaker 2: I being selfish in this moment? Or is this something 242 00:13:23,840 --> 00:13:26,880 Speaker 2: that I really need? And rest? Is okay? We can 243 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 2: free ourselves to rest. I feel like we need to 244 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:33,120 Speaker 2: give that like permission slip today to all the moms 245 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,640 Speaker 2: listening right. 246 00:13:35,080 --> 00:13:38,040 Speaker 1: You know, I'm I'm technically on maturity leave right now, 247 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 1: as forgot recording this episode. So that's funny. But you know, 248 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:46,360 Speaker 1: even in this the season of newborn hood, we're really like, 249 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: the only thing I should be doing right now is 250 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:51,960 Speaker 1: taking care of my baby and taking care and kind 251 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,439 Speaker 1: of you know, taking care of myself and the house, 252 00:13:54,600 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: like just kind of moving things along. I'm constantly thinking 253 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:59,200 Speaker 1: about all the things I should be doing and that 254 00:13:59,240 --> 00:14:01,920 Speaker 1: I'm not doing, and where I'm falling short and all 255 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: these things. And that's not loving, that's not loving myself, 256 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: and that's not loving my daughter and my son. When 257 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:11,480 Speaker 1: I'm short tempered or feeling like I should be doing 258 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 1: something else rushing us along, and so it doesn't have 259 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,200 Speaker 1: to be complex, right, it is in these simple moments 260 00:14:17,240 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: of going okay, now, I can just hold him for 261 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: a minute and close my eyes, because we were up 262 00:14:21,200 --> 00:14:22,640 Speaker 1: all night and I can just like take a nap 263 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:26,200 Speaker 1: right now, give myself that and grace and that permission. 264 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: But as moms, we just so often don't do that, 265 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:32,040 Speaker 1: and we just pressure ourselves in so many ways. So 266 00:14:32,040 --> 00:14:34,800 Speaker 1: it could be that small for us this week. I've 267 00:14:34,840 --> 00:14:37,640 Speaker 1: just given ourselves the permission to rest. I'm taking my 268 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 1: permission slip from Rachel this week. I hope that you 269 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: will do the same. So, Rachel, thank you so much 270 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 1: for talking with us about this. It has just been 271 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 1: so great to spend some time getting to know you 272 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: better and to be able to hear your heart for 273 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,360 Speaker 1: encouraging all of us to love God more and to 274 00:14:58,720 --> 00:15:02,240 Speaker 1: love those around us, to even love ourselves. Could we 275 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: be bold enough in Christ to do that this week? 276 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: If it's okay, I'll close this out in prayer and 277 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: we will wrap up. Father, we are so grateful for 278 00:15:11,680 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 1: the way that you love us. Help us to not 279 00:15:14,760 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: go a single day without acknowledging that and receiving the 280 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:23,000 Speaker 1: love that you have extended to us. God, thank you 281 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:27,880 Speaker 1: that you instructed us to love others even as we 282 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:31,480 Speaker 1: have loved ourselves. That we love You first and then 283 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: we love those around us, and that we have to 284 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,600 Speaker 1: do that in light of how we love ourselves, that 285 00:15:36,320 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 1: we see ourselves in the eyes that you see us. 286 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:43,880 Speaker 1: Would you give us your spiritual eyes today? Would you 287 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: remove any pride from our hearts, as Rachel talked about 288 00:15:48,400 --> 00:15:52,480 Speaker 1: that either is self seeking or self loathing, whatever that 289 00:15:52,520 --> 00:15:54,960 Speaker 1: looks like in our lives, would you remove it and 290 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:58,600 Speaker 1: replace it with your grace and love towards us? How 291 00:15:58,640 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: the give us that permission and to rest. Remind us 292 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:06,600 Speaker 1: that we don't have to do it all on our own. 293 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: We can't do it on our own. We need you, 294 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: We need your help, and that one of the maybe 295 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: the most simple way that we can love ourselves this 296 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: week is to rest in that truth. Meet us where 297 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:22,120 Speaker 1: we are today. God, help us to show your love 298 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,400 Speaker 1: to those around us by showing up with a heart 299 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: that is full of your love. First, help us to 300 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:32,920 Speaker 1: receive from you today. It's in Jesus' family. Pray. Amen. Friend, 301 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: we are so glad that you are a part of 302 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: our community here on the podcast. If you love everyday 303 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:40,280 Speaker 1: prayers in the Ministry of Million Praying Moms, I invite 304 00:16:40,360 --> 00:16:43,920 Speaker 1: you to join our Praying mom community on Patreon for 305 00:16:44,040 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 1: just ten dollars a month. You can connect deeper through 306 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 1: a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar. Each day's devotion in 307 00:16:50,360 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: written form and bonus content only available to our Patreon family. 308 00:16:55,320 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 1: Learn more in today's show notes or at Millionprayingmoms dot com. 309 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 310 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:07,800 Speaker 1: Make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. 311 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:11,000 Speaker 1: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 312 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: you peace.