1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:18,980 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:21,610 --> 00:00:25,329 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:25,390 --> 00:00:28,370 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:28,510 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day, We come 6 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 7 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:37,500 Speaker 1: This fall, we have been in a series for nine 8 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: weeks praying through the nine fruit of the Spirit, and 9 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:43,339 Speaker 1: we have come to the end. This is the last 10 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,269 Speaker 1: fruit of the Spirit that we are praying through this week, self-control. 11 00:00:48,830 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 1: Save the best for last, right? This is something that 12 00:00:51,300 --> 00:00:53,930 Speaker 1: we struggle with, our children struggle with, and so it 13 00:00:54,110 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: certainly demands our attention in prayer. Today's devotion is written 14 00:00:58,740 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: and read by me. It's excerpted from my new book, 15 00:01:01,260 --> 00:01:04,500 Speaker 1: releasing in just a few weeks, Everyday Prayers for Moms. 16 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:07,699 Speaker 1: It's now available for pre-order wherever books are sold. To 17 00:01:07,740 --> 00:01:10,380 Speaker 1: learn more about our ministry, to grab copies of our 18 00:01:10,459 --> 00:01:13,459 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers devotionals, was there a fruit of the Spirit 19 00:01:13,500 --> 00:01:15,459 Speaker 1: that you wanted to dig a little bit more into 20 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:17,890 Speaker 1: after praying through it this fall? Grab a copy of 21 00:01:17,950 --> 00:01:20,490 Speaker 1: our Everyday Prayers devotional, For That Root of the Spirit, 22 00:01:20,670 --> 00:01:25,030 Speaker 1: at millionprayingmoms.com. If you do that, use our code FALL20 23 00:01:25,500 --> 00:01:29,120 Speaker 1: for our podcast listeners for 20% off your order. After 24 00:01:29,180 --> 00:01:31,540 Speaker 1: a quick word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for 25 00:01:31,600 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: our families. The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, 26 00:01:39,940 --> 00:01:55,660 Speaker 1: be self-controlled. When I read this verse for today, what 27 00:01:55,740 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: stands out to me is, for the sake of your prayers. 28 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:06,440 Speaker 1: Peter writes that being self-controlled and sober-minded impacts our prayer lives. 29 00:02:07,340 --> 00:02:11,299 Speaker 1: I had never noticed this detail before, and it seems significant. 30 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,240 Speaker 1: Commentator William Barclay puts it like this, He says that 31 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:20,720 Speaker 1: we must do this, practice self-control, in order to pray 32 00:02:20,980 --> 00:02:26,090 Speaker 1: as we ought. We might render it, preserve your prayer life. 33 00:02:27,110 --> 00:02:30,330 Speaker 1: When a man's mind is unbalanced and his approach to 34 00:02:30,389 --> 00:02:35,169 Speaker 1: life is frivolous and irresponsible, he cannot pray as he ought. 35 00:02:35,970 --> 00:02:39,450 Speaker 1: We learn to pray only when we take life so 36 00:02:39,570 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 1: wisely and so seriously that we begin to say in 37 00:02:43,260 --> 00:02:47,740 Speaker 1: all things, thy will be done. The first necessity of 38 00:02:47,820 --> 00:02:51,440 Speaker 1: prayer is the earnest desire to discover the will of 39 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 1: God for ourselves. Barclay's notes on this passage stopped me 40 00:02:56,720 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: in my tracks. We must be on guard to protect 41 00:03:01,100 --> 00:03:05,829 Speaker 1: our prayer life. It's this idea of guarding or protecting 42 00:03:06,190 --> 00:03:09,329 Speaker 1: that really stands out to me. It makes me think 43 00:03:09,370 --> 00:03:11,430 Speaker 1: of Proverbs 25, 28. A man without self-control is like 44 00:03:12,030 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: a city broken into and left without walls. Self-control is 45 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,709 Speaker 1: one of our defenses in the battle. The enemy wants 46 00:03:24,070 --> 00:03:28,730 Speaker 1: nothing more than to keep us from praying, especially as moms. 47 00:03:29,570 --> 00:03:32,990 Speaker 1: We need to guard against anything he does to prevent 48 00:03:33,210 --> 00:03:38,560 Speaker 1: us from praying for our children. Barclay argues that through 49 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:43,460 Speaker 1: the fruit of self-control, we can preserve our prayer life. 50 00:03:44,530 --> 00:03:47,750 Speaker 1: It's so true that our prayer life can be deeply 51 00:03:47,890 --> 00:03:52,470 Speaker 1: impacted by our lack of self-control. When we live as 52 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,980 Speaker 1: if surrendered to the flesh instead of to the Spirit, 53 00:03:56,640 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: we can feel defeated, guilty, or shameful. However, as Paul 54 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:07,690 Speaker 1: wrote to Timothy, For God gave us a spirit not 55 00:04:07,790 --> 00:04:13,670 Speaker 1: of fear, but of power and love and self-control. 2 56 00:04:13,670 --> 00:04:19,990 Speaker 1: Timothy 1.7. Something to think about. It is interesting that 57 00:04:20,089 --> 00:04:24,790 Speaker 1: self-control is the last or final fruit that Paul lists 58 00:04:24,890 --> 00:04:30,130 Speaker 1: in Galatians 5, 22-23. When I read the list, I 59 00:04:30,170 --> 00:04:34,100 Speaker 1: like to think that the order is intentional. Self-control seems 60 00:04:34,150 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 1: to be the fruit that is interconnected to all of 61 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:41,140 Speaker 1: the others. When we resist the works of the flesh 62 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:47,289 Speaker 1: and pursue the Spirit, That is self-control. For example, when 63 00:04:47,310 --> 00:04:50,029 Speaker 1: you don't say the first thing that comes to your mind, 64 00:04:50,510 --> 00:04:54,930 Speaker 1: but choose to pause and then respond in kindness, that 65 00:04:55,070 --> 00:05:00,790 Speaker 1: is self-control. In a challenging situation, if you feel impatient 66 00:05:01,150 --> 00:05:03,990 Speaker 1: but ask the Spirit for help and choose to show 67 00:05:04,050 --> 00:05:09,529 Speaker 1: patience instead, that is self-control. When you love your enemies 68 00:05:09,690 --> 00:05:14,909 Speaker 1: and pray for them, that is self-control. We often desire 69 00:05:14,950 --> 00:05:18,300 Speaker 1: the flashy works of the Spirit, but not the Spirit's 70 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:22,900 Speaker 1: hard work in our lives. Once again, to bear fruit, 71 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: we have to abide in Jesus, abide in the vine. 72 00:05:27,779 --> 00:05:32,210 Speaker 1: We can't muster up enough self-control to resist sin and 73 00:05:32,230 --> 00:05:36,310 Speaker 1: the things of the flesh. We must continually submit to 74 00:05:36,350 --> 00:05:39,170 Speaker 1: the work of the Spirit in our lives in order 75 00:05:39,210 --> 00:05:44,260 Speaker 1: to exhibit self-control. When we live out self-control before our kids, 76 00:05:44,940 --> 00:05:47,960 Speaker 1: it is a powerful witness to the ongoing work of 77 00:05:48,020 --> 00:05:55,390 Speaker 1: God in our lives. Let's pray. Father, thank you for 78 00:05:55,490 --> 00:05:59,810 Speaker 1: showing us what self-control looks like in your Son, Jesus. 79 00:06:01,230 --> 00:06:05,360 Speaker 1: Help us make sure our thoughts and actions honor you. 80 00:06:06,860 --> 00:06:11,080 Speaker 1: Give us self-control to resist the works of the enemy 81 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:17,700 Speaker 1: and our own selfish desires. We need your help. May 82 00:06:17,740 --> 00:06:21,770 Speaker 1: we model self-control for our children in a world where 83 00:06:21,830 --> 00:06:26,810 Speaker 1: it is lacking. In Jesus' name, amen. As part of 84 00:06:26,890 --> 00:06:29,450 Speaker 1: our Fruit of the Spirit prayers and everyday prayers for 85 00:06:29,490 --> 00:06:33,109 Speaker 1: the school year book club, Tara, Cole, and I created 86 00:06:33,130 --> 00:06:36,810 Speaker 1: a free car conversations guide for your family to use 87 00:06:36,950 --> 00:06:40,460 Speaker 1: this fall. The car is sometimes the best place for 88 00:06:40,540 --> 00:06:44,510 Speaker 1: our most precious children conversations with our kids as we 89 00:06:44,570 --> 00:06:47,270 Speaker 1: are praying through the fruit of the spirit our hope 90 00:06:47,430 --> 00:06:50,790 Speaker 1: is that you can have meaningful conversations with your kids 91 00:06:51,190 --> 00:06:54,150 Speaker 1: about what living out these fruit looks like in their 92 00:06:54,210 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 1: daily lives Tara and I created a series of quick 93 00:06:57,150 --> 00:06:59,700 Speaker 1: questions she wrote some for the older kids I wrote 94 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,620 Speaker 1: some for younger kids and we share a prayer that 95 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,060 Speaker 1: you can share with your children about each of the 96 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:08,740 Speaker 1: fruit of the spirit download your copy for free on 97 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:11,710 Speaker 1: our website or the link in our show notes Until 98 00:07:11,770 --> 00:07:15,450 Speaker 1: next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 99 00:07:16,500 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 100 00:07:20,140 --> 00:07:22,940 Speaker 1: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 101 00:07:22,980 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: you peace.