1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,410 --> 00:00:18,770 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, helping 3 00:00:18,850 --> 00:00:21,650 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,750 --> 00:00:24,729 Speaker 2: you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 5 00:00:24,890 --> 00:00:28,070 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:28,190 --> 00:00:31,190 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 7 00:00:31,230 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:34,270 --> 00:00:36,269 Speaker 2: This fall, we are praying through the nine fruit of 9 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 2: the spirit in nine weeks using devotions adapted from our 10 00:00:39,180 --> 00:00:44,000 Speaker 2: everyday prayers devotional series. This week's prayer focus is patience. 11 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,460 Speaker 2: And I don't know if you are like me, but 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:49,140 Speaker 2: patience is a fruit I need to see more of 13 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:52,099 Speaker 2: in my life. So I'm so glad we're spending some 14 00:00:52,140 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 2: time praying through it together. Today's devotion is written and 15 00:00:55,340 --> 00:00:58,740 Speaker 2: read by Brooke McLaughlin, beloved founder of Million Praying Moms 16 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 2: and author of Everyday Prayers for Patients. To learn more 17 00:01:01,900 --> 00:01:04,860 Speaker 2: about Brooke, our ministry, or to grab copies of our 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:11,480 Speaker 2: Everyday Prayers devotionals, visit millionprayingmoms.com. And just for our podcast community, 19 00:01:11,500 --> 00:01:14,130 Speaker 2: you can visit our mom shop, use the code FALL20 20 00:01:14,209 --> 00:01:17,190 Speaker 2: for 20% off your order. After a quick word from 21 00:01:17,250 --> 00:01:19,530 Speaker 2: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 22 00:01:23,750 --> 00:01:27,350 Speaker 1: But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, 23 00:01:27,870 --> 00:01:32,190 Speaker 1: the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary 24 00:01:32,250 --> 00:01:35,330 Speaker 1: patience as an example to those who would believe in 25 00:01:35,390 --> 00:01:40,090 Speaker 1: Him for eternal life. 1 Timothy 1.16 When I was 26 00:01:40,090 --> 00:01:43,589 Speaker 1: 22 years old, I took my first full-time job in ministry. 27 00:01:44,110 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: I don't remember my exact job title, but I was 28 00:01:46,520 --> 00:01:50,800 Speaker 1: basically the coordinator of counseling services at a local crisis 29 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:55,400 Speaker 1: pregnancy center in Stanton, Virginia. I split my time between encouraging, 30 00:01:55,560 --> 00:01:58,800 Speaker 1: praying for and training the lay counselors who served women 31 00:01:58,840 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: in crisis pregnancy there and at the satellite office in Waynesboro. 32 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,900 Speaker 1: The part of my job I loved the most was 33 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:09,290 Speaker 1: praying with the volunteers before their shift started. I can't 34 00:02:09,330 --> 00:02:12,130 Speaker 1: tell you how much I learned about prayer during those times, 35 00:02:12,230 --> 00:02:14,410 Speaker 1: both in praying for the women who were on the 36 00:02:14,470 --> 00:02:17,929 Speaker 1: front lines of service and receiving their prayers as they 37 00:02:17,970 --> 00:02:20,230 Speaker 1: covered me in the year leading up to my marriage. 38 00:02:20,990 --> 00:02:23,980 Speaker 1: During that first year of full-time work, While I was 39 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: finishing up my graduate studies, I realized the importance of 40 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 1: spending daily time with the Lord in His Word and prayer. 41 00:02:31,680 --> 00:02:34,860 Speaker 1: It only took working a few months, pouring out over 42 00:02:34,940 --> 00:02:38,370 Speaker 1: and over and over again, to realize that I absolutely 43 00:02:38,430 --> 00:02:40,970 Speaker 1: had to make time to pour God's Word back in. 44 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:44,830 Speaker 1: Thus began a lifelong habit of seeking God in prayer 45 00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:48,450 Speaker 1: and time in the Bible each morning. One particular morning 46 00:02:48,630 --> 00:02:50,670 Speaker 1: before I made my way to work, I found myself 47 00:02:50,810 --> 00:02:53,669 Speaker 1: in the book of 1 Timothy. Just a few short 48 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:56,890 Speaker 1: years before, I had read through the entire New Testament 49 00:02:57,310 --> 00:02:59,470 Speaker 1: as a part of an elective class at Virginia Tech 50 00:02:59,510 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: to finish up my degree. Since then, I'd been making 51 00:03:02,780 --> 00:03:05,600 Speaker 1: my way back through the individual books of the New Testament. 52 00:03:06,180 --> 00:03:09,420 Speaker 1: I remembered that I'd fallen in love with Paul's letters 53 00:03:09,460 --> 00:03:12,959 Speaker 1: to Timothy. I was young in ministry myself at that time, 54 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:15,639 Speaker 1: and I felt a kinship with Timothy, who was so 55 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,780 Speaker 1: young as he attempted to follow God's plan for his life. 56 00:03:19,440 --> 00:03:22,700 Speaker 1: I opened the pages of my Bible and casually read 57 00:03:22,740 --> 00:03:26,180 Speaker 1: the beginning verses from Paul's first letter to his young friend, 58 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:30,639 Speaker 1: and stopped cold when I got to verses 12-17 of 59 00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: chapter 1. They say, I give thanks to Christ Jesus 60 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: our Lord who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, 61 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: appointing me to the ministry, even though I was formerly 62 00:03:42,020 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I 63 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:49,460 Speaker 1: received mercy because I acted out of ignorance and unbelief, 64 00:03:50,060 --> 00:03:53,340 Speaker 1: And the grace of our Lord overflowed along with the 65 00:03:53,460 --> 00:03:57,010 Speaker 1: faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying 66 00:03:57,130 --> 00:04:01,550 Speaker 1: is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. Christ Jesus came 67 00:04:01,590 --> 00:04:04,230 Speaker 1: into the world to save sinners, and I am the 68 00:04:04,270 --> 00:04:07,700 Speaker 1: worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason. 69 00:04:08,240 --> 00:04:11,340 Speaker 1: so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus 70 00:04:11,420 --> 00:04:16,060 Speaker 1: might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those 71 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:19,360 Speaker 1: who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to 72 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:24,370 Speaker 1: the King Eternal, Immortal, Invisible, the only God, be honor 73 00:04:24,460 --> 00:04:28,210 Speaker 1: and glory forever and ever. Amen. Have you ever had 74 00:04:28,250 --> 00:04:30,610 Speaker 1: a moment in God's Word where you felt like the 75 00:04:30,690 --> 00:04:33,870 Speaker 1: message was just for you? That's how I felt when 76 00:04:33,930 --> 00:04:37,010 Speaker 1: I read Paul's words that morning. Quickly, the sins of 77 00:04:37,089 --> 00:04:39,229 Speaker 1: my past came to mind and I had a fresh 78 00:04:39,290 --> 00:04:42,910 Speaker 1: realization of just how much it cost God to forgive me, 79 00:04:43,570 --> 00:04:46,750 Speaker 1: just how much He had to forgive me for. Truly, 80 00:04:46,850 --> 00:04:49,310 Speaker 1: I'm one of the worst of sinners, but friends, so 81 00:04:49,370 --> 00:04:52,950 Speaker 1: are you. We are all desperately in need of a Savior, 82 00:04:53,070 --> 00:04:56,750 Speaker 1: even on our best days. Remembering this truth will serve 83 00:04:56,830 --> 00:04:59,330 Speaker 1: us well and keep us in a position of praise 84 00:04:59,710 --> 00:05:02,340 Speaker 1: to the God who saved us. But look with me 85 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,460 Speaker 1: specifically at verse 16. Why did God save Paul? Why 86 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:10,860 Speaker 1: did he save you and me? So that in me, 87 00:05:11,260 --> 00:05:15,919 Speaker 1: the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate his extraordinary 88 00:05:15,980 --> 00:05:19,060 Speaker 1: patience as an example to those who would believe in 89 00:05:19,100 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 1: him for eternal life. As a mom, you serve as 90 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: the biggest example to your children. Your life influences them 91 00:05:26,720 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: the most. God saved you, at least in part, so 92 00:05:30,140 --> 00:05:34,140 Speaker 1: that your life can serve to demonstrate his extraordinary patience. 93 00:05:34,810 --> 00:05:38,010 Speaker 1: as an example to them. That's the real reason you 94 00:05:38,050 --> 00:05:42,190 Speaker 1: can offer them patience in return. God is doing exactly 95 00:05:42,230 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: the same work in your children that He did in you, 96 00:05:45,210 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 1: although in different ways, and it's all designed to bring 97 00:05:48,300 --> 00:05:51,739 Speaker 1: them to Him. Your life is the biggest and best 98 00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:54,660 Speaker 1: testimony of His grace that they'll get to see for 99 00:05:54,700 --> 00:05:57,980 Speaker 1: the first 18 to 20 years of their lives. One day, 100 00:05:58,260 --> 00:06:01,620 Speaker 1: God willing, they'll look back on all of the good, bad, 101 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:04,450 Speaker 1: and ugly of their own stories and and see God's 102 00:06:04,510 --> 00:06:08,750 Speaker 1: redeeming grace in just the same way. Father, thank you 103 00:06:08,790 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 1: for the work you've done in my life. Thank you 104 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:14,940 Speaker 1: for saving me, for redeeming me, for changing me, and 105 00:06:14,980 --> 00:06:18,719 Speaker 1: for setting my feet on a firm foundation. I praise 106 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:23,210 Speaker 1: you for demonstrating such extraordinary patience with me. Today, Lord, 107 00:06:23,270 --> 00:06:26,010 Speaker 1: help me extend that patience to the people I love most. 108 00:06:26,610 --> 00:06:27,890 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, amen. 109 00:06:28,620 --> 00:06:30,669 Speaker 2: As part of our Fruit of the Spirit prayers and 110 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:34,470 Speaker 2: everyday prayers for the school year book club, Tara Cole 111 00:06:34,570 --> 00:06:38,070 Speaker 2: and I created a free car conversations guide for your 112 00:06:38,130 --> 00:06:41,650 Speaker 2: family to use this fall. The car is sometimes the 113 00:06:41,710 --> 00:06:46,010 Speaker 2: best place for our most precious conversations with our kids. 114 00:06:46,500 --> 00:06:48,780 Speaker 2: As we are praying through the Fruit of the Spirit, 115 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 2: our hope is that you can have meaningful conversations with 116 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 2: your kids about what living out these fruit looks like 117 00:06:56,120 --> 00:06:58,909 Speaker 2: in their daily lives. Tara and I created a series 118 00:06:58,990 --> 00:07:01,390 Speaker 2: of quick questions. She wrote some for the older kids. 119 00:07:01,610 --> 00:07:03,890 Speaker 2: I wrote some for younger kids. And we share a 120 00:07:03,930 --> 00:07:07,020 Speaker 2: prayer that you can share with your children about each 121 00:07:07,100 --> 00:07:10,360 Speaker 2: of the fruit of the Spirit. Download your copy for 122 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:12,980 Speaker 2: free on our website or the link in our show notes. 123 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:17,690 Speaker 2: Until next time, friends, the Lord bless you and keep you. 124 00:07:18,750 --> 00:07:21,630 Speaker 2: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 125 00:07:22,390 --> 00:07:25,170 Speaker 2: May the Lord look with favor on you and give 126 00:07:25,230 --> 00:07:25,850 Speaker 2: you peace.