1 00:00:02,660 --> 00:00:18,650 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:18,670 --> 00:00:21,049 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:21,130 --> 00:00:24,770 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:24,850 --> 00:00:27,490 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:27,590 --> 00:00:30,350 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 6 00:00:30,370 --> 00:00:32,670 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 7 00:00:33,390 --> 00:00:35,250 Speaker 1: For today's devotion, I want to share an excerpt from 8 00:00:35,290 --> 00:00:38,630 Speaker 1: my newest devotional, Everyday Prayers for Moms, praying God's word 9 00:00:38,650 --> 00:00:40,909 Speaker 1: for your children from newborn to empty nest that came 10 00:00:40,970 --> 00:00:43,589 Speaker 1: out this week. Do you believe your prayers as a 11 00:00:43,650 --> 00:00:46,620 Speaker 1: mom make a difference? I mean, like, really believe it? 12 00:00:47,290 --> 00:00:49,370 Speaker 1: Do you ever have the best intentions to be in 13 00:00:49,390 --> 00:00:52,350 Speaker 1: consistent prayer for your children, but are unsure how to 14 00:00:52,390 --> 00:00:54,990 Speaker 1: get the habit to stick? Or maybe you are praying 15 00:00:55,050 --> 00:00:57,910 Speaker 1: for your children daily, but you feel the Lord sensing 16 00:00:57,950 --> 00:01:01,380 Speaker 1: you to go deeper. This devotional is an invitation to 17 00:01:01,420 --> 00:01:04,910 Speaker 1: spend 30 days praying God's word over your children, understanding 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:08,509 Speaker 1: the why to create habits of prayer that last. To 19 00:01:08,550 --> 00:01:10,310 Speaker 1: grab your copy of the book or to learn more 20 00:01:10,350 --> 00:01:14,710 Speaker 1: about the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit millionprayingmoms.com. After 21 00:01:14,750 --> 00:01:16,890 Speaker 1: a quick word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for 22 00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:25,870 Speaker 1: our families. Day two. We believe prayer is our first 23 00:01:26,170 --> 00:01:31,590 Speaker 1: and best response. Do not be anxious about anything, but 24 00:01:31,630 --> 00:01:36,110 Speaker 1: in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present 25 00:01:36,190 --> 00:01:41,140 Speaker 1: your request to God. Philippians 4, 6 This past summer, 26 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:44,380 Speaker 1: we took a family vacation to the beach. We arrived 27 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 1: at a beautiful beach house and unloaded all of our gear. 28 00:01:48,140 --> 00:01:51,940 Speaker 1: We were traveling with my husband's parents, his brother, my sister-in-law, 29 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,020 Speaker 1: and their two kids. On our first night in the house, 30 00:01:55,420 --> 00:01:58,360 Speaker 1: we were all sitting around the sofas watching the kids play, 31 00:01:58,850 --> 00:02:03,050 Speaker 1: when we suddenly heard a siren noise. It was very high-pitched, 32 00:02:03,270 --> 00:02:05,310 Speaker 1: and we could not figure out what had set it 33 00:02:05,510 --> 00:02:08,840 Speaker 1: off or where it was coming from. Our host had 34 00:02:08,940 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: informed us about panic buttons located in several areas of 35 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,820 Speaker 1: the property. We thought the noise was coming from one 36 00:02:15,840 --> 00:02:18,600 Speaker 1: of the panic buttons, possibly because one of the kids 37 00:02:18,660 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 1: had accidentally hit it. So my brother-in-law hit a button again, 38 00:02:24,370 --> 00:02:28,150 Speaker 1: or so we thought, to see if it would turn off. Boy, 39 00:02:28,310 --> 00:02:31,710 Speaker 1: did it do the opposite. We just thought the first 40 00:02:31,790 --> 00:02:35,590 Speaker 1: noise was loud. The alarm started blaring, and the kids 41 00:02:35,750 --> 00:02:39,620 Speaker 1: all started crying and covering their ears. We started running 42 00:02:39,690 --> 00:02:41,500 Speaker 1: out of the house toward the beach, but when we 43 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: opened the door to go outside, the noise just got louder. 44 00:02:45,660 --> 00:02:50,180 Speaker 1: There was no escape. It was total chaos. The security 45 00:02:50,220 --> 00:02:52,980 Speaker 1: guards ran in and were able to disarm the security 46 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:56,750 Speaker 1: system quickly, and we were left with the original sound again. 47 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: What once seemed loud and annoying felt oddly peaceful and 48 00:03:01,220 --> 00:03:05,820 Speaker 1: quiet after the big alarms were silenced. Although less annoying, 49 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:08,720 Speaker 1: the noise was still bothersome enough that we needed to 50 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,490 Speaker 1: figure out what was causing it. We reset the speaker system, 51 00:03:12,550 --> 00:03:16,329 Speaker 1: we checked all the appliances, and we consulted the property manager. 52 00:03:17,030 --> 00:03:19,810 Speaker 1: An hour passed and we were no closer to figuring 53 00:03:19,850 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 1: it out. Finally, my brother-in-law sat on the ground to 54 00:03:23,460 --> 00:03:26,620 Speaker 1: play with my nephew. near the panic button under the 55 00:03:26,639 --> 00:03:30,260 Speaker 1: coffee table, where it all began. After sitting there for 56 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: a minute, he pulled out a pink walkie-talkie from the 57 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: box of toys atop the table. He powered it off. 58 00:03:37,780 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: The sound got quieter, and all of our jaws dropped open. 59 00:03:42,810 --> 00:03:46,750 Speaker 1: It couldn't be. There's no way it was that simple. 60 00:03:47,410 --> 00:03:51,370 Speaker 1: He reached into the box, grabbed the other one, powered 61 00:03:51,410 --> 00:03:55,860 Speaker 1: it off, and the sound was gone. For a moment, 62 00:03:56,200 --> 00:04:00,839 Speaker 1: we all sat in silence, staring in disbelief. Then we 63 00:04:00,900 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: burst into laughter. We could not stop giggling. It was 64 00:04:05,300 --> 00:04:11,620 Speaker 1: the walkie-talkies the whole time. Unbelievable. As I reflected on 65 00:04:11,660 --> 00:04:14,760 Speaker 1: this experience the next morning during my quiet time, I 66 00:04:14,780 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: thought about how we sometimes hit the panic button when 67 00:04:17,700 --> 00:04:21,250 Speaker 1: our problem is as simple as a set of walkie-talkies. 68 00:04:22,020 --> 00:04:25,080 Speaker 1: How often do we panic before we turn to God 69 00:04:25,180 --> 00:04:31,310 Speaker 1: in prayer? How often do we overreact and under-consult our Creator? 70 00:04:32,270 --> 00:04:35,349 Speaker 1: We had created a much larger problem than was necessary 71 00:04:35,810 --> 00:04:38,150 Speaker 1: over a couple of toys that were left powered on. 72 00:04:39,390 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 1: Sometimes we run around resetting everything in sight, thinking hard 73 00:04:43,380 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: and trying to figure things out, all the while neglecting 74 00:04:46,940 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: the greatest resource we have, going to God in prayer. 75 00:04:51,089 --> 00:04:53,510 Speaker 1: At Million Praying Moms, we believe prayer is our first 76 00:04:53,890 --> 00:04:57,410 Speaker 1: and best response to the challenges of parenting, not a 77 00:04:57,450 --> 00:05:02,950 Speaker 1: last resort. This changes the way we view prayer. Something 78 00:05:02,990 --> 00:05:06,570 Speaker 1: to think about. Paul had every reason to hit the 79 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,180 Speaker 1: panic button. He suffered greatly for the sake of sharing 80 00:05:10,220 --> 00:05:16,799 Speaker 1: the gospel. Imprisonment, hunger, shipwreck, persecution, you name it, Paul 81 00:05:16,839 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: had experienced it. When Paul pens the words in Philippians 4, 6, 82 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:25,180 Speaker 1: he pens them as one who has experienced what it 83 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:29,790 Speaker 1: means to be anxious, encouraging the believers in Philippi to 84 00:05:29,890 --> 00:05:35,490 Speaker 1: seek God in every situation by prayer and petition with thanksgiving. 85 00:05:36,350 --> 00:05:41,240 Speaker 1: Did you catch it? In every situation. In all situations, 86 00:05:41,339 --> 00:05:45,580 Speaker 1: big or small, we must seek God. This certainly includes 87 00:05:45,620 --> 00:05:48,710 Speaker 1: our parenting. This verse permits us to come to God 88 00:05:49,029 --> 00:05:51,330 Speaker 1: with our tears over the spilled milk of our toddler, 89 00:05:51,890 --> 00:05:54,710 Speaker 1: the questions of our tween, and the slam door of 90 00:05:54,790 --> 00:05:58,450 Speaker 1: our teenager. The creator of the universe invites us to 91 00:05:58,490 --> 00:06:02,860 Speaker 1: bring our requests to him, whether large or small. Every day, 92 00:06:03,420 --> 00:06:10,020 Speaker 1: every circumstance, every time. Theologian John Wesley wrote that prayer 93 00:06:10,220 --> 00:06:13,380 Speaker 1: is our grand means of drawing near to God. We 94 00:06:13,460 --> 00:06:17,870 Speaker 1: so often overlook this grand means, this incredible invitation, we 95 00:06:17,900 --> 00:06:20,350 Speaker 1: try to pull ourselves up by the bootstraps and add 96 00:06:20,390 --> 00:06:24,089 Speaker 1: the heavy load onto our already bent backs. The Lord 97 00:06:24,150 --> 00:06:27,530 Speaker 1: promises us that His burden is easy and light, yet 98 00:06:27,610 --> 00:06:30,669 Speaker 1: we insist on dragging around the weight of everyday struggles. 99 00:06:31,770 --> 00:06:35,010 Speaker 1: This book's title and the title of our podcast are intentional. 100 00:06:35,620 --> 00:06:38,920 Speaker 1: We chose the title Everyday Prayers because we must come 101 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:42,740 Speaker 1: to God every single day on behalf of our children. 102 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:47,540 Speaker 1: The daily coming is what shapes us and transforms us, 103 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:51,710 Speaker 1: ultimately strengthening our faith to believe that God hears us 104 00:06:51,990 --> 00:06:58,450 Speaker 1: and responds to us. Let's pray. Father, help me to 105 00:06:58,529 --> 00:07:02,470 Speaker 1: seek you in prayer daily as my first and best response. 106 00:07:03,370 --> 00:07:05,650 Speaker 1: Please help me not to hit the panic button until 107 00:07:05,720 --> 00:07:08,800 Speaker 1: I speak to you. I trust that you will meet 108 00:07:08,860 --> 00:07:11,240 Speaker 1: me when I come to you in prayer, helping me 109 00:07:11,300 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: release my anxiety and exchanging them for thankfulness. Show me 110 00:07:16,100 --> 00:07:20,340 Speaker 1: how to make praying for my family a priority. In Jesus' name, amen. 111 00:07:21,480 --> 00:07:23,480 Speaker 1: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 112 00:07:23,580 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 113 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: your children. My newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying 114 00:07:32,500 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 1: God's Work for Your Children from Newborn to Emptiness, is 115 00:07:36,020 --> 00:07:40,050 Speaker 1: a great resource for moms who desire to pray for 116 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:42,190 Speaker 1: their kids. I don't know if you've ever looked up 117 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: at the end of the day and realized that you 118 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,460 Speaker 1: didn't pray at all. So often we have this desire 119 00:07:48,500 --> 00:07:51,740 Speaker 1: to pray, but we may not know how to put 120 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:55,860 Speaker 1: that desire in to practice. I'm learning in motherhood that 121 00:07:55,940 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 1: my prayers adapt and change based on the season that 122 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:01,760 Speaker 1: we're in as a family. I'm also learning to give 123 00:08:01,800 --> 00:08:06,290 Speaker 1: myself grace in those different seasons. I know God isn't 124 00:08:06,460 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: after perfect, polished prayers. He's after my heart. And He's 125 00:08:10,380 --> 00:08:14,650 Speaker 1: after yours too. So my plan is to be intentional, 126 00:08:15,090 --> 00:08:18,230 Speaker 1: whatever that looks like in this season. I hope that 127 00:08:18,310 --> 00:08:22,110 Speaker 1: is your plan as well. God sees our hearts. He's 128 00:08:22,330 --> 00:08:26,380 Speaker 1: honored by our desire to connect with Him. If you're 129 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: feeling stuck in your prayer life, I've got a new 130 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:35,829 Speaker 1: free download, a five-day prayer reset. It's a great guide 131 00:08:36,050 --> 00:08:40,550 Speaker 1: to help you get started, jump back in, stay consistent, 132 00:08:40,970 --> 00:08:44,050 Speaker 1: grow deeper in your prayers for your kids. It's also 133 00:08:44,070 --> 00:08:47,540 Speaker 1: a great tool to share with your friends or with 134 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:51,420 Speaker 1: your family members that may be seeking to know God 135 00:08:51,660 --> 00:08:55,280 Speaker 1: deeper in prayer as they're wanting to pray for their kids. 136 00:08:55,300 --> 00:08:59,470 Speaker 1: I hope you will grab your copy today at millionpraymoms.com. 137 00:08:59,770 --> 00:09:03,500 Speaker 1: We'll also put a link in our show notes. Until 138 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:07,140 Speaker 1: next time, friends, may the Lord bless you and keep you. 139 00:09:08,260 --> 00:09:11,079 Speaker 1: Make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 140 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:15,320 Speaker 1: May the Lord look with favor upon you and give 141 00:09:15,360 --> 00:09:16,180 Speaker 1: you His peace.