1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:06,680 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:15,200 --> 00:00:18,600 Speaker 2: You're listening to everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, helping 3 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:21,280 Speaker 2: you pray God's word for your family in the areas 4 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 2: you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here 5 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:27,520 Speaker 2: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 6 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,480 Speaker 2: and best response in parenting, and every day we come 7 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 2: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 8 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 2: Today's devotion is written read by me, and it's a 9 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:40,919 Speaker 2: prayer to celebrate freedom as we head into this holiday weekend. 10 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 2: To learn more about the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:46,520 Speaker 2: visit Millionprayingmoms dot com. 12 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,520 Speaker 1: You can find a link in our show notes. 13 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:52,239 Speaker 2: We'll pause for a quick word from our sponsors, and 14 00:00:52,280 --> 00:01:02,080 Speaker 2: then we'll pray together for our families. Galatians one, It 15 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:06,920 Speaker 2: is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, 16 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,640 Speaker 2: and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a 17 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 2: yoke of slavery. The smell of hot dogs and burgers 18 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 2: on the grill, the splash of pool water or a sprinkler, 19 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 2: the cool bite of homemade ice cream, or the crunch 20 00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 2: of a fresh slice of watermelon, or all some of 21 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 2: the fourth of July memories that I hold dear. Maybe 22 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:34,199 Speaker 2: for you, you share one of these, Maybe it's something else. 23 00:01:35,080 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: This year, the Red, white, and Blue has exploded everywhere 24 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:43,840 Speaker 2: as we approached the two hundred and fiftieth birthday of America. 25 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 2: My Josie has even asked, could we make America a 26 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:50,320 Speaker 2: birthday cake? Mommy. Last week, I spent some time with 27 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:53,080 Speaker 2: a precious woman who served in deployment for the United 28 00:01:53,120 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 2: States Air Force. She was sharing her experience in Kuwait 29 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:58,559 Speaker 2: and some of the challenges of the women who live there. 30 00:01:59,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: She commented, we really take for granted that we live 31 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 2: in America. Her comment keeps rolling around in my mind 32 00:02:07,200 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: as we approach the fourth of July. It's easy to 33 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:13,959 Speaker 2: see the negative things about our current situation in our country. 34 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:15,799 Speaker 1: Those make the headlines. 35 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:19,480 Speaker 2: It's easy to focus on the disunity and the shortcomings 36 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 2: of our nation. Her comment really realigned my perspective. Despite 37 00:02:24,680 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 2: the division and confusion in our country currently, I find 38 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: myself very grateful as we head into the weekend. May we, 39 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:37,320 Speaker 2: as Jesus followers, choose to focus on the unity and 40 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:41,680 Speaker 2: privileges we share in our nation. May religious freedom be 41 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 2: something that we celebrate and hold dear and While freedom 42 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 2: is on my brain, I think of the words Paul 43 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:52,720 Speaker 2: wrote to the church in Galatia in Galatians five point one. 44 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:55,960 Speaker 2: It is for freedom that you have been set free. 45 00:02:56,480 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: Here Paul is. 46 00:02:57,360 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 2: Talking about spiritual freedom the same way we take our 47 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: freedom as Americans for granted. We often take our freedom 48 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:08,600 Speaker 2: in Jesus for granted. Paul finishes out that sentence with 49 00:03:09,440 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke 50 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 2: of slavery. How often do we burden ourselves with the 51 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:21,320 Speaker 2: sins that Jesus died to set us free from? I 52 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:23,919 Speaker 2: know I often pick back up the things that I've 53 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 2: laid down before the Lord. My heart is stubborn and rebellious, 54 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: especially when I'm not submitting to the spirit or keeping 55 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,120 Speaker 2: in step with the spirit. 56 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: This holiday weekend, may we take. 57 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: Some time to pause and be thankful, thankful for the 58 00:03:42,520 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 2: freedom we share as Americans, and thankful that our ultimate 59 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: citizenship belongs in Heaven, where we will enjoy freedom for 60 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 2: all of eternity. May we be fully present with our families, 61 00:03:56,600 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: leading out in gratitude for the freedom that we enjoy. 62 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: Let's pray together, Father, we pause in the midst of 63 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: pool parties, barbecues and fireworks to tell you, thank you. 64 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: Thank you for the freedom we have in America to 65 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 2: worship you and to share about you. 66 00:04:18,960 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 1: Help us not to take that for granted. 67 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,479 Speaker 2: More than that, thank you for the freedom you have 68 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 2: given us in your son Jesus. Help us to live 69 00:04:29,440 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 2: in freedom, for we have indeed been set free. With 70 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 2: hearts of gratitude, we pray to you today in Jesus' 71 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 2: may amen. I hope you are following along with us 72 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: in our summer book club featuring the book When Mothering 73 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:51,000 Speaker 2: Is Hard and No One Sees by Scheline Roberts. If 74 00:04:51,040 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: you have not joined us yet, it's not too late 75 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 2: to jump in. Head to the homepage of our website 76 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,119 Speaker 2: to find out more. Until next time, friends, the Lord 77 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 2: bless you and key you. Make his face shine upon 78 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:06,120 Speaker 2: you and be gracious to you. May the Lord look 79 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,040 Speaker 2: with favor on you and give you his peace.