1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million 2 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:11,799 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's 3 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: word for their families in the areas they need it most. 4 00:00:15,120 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolatte Bell. Over the last decade, we've 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: helped thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,840 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,479 --> 00:00:36,280 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: devotion is written by Rachel Adams, author of Everyday Prayers 11 00:00:39,840 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: for Love, a part of our Million Praying Moms every 12 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:47,160 Speaker 1: Day Prayers devotional series. This month, with Rachel as our guide, 13 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: we are walking through some excerpts from this book as 14 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: we focus on what it means to truly love God, 15 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 1: love others, and even ourselves. Our prayer and hope is 16 00:00:57,640 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: that this month our understanding of God's love would grow 17 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: deeper as we pray together. To learn more about Rachel, 18 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: or to learn more about how you can get involved 19 00:01:06,840 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 20 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:15,039 Speaker 1: notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. After a brief word from 21 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our. 22 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 2: Children rather speaking the truth in love. We are to 23 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 2: grow up in every way into Him who is the head, 24 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 2: into Christ Ephesians four, verse fifteen. I left the party 25 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:34,920 Speaker 2: with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. 26 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: The next day, I was still convicted about the previous 27 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:42,600 Speaker 2: night's activities. I hate conflict and am a peacemaker by nature. 28 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: It was wildly out of my character, but I couldn't 29 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 2: shake the feeling I needed to contact the host of 30 00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,120 Speaker 2: the event. I did not want to make the call, 31 00:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,440 Speaker 2: but since I would have been disobedient to the Lord 32 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 2: if I didn't not to mention, it would have been 33 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: the elephant in the room for me every time I 34 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 2: saw one of the attendees if I didn't get it 35 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 2: off my chest. So, with sweaty palms and a shaky voice, 36 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 2: I made the call to share my convictions. I explained 37 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:08,320 Speaker 2: that I felt like the people should be able to 38 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,720 Speaker 2: see a difference between Christians and non Christians because of 39 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: the way we live. I acknowledged that the Christian life 40 00:02:15,639 --> 00:02:19,080 Speaker 2: is a process, but since we're followers of Christ, we're 41 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:21,800 Speaker 2: called to leave behind the old life of sin and 42 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:25,240 Speaker 2: be committed to holy living as gently as possible. I 43 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:30,800 Speaker 2: challenged us to ensure our actions reflected Christ's integrity. After 44 00:02:30,840 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: I finished explaining my heart and convictions, I paused to 45 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: hear her response. She briefly hesitated, digesting what was said, 46 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,640 Speaker 2: then responded, You're right, and I'm sorry. We should hold 47 00:02:41,639 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 2: ourselves to a higher standard. Thank you for holding us accountable. 48 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 2: I let out a sigh of relief, and we continued 49 00:02:48,800 --> 00:02:53,840 Speaker 2: our discussion. Was it an awkward conversation? Yes? But was 50 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: I glad I listened to the spirit of truth who 51 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,240 Speaker 2: convicted my heart and guided me to speak the truth 52 00:02:59,320 --> 00:03:02,920 Speaker 2: and love to my friends. Yes, because I care for 53 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:05,639 Speaker 2: my friends and I want them to lead lives pleasing 54 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,280 Speaker 2: to the Lord. This is what I desire for them, 55 00:03:08,320 --> 00:03:11,359 Speaker 2: and this is what I hope for for myself. Even 56 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: though it is uncomfortable, I have trusted family and friends 57 00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 2: who hold me accountable. We need others who will encourage 58 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: and build us up, but challenge and call us out 59 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: when we aren't living up to our God given potential. 60 00:03:25,560 --> 00:03:28,800 Speaker 2: The reality is we are all sinful beings who need 61 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 2: help great people who submit their lives to God are 62 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 2: still susceptible temptation and sin. While Jesus is the truth, 63 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 2: Satan is the father of lies. Because of this constant tension, 64 00:03:41,840 --> 00:03:44,840 Speaker 2: we need one another and God's word to fight this 65 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 2: ongoing spiritual battle, a pillar of the Old Testament, David 66 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 2: was all too familiar with this struggle. He was renowned 67 00:03:53,480 --> 00:03:57,400 Speaker 2: and respected for his heart for God. Unfortunately, he was 68 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: also remembered as a betrayer, liar, adult, and murderer. His 69 00:04:02,200 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: life reminds us that none of us are immune to 70 00:04:05,000 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 2: falling short and doing evil in the side of the Lord. 71 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: When David's actions became wayward, a prophet helped him recollect 72 00:04:11,560 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 2: the truth and repent. After restoring the nation to peace 73 00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:20,080 Speaker 2: and great military power, David's life became entangled in sin. 74 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 2: He committed adultery with a woman named Bathsheba and then 75 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 2: order her husband killed in an attempted cover up. The 76 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 2: prophet Nathan confronted David's sins and helped him to see 77 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:35,560 Speaker 2: his wrongdoing. Nathan served as God's spokesman to David and 78 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:39,599 Speaker 2: proved himself a fearless friend and counselor. He was willing 79 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:43,080 Speaker 2: to speak the truth. Though fully aware of the great 80 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 2: pain that could ensue as a result of Nathan's intervention, 81 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 2: David repented. David wrote Psalm fifty one after Nathan confronted him. 82 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: The psalm reveals David's sorrow and remorse for the decision 83 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:59,799 Speaker 2: that he made. Nathan's courage to speak truth to David 84 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:03,920 Speaker 2: led to restoration in a right relationship with God. We 85 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: too need wise advisers to come alongside us to help 86 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:11,200 Speaker 2: us assess our actions and situations. If you don't have 87 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 2: a friend like Nathan, pray for one. Moreover, ask God 88 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 2: to use you as a Nathan for someone else. We 89 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,239 Speaker 2: should not be afraid to tell the truth to those 90 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:23,760 Speaker 2: we care about. A trustworthy companion is one of God's 91 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:28,119 Speaker 2: greatest gifts. God cares enough to communicate with us even 92 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:31,960 Speaker 2: when we're wrong. Once we realize the truth, he offers 93 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: us forgiveness and grace because of his great love. Let's pray, 94 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: Father God, and teach me what is true. Implant your 95 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: truth in my heart so I am not deceived by 96 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,200 Speaker 2: the lies of this world and the enemy's schemes. Remove 97 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 2: any apathy I may have for the behavior of others, 98 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,479 Speaker 2: and give me the courage to sharpen the people in 99 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 2: my life as iron sharpens iron. If you are leading 100 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 2: me to intervene, let my words be filled with grain 101 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:03,839 Speaker 2: and love. May I also be open to receiving advice 102 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,400 Speaker 2: from others. Please place people around me to remind me 103 00:06:07,560 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 2: of your word and hold me accountable in Jesus's name. Amen, 104 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 2: Are you a visual learner? Would you like to receive 105 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:17,440 Speaker 2: our daily devotions and written form Write to your inbox 106 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:21,560 Speaker 2: then join our Patreon community of Praying Moms. Not only 107 00:06:21,600 --> 00:06:24,840 Speaker 2: will you receive the transcripts of each podcast devotional, you 108 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 2: will also receive a monthly prayer calendar and surprise bonus content. 109 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:31,720 Speaker 2: Learn more about our Praying Mom community in today's show 110 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 2: notes or at million prayingmoms dot com. Till next time, friends, 111 00:06:37,440 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make his face 112 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 2: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 113 00:06:44,120 --> 00:06:47,279 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.