1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:08,600 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to every Day Prayers with Million 2 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's 3 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,160 Speaker 1: word for their families in the areas they need it most. 4 00:00:14,880 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: helped thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:22,520 --> 00:00:25,720 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:29,160 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:29,240 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:39,320 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by Rachel Adams, author of 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:41,920 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers for Love, a part of our Million Praying 12 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,840 Speaker 1: Moms Everyday Prayers devotional series. I recently reread this devotional 13 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: and it blessed me tremendously. Rachel provides beautiful reminders of 14 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,720 Speaker 1: how God loves us just because we are His, not 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: because of anything we can do to earn it or 16 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: deserve it, and we are invited to love others from 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:05,000 Speaker 1: a place of knowing that we are beloved. If you 18 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: don't have a copy of this book, you're going to 19 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: want to grab one for yourself and maybe even for 20 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: a friend. Every Day Prays for Love is available wherever 21 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: books are sold. This month, I've invited Rachel to share 22 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: excerpts from her book that help us break down the 23 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: famous love passage one Corinthians thirteen, specifically focusing on verses 24 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 1: four through eight that read, love is patient, Love is kind. 25 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 1: It does not envy, It does not boast. It is 26 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,400 Speaker 1: not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not 27 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: self seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no 28 00:01:36,959 --> 00:01:40,479 Speaker 1: record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but 29 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, always hopes, 30 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:52,800 Speaker 1: always perseveres. Love never fails. We've heard this verse at weddings, 31 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: we've heard it in the church. But this is one 32 00:01:55,800 --> 00:01:58,520 Speaker 1: of those passages that is beautiful and easy to read 33 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,800 Speaker 1: but hard to put into practice, isn't it. I don't 34 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: know about you, but I know that I need more 35 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 1: patience and kindness in my parenting. Rachel weaves in scripture 36 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: from throughout the Bible to help us truly understand the 37 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 1: type of love that Paul is describing here in his 38 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:16,680 Speaker 1: letter to the Corinthians. Our prayer and hope is that 39 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 1: this month. As we pray this together, our understanding of 40 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: God's love would grow deeper. To learn more about Rachel, 41 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 1: or to learn more about how you can get involved 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 43 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: Notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a quick word from 44 00:02:33,919 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 45 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 2: Be devoted to one another in love, Honor one another 46 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,359 Speaker 2: above yourselves, Romans, Chapter twelve, Verse ten. I still remember 47 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,720 Speaker 2: where I was sitting on the couch that day. I 48 00:02:50,760 --> 00:02:52,639 Speaker 2: was nestled in the middle of my two brothers when 49 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 2: my mom and dad told us they were getting a divorce. 50 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,040 Speaker 2: I was eight years old and in second grade. It 51 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 2: was evident their marriage was over before they had spoken 52 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 2: the words. However, once they told us, that made it official, 53 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 2: life as I knew it as a family of five 54 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:10,880 Speaker 2: had ended. Decisions like divorce are difficult for everyone involved. Honestly, 55 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,399 Speaker 2: even thirty years later, their choice still occasionally triggers old wounds, 56 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 2: and as challenging as the circumstance has been and likely 57 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,400 Speaker 2: will continue to be, the older I get, the more 58 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,519 Speaker 2: compassion I have for my mom and dad. I recently 59 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: read a quote on social media that said be patient 60 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 2: with your parents. This is their first time living to 61 00:03:31,200 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: Reflecting on my relationships with my mother and father, I 62 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 2: know they love me. They have always been there for me, 63 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 2: sacrificed on my behalf, and made an effort to show 64 00:03:40,600 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: they care. They have done their best, and their intentions 65 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,080 Speaker 2: have always been for my good. Of course, I wish 66 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: things could have turned out differently, but I'm thankful for 67 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 2: the parents that God designed for me. While their choice 68 00:03:51,480 --> 00:03:53,920 Speaker 2: has become part of my story, I can decide how 69 00:03:53,920 --> 00:03:57,240 Speaker 2: I respond to the cards I've been dealt. Regardless of 70 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,800 Speaker 2: the outcome, I've resolved to honor them, good people with 71 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:03,800 Speaker 2: beautiful hearts. I refuse to dishonor them based on the 72 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: paths they have taken. Instead, I can honestly say I 73 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 2: respect them and admire their resilience, courage, and strength. Now 74 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:13,520 Speaker 2: that I'm a parent, I better understand how tough marriage 75 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,880 Speaker 2: and parenting can be despite my best efforts. It wouldn't 76 00:04:16,880 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 2: shock me if someday my children need to process some 77 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 2: of the things I've unknowingly burdened their hearts with. However, 78 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 2: I pray they will choose to have compassion and honor 79 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,919 Speaker 2: me as their mom. Like my parents before me, this 80 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 2: too is my first time living. God created mankind with 81 00:04:34,240 --> 00:04:37,559 Speaker 2: dignity and honor. However, by the time Jesus was born, 82 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 2: women had lost their honorable standing in society. During the 83 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 2: intertestinmal period, the four hundred years between the prophet Malachi 84 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 2: and John the Baptist, women were no longer viewed with respect. Instead, 85 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: they were degraded to a place of shame. This was 86 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 2: largely due to a group of pious Jewish men who 87 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: had stood up against the invasion of Hellenism to an extreme. 88 00:05:01,360 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 2: In fact, one highly regarded Jewish leader named Ben Sarah 89 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:09,159 Speaker 2: taught that women were the source of sin. Throughout Jesus's life, 90 00:05:09,200 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: we witness him removing women's shame and restoring their honor. 91 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:15,720 Speaker 2: He did not treat women as others in his culture did. 92 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 2: Consider The adulterous woman whom the religious leaders wanted to 93 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 2: stone to death, Jesus said, let him who is without 94 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:25,799 Speaker 2: sin among you, be the first to throw a stone 95 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 2: at her. Because he was without sin, Jesus could have 96 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 2: thrown the stone if he chose to do so. However, 97 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 2: he told the woman he would not condemn her. Jesus 98 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: saved her from their wrath and restored her dignity. As Christians, 99 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,159 Speaker 2: we should not be casting stones in judgment either. We 100 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 2: should never dishonor degrade or shame others, no matter what 101 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 2: they have done. As Jesus demonstrated during his life on earth, 102 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:52,400 Speaker 2: we should highly regard one another, recognizing we are all 103 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 2: created in God's image and all fall short of his glory. 104 00:05:55,760 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 2: This kind of regard goes far beyond pretense and politeness. 105 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: Our consideration of others indicates our reverence and honor for 106 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: those God has placed in our lives, most specifically our 107 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:13,200 Speaker 2: Lord Jesus, who we aim to esteem above all. Let's pray, Father, 108 00:06:13,279 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 2: forgive me when I degrade others. It is not my 109 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 2: place to cast stones hoping to absolve those who have 110 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:22,359 Speaker 2: shamed me. I don't want to live in disgrace or regret. 111 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: Free me from these feelings. Thank you for showing me 112 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 2: how to respect and honor people, regardless of their behavior 113 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:32,320 Speaker 2: and decisions. I know I'll fall short of your glory 114 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:35,680 Speaker 2: every single day, yet you continue to love me. Man, 115 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:38,720 Speaker 2: Never forget the magnitude of that. In Jesus's name. 116 00:06:39,080 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: Amen, friend, we are so glad that you are a 117 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: part of our community here on the podcast. If you 118 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:47,039 Speaker 1: love everyday prayers in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 119 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 1: I invite you to join our praying mom community on Patreon. 120 00:06:51,200 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: For just ten dollars a month. You can connect deeper 121 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:57,400 Speaker 1: through a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar. Each day's devotion 122 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: and written form and bonus content and only available to 123 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: our Patreon family. Learn more in today's show notes or 124 00:07:04,839 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: at Million prayingmams dot com. Until next time, friends, the 125 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face shine 126 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord 127 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,200 Speaker 1: look with favor on you and give you peace.