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 --> 00:00:46,159 Speaker 1: Moms every Day Prayers devotional series. I recently reread this 13 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 1: devotional and it blessed me tremendously. Rachel provides beautiful reminders 14 00:00:51,440 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: of how God loves us just because we are His, 15 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:56,920 Speaker 1: not because of anything we can do to earn it 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:01:00,640 Speaker 1: or deserve it, and we are invited to love others 17 00:01:00,680 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: from a place of knowing that we are beloved. If 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 1: you don't have a copy of this book, you're going 19 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: to want to grab one for yourself and maybe even 20 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 1: for a friend. Every Day Prays for Love is available 21 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: wherever books are sold. This month, I've invited Rachel to 22 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,720 Speaker 1: share excerpts from her book that help us break down 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:22,280 Speaker 1: the famous love passage one Corinthians thirteen, specifically focusing on 24 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 1: verses four through eight that read, love is patient, Love 25 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,039 Speaker 1: is kind. It does not envy, It does not boast. 26 00:01:30,319 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 1: It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It 27 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:36,360 Speaker 1: is not self seeking. It is not easily angered. It 28 00:01:36,480 --> 00:01:40,160 Speaker 1: keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, 29 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:45,520 Speaker 1: but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trust, 30 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 1: always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. We've heard this 31 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 1: verse at weddings, we've heard it in the church. But 32 00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: this is one of those passages that is beautiful and 33 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 1: easy to read but hard to put into practice, isn't it. 34 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: I don't know about you, but I know that I 35 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,960 Speaker 1: need more patience and kindness in my parenting. Rachel weaves 36 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 1: in scripture from throughout the Bible to help us truly 37 00:02:10,840 --> 00:02:13,520 Speaker 1: understand the type of love that Paul is describing here 38 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: in his letter to the Corinthians. Our prayer and hope 39 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 1: is that this month. As we pray this together, our 40 00:02:19,440 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 1: understanding of God's love would grow deeper. To learn more 41 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:25,840 Speaker 1: about Rachel, or to learn more about how you can 42 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: get involved in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit 43 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:33,519 Speaker 1: today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. After a quick 44 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:36,280 Speaker 1: word from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 45 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 2: Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe 46 00:02:43,919 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 2: yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Colossians three twelve. 47 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,920 Speaker 2: You're going to need a full hysterectomy. My doctor delivered 48 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 2: this statement over the phone the day before Thanksgiving. Before 49 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,239 Speaker 2: we hung up, she also shared that my recent blood 50 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:06,240 Speaker 2: test results were concerning and she was referring me to 51 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 2: a surgical oncologist. While I was not thankful for this news, 52 00:03:10,919 --> 00:03:14,640 Speaker 2: my heart still understood the need for gratitude, especially in 53 00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: light of the upcoming holiday. As I told my friends 54 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:21,960 Speaker 2: and family about my prognosis, they interceded on my behalf. 55 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 2: They prayed for my healing, for me to feel God's presence, 56 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:27,880 Speaker 2: and for my mind to be at peace. In the 57 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 2: days leading up to the operation, their prayers worked from 58 00:03:32,520 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 2: the moment I opened my eyes the morning of my 59 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: surgery until the nurses wheeled me into the operating room, 60 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: I felt a piece that surpasses all understanding. As described 61 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: in Philippians four seven, I had prayed for rescue and mercy. 62 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 2: God answered my requests through his presence. His intervention came 63 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 2: in the form of his spirit, and it was manifested 64 00:03:56,520 --> 00:04:02,080 Speaker 2: through my loved ones, doctors and nurses. Later, when I 65 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 2: recounted my health journey to a friend, I had an epiphany. 66 00:04:07,280 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 2: I told her, never had I been in such pain, 67 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 2: but never had I felt more loved. What a strange 68 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 2: tension this was, but one I was oddly grateful for. 69 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 2: During this experience, I was showered with prayers, emails, texts, calls, 70 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 2: social media messages, cards, and gifts. My loved one's gestures 71 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: truly brought me joy in the midst of my sorrow. 72 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,920 Speaker 2: Their acts of benevolence helped me to realize that God's 73 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 2: kindness is not only offered by our heavenly Father to 74 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,200 Speaker 2: his children, but it was often displayed through his people. 75 00:04:43,000 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: The outpouring of generosity continued well after my surgery and 76 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,080 Speaker 2: sparked a new appreciation for the beautiful community God had 77 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 2: given me. It reminded me what a difference our service 78 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 2: to others through word, prayer, presence, gift, or deed can make. 79 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 2: Even on the occasions when I was unkind to myself, 80 00:05:03,200 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: the people in my life displayed tangible reminders of God's 81 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 2: affection for me and eased the pain of my recovery. 82 00:05:11,640 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 2: Knowing the difference their love offerings made challenges me to 83 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:18,440 Speaker 2: do the same for others who are struggling. I'm beyond 84 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:22,159 Speaker 2: grateful that my biopsy results were benign, but I also 85 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 2: want to be sensitive to the fact that you might 86 00:05:24,839 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 2: not have received the desired answer to your prayer or 87 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 2: weren't surrounded by such a generous community. If that is 88 00:05:32,520 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 2: the case, my heart hurts for you. As my experience shows, 89 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 2: God's intervention may result in your healing, but it might not. 90 00:05:42,240 --> 00:05:46,640 Speaker 2: Regardless of the outcome, his divine provision always comes in 91 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,719 Speaker 2: the form of his presence and peace amid your trials, 92 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 2: and as illustrated earlier, his involvement is often displayed through 93 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:59,520 Speaker 2: his people. Could his kindness also be expressed through you. 94 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:06,720 Speaker 2: God exhibits this everlasting, compassionate amiability towards us, and we 95 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:12,120 Speaker 2: are responsible for continuing his example within our relationships. While 96 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 2: we know we must be kind and compassionate to one another, 97 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:20,880 Speaker 2: sometimes that's easier said than done. Showing kind heartedness doesn't 98 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:25,040 Speaker 2: always come naturally. It takes practice. Through him. We can 99 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 2: exhibit this fruit of the spirit because His power is 100 00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:33,599 Speaker 2: at work within us. A beautiful example of compassion is 101 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:38,440 Speaker 2: illustrated in First Samuel through the relationship between Jonathan and David. 102 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 2: Their relationship is one of the deepest and closest recorded 103 00:06:43,440 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 2: in the Bible. Jonathan was the prince of Israel and 104 00:06:47,560 --> 00:06:52,919 Speaker 2: should have been the next king, but God chose David instead. However, 105 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:59,320 Speaker 2: this did not diminish Jonathan's love for David. Jonathan's father, Saul, 106 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 2: became in as people became devoted to David. In a 107 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:07,839 Speaker 2: jealous rage, Saul attempted to murder David, forcing Jonathan to 108 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 2: deal with conflicting allegiances to his father, the king, and 109 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: his best friend. Regardless of the consequences, Jonathan decided to 110 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: alert David of Saul's diabolical plan, and as a result, 111 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 2: David's life was spared. Years later, because of their sworn 112 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: of friendship, David took great pains to invite Jonathan's son 113 00:07:29,720 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 2: methipas chef into his palace to live. David was generous, 114 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 2: partly because of his loyalty to God's previously annointed king, 115 00:07:39,560 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 2: but mainly because he vowed to show benevolence to Jonathan's descendants. 116 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:49,080 Speaker 2: Jonathan and David's friendship was based on their commitment to God, 117 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: not just each other. They allowed nothing to come between them. 118 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 2: Their relationship grew closer through every test, and their friendship 119 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:04,320 Speaker 2: endured until death part of them. Let's pray, Father, thank 120 00:08:04,360 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 2: you for your kindness. I'm grateful. You don't expect me 121 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 2: to repay it. How could I help me to recognize 122 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 2: the kindness of others toward me and not take it 123 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:18,600 Speaker 2: for granted. Prompt me to be sensitive to the needs 124 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:21,800 Speaker 2: of those around me, and, through your spirit, enable me 125 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 2: to be kind in Jesus's name. 126 00:08:24,720 --> 00:08:28,000 Speaker 1: Amen, friend, we are so glad that you are a 127 00:08:28,000 --> 00:08:30,560 Speaker 1: part of our community here on the podcast. If you 128 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: love everyday prayers in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, 129 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,000 Speaker 1: I invite you to join our Praying mom community on Patreon. 130 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,000 Speaker 1: For just ten dollars a month. You can connect deeper 131 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: through a monthly scripture inspired prayer calendar. Each day's devotion 132 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: in written form and bonus content only available to our 133 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: Patreon family. Learn more in today's show notes or at 134 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:56,640 Speaker 1: Millionprayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, the Lord bless 135 00:08:56,679 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 1: you and keep you. Make his face shine upon you, 136 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: and be gracious to you. May the Lord look with 137 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,600 Speaker 1: favor on you and give you peace.