1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:18,130 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:18,150 --> 00:00:20,450 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:20,550 --> 00:00:23,989 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:24,090 --> 00:00:27,190 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:27,330 --> 00:00:30,630 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day, we come 6 00:00:30,670 --> 00:00:33,270 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 7 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: We're continuing this fall in our series, Praying Through the 8 00:00:36,300 --> 00:00:39,340 Speaker 1: Nine Fruit of the Spirit in Nine Weeks, using devotions 9 00:00:39,380 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 1: from our Everyday Prayers devotional series. This week's prayer focus 10 00:00:43,100 --> 00:00:47,020 Speaker 1: is faithfulness. Faithfulness. I think this is sometimes one of 11 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,050 Speaker 1: the fruit of the Spirit that we have a little 12 00:00:49,090 --> 00:00:52,190 Speaker 1: bit of a harder time understanding and living out in 13 00:00:52,250 --> 00:00:54,890 Speaker 1: our everyday lives. So I'm excited to spend some time 14 00:00:55,210 --> 00:00:57,860 Speaker 1: praying through it this week with all of you. Today's 15 00:00:57,900 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: devotion is written and read by me, excerpted from my 16 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: new book, releasing in October, Everyday Prayers for Moms. It's 17 00:01:03,860 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: now available for pre-order wherever books are sold. To learn 18 00:01:06,819 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: more about our ministry or to grab copies of our 19 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:14,619 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers devotionals, visit millionprayingmoms.com. Click shop. Use the code 20 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:18,690 Speaker 1: FALL20 for 20% off your order. After a quick word 21 00:01:18,709 --> 00:01:24,540 Speaker 1: from our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. His 22 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:28,580 Speaker 1: master said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant. 23 00:01:29,140 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: You have been faithful over a little. I will set 24 00:01:32,080 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: you over much. Enter into the joy of your master. 25 00:01:36,860 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: Matthew 25, 21. Jesus tells a story known as the 26 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: parable of the talents. In it, he describes a master 27 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:48,910 Speaker 1: who was going on a trip, called his servants together, 28 00:01:49,050 --> 00:01:52,670 Speaker 1: and entrusted them with some of his wealth. Verse 15 29 00:01:52,670 --> 00:01:57,210 Speaker 1: tells us, To one he gave five talents, to another two, 30 00:01:57,230 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 1: to another one, to each according to his ability. A 31 00:02:02,580 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: talent is a unit of currency that was worth roughly 32 00:02:05,720 --> 00:02:11,100 Speaker 1: 20 years wages for a laborer. Today, the amount distributed 33 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:15,790 Speaker 1: to these three servants would be equivalent to around $ 2 million. 34 00:02:17,470 --> 00:02:20,510 Speaker 1: The first two servants invested their talents and doubled what 35 00:02:20,530 --> 00:02:24,290 Speaker 1: their master gave them. The third servant took his talent 36 00:02:24,410 --> 00:02:27,650 Speaker 1: and buried it in the ground. When the master returned, 37 00:02:27,970 --> 00:02:31,260 Speaker 1: he settled accounts with them. To the first two servants 38 00:02:31,300 --> 00:02:34,859 Speaker 1: who invested and doubled their talents, the master said, Well done, 39 00:02:35,020 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 1: good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little. 40 00:02:38,940 --> 00:02:42,030 Speaker 1: I will set you over much. Enter into the joy 41 00:02:42,090 --> 00:02:47,829 Speaker 1: of your master. Matthew 25, 21 and 23. He says 42 00:02:47,870 --> 00:02:51,030 Speaker 1: the exact same thing to the first two servants. Both 43 00:02:51,090 --> 00:02:54,590 Speaker 1: received the same praise and the same promise. What the 44 00:02:54,630 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: master receives back from them is not what is important 45 00:02:57,910 --> 00:03:01,299 Speaker 1: to him. What is important is that each of them 46 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,579 Speaker 1: was faithful with what they had been given. As the 47 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: story wraps up, the third servant presents his original talent 48 00:03:10,080 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 1: and the master expresses his disappointment. This servant had made 49 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,260 Speaker 1: his decision in fear and it did not pay off. 50 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:22,579 Speaker 1: I desire to hear. well done, good and faithful servant. 51 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:28,540 Speaker 1: But I so often overlook my greatest investment opportunity, my children. 52 00:03:29,620 --> 00:03:33,330 Speaker 1: In my children, I have been given a precious gift 53 00:03:33,470 --> 00:03:36,510 Speaker 1: from the master, and it is my job to be 54 00:03:36,570 --> 00:03:40,730 Speaker 1: faithful with these gifts. This may look like following through 55 00:03:40,770 --> 00:03:43,950 Speaker 1: with discipline, even when it is hard, or maybe saying 56 00:03:44,030 --> 00:03:46,570 Speaker 1: no to a commitment because it would make our already 57 00:03:46,630 --> 00:03:50,830 Speaker 1: tight schedule even tighter. Perhaps it is reading scripture with 58 00:03:50,870 --> 00:03:55,470 Speaker 1: our kids or raising them in a faith community. What 59 00:03:55,550 --> 00:03:58,890 Speaker 1: investing faithfully looks like depends on the season my kids 60 00:03:59,010 --> 00:04:03,610 Speaker 1: are in. Something to think about. I desire to be 61 00:04:03,770 --> 00:04:08,570 Speaker 1: a faithful mom, full of bold faith in God and 62 00:04:08,610 --> 00:04:12,890 Speaker 1: helping to nurture faith in my children. I recall Paul's 63 00:04:12,950 --> 00:04:18,029 Speaker 1: remarks about Timothy's mother and grandmother saying, I am reminded 64 00:04:18,070 --> 00:04:21,230 Speaker 1: of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in 65 00:04:21,270 --> 00:04:25,089 Speaker 1: your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, and now, I 66 00:04:25,150 --> 00:04:30,510 Speaker 1: am sure, dwells in you as well. 2 Timothy 1.5 67 00:04:31,230 --> 00:04:34,480 Speaker 1: As moms, we have the unique opportunity to nurture faith 68 00:04:34,710 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: in our children. Although my maternal grandmother died when I 69 00:04:39,060 --> 00:04:41,559 Speaker 1: was just three years old and I have no vivid 70 00:04:41,620 --> 00:04:44,940 Speaker 1: memories of her, the faith she passed on to my 71 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:49,870 Speaker 1: mom and sister is has influenced me greatly. Now, hopefully, 72 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:52,650 Speaker 1: I am passing that same faith along to my daughter 73 00:04:52,770 --> 00:04:56,190 Speaker 1: and son. The other day, one of my cousins texted 74 00:04:56,230 --> 00:04:59,190 Speaker 1: an entry from my mama's journal to our cousin group, 75 00:04:59,990 --> 00:05:02,970 Speaker 1: and it was so neat to read her prayers. She 76 00:05:03,050 --> 00:05:07,630 Speaker 1: prayed specifically over her children and grandchildren, setting a precedent 77 00:05:07,730 --> 00:05:10,890 Speaker 1: in our family for prayer that is impacting me 30 78 00:05:10,890 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: years after her passing from this life to the next. 79 00:05:14,870 --> 00:05:18,740 Speaker 1: More than money or earthly possessions, I want my children 80 00:05:18,810 --> 00:05:23,100 Speaker 1: to inherit my faith. I desire for my children to 81 00:05:23,200 --> 00:05:27,400 Speaker 1: know the faithfulness of the Lord all the days of 82 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:33,460 Speaker 1: their lives. Let's pray. Father, remind me of the faithful 83 00:05:33,660 --> 00:05:37,900 Speaker 1: father you have been to me. Help me to be 84 00:05:37,960 --> 00:05:42,510 Speaker 1: a faithful servant to you. I want to honor you 85 00:05:42,570 --> 00:05:45,409 Speaker 1: by investing in the gifts you have given me, especially 86 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:48,710 Speaker 1: my children. May I show them what it looks like 87 00:05:48,830 --> 00:05:52,710 Speaker 1: to live faithfully to you. I need your help in 88 00:05:52,830 --> 00:05:57,220 Speaker 1: all things. In Jesus' name, amen. As part of our 89 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: Fruit of the Spirit prayers and everyday prayers for the 90 00:05:59,920 --> 00:06:03,420 Speaker 1: school year book club, Tara Cole and I created a 91 00:06:03,620 --> 00:06:07,640 Speaker 1: free car conversations guide for your family to use this fall. 92 00:06:08,170 --> 00:06:11,110 Speaker 1: The car is sometimes the best place for our most 93 00:06:11,230 --> 00:06:15,690 Speaker 1: precious conversations with our kids. As we are praying through 94 00:06:15,730 --> 00:06:18,210 Speaker 1: the fruit of the Spirit, our hope is that you 95 00:06:18,270 --> 00:06:22,330 Speaker 1: can have meaningful conversations with your kids about what living 96 00:06:22,470 --> 00:06:25,810 Speaker 1: out these fruit looks like in their daily lives. Tara 97 00:06:25,850 --> 00:06:28,370 Speaker 1: and I created a series of quick questions. She wrote 98 00:06:28,390 --> 00:06:30,930 Speaker 1: some for the older kids. I wrote some for younger kids. 99 00:06:31,290 --> 00:06:33,690 Speaker 1: And we share a prayer that you can share with 100 00:06:33,730 --> 00:06:36,230 Speaker 1: your children about each of the fruit of the Spirit. 101 00:06:36,900 --> 00:06:39,900 Speaker 1: Download your copy for free on our website or the 102 00:06:39,940 --> 00:06:43,690 Speaker 1: link in our show notes. Until next time, friends, the 103 00:06:43,730 --> 00:06:47,630 Speaker 1: Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face shine 104 00:06:47,690 --> 00:06:51,029 Speaker 1: upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord 105 00:06:51,290 --> 00:06:53,700 Speaker 1: look with favor on you and give you peace.