1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:10,400 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: where we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: their families in the areas they need at most. I'm 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:20,919 Speaker 1: your host, Nicolette Belle. Over the last decade, we've helped 5 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: thousands of moms make prayer a priority for their families. 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: Our mission is to help you do the same. Prayer 7 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,360 Speaker 1: is not a last resort. It's our first and best 8 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:35,159 Speaker 1: response to the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the 9 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:39,599 Speaker 1: hearts of our children that God invites us into. Today's 10 00:00:39,600 --> 00:00:42,879 Speaker 1: devotion is written by Stacy Thacker, author of ten books, 11 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: including our brand new book, Every Day Prayers for Christmas. 12 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 1: To learn more about Stacy, or to learn more about 13 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:51,760 Speaker 1: how you can get involved in the ministry of Million 14 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:57,400 Speaker 1: Praying Moms, visit Today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. 15 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:01,000 Speaker 1: After a word from our sponsors, We'll pray together for 16 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: our children. 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:09,400 Speaker 2: A new day dawning Luke one seventy six through seventy 18 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 2: nine says, and you child will be called the prophet 19 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 2: of the Most High, for you will go before the 20 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 2: Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation 21 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:22,440 Speaker 2: to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, because 22 00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 2: of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise 23 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 2: shall visit us from on high, to give light to 24 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 2: those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, 25 00:01:32,240 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 2: to guide our feet into the way of peace. Recently 26 00:01:36,160 --> 00:01:38,200 Speaker 2: I was gifted a weekend at a beach condo not 27 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 2: too far from my house. Each morning of my visit, 28 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,560 Speaker 2: with quiet expectation, I made my way to the balcony 29 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,440 Speaker 2: to watch the sunrise. I sat with my legs curled 30 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:50,960 Speaker 2: up beneath me in my chair, cup of coffee in hand, 31 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 2: and eyes wide open, waiting for the first light to appear. 32 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:57,559 Speaker 2: This is one of my favorite things to do because 33 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,640 Speaker 2: I love watching the sun come up and seeing the 34 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: color dance on the water. I am always amazed at 35 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,520 Speaker 2: the certainty of the sunrise, especially at the ocean. Have 36 00:02:06,640 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: you ever noticed how the light of morning always wins 37 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: over the darkness, and the sky responds to the dawn 38 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,680 Speaker 2: without resistance, and a new day's beginning is always packed 39 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,440 Speaker 2: with hope, something to think about. Before the birth of 40 00:02:18,520 --> 00:02:20,960 Speaker 2: Jesus came the birth of John the Baptist. He was 41 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:23,640 Speaker 2: the miracle child of a priest named Zechariah and his 42 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 2: wife Elizabeth. They were both advanced in years and without children. 43 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,960 Speaker 2: Scripture tells us that Elizabeth was barren. John's angelic birth 44 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: announcement was shocking, so much so that Zechariah was struck 45 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 2: mute by the angel Gabriel because he doubted it was possible. 46 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: What loosened his tongue several months later at his son's 47 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 2: birth was praise. Empowered by the Holy Spirit. Zechariah foretold 48 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 2: John would prepare the way of the Lord and call 49 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: God's people to turn from their sins. And as Zechariah 50 00:02:55,080 --> 00:02:59,400 Speaker 2: poetically prophesied over his infant, he also spoke of Jesus, 51 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 2: whom he liked to Heaven's sunrise the days spring, giving 52 00:03:03,000 --> 00:03:05,400 Speaker 2: light to the people who sat in darkness and despair. 53 00:03:06,160 --> 00:03:10,200 Speaker 2: This was a monumental moment for God's people because they 54 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 2: had been waiting during four hundred years of prophetic silence, barren, 55 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,200 Speaker 2: like Elizabeth, for God to speak to them. God was 56 00:03:19,240 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 2: working while they were waiting, but the darkness felt heavy 57 00:03:22,240 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 2: at times. John's birth signified Heaven's first light was on 58 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 2: his way, and Zechariah's prophecy reminds me of this old 59 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:33,040 Speaker 2: hymn we sang when I was growing up. It's called 60 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: send the Light, and it says this, there's a call, 61 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: come ringing, or the restless wave. Send the light. Send 62 00:03:39,280 --> 00:03:42,120 Speaker 2: the light. There are souls to rescue, There are souls 63 00:03:42,160 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: to save. Send the light. Send the light. Send the light, 64 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:48,720 Speaker 2: the blessed Gospel light. Let it shine from shore to shore. 65 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: Send the light, and let it radiant beams light the 66 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: world for every more. By God's tender mercy, he sent 67 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:58,800 Speaker 2: the light. His name was Jesus, and he came right 68 00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: on time. Let's pray, Father, thank you that you are 69 00:04:02,400 --> 00:04:05,160 Speaker 2: merciful and ready to help us in our darkness and despair. 70 00:04:05,720 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 2: You didn't let the shadow of death win. You sent 71 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: your son, the Dayspring, Heaven's first light, and the bright 72 00:04:11,600 --> 00:04:15,240 Speaker 2: morning Star to show us the way of peace. Oh Lord, 73 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,760 Speaker 2: keep sending the light of the Gospel to be born 74 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: afresh in our hearts today and every day in Jesus' name. Amen. 75 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: I hope you're enjoying reading along with us this month 76 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:29,279 Speaker 1: in our new book, Every Day Prayers for Christmas. Grab 77 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: your copy in a few for gifts wherever books are sold. 78 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 1: If you love the Everyday Prayers podcast. Consider joining our 79 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 1: community with a ten dollar monthly donation through Patreon. When 80 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:43,599 Speaker 1: you join, you automatically receive a new downloadable scripture inspired 81 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:47,480 Speaker 1: prayer calendar every month, plus the devotions and prayers from 82 00:04:47,480 --> 00:04:50,760 Speaker 1: this month in written form, along with an invitation to 83 00:04:50,839 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 1: our monthly live mom chat. Learn more in today's show 84 00:04:55,160 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: notes or at Million Prayingmoms dot com. Until next time, friends, 85 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: the Lord bless you and keep you. Make His face 86 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 1: shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the 87 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: Lord look with favor on you and give you peace.