1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:18,850 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:18,890 --> 00:00:21,209 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:21,290 --> 00:00:24,669 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:24,730 --> 00:00:27,690 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:27,850 --> 00:00:30,850 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 6 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:33,450 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. 7 00:00:34,110 --> 00:00:36,970 Speaker 1: Today's devotion is written and read by Tara L. Cole. 8 00:00:37,350 --> 00:00:40,710 Speaker 1: Tara is the author of Everyday Prayers for the School 9 00:00:40,750 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: Year and one of our regular contributors here on the 10 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,530 Speaker 1: Million Praying Moms podcast. To learn more about Tiara or 11 00:00:47,620 --> 00:00:50,540 Speaker 1: more about the ministry of Million Praying Moms, you can 12 00:00:50,700 --> 00:00:54,180 Speaker 1: find us at our website, millionprayingmoms.com, and you can find 13 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,540 Speaker 1: a link in our show notes. We are turning our 14 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: minds toward thankfulness for the entire month of November. One 15 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:05,220 Speaker 1: way we're doing that is by sharing a Thankful Thursday 16 00:01:05,260 --> 00:01:07,899 Speaker 1: scripture on our social media accounts, so be sure you 17 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:12,529 Speaker 1: tune in. We're at Million Praying Moms everywhere, and you 18 00:01:12,650 --> 00:01:17,060 Speaker 1: can see our encouraging scripture, share it, with those around you. 19 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: And today, Tara shares a prayer to give thanks, to 20 00:01:21,420 --> 00:01:25,059 Speaker 1: remember to give thanks. So let's turn our attention there 21 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:27,620 Speaker 1: after a quick word from our sponsors. We'll pray together 22 00:01:27,670 --> 00:01:28,370 Speaker 1: for our families. 23 00:01:33,569 --> 00:01:38,130 Speaker 2: Philippians 4, 6 through 7. Do not be anxious about anything, 24 00:01:38,410 --> 00:01:42,460 Speaker 2: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let 25 00:01:42,500 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 2: your requests be made known to God. And the peace 26 00:01:45,420 --> 00:01:48,850 Speaker 2: of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts 27 00:01:49,010 --> 00:01:53,190 Speaker 2: and minds in Christ Jesus. 1, 2, 3, 4, count 28 00:01:53,250 --> 00:01:57,610 Speaker 2: my blessings. 1, 2, 3, 4, count my blessings. I 29 00:01:57,730 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 2: love this psalm by Hawk Nelson called Thank God for Something. 30 00:02:01,620 --> 00:02:04,140 Speaker 2: Whenever my family or I am struggling, I like to 31 00:02:04,200 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 2: put it on and play it loud. It's a great 32 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 2: reminder of how important it is to count our blessings. 33 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:14,210 Speaker 2: You'll find the same ideas in many Bible passages. Philippians 4, 34 00:02:14,190 --> 00:02:17,310 Speaker 2: 6-7 tells us, Thanksgiving helps us remember who was in charge. 35 00:02:17,330 --> 00:02:19,390 Speaker 2: It helps take our focus off ourselves and turn it 36 00:02:19,430 --> 00:02:21,750 Speaker 2: to the one who is really in control. Thanksgiving also 37 00:02:21,850 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 2: serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness in the past. 38 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: which then gives us hope for the future. The Psalms 39 00:02:45,060 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 2: are full of this use of thanksgiving. In Psalm 34, 40 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 2: David is praising and thanking God. As he does so, 41 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:53,980 Speaker 2: he reminds himself and his readers that God will be 42 00:02:54,040 --> 00:02:56,460 Speaker 2: faithful again. He writes in Psalm 34, 1-4, Come, let 43 00:02:56,500 --> 00:02:59,500 Speaker 2: us tell of the Lord's greatness. Let's exalt His name together. 44 00:03:12,419 --> 00:03:18,570 Speaker 2: When we take time to thank God, even during the 45 00:03:18,630 --> 00:03:20,609 Speaker 2: hard times, it does the same for us that it 46 00:03:20,650 --> 00:03:23,790 Speaker 2: did for David. It helps us find his peace, not 47 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:27,419 Speaker 2: through our own strength, but by remembering his. We can 48 00:03:27,460 --> 00:03:31,019 Speaker 2: help our kids with this. My kids love games. In 49 00:03:31,080 --> 00:03:34,530 Speaker 2: her book, Prayer and Practice, J.L. Gearheart talks about the 50 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,090 Speaker 2: blessing game, where you act like you're in a video 51 00:03:37,110 --> 00:03:39,550 Speaker 2: game and look back over yesterday to try and find 52 00:03:39,590 --> 00:03:43,590 Speaker 2: as many blessings, or points, as possible. My sons love 53 00:03:43,610 --> 00:03:46,340 Speaker 2: Nintendo's character Mario, so we adapted it and call it 54 00:03:46,350 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: the Blessing Coin Game. We list all the blessings we 55 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 2: can find to be thankful for today or yesterday. Each 56 00:03:52,500 --> 00:03:54,820 Speaker 2: blessing is a coin, and we see who wins by 57 00:03:54,860 --> 00:03:57,990 Speaker 2: finding the most blessings. It's been fun to keep lists 58 00:03:58,050 --> 00:03:59,850 Speaker 2: and see how many blessings we have found to be 59 00:03:59,870 --> 00:04:03,090 Speaker 2: thankful for. Try this idea with your own kids. See 60 00:04:03,130 --> 00:04:05,490 Speaker 2: how many coins you can find laying around that you 61 00:04:05,550 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 2: didn't even know were there. Let's pray. Father, please calm 62 00:04:10,660 --> 00:04:13,220 Speaker 2: our children's anxious hearts and help them to see the 63 00:04:13,240 --> 00:04:17,900 Speaker 2: blessings you've given them and thank you for them. In Jesus' name, amen. 64 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:21,099 Speaker 1: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 65 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:25,380 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 66 00:04:25,610 --> 00:04:30,080 Speaker 1: your children. My newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying 67 00:04:30,120 --> 00:04:33,450 Speaker 1: God's Word for Your Children from Newborn to Emptiness, is 68 00:04:33,610 --> 00:04:37,650 Speaker 1: a great resource for moms who desire to pray for 69 00:04:37,690 --> 00:04:39,810 Speaker 1: their kids. I don't know if you've ever looked up 70 00:04:39,850 --> 00:04:41,710 Speaker 1: at the end of the day and realized that you 71 00:04:41,750 --> 00:04:46,060 Speaker 1: didn't pray at all. So often we have this desire 72 00:04:46,120 --> 00:04:49,350 Speaker 1: to pray. but we may not know how to put 73 00:04:49,430 --> 00:04:53,729 Speaker 1: that desire into practice. I'm learning in motherhood that my 74 00:04:53,790 --> 00:04:56,830 Speaker 1: prayers adapt and change based on the season that we're 75 00:04:56,930 --> 00:04:59,770 Speaker 1: in as a family. I'm also learning to give myself 76 00:04:59,950 --> 00:05:04,890 Speaker 1: grace in those different seasons. I know God isn't after perfect, 77 00:05:04,980 --> 00:05:09,480 Speaker 1: polished prayers. He's after my heart, and He's after yours too. 78 00:05:10,180 --> 00:05:13,420 Speaker 1: So my plan is to be intentional, whatever that looks 79 00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:16,680 Speaker 1: like in this season. I hope that is your plan 80 00:05:17,110 --> 00:05:21,130 Speaker 1: as well. God sees our hearts. He's honored by our 81 00:05:21,170 --> 00:05:24,890 Speaker 1: desire to connect with Him. If you're feeling stuck in 82 00:05:24,950 --> 00:05:28,460 Speaker 1: your prayer life, I've got a new free download, a 83 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:34,380 Speaker 1: five-day prayer reset. It's a great guide to help you 84 00:05:35,029 --> 00:05:39,469 Speaker 1: get started, jump back in, stay consistent, grow deeper in 85 00:05:39,490 --> 00:05:42,590 Speaker 1: your prayers for your kids. It's also a great tool 86 00:05:42,630 --> 00:05:46,179 Speaker 1: to share with your friends or with your family members 87 00:05:46,260 --> 00:05:50,380 Speaker 1: that may be seeking to know God deeper in prayer 88 00:05:50,779 --> 00:05:53,380 Speaker 1: as they're wanting to pray for their kids. I hope 89 00:05:53,420 --> 00:05:57,859 Speaker 1: you will grab your copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. We'll also 90 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,990 Speaker 1: put a link in our show notes. Until next time, friends, 91 00:06:02,910 --> 00:06:06,160 Speaker 1: may the Lord bless you and keep you Make His 92 00:06:06,220 --> 00:06:09,669 Speaker 1: face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May 93 00:06:09,700 --> 00:06:13,090 Speaker 1: the Lord look with favor upon you and give you 94 00:06:13,290 --> 00:06:13,850 Speaker 1: His peace. 95 00:06:14,630 --> 00:06:14,860 Speaker 2: Amen.