1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:07,280 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:10,520 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, where 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,039 Speaker 2: we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for their 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 2: families in the areas they need at most. I'm your host, 5 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:19,279 Speaker 2: Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've helped thousands of 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: moms make prayer a priority for their families. Our mission 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 2: is to help you do the same. Prayer is not 8 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:28,720 Speaker 2: a last resort. It's our first and best response to 9 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,640 Speaker 2: the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the hearts of 10 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 2: our children that God invites us into. Today's devotion is 11 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 2: written by Shelley Tomlinson, author of the new book Don't 12 00:00:39,800 --> 00:00:43,240 Speaker 2: Try to Pray Like Her. To learn more about Shelley, 13 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:45,560 Speaker 2: or to learn more about how you can get involved 14 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 2: in the ministry of Million Praying Moms, visit today's show 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 2: notes or Millionprayingmoms dot Com. After a quick word from 16 00:00:53,080 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 2: our sponsors, we'll pray together for our children. 17 00:00:59,120 --> 00:01:04,680 Speaker 1: James thirteen through eighteen. Who among you is wise and understanding, 18 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: Let him show by his good behavior, his deeds, and 19 00:01:07,920 --> 00:01:11,360 Speaker 1: the gentleness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy 20 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,679 Speaker 1: and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant 21 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,280 Speaker 1: and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not 22 00:01:18,480 --> 00:01:23,400 Speaker 1: that which comes down from above, but it's earthly, natural, demonic. 23 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there is disorder 24 00:01:27,920 --> 00:01:31,520 Speaker 1: in every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is 25 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,600 Speaker 1: burst pure then, peace loving, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy 26 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:41,160 Speaker 1: and good fruits, impartial and free of hypocrisy. And the 27 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,199 Speaker 1: fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who 28 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: make peace. Let's talk about seasons. Mama's and grandmama's. We 29 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 1: can all remember when we were everything to our littles. 30 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 1: We remember when their whole world depended on us, and 31 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: their baby hearts broke when we were apart. Family used 32 00:02:00,840 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: to jokingly say that my youngest child acted like he 33 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: was an addict and I was his drug of choice. 34 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:10,200 Speaker 1: Philip would have a meltdown to try and get back 35 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 1: to my arms, and once he did, he would bury 36 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 1: his tears streaked face in my clothes and inhale deeply, 37 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: like my scent was necessary for his survival. 38 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:20,880 Speaker 2: Oh. 39 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,320 Speaker 1: Yes, we were the center of their universe until we weren't. 40 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 1: Our first experience with the tender ache of watching little 41 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:32,080 Speaker 1: ones grow up and begin to form new circles and 42 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:35,639 Speaker 1: interests that don't revolve around us comes at the hands 43 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: of our own children. Before we know it, the little 44 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 1: people that once thought we hung the sun decide their 45 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,440 Speaker 1: friends are much more interesting than we are. Just like that, 46 00:02:45,680 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: we're demoted from being main characters in their world to 47 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:54,760 Speaker 1: background players. What is this madness? Our mama's hearts take 48 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:59,359 Speaker 1: a direct hit, but we survive fast forward, and by 49 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:03,280 Speaker 1: fast fard I mean blistering speed. Our kids give us 50 00:03:03,280 --> 00:03:07,080 Speaker 1: adorable grandchildren whose faces light up when they see ours. 51 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: The feeling is neutral. The grand life is every bit 52 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: as sweet as we were told, plus some only much 53 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: too soon. The day comes when we get to fill 54 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: that familiar stink all over again. While our grandchildren love 55 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,400 Speaker 1: us as much as they did when they first christened 56 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:29,240 Speaker 1: us Gammy, Honey or Gig, their circles start widening, and 57 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: other interest outside our homes begin developing, and once again 58 00:03:34,880 --> 00:03:38,680 Speaker 1: we have a choice as to how we'll respond. If 59 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: you're there, allow me to offer you the advice I 60 00:03:41,520 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: give myself. If our goal is for nothing in our 61 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: relationship to change and for us to always be there everything, 62 00:03:49,760 --> 00:03:53,360 Speaker 1: we are setting ourselves up to be disappointed. It's simply 63 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:56,360 Speaker 1: not going to happen, and we'll make ourselves and our 64 00:03:56,480 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 1: kids or grandkids miserable trying to freeze the moments. I 65 00:04:00,800 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: know that sounds harsh, but stay with me. There's good 66 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: news straight ahead. We can make an infinitely better choice. 67 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 1: We can determine that our interactions with the generations below us, 68 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: and our prayers for them are all geared towards helping 69 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 1: them discover that it is Jesus who is everything. We 70 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,480 Speaker 1: can resist the urge to try and stay at the 71 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:27,040 Speaker 1: center of their universe and live demonstrating for them that 72 00:04:27,120 --> 00:04:31,000 Speaker 1: the very best like is once spent looking, listening, and 73 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,239 Speaker 1: yielding to Him while making our way in this world. 74 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,920 Speaker 1: If we help them discover life in the light of Christ, 75 00:04:38,360 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 1: if we help them discover God's purposes for their lives, 76 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:47,520 Speaker 1: we position ourselves to enjoy their expanding adventures with them. 77 00:04:48,000 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 1: The value of disheart position also applies to our grown kids. 78 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:56,040 Speaker 1: They love us, but they're juggling busy lives of their own. 79 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: When we embrace the opportunity to support them a new 80 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: and different ways with prayer and understanding, life gets sweeter 81 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:10,120 Speaker 1: on all sides. Let's pray Heavenly Father, help me live 82 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: a life that glorifies You before my family. Trying to 83 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: be there all in all not only sets me up 84 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: for failure and disappointment, but far more importantly, such misguided 85 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:23,719 Speaker 1: after its keep me from pointing them to You. And 86 00:05:23,800 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: when I forget, because I will and I'm feeling like 87 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm on the outside of their lives looking in, remind 88 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,760 Speaker 1: me of this greater goal I want to live demonstrating 89 00:05:33,800 --> 00:05:36,120 Speaker 1: to my family that you are my joy and my 90 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:40,039 Speaker 1: heart's desire. Despite how dear my loved ones are to me, 91 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: you are the well that never runs dry. In Jesus' name, 92 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: we pray Amen. 93 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: Are you a visual learner? Would you like to receive 94 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:53,440 Speaker 2: our daily devosions and written form right to your inbox? 95 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: Then join our Patreon community of Praying Moms. Not only 96 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,839 Speaker 2: will you receive the transcripts of each podcast of you 97 00:06:00,880 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 2: will also receive a monthly prayer calendar and surprise bonus content. 98 00:06:05,040 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 2: Learn more about our Praying mom community in today's show 99 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:13,159 Speaker 2: notes or at Millionprayingmoms dot com. Till next time, friends, 100 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 2: the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face 101 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 2: shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the 102 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,279 Speaker 2: Lord look with favor on you, and give you peace.