1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:19,090 Speaker 1: Life Audio. You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, 2 00:00:19,110 --> 00:00:21,470 Speaker 1: helping you pray God's word for your family in the 3 00:00:21,590 --> 00:00:25,150 Speaker 1: areas you need it most. I'm your host, Nicolette Bell. Here, 4 00:00:25,230 --> 00:00:28,210 Speaker 1: we believe prayer isn't a last resort. It's our first 5 00:00:28,350 --> 00:00:31,550 Speaker 1: and best response in parenting. And every day we come 6 00:00:31,590 --> 00:00:34,900 Speaker 1: together to partner with God for the hearts of our children. Friends, 7 00:00:34,940 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: don't forget it's time to pre-order our newest devotional, Everyday 8 00:00:38,140 --> 00:00:40,940 Speaker 1: Prayers for Moms, praying God's word for your children from 9 00:00:40,979 --> 00:00:44,160 Speaker 1: newborn to empty nest. If you pre-order your copy today, 10 00:00:44,220 --> 00:00:47,159 Speaker 1: you receive early access to my new prayer course that 11 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:49,950 Speaker 1: is a great preview or a companion for the book. 12 00:00:50,430 --> 00:00:53,870 Speaker 1: Find a pre-order link in our show notes. Today's devotion 13 00:00:53,930 --> 00:00:57,630 Speaker 1: is written and read by April Osteen Simons, author of 14 00:00:57,790 --> 00:01:02,170 Speaker 1: Jumpstart Your Day, Brighten Your Mornings for a Bolder, Better Life. 15 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,600 Speaker 1: To learn more about April or more about our ministry, 16 00:01:05,780 --> 00:01:10,640 Speaker 1: visit millionprayingmoms.com. After a quick word from our sponsors, we'll 17 00:01:10,660 --> 00:01:12,100 Speaker 1: pray together for our families. 18 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:22,420 Speaker 2: Psalm 90-12 Teach us to number our days, that we 19 00:01:22,459 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 2: may gain a heart of wisdom. I can still picture 20 00:01:27,180 --> 00:01:29,700 Speaker 2: the scene. All five of my kids were in the 21 00:01:29,750 --> 00:01:32,990 Speaker 2: living room. My son was irritating one of my daughters. 22 00:01:33,410 --> 00:01:36,650 Speaker 2: My two middle daughters were saying, look, mom, for probably 23 00:01:36,730 --> 00:01:39,550 Speaker 2: the 25th time as they tried to show me their cartwheels. 24 00:01:40,170 --> 00:01:43,490 Speaker 2: The dogs were barking and the television was blaring as 25 00:01:43,510 --> 00:01:45,810 Speaker 2: we waited to find out who was going to be 26 00:01:45,870 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: the next president. To say it was chaotic would be 27 00:01:49,220 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: the understatement of the century. Right in the middle of 28 00:01:53,460 --> 00:01:56,770 Speaker 2: all that noise, my youngest daughter walked over and handed 29 00:01:56,830 --> 00:01:59,809 Speaker 2: me the prettiest little picture she had drawn. It was 30 00:01:59,870 --> 00:02:02,450 Speaker 2: a picture of the two of us holding hands. We 31 00:02:02,490 --> 00:02:05,770 Speaker 2: had big smiles on our faces, and we were wearing 32 00:02:05,810 --> 00:02:08,470 Speaker 2: the cutest boots you've ever seen. I taught her well. 33 00:02:09,450 --> 00:02:12,030 Speaker 2: Across the top of the page, she had written, Mommy, 34 00:02:12,050 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: I love you. That little drawing put everything into perspective 35 00:02:17,860 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: for me. See, she didn't care about the noise. She 36 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: wasn't bothered by the barking dogs or the blaring television. 37 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:28,269 Speaker 2: She wasn't thinking about the mess or everything that still 38 00:02:28,330 --> 00:02:31,330 Speaker 2: needed to get done. In the middle of all of 39 00:02:31,370 --> 00:02:35,810 Speaker 2: that chaos, what mattered to her was very simple. She 40 00:02:35,990 --> 00:02:39,330 Speaker 2: loved her mommy, and she wanted me to know it. 41 00:02:40,730 --> 00:02:42,250 Speaker 2: Isn't that what really matters? 42 00:02:42,630 --> 00:02:43,280 Speaker 1: Our people? 43 00:02:43,290 --> 00:02:47,100 Speaker 2: Our family? The people God has placed in our lives 44 00:02:47,180 --> 00:02:51,600 Speaker 2: to love? Back then, people were always telling me, enjoy 45 00:02:51,639 --> 00:02:54,820 Speaker 2: these days. They grow up so fast. Let me tell you, 46 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:58,810 Speaker 2: standing in that noisy living room with five kids, barking dogs, 47 00:02:58,889 --> 00:03:02,510 Speaker 2: and somebody always needing me, I remember thinking, no, they don't. 48 00:03:03,270 --> 00:03:07,130 Speaker 2: But they were right. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, 49 00:03:07,450 --> 00:03:11,060 Speaker 2: those five little kids grew up. And now I understand 50 00:03:11,130 --> 00:03:16,050 Speaker 2: something I couldn't fully understand then. Those chaotic, ordinary days 51 00:03:16,450 --> 00:03:20,430 Speaker 2: weren't something to get through. They were my life. They 52 00:03:20,470 --> 00:03:23,300 Speaker 2: were some of the moments I would one day treasure most. 53 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:27,600 Speaker 2: Psalm 90 verse 12 says, teach us to number our 54 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:30,860 Speaker 2: days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. I 55 00:03:30,900 --> 00:03:34,450 Speaker 2: think part of that wisdom is learning to recognize what 56 00:03:34,510 --> 00:03:37,690 Speaker 2: matters while we still have it right in front of us. 57 00:03:38,450 --> 00:03:42,170 Speaker 2: Life can get busy. There will always be something demanding 58 00:03:42,230 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 2: our attention. another problem to solve, another task to finish, 59 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,940 Speaker 2: another place we need to be. And if we aren't careful, 60 00:03:50,140 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: we can spend so much time trying to get through 61 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:56,690 Speaker 2: today that we miss the beauty tucked inside of it. 62 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:01,420 Speaker 2: Sometimes the most important thing happening is the little person 63 00:04:01,560 --> 00:04:04,940 Speaker 2: standing right in front of you saying, look, mom, it's 64 00:04:04,980 --> 00:04:08,340 Speaker 2: the phone call from someone you love. It's sitting around 65 00:04:08,360 --> 00:04:12,010 Speaker 2: the table a little bit longer. It's an ordinary day 66 00:04:12,090 --> 00:04:16,570 Speaker 2: that doesn't seem particularly special until years later when you 67 00:04:16,620 --> 00:04:21,860 Speaker 2: realize just how special it really was. So today, pay 68 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,580 Speaker 2: attention to your people. Listen a little bit longer. Give 69 00:04:25,620 --> 00:04:30,320 Speaker 2: the hug. Watch the cartwheel for the 26th time. Don't 70 00:04:30,380 --> 00:04:33,380 Speaker 2: be so busy waiting for the next big thing that 71 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,950 Speaker 2: you miss the beautiful life happening right in front of you. 72 00:04:37,870 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: Let's pray. Father, thank you for the people you have 73 00:04:41,460 --> 00:04:44,659 Speaker 2: placed in my life. Help me slow down enough to 74 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:49,010 Speaker 2: recognize what really matters and not allow the noise and 75 00:04:49,050 --> 00:04:52,790 Speaker 2: demands of life to distract me from the people I love. 76 00:04:53,610 --> 00:04:56,890 Speaker 2: Teach me to number my days, to be present in 77 00:04:56,930 --> 00:05:00,479 Speaker 2: the ordinary moments, and to treasure the people you have 78 00:05:00,540 --> 00:05:04,260 Speaker 2: given me. Help me love them well today and never 79 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:10,180 Speaker 2: take for granted the gift of simply being together. In Jesus' name, amen. 80 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:13,300 Speaker 1: My guess is that if you're here listening to the 81 00:05:13,380 --> 00:05:17,560 Speaker 1: Everyday Prayers podcast, you kind of care about praying for 82 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:22,280 Speaker 1: your children. My newest book, Everyday Prayers for Moms, Praying 83 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:25,660 Speaker 1: God's Word for Your Children from Newborn to Emptiness, is 84 00:05:25,820 --> 00:05:29,850 Speaker 1: a great resource for moms who desire to pray for 85 00:05:29,890 --> 00:05:32,010 Speaker 1: their kids. I don't know if you've ever looked up 86 00:05:32,050 --> 00:05:33,930 Speaker 1: at the end of the day and realized that you 87 00:05:33,970 --> 00:05:38,230 Speaker 1: didn't pray at all. So often we have this desire 88 00:05:38,290 --> 00:05:41,550 Speaker 1: to pray, but we may not know how to put 89 00:05:41,630 --> 00:05:45,650 Speaker 1: that desire in to practice. I'm learning in motherhood that 90 00:05:45,730 --> 00:05:48,750 Speaker 1: my prayers adapt and change based on the season that 91 00:05:48,790 --> 00:05:51,550 Speaker 1: we're in as a family. I'm also learning to give 92 00:05:51,589 --> 00:05:56,070 Speaker 1: myself grace in those different seasons. I know God isn't 93 00:05:56,250 --> 00:05:59,990 Speaker 1: after perfect, polished prayers. He's after my heart, and He's 94 00:06:00,190 --> 00:06:04,370 Speaker 1: after yours too. So my plan is to be intentional, 95 00:06:04,890 --> 00:06:08,020 Speaker 1: whatever that looks like in this season. I hope that 96 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,900 Speaker 1: is your plan as well. God sees our hearts. He's 97 00:06:12,140 --> 00:06:16,190 Speaker 1: honored by our desire to connect with Him. If you're 98 00:06:16,200 --> 00:06:18,969 Speaker 1: feeling stuck in your prayer life, I've got a new 99 00:06:19,170 --> 00:06:25,650 Speaker 1: free download, a five-day prayer reset. It's a great guide 100 00:06:25,850 --> 00:06:30,350 Speaker 1: to help you get started, jump back in, stay consistent, 101 00:06:30,770 --> 00:06:33,850 Speaker 1: grow deeper in your prayers for your kids. It's also 102 00:06:33,870 --> 00:06:37,330 Speaker 1: a great tool to share with your friends or with 103 00:06:37,350 --> 00:06:41,210 Speaker 1: your family members that may be seeking to know God 104 00:06:41,450 --> 00:06:45,070 Speaker 1: deeper in prayer as they're wanting to pray for their kids. 105 00:06:45,089 --> 00:06:49,250 Speaker 1: I hope you will grab your copy today at millionprayingmoms.com. 106 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:53,299 Speaker 1: We'll also put a link in our show notes. Until 107 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,740 Speaker 1: next time, friends, may the Lord bless you and keep 108 00:06:56,779 --> 00:07:00,490 Speaker 1: you Make His face shine upon you and be gracious 109 00:07:00,550 --> 00:07:04,180 Speaker 1: to you. May the Lord look with favor upon you 110 00:07:04,740 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: and give you His peace.