1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:03,520 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 2: You're listening to Everyday Prayers with Million Praying Moms, where 3 00:00:09,920 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 2: we're dedicated to helping moms pray God's word for their 4 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 2: families in the areas they need it most. I'm your host, 5 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:20,239 Speaker 2: Nicolette Bell. Over the last decade, we've helped thousands of 6 00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 2: moms make prayer a priority for their families. Our mission 7 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 2: is to help you do the same. Prayer is not 8 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 2: a last resort. It's our first and best response to 9 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 2: the challenges of parenting, a partnership for the hearts of 10 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:38,960 Speaker 2: our children that God invites us into. Today's devotion is 11 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:43,279 Speaker 2: written and read by Rachel Hartzell, author of The Garden Scouts, 12 00:00:43,320 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 2: a children's book series inspired by the Fruit of the Spirit. 13 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 2: To learn more about Rachel, or to learn more about 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 2: how you can get involved in the ministry of Million 15 00:00:51,680 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 2: Praying Moms, visit today's show notes or Millionprayingmoms dot com. 16 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 2: After a brief word from our sponsors, will prayed together 17 00:01:00,880 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: for our children. 18 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:10,559 Speaker 1: Philippians three seventeen Brothers, join in imitating me and keep 19 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,760 Speaker 1: your eyes on those who walk according to the example 20 00:01:14,200 --> 00:01:19,040 Speaker 1: you have in us. One of the most memorable discipleship 21 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:22,160 Speaker 1: moments I've had with my daughter. Happened a few months 22 00:01:22,200 --> 00:01:26,559 Speaker 1: before she accepted Jesus as her savior. We had walked 23 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,640 Speaker 1: into our local CBS and a man approached us. I 24 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: was struck by the embarrassment I saw in his eyes 25 00:01:32,360 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 1: and the desperation I heard in his soft, gravelly voice. 26 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: He was asking if I could buy him a package 27 00:01:39,000 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: of adult diapers. I immediately replied, sure, go grab what 28 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: you need. As this gentleman and I grabbed what we 29 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: each needed, my daughter and I found ourselves walking up 30 00:01:50,400 --> 00:01:53,520 Speaker 1: to the register with him. I engaged in friendly small 31 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: talk with the man, paid for everything, wished him well, 32 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: and we went our separate ways. As my daughter and 33 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: I were walking across the parking lot, I felt like 34 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: I blew it and should have done more for him. 35 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:08,880 Speaker 1: When we got in the car, I realized my daughter 36 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: had been unusually quiet since the gentleman approached us in 37 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 1: the store. I asked if she was okay, and she responded, Mom, 38 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 1: why did you do that? Aren't you worried he's going 39 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,639 Speaker 1: to sell those for drugs or alcohol. 40 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:28,919 Speaker 3: This opened the door for an unexpected moment of discipleship 41 00:02:28,960 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 3: as we drove home. Just like Paul, none of us 42 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 3: are perfect Christians. The believers he wrote to in Philippi 43 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 3: were at different stages in their walk with Christ, as 44 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 3: are you and I. Wherever we are in our journey 45 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 3: with Christ, it is important to remember that we are 46 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:53,680 Speaker 3: His image bearers for everyone around us, believers and non 47 00:02:53,720 --> 00:02:59,440 Speaker 3: believers alike. Matthew five fourteen through sixteen tells us we 48 00:02:59,480 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 3: are the light of the world, and we should let 49 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 3: the light of God's kingdom shine on others as we 50 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:11,000 Speaker 3: bear good fruit like joy and kindness. As moms, it 51 00:03:11,080 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 3: is our duty to shine this light for our kids 52 00:03:14,320 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: as we disciple them. I don't know about you, but 53 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 3: when I was first faced with this eight years ago 54 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 3: as a new mom an immature Christian, it felt like 55 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:31,440 Speaker 3: a daunting task. Fortunately, God already knew this would be 56 00:03:31,480 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 3: difficult for us to accomplish in this broken world, and 57 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:36,160 Speaker 3: has blessed us with the fruit of the spirit that 58 00:03:36,240 --> 00:03:38,920 Speaker 3: Paul lists for us in Galatians five twenty two through 59 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 3: twenty three to help us. Sometimes this will look like 60 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 3: a simple act of forgiveness or grace when our children misbehave. 61 00:03:49,720 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 3: Other times, our kids will witness us shining God's light 62 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 3: as an act of generosity and kindness for a stranger. 63 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 3: As I reflect on Flippians three seventeen, I now see 64 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,680 Speaker 3: that I didn't blow it that day. I was shining 65 00:04:06,720 --> 00:04:09,640 Speaker 3: God's light on that man, and I was modeling how 66 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 3: to live out the fruit of a spirit for my daughter. 67 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 3: I didn't have to do it perfectly for God to 68 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 3: be able to use it for his glory. It's been 69 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 3: a few years since that day and I'm still not perfect, 70 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:27,360 Speaker 3: but I am further in my walk with God. It 71 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 3: took intentional actions, like cutting out media that didn't glorify 72 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:36,520 Speaker 3: God and fellowshiping with other members of our church. I 73 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 3: want to challenge you this week to reflect on where 74 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,160 Speaker 3: you are in your walk with God and the intentional 75 00:04:42,279 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 3: changes you can make to more fully accept Paul's invitation 76 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 3: in Philippians three seventeen so you can better model fruitful 77 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:55,480 Speaker 3: living for your kids. If you feel unsure of the 78 00:04:55,520 --> 00:04:58,480 Speaker 3: next step, to take lay your heart out for God 79 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 3: in prayer and listen for his gentle answer. Let's pray, 80 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 3: Dear Heavenly Father. I know I'm not a perfect mom 81 00:05:08,040 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 3: or a perfect Christian, but I want to shine your 82 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:16,960 Speaker 3: light and model more fruitful living for my family. Soften 83 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,880 Speaker 3: my heart, Lord to the changes I need to make 84 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:25,480 Speaker 3: to abide and draw closer to you. Help me identify 85 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:26,120 Speaker 3: who is. 86 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: Walking closely with you, so that I may live by 87 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: their example in Jesus' name. Amen, Are you a visual learner? 88 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,720 Speaker 2: Would you like to receive our daily devotions and written 89 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 2: form right to your inbox? Then join our Patreon community 90 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: of Praying Moms. Not only will you receive the transcripts 91 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: of each podcast devotional, you will also receive a monthly 92 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 2: prayer calendar and surprise bonus content. Learn more about our 93 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: Praying Mom community in today's show notes or at million 94 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 2: prayingmoms dot com. Till next time, friends, the Lord bless 95 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 2: you and keep you. Make his face shine upon you 96 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:06,599 Speaker 2: and be gracious to you. May the Lord look with 97 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 2: favor on you and give you peace.