Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7)

Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council. He knew the Scriptures better than anyone. And still, people were talking about Jesus’s teachings and miracles and Nicodemus wanted to know more, so he went to Jesus in the night and asked him questions.

Nicodemus asking questions led to Jesus explaining one of the most important parts of the Christian faith—why Jesus came and what it takes to truly follow him and enter his kingdom. Jesus explained that to be saved, a person has to be born again.

Nicodemus had all the answers on paper, but he must have known something was missing in his heart, and he sought out Jesus to find out what. We should be curious about our faith too. Questions about faith do not have to be scary—they can be viewed as an opportunity to learn more about the heart of God.

We want our kids to make their faith their own because a personal, deeply rooted faith is more likely to transform them. An inherited faith is more likely to fall apart when things fall apart. Asking questions is part of the process of maturing spiritually and making faith their own, so we should encourage it!

This week, let’s pray that our kids seek after Jesus and ask the right questions to make their faith their own.

Jesus, thank you for answering our prayers and our questions. When __________ has questions, may they always come to you, knowing you will answer them and that you care for them. Help them to grow strong and confident in their own faith. Amen.

If you love this episode and don’t have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it’s not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And don’t forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes.

Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses today

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

This episode is for all moms raising kids of all seasons. My guest, Kim Anderson, is a Nashville therapist who began her career as an elementary teacher before transitioning to counseling. She is driven by a desire to support whole families through life's challenges. She is the founder of Elevate Moms, a faith community where mothers can heal, grow, and connect.

This super practical episode is beyond encouraging. Kim helps us think through many difficult challenges of parenting in today’s world. She focuses on the importance of emotional regulation, attunement, and setting boundaries. Our discussion covers how to navigate difficult conversations with children, the significance of understanding mental health, and the balance between advocating for children and allowing them to develop resilience.

My favorite part is when Kim encourages us to take care of our own emotional well-being to better support our children. She reminds us that being “perfect” at parenting isn’t possible. And it’s more than okay to be imperfect. I pray you will breathe a little lighter today after hearing Kim’s encouragement.

Enjoy!

Courtney

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Resources from today’s show:

Connect with Kim Anderson

Elevate Moms

Family Room Membership

Technology Guide (with contract)

30% is “good enough” parenting

Understanding attachment styles with David Thomas and Sissy Goff

Sign up for Morning Minute

I Can Only Imagine 2

Disciplines of Devotion Series

LearningRX

Prefer video? This episode is on YouTube!

Pardon The Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:41–45 ESV)

There’s a beautiful scene between two relatives in Luke 1, as we read about the coming of Jesus. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, and her cousin Mary had just been told by an angel that she would give birth to a son and he would be named Jesus, the Son of the Most High. Imagine having this kind of news and needing to process this with a friend. And it’s especially tricky when you are a virgin and learn you are expecting a child.

In Luke 1, Mary visited her relative Elizabeth to tell her the unexpected and life-changing news. At the moment she entered, the baby leaped in Elizabeth’s womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

The interesting part about this moment is Elizabeth’s joy in her response to Mary’s news. She could’ve been a little confused that her cousin had just “one-upped” her by sharing that she was pregnant with the Savior of the world. Instead, she recognized that the Lord was fulfilling his promises through Mary. It was a moment of pure support, praise, and celebration. She immediately proclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42 KJV).

Throughout the Bible, and even in today’s culture, we see moments of jealousy and comparison. Even in Christian communities, we see jealousy and discontentment when God is blessing others. Let’s pray that our children respond to their friends just like Elizabeth did to Mary. Let’s pray that they trust the Lord with their paths and step in as the first one to celebrate with joy for their friends and family.

Jesus, when __________ has a friend or a family member who has great news, let them be the first to celebrate. Let them cast aside the feelings of jealousy and stand firmly in their own journey with God. Let them be known as friends who praise what God is doing in the lives around them.

If you love this episode and don’t have your copy of A Great Cloud of Witnesses yet, it’s not too late to get yours! Go ChristianParenting.org to get your copy and follow along. And don’t forget to tune in to Pardon the Mess every Monday for more prayer episodes.

Order A Great Cloud of Witnesses today

Pardon the Mess is a part of the Christian Parenting Podcast Network. For more information visit www.ChristianParenting.org