{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"startTime":1.12,"endTime":4.88,"body":"You're listening to my Morning Devotional podcast, episode 1299."},{"startTime":5.04,"endTime":8.08,"body":"Today's Devo is called From Awkward to Aligned."},{"startTime":9.12,"endTime":12.64,"body":"Hey there. We're the Alessies, a ministry family working"},{"startTime":12.64,"endTime":16.399,"body":"together in our church in Miami, Florida. And if you're like us,"},{"startTime":16.48,"endTime":20.04,"body":"when days get busy and to do lists get longer, it can be hard to"},{"startTime":20.04,"endTime":23.44,"body":"find devotional time. That's why we've partnered with our friend"},{"startTime":23.44,"endTime":27.04,"body":"Allison to produce a five minute daily dose of heaven."},{"startTime":27.57,"endTime":31.01,"body":"This is the My Morning Devotional Podcast. Good morning,"},{"startTime":31.01,"endTime":34.57,"body":"everybody and happy Thursday. Welcome to another episode of My Morning"},{"startTime":34.57,"endTime":37.73,"body":"Devotional Podcast. Today you have again"},{"startTime":37.81,"endTime":41.57,"body":"Richelle Alessi and Jackie Roman. And we're going to continue"},{"startTime":41.73,"endTime":45.01,"body":"the theme of prayer. And today is going to be fun because"},{"startTime":45.33,"endTime":48.37,"body":"she has something a little more practical. And these are"},{"startTime":48.85,"endTime":52.53,"body":"almost like the steps that you can take to make prayer more real"},{"startTime":52.53,"endTime":55.85,"body":"in your life and for you to feel like you're doing it right,"},{"startTime":55.93,"endTime":59.65,"body":"there's not a perfect way. But she has some incredible tools to"},{"startTime":59.65,"endTime":63.49,"body":"help you just feel more confident in your prayer life. And"},{"startTime":63.49,"endTime":66.85,"body":"I hope that this continues to bless you. So, Miss Jackie, take it away. Good"},{"startTime":66.85,"endTime":70.49,"body":"morning, everyone. Thank you for having me again, Rachelle. And"},{"startTime":70.65,"endTime":74.49,"body":"today I wanted to talk about marriage and"},{"startTime":74.73,"endTime":78.41,"body":"praying together. And I don't want to exclude all of those who are not"},{"startTime":78.41,"endTime":82.25,"body":"married yet, because I feel like this is something"},{"startTime":82.81,"endTime":86.29,"body":"that is important for you to learn now so that when you get"},{"startTime":86.29,"endTime":90.01,"body":"married, you are well equipped to be"},{"startTime":90.01,"endTime":93.53,"body":"able to do this with your husband and to pray together."},{"startTime":94.49,"endTime":98.29,"body":"But speaking of praying together, you know, we've talked to a lot of couples"},{"startTime":98.29,"endTime":101.77,"body":"and we say, you know, how often do you pray together?"},{"startTime":101.93,"endTime":105.69,"body":"How is your prayer life together? And they look at us with"},{"startTime":105.77,"endTime":109.46,"body":"a strange look, like, what do you mean, praying out loud together? That's"},{"startTime":109.46,"endTime":113.14,"body":"just strange. How is it that the person you are the most"},{"startTime":113.14,"endTime":115.9,"body":"intimate with and you share everything with"},{"startTime":116.62,"endTime":120.38,"body":"still the person that you feel the most awkward with when"},{"startTime":120.38,"endTime":124.14,"body":"you pray together and are intimidated by it? Maybe we just"},{"startTime":124.14,"endTime":127.82,"body":"don't want to disappoint them with the simplicity of how we pray"},{"startTime":128.22,"endTime":132.02,"body":"or we think that they're going to think differently of us when"},{"startTime":132.02,"endTime":135.62,"body":"they hear the words that are coming out of our mouth. But honestly, the"},{"startTime":135.62,"endTime":139.42,"body":"most powerful thing we can be as a married couple is"},{"startTime":139.42,"endTime":143.1,"body":"unified, and not just in our thoughts and actions, but in"},{"startTime":143.1,"endTime":146.78,"body":"prayer. Unity in prayer brings about"},{"startTime":146.78,"endTime":150.339,"body":"unity in all other things we see. In Matthew"},{"startTime":150.34,"endTime":153.98,"body":"18, 19, 20, it says, Again,"},{"startTime":153.98,"endTime":157.7,"body":"I tell you that if two of you agree on earth about anything"},{"startTime":157.7,"endTime":161.26,"body":"you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in"},{"startTime":161.26,"endTime":165.1,"body":"heaven for where two or three gather in my name, I am there"},{"startTime":165.1,"endTime":168.94,"body":"with them. Jonathan and I started a routine in the mornings that"},{"startTime":168.94,"endTime":172.66,"body":"has greatly impacted us. Rachelle. We've been waking"},{"startTime":172.66,"endTime":176.22,"body":"up early and walking, and yes, it's"},{"startTime":176.22,"endTime":179.94,"body":"because, you know, we want to be healthy. But more than that, it"},{"startTime":179.94,"endTime":183.66,"body":"was to be unified. There was a season in our life"},{"startTime":183.66,"endTime":187.46,"body":"where we needed breakthrough, and the only way we knew that"},{"startTime":187.46,"endTime":190.89,"body":"this was going to be happening was if we seek God together."},{"startTime":191.93,"endTime":195.65,"body":"So even when we were exhausted in the morning, we would get up"},{"startTime":195.65,"endTime":199.37,"body":"and walk around the neighborhood and pray. The first thing we would do"},{"startTime":199.85,"endTime":203.53,"body":"felt like it was a little bit cheesy, but is we would hold hands,"},{"startTime":203.69,"endTime":206.569,"body":"and it was really a symbol that we were in this together."},{"startTime":207.37,"endTime":210.97,"body":"Sometimes we would start immediately praying out loud because"},{"startTime":210.97,"endTime":214.69,"body":"that's just how we felt. Sometimes we would walk for a little"},{"startTime":214.69,"endTime":218.37,"body":"bit in silence and then pray, probably because we were still trying to wake"},{"startTime":218.37,"endTime":222.02,"body":"up. And sometimes we were just discouraged"},{"startTime":222.02,"endTime":225.86,"body":"that morning. And what we would do is we would turn on"},{"startTime":225.86,"endTime":229.58,"body":"worship. And really it was just to remind ourselves of"},{"startTime":229.58,"endTime":233.38,"body":"our purpose in life. And that is to bring him glory and"},{"startTime":233.38,"endTime":237.14,"body":"bring glory to his name. Eventually, one of us would start"},{"startTime":237.14,"endTime":240.86,"body":"praying, thanking God for the privilege of waking up that morning and"},{"startTime":240.86,"endTime":244.66,"body":"seeing a new day, thanking him for the many blessings that he had already"},{"startTime":244.66,"endTime":248.17,"body":"given us. Like the scripture says, you know, know, count your many"},{"startTime":248.17,"endTime":251.93,"body":"blessings, name them one by one. Yes. Then we would start"},{"startTime":251.93,"endTime":255.65,"body":"praying for others. He would pray for someone, then I would pray for"},{"startTime":255.65,"endTime":259.13,"body":"someone else. And we would continue covering others in prayer."},{"startTime":259.37,"endTime":262.57,"body":"We found that sometimes when you're in the most need"},{"startTime":262.889,"endTime":266.41,"body":"is when you need to intercede for others. So that's what we did."},{"startTime":266.73,"endTime":270.45,"body":"We can become so selfish in our thoughts and consumed with our"},{"startTime":270.45,"endTime":274.2,"body":"lack. But time and time again, God shows us that we're"},{"startTime":274.2,"endTime":277.92,"body":"not just here for us, but to be a blessing to others. In"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":277.92,"endTime":281.64,"body":"21, it says, Then the world"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":281.64,"endTime":285.4,"body":"might believe that you, in fact, sent me. We would pray for"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":285.4,"endTime":289.079,"body":"our family and each other, and at the end of our walks, we would"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":289.079,"endTime":292.8,"body":"then bring our petition to God. We would tell him how we felt because,"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":293.36,"endTime":296.88,"body":"honestly, he can handle it. We would then end our prayers with our"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":296.88,"endTime":300.67,"body":"dedication to him and submitting to his will over everything"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":300.67,"endTime":304.39,"body":"in our lives. It didn't matter what we were going through. We just"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":304.39,"endTime":307.91,"body":"said, God, let your will be done, because that's all we want."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":308.07,"endTime":311.87,"body":"We weren't praying with big words or trying to be perfect to impress"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":311.87,"endTime":315.51,"body":"each other. We were just being open and vulnerable with"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":315.51,"endTime":319.15,"body":"God. And that's what made it perfect. You know,"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":319.15,"endTime":321.99,"body":"Rochelle I'd be lying if I said it was always easy,"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":322.87,"endTime":326.53,"body":"but honestly, by the time we got home, we just"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":326.53,"endTime":330.37,"body":"felt so good. We were ready to conquer the day together."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":330.77,"endTime":334.53,"body":"And when you're praying together, we found that we don't have the"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":334.53,"endTime":338.29,"body":"time or space to be angry or petty. So it"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":338.29,"endTime":342.089,"body":"changed that in us. We couldn't hold anger from what"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":342.089,"endTime":345.25,"body":"happened the day before or even that morning if one of us woke up a"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":345.25,"endTime":349.05,"body":"little bit off. We didn't have time for that. We just dove right"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":349.05,"endTime":352.05,"body":"into prayer. And at the end of it, we were"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":352.05,"endTime":355.69,"body":"refocused. We were connected in a spiritual level"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":355.69,"endTime":359.29,"body":"and in a physical level. We would then send messages to people"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":359.29,"endTime":363.09,"body":"with prayers that we were believing for over their lives. And our"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":363.09,"endTime":366.85,"body":"unity in prayer had increased our faith, and we were able to encourage each other"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":366.85,"endTime":370.53,"body":"and others spiritually. It also opened us up to hear from"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":370.53,"endTime":374.05,"body":"God more clearly. When sometimes we felt like there was a"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":374.05,"endTime":377.77,"body":"disconnect and all we heard was silence, we were able"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":378.25,"endTime":381.84,"body":"to connect with God again and hear from him. And"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":381.84,"endTime":385.28,"body":"honestly, this is how God designed marriage to be. He meant"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":385.36,"endTime":389.04,"body":"for us to be his representation here on earth"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":389.04,"endTime":392.76,"body":"of what his relationship with his bride and his son looks like. And you know"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":392.76,"endTime":396.32,"body":"what? Tomorrow we'll talk about that a little bit more. So,"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":396.32,"endTime":400.16,"body":"guys, don't let awkwardness and intimidation win in your marriage."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":400.48,"endTime":404.0,"body":"Just start your prayer time. Doesn't have to look like ours by"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":404.0,"endTime":407.52,"body":"walking, but what can you guys do to consistently"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":407.52,"endTime":411.26,"body":"separate a time together? Be creative and don't let"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":411.26,"endTime":414.78,"body":"excuses be what holds you back. Also, don't wait for your spouse to"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":414.78,"endTime":418.3,"body":"initiate your prayer life together. If you're the one that's feeling the"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":418.3,"endTime":421.98,"body":"push, initiate it. What a great change you will see in your"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":421.98,"endTime":425.74,"body":"marriage. Unity is a powerful tool that will help"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":425.74,"endTime":429.54,"body":"you go from good to great in your marriage. I"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":430.26,"endTime":434.02,"body":"love that. And so I encourage you guys today to pray"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":434.02,"endTime":437.7,"body":"with your spouse. And if you're not married, still follow these"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":437.7,"endTime":441.5,"body":"steps. Still follow the steps of intentional time, of"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":441.5,"endTime":445.22,"body":"finding a time in the morning. Maybe it's finding"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":445.22,"endTime":448.74,"body":"a place that you go and you say, this is the 30 minutes that I'm"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":448.74,"endTime":452.14,"body":"going to spend with the Lord. You said, start by telling the Lord what you"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":452.14,"endTime":455.82,"body":"feel. He's not intimidated. Start by doing that. And I"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":455.82,"endTime":459.58,"body":"promise you that you will feel something different when you do"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":459.58,"endTime":463.1,"body":"that. And don't make any excuses. Just do it. Just do it."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":463.1,"endTime":466.86,"body":"Yes. Can you pray us out? Yes, definitely. Lord, I"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":466.86,"endTime":470.5,"body":"thank you, Father, because we don't have to feel awkward"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":470.82,"endTime":473.86,"body":"anymore. We can just be aligned with you"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":474.5,"endTime":477.94,"body":"by being open and being"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":477.94,"endTime":481.14,"body":"ourselves. Lord, I thank you for the"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":481.14,"endTime":484.9,"body":"simplicity you allow us to have in prayer with you, because all"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":484.9,"endTime":488.18,"body":"you want, all you're yearning for is time with us."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":488.74,"endTime":492.59,"body":"And we commit to giving that time"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":492.59,"endTime":496.19,"body":"to you and just to being open before you and"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":496.27,"endTime":500.03,"body":"presenting our lives to you so that you can do with it"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":500.03,"endTime":503.67,"body":"as you will. Father, we commit to praying together"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":503.67,"endTime":507.35,"body":"with our spouse and being aligned and being"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":507.35,"endTime":510.91,"body":"unified because that's how you would want us to be. We"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":510.91,"endTime":514.59,"body":"commit to praying for others so that they"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":514.59,"endTime":518.279,"body":"can also get a blessing from our prayer"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":518.279,"endTime":521.799,"body":"life. And we thank you, Jesus, because"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":522.279,"endTime":525.759,"body":"even though it might be hard sometimes and we might feel"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":525.759,"endTime":529.599,"body":"awkward, you're gonna see us through this and you're"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":529.599,"endTime":533.399,"body":"going to make our prayer life an amazing one because"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":533.639,"endTime":536.839,"body":"all we're doing is really connecting with our Heavenly Father"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":537.159,"endTime":540.699,"body":"who loves us so much. I thank you that you experience"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":540.85,"endTime":544.25,"body":"accept us just as we are. We don't have to be perfect, we don't have"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":544.25,"endTime":548.05,"body":"to say the perfect words. But you hear our"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":548.05,"endTime":551.73,"body":"love and you in turn reciprocate"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":551.73,"endTime":555.49,"body":"that love back to us. We thank you for"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":556.29,"endTime":559.89,"body":"the day that's to come and the victories we're going to have in it."},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":559.97,"endTime":563.73,"body":"In your son's name we pray. Amen. Amen. So"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":563.73,"endTime":567.41,"body":"there you have it. Your 5 minute daily dose of heaven. Thank you"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":567.41,"endTime":571.11,"body":"so much for tuning in today. We pray these devotionals empower you"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":571.11,"endTime":574.95,"body":"to take on your day. If you found value in this devotional, share it with"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":574.95,"endTime":578.67,"body":"a friend, leave a comment or review for us on the app you're using"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":578.67,"endTime":582.31,"body":"right now. Until tomorrow. We pray that your latte is strong,"},{"speaker":"John 17","startTime":582.31,"endTime":584.43,"body":"but your love for Jesus is stronger."}]}