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Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Released Friday, 25th August 2023
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Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Prayer & Parenting: How to Co-Parent Like a True Christian Warrior

Friday, 25th August 2023
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0:00

To support the Unyoked podcast and to help others. Please

0:03

subscribe and rate right now. And if this resource is helpful,

0:07

please tell a friend. Now let's get started.

0:13

The Unyoke podcast navigating the pain,

0:17

process. And possibilities after a christian

0:20

divorce, you, divorce is brutal.

0:29

I often talk about the ripple effect, which feels like a

0:32

tsunami waves on our lives post

0:35

divorce facts sometimes in managing

0:39

our crisis of our marriage, we just can't even see far down

0:43

the road. We just can't fully know all the life

0:47

changes coming our way. In today's episode, it's a

0:50

topic that you just can't really imagine when you're married.

0:54

How do you coparent? When both sexes live out of the

0:58

same house, they have broken relationships,

1:02

various parenting styles, and even sometimes

1:05

divorce decrees that affect how we are able and how

1:09

often we parent, all the while trying to raise

1:13

God fearing, mentally healthy children

1:17

in a world that wants to misproritize their hearts,

1:21

it's hard enough to parent with two on the same page,

1:24

husbands and wives. But now, sprinkling conflict

1:28

and sporadic parenting, we have a higher hill to

1:31

climb. Add anger, bitterness,

1:35

infighting, and additional players like a new

1:38

spouse or a boyfriend or a girlfriend or

1:41

influencers from the know, Aunt Sally and that lady at

1:45

your Sunday school. Now your parenting styles are no

1:49

longer moderated and morphed for the kids

1:52

sake, and you have a recipe for some challenges

1:56

for parents, but even worse, tough, inconsistent

2:00

parenting for the children. We talked in previous episodes

2:03

about the effect of divorce on children, but in this

2:07

episode it's for the next level discussion, the

2:10

coparenting angle. It's critical now. Not every

2:14

divorce is the same. Some of you are blessed to have good

2:18

moms and dads parenting your children, even though they may have

2:22

been poor spouses, right? Many of you have a

2:25

dumpster fire lifestyle happening on the other side

2:29

of marriage, and you may feel the need to carry the slack

2:33

of the other poor parent. Joint custody arrangements

2:37

can be exhausting, infuriating, and fraught with

2:41

stress, especially if you have a contentious relationship

2:45

with your ex partner. You may feel concerned about your

2:48

ex their parenting abilities. You may be stressed about

2:52

child support or other financial issues. You feel

2:55

worn down by conflict, and you think

2:59

you're never going to be able to overcome all the resentments

3:03

from your past relationship. Making shared

3:06

decisions, interacting with each other at drop offs, or

3:10

just speaking to a person that you would rather forget

3:14

all about makes it seem like an impossible

3:17

task to coparent. Well for the sake of your kid's

3:21

well being, though, it is possible for you to overcome

3:25

coparenting challenges and develop a cordial working

3:28

relationship with your ex. Hopefully some of these tips and

3:32

some lenses we're going to put on you can remain

3:35

calm, stay consistent, and resolve

3:39

conflicts to make your joint custody work

3:43

and enable your kids to thrive. Some of

3:46

you listening are all alone. Some of you have friends and family

3:50

stepping up in big ways right now. My sister

3:54

and her family, they carried a lot. They helped

3:58

love and support my children while I was in the aftermath of

4:01

dissolving my marriage. You know the part post marriage

4:05

where you just don't know who has what? Who's getting the school

4:09

supplies, who do the kids text when they're going to be home late

4:13

on Tuesday? Do we set up a joint text group from soccer practice?

4:16

Corporal does your friend hate me now? Will she be texting

4:20

me directly or you? Am I staying in the small group at

4:24

church? Do I need to quit? I wonder if I can get our mission

4:28

trip money back, that deposit? Yeah, all the

4:31

messes that killing a marriage creates

4:35

sometimes co parenting isn't just homework,

4:38

driving to practices, running to Walmart for glue and

4:42

colored pencils. It's the pillow talk, the

4:46

pondering, the game planning, the

4:49

praying. That element is often gone

4:53

post divorce. Discussing the weak

4:56

patterns in our children's behavior, their needs,

5:00

their goals, family plans, the

5:04

things good parents should be doing. As single

5:08

parents, we're not just navigating our own issues.

5:11

We should be focused on our children's needs.

5:15

But with the other parent. If we

5:19

don't get our act together, our kids get chewed out

5:22

twice for bad grades, grounded twice,

5:26

or even issues aren't even addressed at all. We assume

5:30

the other parents got it, and our kids change their behavior

5:34

per parent and we just engage with a chameleon who's

5:37

adapting to our mess. I've thought about this a

5:41

lot, how to discuss this topic. It's so hard

5:44

because the situation of each listener right now is so different.

5:48

Some of you are fresh out of a divorce, some of you are years

5:52

down the road, some have horrible relationships with your

5:55

ex, some are very cordial. Some live

5:59

literally next door to each other, and you try to have a great

6:03

coparenting relationship. Some of your exes are

6:06

remarried and the issue is not with them, but with their new spouse.

6:11

Some of you have a spouse in town who with frequent

6:14

visitations. Some live out of state, some have full

6:17

custody, some have 50 50. Some of you

6:21

rarely get to see your kids and you're bitter about it all.

6:25

Some of you have one child, some have a full house of

6:28

kids. Some have babies, some have

6:31

teenagers, some have full on adults and

6:35

a mix of all the above. We are all in

6:38

various situations, yet we have some things in common.

6:42

So let's start there. For 99% of us,

6:45

the day we birthed our children, we

6:49

never imagined that that child would have to endure a

6:53

broken home. When we dedicated our lives to raising

6:57

them in a stable, christian home, we had

7:00

no idea that we'd be doing it under two roofs. Our

7:04

promises to our kids did not die with the

7:08

paperwork of divorce, and our ex wife or ex

7:11

husband did not cease being mom or dad.

7:15

Now let me insert something for a handful of you. Some

7:19

of you have an ex straight out of the pit of

7:23

hell. The reason for your divorce may actually make

7:27

you question my last statement. Your ex literally

7:30

is a horrible, selfish human being who is a

7:34

horrible, selfish parent. And you struggle knowing

7:38

how to walk that line between letting your child have a

7:41

relationship with their mom or dad while protecting your

7:45

child's health and emotions. What a

7:48

sad, bad situation. My heart

7:52

truly breaks for you and your family. You want to see

7:55

Todd Turner cry? Let me tell you something.

7:59

I'm embarrassed, but I'll be honest. Fresh Prince of Bel

8:03

Air there's an episode. Where is it, will?

8:07

Whatever. Fresh prince. His father comes to visit

8:10

him and he's been living a life of broken

8:13

promises to him. And he comes in

8:16

and he had told him to pack and they were going a trip together and

8:20

he came in and broke it. And let me tell you, if you've seen it,

8:23

you know what I'm talking about. If you haven't, go YouTube

8:27

it. It crushes my soul. And

8:31

I didn't come from divorced parents. When I see that

8:34

episode, it just makes me ball. I

8:38

think I've seen it three times and I cry all three times.

8:42

Fresh Prince dad, broken promises. It

8:45

kills me. But Uncle Phil came in and chewed the dad out

8:49

and that's the part I loved about it. There are some people like Uncle Phil

8:53

that need to step up and get people to act right.

8:56

Frankly, that's the purpose of this podcast and this

9:00

episode. I hope this episode gets shared a thousand

9:03

times and people grow. They look in the mirror at some of these

9:07

issues. So let's do a little house cleaning. If you were

9:11

forwarded this episode, don't think that your ex is aiming

9:15

at you. They too learn something and plan on making

9:18

some changes as well. This isn't about you, your

9:22

history, or tit for tat. It's about your child, your

9:26

children. This is about swallowing your pride

9:29

improving how we parent, how we treat one another.

9:33

And if you want to listen to the other episode about how to empower your

9:36

children post divorce, go do that. But for now,

9:40

let's talk about coparenting. You, and hopefully

9:44

your ex spouse, have some rules to put in place,

9:47

maybe some lenses to put on, and maybe just some

9:51

forgiveness to ask. Let's talk about some basic

9:54

rules and the landmines that go with them. The

9:58

handoff once again, some of you have kids who drive, but let's

10:01

start with the little ones dropping off and picking up

10:05

as kids prepare to leave your house for the exes, try to stay

10:09

positive and deliver them on time. Being consistently

10:13

late can create needless anxiety, and if you're always

10:17

late, then don't pretend you'll magically be on time next week.

10:21

Pick a time, hit the time, show respect to the other

10:46

person, and value their schedule. This eliminates the eye

10:50

rolls, the stress, the angry looks, and glances at the watch.

10:56

Let's take a quick break. Are you facing the

10:59

challenging crossroads of divorce? I bet you know of someone who is. Well,

11:03

now there's a resource for your shelf. Maybe for you, maybe for a

11:07

friend. Unyoked choices the Christian Handbook for divorce

11:10

decisions a book for those in need. Buy one for you

11:14

or for a friend? Navigate the divorce decision and the execution of

11:18

unyoking with wisdom, strength, and confidence. Available now in

11:22

paperback and kindle only 899. Order your copy today.

11:25

Visit todturner.com books. Unyoked choices

11:29

because these decisions matter. Help children anticipate change. Remind kids that they'll

11:39

be leaving for the other parent's house a day or two before the visit.

11:43

Some of you don't manage your time well, and your kids pay the price.

11:46

They inherit your stress and your anxiety.

11:50

Pack in advance. Depending on their age, pack

11:54

a tools bag for them before they leave. Make sure they don't forget

11:57

anything that they're going to miss. Encourage, maybe packing

12:01

familiar items and reminders like a special stuffed

12:05

toy or a photograph or a postit note. Not

12:09

your dad's most likely going to forget a snack, so I left you in one

12:12

in here for you. That's rude. Also, drop off

12:16

don't pick up a child. It's a good idea to avoid taking

12:20

your child from the other parent, so you don't risk interrupting or

12:23

curtailing a special moment. Drop off your child at the other

12:27

parent's house. Plus, you control who comes to the

12:31

door and who's in the car with you when your child

12:34

returns. The beginning of your child's return

12:38

home can be awkward or even rocky. To help

12:42

your child adjust, keep things low key.

12:45

When children first enter your home, try to have some downtime

12:49

together. Read a book. Cook. Do some quiet

12:52

activity. In our fast paced, crazy american

12:56

society, we're generally running straight to practice or games or

12:59

recitals. I can't solve that issue, but I can say

13:03

avoid the in and out, right back out when possible.

13:07

Double up. Make packing simpler. Make kids

13:11

feel more comfortable when they visit their other parents house. Have kids keep

13:15

certain basics toothbrush, airbrush, pajamas. At both

13:18

houses, kids don't want to drag suitcases or bags to

13:22

school or practices. Don't embarrass them. They're at an age where they

13:26

worry about what everybody thinks and about standing out. Don't make them

13:30

carry luggage with them on the drop off or on days

13:33

of drop off. Allow your child space. Children

13:37

often need a little time to adjust or transition. If they seem to need

13:41

some space, do something else nearby. Don't ask for a

13:44

lowdown. Hey, what did your dad's girlfriend wear? Do you like her?

13:48

Isn't her laugh obnoxious? Don't poke. Don't

13:52

gossip. Don't make your kids belittle and

13:55

judge. It just isn't cool. Facts establish

13:59

a special routine. Play a game. Serve the same

14:03

special meal each time your kid returns. Kids

14:06

thrive on routines. If they know exactly what to expect when they

14:09

return, it can help them transition. They may enjoy knowing

14:13

that they're going to walk in the door and taco soup will always be on

14:17

the table. That helps them. Now, if there must be

14:20

information exchange, and it won't be easy, don't do it in

14:24

front of the child. Well, your daughter did something stupid. You better go talk

14:28

to her. That's not cool. So speaking of

14:32

coparenting communication methods, most issues

14:36

stem from this issue. Let's be honest. If you and

14:39

your spouse knew how to communicate, you most likely wouldn't be in this

14:43

mess. I hate to generalize, but it's just true.

14:47

Poor communication leads to problems. And if you haven't

14:50

mastered it as a husband and wife, you're not going to do

14:54

well as two divorced people. You're going to have to really

14:58

work on communication skills however you

15:01

choose to have contact. The following methods can help you

15:05

initiate and maintain effective communication.

15:08

Now, depending on your relationship, you may need to set up like a

15:12

businesslike tone. Approach the relationship with your ex like

15:16

a business partner. You know what the business is? Your child's well

15:20

being. Speak. Write to your ex as you would a

15:23

colleague. Be cordial, respect stay

15:27

neutral. Relax. Talk slowly.

15:30

Don't see them as the drunk, the asshole, the

15:34

cheater, the selfish jerk, but as the person who will

15:37

be overseeing your child for the next few hours or days.

15:41

Take your communication seriously versus bitterly

15:45

and listen. I know this is hard for some of you.

15:49

It will be. You're going to have to step up an adult

15:52

right now. Make request. Instead of making statements

15:56

which can be misinterpreted as demands, try

16:00

framing as much as you can in request. Maybe begin with hey, would

16:04

you be willing to or can we try? Or this

16:07

week, would it be possible if now listening

16:11

communicating with maturity starts with listening.

16:15

Even if you end up disagreeing with the other parent, you should at

16:19

least be able to convey to your ex that you understood their

16:22

point of view. Listening does not signify approval,

16:26

so you won't lose anything by allowing your ex to voice his or her

16:30

opinion. This sounds childish, but listen.

16:33

Don't roll your eyes. You don't have to sleep with this person ever again

16:37

the rest of your life. That's your reward. Just do

16:40

it. Show some restraint. Keep in mind that communicating

16:44

with one another is going to be necessary for the length of your

16:48

children's entire childhood, if not longer.

16:51

You can train yourself not to overreact to your ex, and

16:55

over time, you can become numb to the buttons they may try to push with

16:59

you. Commit to meeting and talking

17:02

consistently, though it may be extremely difficult

17:06

in the early stages, trust me, it is. But frequent

17:10

communication with your ex will convey the message to your children

17:13

that you are a coparent on a united

17:17

front and that you would love them enough to endure it

17:20

all. Keep your conversations kid focused.

17:24

Never let a discussion with your ex partner digress into

17:28

conversations about your needs or their needs. It should

17:32

always be about the child's needs. Don't talk about oh

17:36

so hard to get here on time today. I remember thinking,

17:40

well, you made us in this situation, so I don't really give a cred what

17:43

kind of day you had. And your ex may feel the same. Just

17:47

keep it about the kids. Don't talk about yourself. It leads to

17:51

poking the bear now. Quickly relieve

17:54

stress in the moment. If you're in a situation and it's just stressful,

17:58

it may feel impossible to stay calm when

18:02

dealing with your ex spouse who's hurt you in the past, or they have a

18:06

knack for pushing your buttons. But

18:09

internally, quote that Bible verse you memorize. Think

18:13

of your kid walking the stage at graduation. Think of the

18:16

healthy adult you are raising. Think of the giant glass of

18:20

lemonade and the juice will be worth a squeeze. You

18:24

can do this making important decisions as

18:27

coparents major decisions need to be made by

18:30

you and your ex. Being open, honest, and

18:34

straightforward about important issues is

18:37

crucial to both your relationship with your ex and your

18:41

children's well being. Medical needs whether

18:44

you decide to designate one parent to

18:48

communicate primarily with your healthcare professionals or attend

18:51

the medical appointments, maybe together. Just keep each other in

18:55

the loop. Education be easy on your teachers. Be sure to

18:59

let the school know about changes in your child's living situation.

19:03

Speak with your ex ahead of time about schedules,

19:07

extracurricular activities, parent teacher conferences.

19:10

Be polite to each other at school and sporting events

19:14

and financial issues. The cost of maintaining two separate

19:18

households can strain your attempts to be

19:21

effective coparents. Set a realistic budget and keep

19:25

accurate records for shared expenses. Be

19:28

gracious if your ex provides opportunities for your children

19:32

that you cannot provide. College savings

19:36

not addressed in the degree figure it out. Let me

19:40

pause for a moment and say something very, very important.

19:43

This may only be for a handful of you, but you will

19:47

need to hear it. Some of you got lucky,

19:50

blessed. However you want to look at it, I know some.

19:54

It's normally women who stepped up extra when the

19:58

divorce agreements were vague. They poured

20:02

in extra money. They worked extra. They

20:05

bought dresses for dances. They bought that car. They

20:09

took your child on vacation. They step up and

20:13

invested in your child. You bought a

20:17

boat, you drive a cool truck, and you have a lot of

20:20

money in savings. And you're still splitting hairs

20:24

and taking advantage of an agreement that was made

20:28

in a hot dumpster fire moment. I'm not saying

20:32

cut a check, although some of you should. But maybe

20:35

loosen up. Maybe offer to step up in some

20:38

areas. Maybe offer to help pay for that little thing that popped

20:42

up. Braces, mission trips, birthday

20:46

parties, weddings. You know. You know the thing you can help

20:49

with? Do it. Do it for your kid. Now, if

20:53

you're worried about how your ex is going to spend the money, navigate

20:57

that. But step up. Our God is a God

21:01

of justice. I have two tattoos on my body.

21:04

They're from my favorite bible verse, Micah 68. My

21:08

left arm says, seek justice. God doesn't

21:12

care about that sheet of paper. If you're able, and your

21:15

child and your ex spouse could use

21:19

relief or even back acknowledgment,

21:23

do the right thing. Step up. Your kids

21:27

are watching. Sometimes we don't see the fruits

21:30

of the labor till much later. Make it a priority

21:34

to develop an amical relationship with your ex spouse

21:38

as soon as possible. Watching you be friendly can

21:41

reassure children and teach problem solving skills

21:45

as well. Children who see their parents continuing to work

21:49

together are more likely to learn how to effectively

21:52

and peacefully solve problems themselves.

21:56

Okay, do not do these things. Refrain

22:00

from talking to your children about the detail of another parent's

22:03

behavior. It's the oldest rule in the book. If you don't have anything

22:07

nice to say, don't say anything at all. Never

22:11

argue in front of your children, whether it's in person or over the phone.

22:15

Ask your ex to talk another time. Drop the conversation

22:19

altogether. Children exposed to conflict

22:22

between coparents are more likely to develop issues such as

22:26

depression, anxiety, ADHD,

22:30

separate feelings from behavior. It's

22:34

okay to be hurt and angry, but your feelings don't have to

22:37

dictate your behavior. Instead, let what's best

22:41

for your kids, you, working cooperatively with the other

22:45

parent, motivate your actions. Get your feelings

22:48

out somewhere else. Never vent to your child.

22:52

Friends, therapists, even a pet. They

22:56

can all make good listeners when you feel like you need to get the negative

22:59

feelings off your chest. Exercise also provides a

23:03

healthy outlet, letting off steam, pun intended.

23:07

Stay kid focused. If you feel angry or resentful, try

23:11

to remember why you need to act with purpose and grace.

23:14

Your child's best interests are at stake. If your

23:18

anger feels overwhelming, look at a photograph of your

23:22

child. Maybe calm down. Here is

23:25

your coparenting list with some good

23:28

coparenting rules to consider. Put your child's well being first. Always

23:35

prioritize your child's physical and emotional well beings

23:39

in all decisions and interactions. Their needs should come

23:43

before any personal conflict. Issues between

23:45

coparents maintain open communication.

23:49

Foster open and respectful communication with the co

23:53

parent. Keep each other informed about events,

23:56

school health concerns, any issues related to your

23:59

child. Number three, be flexible and lonely.

24:03

Compromise recognize that flexibility is essential in

24:06

coparenting. Be willing to accommodate each other's

24:10

schedules and be open to making compromises when

24:13

necessary. And four, respect each other's parenting

24:17

style. Accept that you and your coparent may have different

24:21

parenting approaches and now that you're out of the house, oh, they're

24:24

really going to show up because you used to be able to talk and argue

24:28

in bed about it, and now they're doing what they want and you're doing what

24:31

you want. As long as there's no harm to the

24:34

child. Respect each other's choices and avoid criticizing each

24:38

other's parenting in front of the child. And five,

24:41

create consistent rules and routines. Strive to

24:45

maintain routines between both households. This

24:48

provides stability and a sense of security for the child. Six,

24:52

we've talked about this. Be punctual and reliable

24:56

drop offs pickups visitation times. Reliability

25:00

demonstrates to your child that they can trust both parents to be there for

25:04

them and seven, avoid negative communication.

25:08

Refrain from using negative or derogatory language about the

25:11

coparent in front of the child. Negative comments can harm a

25:15

child's self esteem and create unnecessary

25:18

distress. Eight, resolve

25:22

disagreements privately. If conflicts arise,

25:26

discuss them privately with the coparent. Avoid arguing or

25:29

discussing sensitive matters in front of the children

25:33

and nine, encourage a relationship with the

25:37

other parent. Support and encourage your child's relationship

25:40

with their mom or their dad. Never try to alienate or

25:44

undermine a bond between a child and a parent.

25:48

This is tough. Attend important events together

25:52

whenever impossible. Attend milestones together as

25:56

parents. This shows a united front and reinforces your child's sense

25:59

of family. How great would it be to go to an event? Not have

26:03

to worry about your parents fighting? Do you know they're going to get along? It's

26:07

not awkward. Eleven, be willing to seek

26:10

mediation if it needs to happen. If a major

26:14

conflict arises and your communication breaks down, be open

26:17

to mediation through your church or professional help,

26:21

please. Twelve, share information

26:25

about the child. Share information about his life, school,

26:29

extracurricular activities, health updates. Once again, both

26:32

parents should be involved and informed. 13

26:36

respect visitation arrangements. Stick to your agreed

26:40

schedules. Give advance notice if adjustments are needed.

26:44

This is the one that causes a lot of arguments with the last minute

26:48

phone calls or oh, I forgot, I didn't know it was

26:51

my week. That just creates so many problems. Don't be guilty

26:55

of that. 14 keep legal agreements.

26:59

Abide by any agreements and court orders related to your custody

27:03

or visitations. They're in place for a

27:06

reason. 15 be patient and

27:10

forgiving. Coparenting, obviously is a giant

27:13

challenge. And guess what? Your ex is going to make

27:17

mistakes, and so are you.

27:20

Give grace and take grace for the sake of

27:24

your child. Remember, effective

27:27

coparenting requires an ongoing effort and

27:30

cooperation. When coparents work together with their child's

27:34

best interest and heart, it leads to a healthier, more stable

27:38

upbringing for the child post divorce.

27:42

Here's the truth. Time heals a lot of wounds. As

27:46

you get further from the trauma of your divorce, the more

27:49

you're going to be able to be cordial with your ex. Now, there's not a

27:53

blanket rule here. Some of your exes burn down the

27:57

house and the bridge in the hope of any reconciliation

28:00

or even common courtesy. They may still

28:04

be acting a fool, making poor life choices,

28:07

poking at you every step of the way. Turn the

28:11

other cheek when possible, stand firm

28:15

when needed, and try this. I'm being

28:18

sarcastic here. When all else fails,

28:21

pray. Be honest. Have you lifted your

28:25

ex in prayer in a while? Not for reconciliation,

28:29

not for God to pour their blessings on them, but for a good

28:33

parenting relationship to get along in

28:36

unity on raising a christlike child.

28:40

Some of you do not know how to pray for your ex. And let's

28:44

be very frank, it is hard. It is hard when there

28:48

is the bitterness that is going on or,

28:51

and this happened with me. So I know 100%

28:55

this is true. And that is in order to sleep at night, in

28:59

order to get through the trauma, we sometimes have to just say,

29:03

this is the way something is. This person is wired this way.

29:06

This is what happened. This is who they are. And in order

29:10

for us to make it make sense,

29:14

we just have to make some assumptions. And they may not even be true,

29:18

but they help us sleep at night and it's dangerous

29:21

because the person probably is not exactly who it is that

29:25

you're saying they are. Just because somebody was a jerk doesn't mean they

29:28

are a jerk. Just because somebody betrayed you doesn't mean they're a

29:32

betrayed er. But sometimes we have to

29:35

just make it make sense. But when we

29:39

remember, and hopefully you were equally yoked and your

29:43

ex was a believer and is a

29:46

believer, not was, is a believer,

29:50

then we have to see them the way God sees them. And they may

29:54

have messed up and they may still be messing up, but God

29:58

still loves them. God can use them and they're still the parent of

30:01

your children. That person hopefully

30:05

loves your child. So we need to pray for them with a different lens

30:09

on. If you need help, let's give it a shot right here. Pray something like

30:12

this. Heavenly Father, Lord, you are good.

30:17

You are mighty, you are powerful, you are awesome.

30:21

We thank you for loving us when we don't deserve

30:24

it. We thank you for pouring grace

30:28

on us when we fail over and over

30:32

and over again. And, Lord, as we

30:35

sit here, I want to lift up my ex spouse, the

30:39

parent of my children. Lord, I want you to

30:44

heal where you can heal. Pour

30:47

into in a way that gets attention, Lord,

30:51

whether, however that is, Lord, we just ask that you

30:55

show yourself to be real and mighty, that no matter what they're going

30:59

through, they put you first, your

31:02

principles, your rules. Be

31:06

kingdom minded in all that they do. Lord, we ask them

31:09

to put a lens on of you, of Christ,

31:13

when they engage with our children,

31:17

when they discipline, when they role model, Lord,

31:21

may Christ be the center of all, all

31:24

the activities, all the thoughts and all the

31:27

conversations around my children with my ex

31:31

when I'm not around. Lord, I just ask you to pour grace

31:35

on situations that we cannot even forecast. Lord, we

31:39

rely on you and your infinite

31:43

perfect will and your power, Lord, to just

31:46

intervene when we can't be strong where we are

31:50

weak. Lord, I lift up my ex. I know that

31:54

you love them, and I just ask all this in your son's name.

31:57

Amen. Something like that. Something

32:01

that may be really, really hard for you. And

32:05

who knows, who knows what God can do with that? But you're praying

32:09

for the parent of your child. That's

32:12

worth praying for all of I have said today the best

32:16

advice, the Trump card you need above all

32:20

else, is pray to our father above.

32:23

It's just true. Prayer is the

32:26

only way that I got through any of my mess.

32:30

It's not because I'm smart. It's not because I know anything anybody

32:34

else knows. It's the power of prayer and the power of

32:37

community and working with my ex to raise my

32:41

kids to the best of our ability. Thank you for joining

32:45

us today on the Unyoke podcast. Remember, you're not alone on

32:49

this journey. Together we can help raise our children,

32:52

heal, and thrive post divorce. If you found

32:56

value in this episode, don't forget to subscribe and to share it with

33:00

others who might benefit from this important discussion. Maybe your

33:03

ex. Join us next time for more empowering conversations

33:07

on unyoked. Thank you for listening to the Unyoked podcast with me, Todd

33:23

Turner. This was originally planned to be a limited 17

33:26

episode podcast, navigating the major milestones after the

33:30

divorce. Well, the feedback and needs were too great, and now

33:34

I'm going to dive deeper into each episode. But with a

33:37

female cohost, we are excited to help further the conversations

33:41

into divorce recovery and gaining healthy single legs

33:45

as a Christian. But would you do us a favor as we prepare our

33:49

topics and episodes? Please go to

33:51

toddturner.com contact and give us

33:55

feedback on the podcast specific episodes topics

33:58

you wish were addressed. We would love to hear from you. Then

34:02

after that, please rate and review this podcast. You might

34:06

not know how important that is to help grow the popularity and the

34:10

reach of this resource for thousands of people who need it

34:14

and don't. Even know it exists. Rate, subscribe

34:18

share all of it. But let's start with go to

34:21

toddturner.com contact and let me hear from

34:24

you. I read every single email that comes in blessing.

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From The Podcast

UnYoked Living - The Divorce and Recovery Podcast

UnYoked Podcast: Navigate your divorce and recovery with grace.🎙️ Buckle up, Christians! UnYoked isn't your typical podcast about God's view on marriage or when God allows divorce. We're diving into the complexities of divorce and post-divorce life, providing a safe space to discuss the milestones and challenges we face as Christians navigating this journey.🌟 God's grace extends beyond the statement "I hate divorce." On UnYoked, we explore the standards, restoration, and renewal God graciously offers, even when His standards aren't met. Whether you're two months into a divorce, just out of it, or two years into singleness, find advice to help stabilize yourself, discover your single identity, and become the 2.0 version of YOU.💔 Christian marriage and divorce advice often clash with the harsh realities of pain, abuse, and loneliness. UnYoked is here for those of us navigating the life-changing event of unYoking from a spouse or uprooting a family. It's a safe space to wonder, ponder, relate, and consider your steps through divorce, singleness, and the future.🌈 More than a Divorce Recovery Podcast, UnYoked is a journey into self-discovery and self-help, blending faith, practical advice, and community. Remove the mask, let's get real about the ripple effects of divorce, and equip ourselves to survive being unYoked as Christians.Explore the tension between God's plan and the realities of living in a broken world. Join us on this transformative journey at http://www.ToddTurner.com#UnYokedPodcast #DivorceRecovery #ChristianLiving #RealTalk #FaithJourney

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