1 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but 2 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: in lowliness of mind, let each esteem other better than 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: themselves Philippians two three. Dear Lord, you do not flaunt 4 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:26,360 Speaker 1: your divinity or exploit us for selfish gain. You humbly 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: served your people, even to the point of death on 6 00:00:30,280 --> 00:00:35,879 Speaker 1: a cross. What a mysterious and wonderful truth that is. 7 00:00:36,640 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: We have a God that bends down humbly to bless 8 00:00:40,080 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: us and laid down his own life to redeem us. 9 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: I pray that you would give me the mind of Christ. 10 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: I do not want to operate from my own glory 11 00:00:53,880 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: and self gratification. I want to humbly serve those around 12 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: me and glorify you, Oh Lord, teach me every day 13 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: how to emulate your lonliness and give me opportunities to 14 00:01:10,120 --> 00:01:20,679 Speaker 1: exercise humility in Jesus's name. Amen, Thank you for joining 15 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:24,840 Speaker 1: me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative 16 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,440 Speaker 1: Prayers with Doctor Tim Clinton, where you can draw close 17 00:01:28,520 --> 00:01:36,560 Speaker 1: to God and find strength in him. 18 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 2: Welcome to your meditative prayer on healing relationships. To get 19 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:42,880 Speaker 2: the most out of your spiritual journey, use pray dot 20 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: com every day and make prayer a priority in your life. 21 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: Our goal for today's meditative prayer is healing relationships. I 22 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:58,080 Speaker 2: hope you'll hit pause for a second, find a safe, 23 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 2: secluded place where you can comfortably settle down, close your eyes, 24 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 2: breathe in and breathe out, and as you exhale, imagine 25 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 2: the tension leaving your body along with that breath. Now 26 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:27,120 Speaker 2: take every thought captive and bring your focus to the 27 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: Word of God again. Today we'll be meditating on Philippians two, 28 00:02:32,400 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: verse three from the King James version. It says, let 29 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 2: nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in lowliness 30 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: of mind, let each esteem the other better than themselves. 31 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,679 Speaker 2: As we get started, to take a moment to pour 32 00:02:53,720 --> 00:03:00,880 Speaker 2: out your adoration to God, who is our perfect example. Jesus, 33 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 2: I thank you for even though you were a God, 34 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,600 Speaker 2: you did not think of equality with God as something 35 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 2: to cling to. Instead, Paul said that in humility you 36 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 2: chose the cross, and you died on our behalf. You're 37 00:03:22,120 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 2: the beginning in the end, the alpha and the omega, 38 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: the first and the last, the author and finisher of 39 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:36,400 Speaker 2: our faith. To think of others as better than yourselves 40 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: can at times seem difficult, Maybe even annoying. You are, 41 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:51,200 Speaker 2: after all, only human, susceptible to acting out in anger, 42 00:03:52,440 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 2: maybe being a little belligerent when you are backed into 43 00:03:56,760 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 2: a corner when you've been hurt. Nevertheless, you're called to 44 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: be the better person. The standard set before you as high, 45 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: but we must rise to the occasion. And while failure 46 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:24,240 Speaker 2: is often expected, it is not to be embraced. Stop 47 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 2: for a second and allow God to speak to you 48 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 2: concerning those failures. Confess to Jesus those times you missed 49 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:38,440 Speaker 2: the mark, those times where the pain was too much 50 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:46,560 Speaker 2: and the hurt was too great. Hand those failures over 51 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:56,240 Speaker 2: to Jesus. Cast your cares on him God take them. Now, 52 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 2: take a few minutes to dwell on the goodness of 53 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:06,320 Speaker 2: God towards your life. Life. Start by thanking Him because 54 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: he is faithful, even noor not. Thank the Holy Spirit 55 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: for helping and enabling you to accomplish this incredible, difficult task. 56 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:27,320 Speaker 2: Think of those past relationships you manage to save and 57 00:05:27,440 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: salvage by giving others the benefit of the doubt. Thank 58 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,320 Speaker 2: God for those past reconciliations and future ones that come. 59 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,440 Speaker 2: Thank God for his strength that in his strength you 60 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 2: will no longer react in anger or pride. You will 61 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: instead be that better person. You will consider others above yourself. 62 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 2: Thank God, because in His love and through his grace, 63 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: you can do all things. I want you to know 64 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: that God is present and that He's listening to you. 65 00:06:07,480 --> 00:06:11,240 Speaker 2: The Bible says ask and it shall be given to you. 66 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:15,839 Speaker 2: So ask the Holy Spirit to help you to be humble, 67 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:21,960 Speaker 2: to treat others with the utmost respecting kindness, to put 68 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 2: others first, even when it's not merited. Even when things 69 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: are done to hurt or hinder you, you can choose 70 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:35,360 Speaker 2: to rise above and be the better person. As challenging 71 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: as that may seem, God has and will provide a way. Remember, 72 00:06:44,600 --> 00:06:47,040 Speaker 2: God has called you to treat others with level headed, 73 00:06:47,080 --> 00:06:50,640 Speaker 2: calmness and humility, to not do things out of anger 74 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 2: or pride, to think better of others, and to be 75 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 2: better yourself. You must be vigilant to not allow personal 76 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:03,800 Speaker 2: achievements or accompli to inflate your sense of self superiority. Instead, 77 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: allow God to use you to be the good you 78 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 2: want to see in the world. Thank you for completing 79 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on prayer dot com by incorporating this 80 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice. You're making prayer a 81 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:27,560 Speaker 2: priority and strengthening your walk with God. I'm doctor Tim Clinton, 82 00:07:27,680 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 2: President of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and we 83 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 2: love being a part of your life.