1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: I have considered the days of old, the years of 2 00:00:04,040 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night. 3 00:00:08,240 --> 00:00:12,080 Speaker 1: I commune with mine own heart. Then my spirit made 4 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:17,960 Speaker 1: diligent search Psalm seventy seven five through six. Dear Lord, 5 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:21,799 Speaker 1: when I consider all the times you stepped in to 6 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:27,200 Speaker 1: turn my difficult situations around, my faith is lifted. When 7 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: I didn't see how I would overcome the problems overwhelming me, 8 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,560 Speaker 1: you made a way for me. I rejoice in your 9 00:00:34,720 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 1: goodness when I meditate in the night season on how 10 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: far you have brought me. I realize over and over 11 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: again how faithful you have been, and my heart rejoices 12 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 1: with gratitude. When I consider how trustworthy you have been 13 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: in the past, I dare to face the present with 14 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 1: renewed faith in your ability to bring me through. I 15 00:00:59,640 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: rest tonight in your faithfulness. Amen. Thank you for listening 16 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 1: to pray dot COM's nightly prayer. To experience a pocket 17 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 1: of peace before you go to sleep. Stay tuned for 18 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,800 Speaker 1: our free meditative prayer after this quick word from our sponsors. 19 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 2: Welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and focus. To 20 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,480 Speaker 2: get the most out of your spiritual journey, use pray 21 00:01:36,600 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 2: dot Com every day and make prayer a priority in 22 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 2: your life. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is strength 23 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,960 Speaker 2: and focus. Take a minute to calm down, go to 24 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: a place where you can recline and relax, close your 25 00:01:56,960 --> 00:02:02,639 Speaker 2: eyes and steady your breathing. Let the realization that God 26 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 2: is waiting and wanting to speak with you fill your thoughts. 27 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 2: Open your heart, and invite the Holy Spirit to come 28 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:16,160 Speaker 2: and teach you God's word. We will be meditating on 29 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: Proverbs chapter twenty seven, verse seventeen from the King James version. 30 00:02:22,800 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: Iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpeneth the countenance of 31 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:34,440 Speaker 2: his friend. Let us take time to adore God Father. 32 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: I praise you for the wisdom found in your word. 33 00:02:38,800 --> 00:02:43,120 Speaker 2: I worship your loving kindness and your perfect plans. I 34 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:47,000 Speaker 2: bless your name, for you know all my needs and 35 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:53,120 Speaker 2: supply every one of them. Jesus, I extol your name, 36 00:02:54,080 --> 00:02:57,320 Speaker 2: for you have provided a way to bless me through others, 37 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 2: and you have made me a blessing in turn. Learn 38 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 2: all honor and glory be yours now and forever, stronger together. 39 00:03:08,880 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: You were not created to live isolated. You are created 40 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,639 Speaker 2: by a relationship centered God to have fellowship with Him 41 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:22,520 Speaker 2: and with other brothers and sisters in the faith. It 42 00:03:22,600 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 2: is God's purpose and plan that you be part of 43 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 2: a community and not live alone. God will use other 44 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: believers to help you grow and to keep you accountable, 45 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: and in turn, you are used to help others remain 46 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:41,600 Speaker 2: strong and focused in their faith. This may be uncomfortable 47 00:03:41,640 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 2: and difficult to do, but it is necessary. When you 48 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: see someone struggling with sin, do not pass judgment. Approach 49 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:56,840 Speaker 2: the person with compassion and in love, speak truth into 50 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:02,360 Speaker 2: their life. Likewise, when another believer approaches you in love 51 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: and speaks truth over you, do not turn away. Do 52 00:04:08,160 --> 00:04:12,880 Speaker 2: not give place to anger or retaliate in hurt. Instead, 53 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 2: capitalize on the opportunity before you be sharpened. Allow yourself 54 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: to be used to sharpen another. For what use is 55 00:04:23,839 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 2: a dull blade. Check your heart. Be aware of your 56 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: spiritual health so you can remain obedient to God, and 57 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:39,640 Speaker 2: so you may continue standing firm upon His strength. Now 58 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:43,039 Speaker 2: take a few minutes to present yourself before the Lord. 59 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:48,039 Speaker 2: Confess your sins to God. Tell your heavenly Father of 60 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 2: your failures and frustrations. Open your heart to receive and 61 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 2: to be molted by him. Now take a moment to 62 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 2: dwell on the blessing of godly fellos looship. Think of 63 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 2: how your brothers and sisters in Christ encourage you to 64 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,520 Speaker 2: grow in the faith. Think of how they exhort and 65 00:05:08,640 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 2: challenge you to reach all God has for you. Thank 66 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:15,520 Speaker 2: God for the saints in your life who help keep 67 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,599 Speaker 2: you accountable, who worry more about your spiritual well being 68 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: than they do about pleasing you. Thank God for divinely 69 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: appointed friends who speak truth into your life, friends who 70 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 2: are willing to point out sin in love. God is 71 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:37,640 Speaker 2: present and he is listening to you. This is your 72 00:05:37,720 --> 00:05:40,680 Speaker 2: chance to come before the Lord and to make your 73 00:05:40,720 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 2: needs known to him. Ask God to place people in 74 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 2: your path who have a commitment with Him, people who 75 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: love the Lord and who diligently seek him. Ask for 76 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 2: brothers and sisters who will encourage you and push you 77 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:01,760 Speaker 2: toward God. Ask for Kingdom friendships, for friends who God 78 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 2: will use to minister his strength into your life. Ask 79 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:09,800 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit to help you appreciate these relationships. Ask 80 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 2: him to teach you to be such a friend to others. Remember, 81 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another. There is 82 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:26,240 Speaker 2: strength in learning and growth, So do not isolate and 83 00:06:26,279 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: become stagnant. Instead, surround yourself with people who will call 84 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: out sin in your life. You cannot grow from your 85 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:39,760 Speaker 2: mistakes if they are never addressed, So when your friends 86 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:43,719 Speaker 2: point out something to you in love, do not turn away. 87 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: Allow the truth being spoken to change your character. Choose 88 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:52,240 Speaker 2: this day to open your heart to the wisdom spoken 89 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 2: by godly friendships. To have your strength and focus sharpened 90 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:02,279 Speaker 2: through spiritual counsel. Be confident in God's Holy Spirit. Watch 91 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 2: as He blesses you and makes you a blessing. Thank 92 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,120 Speaker 2: you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 93 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you 94 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,880 Speaker 2: are making prayer a priority and strengthening your walk with God.