1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man sharpeneth the countenance of 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: his friend, Proverbs twenty seven seventeen. Dear Lord, thank you 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: for the blessing of friendship. We can never underestimate the 4 00:00:19,720 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: power of relationships and how they shape our lives. Like 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,319 Speaker 1: iron sharpens iron. We are blessed to have those in 6 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: our lives that sharpen us, pushing us to be better 7 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: versions of ourselves. Thank you for giving us friends who 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: motivate us to be brave, courageous, and to never settle. 9 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,760 Speaker 1: Thank you for being our faithful guide on this journey 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: of life. May we all remember that it is in 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: friendship that we find our greatest joys and successes. In 12 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: Jesus's name, Amen, thank you for joining me in prayer. 13 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, 14 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: where you can draw close to God and find strength 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: in him. 16 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and focus. 17 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 18 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,199 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 19 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: in your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer 20 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,920 Speaker 2: is all about strength and focus, So take a minute 21 00:01:31,959 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 2: just to simply calm down right here upfront. Maybe go 22 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 2: to a place where you can recline and relax. Maybe 23 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: close your eyes and steady your breathing, and let the 24 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 2: realization that God is waiting and wanting to speak with 25 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: you fill your thoughts. So open your heart and invite 26 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit to come and to teach you God's word. 27 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: Today we'll be meditating on Proverbs twenty seven seventeen from 28 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: the King James version. Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man 29 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. My friends, let us 30 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: take time now just to adore God Father. I praise 31 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: you for the wisdom found in your word. I worship 32 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: your loving kindness and your perfect plans. I bless your name, 33 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,919 Speaker 2: for you know all my needs and supply every one 34 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: of them. Jesus, I extol your name, for you have 35 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:30,960 Speaker 2: provided a way to bless me through others, and you 36 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: have made me a blessing in turn. All honor and 37 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:40,639 Speaker 2: glory be yours now and forever. My friends, we've all 38 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 2: heard the saying stronger together. You were not created to 39 00:02:45,240 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: live isolated. You were created by a relationship centered God 40 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 2: to have fellowship with Him and with other brothers and 41 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:56,560 Speaker 2: sisters in the faith. It is God's purpose and plan 42 00:02:56,960 --> 00:03:00,560 Speaker 2: that you be part of a community and not live alone. 43 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,640 Speaker 2: God will use other believers to help you grow and 44 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:06,399 Speaker 2: to keep you accountable, and in turn, you are used 45 00:03:06,440 --> 00:03:09,480 Speaker 2: to help others remain strong and focused in their faith. 46 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 2: This may be uncomfortable and difficult to do, but my friends, 47 00:03:13,800 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: it's necessary. When you see someone struggling with sin, do 48 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:22,160 Speaker 2: not pass judgment. Instead, approach the person with compassion and 49 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: in love, speak truth into their life. Likewise, when another 50 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,839 Speaker 2: believer approaches you in love and speaks truth over you, 51 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 2: do not turn away. Do not give place to anger 52 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 2: or retaliate and hurt. Instead, capitalize on the opportunity before 53 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 2: you be sharpened. Allow yourself to be used to sharpen another. 54 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: For what use is a dull blade. Check your heart. 55 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,920 Speaker 2: Be aware of your spiritual health so you can remain 56 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: obedient to God, and so you may continue standing firm 57 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: upon His strength. Now take a few minutes to present 58 00:03:57,640 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 2: yourself before the Lord. Confess your sins to God. Tell 59 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 2: your heavenly Father of your failures and frustrations, and open 60 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:08,960 Speaker 2: your heart right now to receive and to be molded 61 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:13,440 Speaker 2: by Him. Now take a moment just to dwell on 62 00:04:13,480 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 2: the blessings of Godly fellowship. Think of how your brothers 63 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 2: and sisters in Christ encourage you to grow in the faith. 64 00:04:21,320 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 2: Think of how they exhort and challenge you to reach 65 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: all God has for you. Thank God for the saints 66 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 2: in your life who help keep you accountable, who worry 67 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 2: more about your spiritual wellbeing than they do about pleasing you. 68 00:04:36,880 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: Thank God for divinely appointed friends who speak truth into 69 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:43,520 Speaker 2: your life, friends who are willing to point out sin 70 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: and love. My friends, God is present and he is 71 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,279 Speaker 2: listening to you. So this is your chance to come 72 00:04:51,279 --> 00:04:54,320 Speaker 2: before the Lord and to make your needs known to him. 73 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,800 Speaker 2: Ask God to place people in your path who have 74 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: a commitment with Him, people who love the Lord and 75 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 2: who diligently seek his face. Ask for brothers and sisters 76 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:08,200 Speaker 2: who will encourage you and push you toward God. Ask 77 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:11,719 Speaker 2: for Kingdom friendships, for friends who God will use to 78 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:15,680 Speaker 2: minister his strength into your life. And ask the Holy 79 00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 2: Spirit to help you appreciate these relationships by asking him 80 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:24,479 Speaker 2: to teach you to be such a friend to others. Remember, 81 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 2: as iron sharpens iron, so one person should sharpen another. 82 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 2: There is strength in learning and growth. So do not 83 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 2: isolate and become stagnant. Instead, surround yourself with people who 84 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 2: will call out sin in your life. You cannot grow 85 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:46,480 Speaker 2: from your mistakes if they are never addressed. So when 86 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:49,640 Speaker 2: your friends point out something to you and love my friends, 87 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: do not turn away. Instead allow the truth being spoken 88 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 2: to change your character. So choose this day to open 89 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 2: your heart to the wisdom spoken by godly friendships, to 90 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:06,560 Speaker 2: have your strength and focus sharpened through spiritual counsel, and 91 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: be confident in God's Holy Spirit. And then watch as 92 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,120 Speaker 2: He blesses you and He makes you a blessing Today, 93 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:17,560 Speaker 2: my friends, thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on 94 00:06:17,600 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 2: pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy habit as a 95 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 2: daily practice, you are making prayer priority and strengthening your 96 00:06:24,360 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 2: walk with God. As always, my name is Zach Clinton, 97 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 2: Vice President of the American Association of Christian Counselors. We 98 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:32,559 Speaker 2: love being a part of your life.