1 00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: They that so in tears shall reap enjoy. He that 2 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:13,720 Speaker 1: goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 3 00:00:13,760 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm one 4 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: twenty six five through six. Heavenly Father, you have considered 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: my heartache and have acquainted yourself with all my grief. 6 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:36,199 Speaker 1: You have kept every tear I have ever shed. You 7 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: know my frailty, and don't hold it against me. May 8 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: the tears I cry be the water that supplies growth 9 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:50,320 Speaker 1: in my life. Cultivate my heart like a garden, and 10 00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: ten to my soul like a budding tree. I want 11 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: to grow from my grief. Lord. I do not want 12 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:03,760 Speaker 1: to wallow in self pity. I want to be transformed 13 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:09,600 Speaker 1: and made stronger. Help me, Lord, I know you can. 14 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for joining me in prayer. 15 00:01:18,440 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for today's free podcast, Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, 16 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: where you can draw close to God and find strength 17 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: in him. 18 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,880 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on overcoming depression. 19 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 20 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,680 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 21 00:01:44,680 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 2: in your life. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is 22 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,040 Speaker 2: all about overcoming depression. So let's begin by just taking 23 00:01:53,040 --> 00:01:57,440 Speaker 2: a second to slow down. Maybe sit in your favorite spot. 24 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 2: Maybe it's on your bed or wherever you feel the 25 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 2: most at ease. Wrap yourself in a warm blanket, or 26 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:09,280 Speaker 2: go and grab a plush pillow. Once you feel yourself 27 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:14,080 Speaker 2: start to relax, turn your thoughts toward the teaching that 28 00:02:14,200 --> 00:02:18,000 Speaker 2: God has for you today. Again, this morning will be 29 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: meditating on Psalm one twenty six, verses five to six 30 00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: from the New International version, it reads, those who sow 31 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 2: with tears will reap with songs of joy, and those 32 00:02:30,720 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 2: who go out weeping carrying seed to sow, will return 33 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:39,519 Speaker 2: with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. My friends, 34 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: take a moment just to pour out your adoration to God. God. 35 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 2: I worship you because of your faithfulness. I praise you 36 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,240 Speaker 2: for you have called me to be the head and 37 00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: not the tail. You promise that your blessings shall come 38 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: upon me and overtake me. I praise you for as 39 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: I hope in you, you renew my strength. You alone 40 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:13,640 Speaker 2: are worthy of all my praise. Sometimes you have to 41 00:03:13,680 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: work through your depression. This can be excruciatingly hard. There's 42 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 2: a difference between being planted and being buried, and you 43 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,360 Speaker 2: decide if you become a grave or a garden. In 44 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 2: the season of opposition, when you find yourself forgotten and alone, 45 00:03:37,520 --> 00:03:40,560 Speaker 2: my friends, you have a choice to make. You can 46 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 2: allow your tears to water your work, or you can 47 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 2: roll over and die. The Bible teaches that hope deferred 48 00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,560 Speaker 2: makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a 49 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:57,960 Speaker 2: tree of life. Sowing through your tears will feel heartbreaking, 50 00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: but you must persever for if you do not sow, 51 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 2: you will never reap the manifestation of your longing. Perhaps 52 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 2: you find yourself surrounded by dirt and darkness, you must 53 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: remember you are a precious seed. The process might hurt, 54 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:23,159 Speaker 2: but the results will be worthwhile. God is waiting for you. 55 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 2: Confess your troubles to your Father above, so he may 56 00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:33,680 Speaker 2: aid you in your time of need. My friends, think 57 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,359 Speaker 2: for a minute on all the times God gave growth 58 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 2: to your life, Those times when you felt stalled out 59 00:04:41,760 --> 00:04:46,680 Speaker 2: and stagnant, but God saved you. Times where God's process 60 00:04:46,800 --> 00:04:51,479 Speaker 2: hurt but brought amazing results in your life. Thank Him 61 00:04:51,560 --> 00:04:55,760 Speaker 2: for all the past wisdom and righteousness, resulted from being planted. 62 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: Thank Him for the areas of growth, understanding, and maturity. 63 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 2: Now think of the seeds buried in your garden and 64 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:10,880 Speaker 2: thank God for the blossoms to come. God is present 65 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:15,839 Speaker 2: and he is listening to you. Never forget the sowing 66 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 2: may be painful, but the result will be a tree 67 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:22,320 Speaker 2: of life. God wants you to grow as a person 68 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 2: and to experience fulfillment. So reach out to God for 69 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: his grace and his mercy to be upon you. Ask 70 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 2: Him to bless you with a mind for endurance and 71 00:05:34,720 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: a desire for perseverance. Ask the Holy Spirit to help 72 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,440 Speaker 2: you be patient in the process, to not give up, 73 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: and to not only survive, but to thrive. Remember what 74 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:52,120 Speaker 2: is sown in tears, you will reap in joy if 75 00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 2: you do the work, even if it's done in sadness, 76 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: you will reap the joy of the harvest. So be encouraged. 77 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,159 Speaker 2: Just because you don't see the light at the end 78 00:06:02,200 --> 00:06:05,839 Speaker 2: of the tunnel doesn't mean it isn't there. You have 79 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 2: God's Holy Spirit to help you and to guide you 80 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: every step of the way. He will never leave you, 81 00:06:12,640 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 2: and he will never abandon you. Through faith in Christ, 82 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 2: you can and you will blossom into a beautiful garden. 83 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 2: Thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 84 00:06:26,920 --> 00:06:29,760 Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you 85 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: are making prayer a priority and strengthening your walk with 86 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:36,320 Speaker 2: God again. My name is Zach Clinton from the American 87 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 2: Association of Christian Counselors and we love being a part 88 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 2: of your life.