1 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:06,560 Speaker 1: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,600 Speaker 1: begun a good work in you will perform it until 3 00:00:10,720 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: the day of Jesus Christ Philippians one six. Dear Father, 4 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:23,119 Speaker 1: thank you for the peace that comes from knowing that 5 00:00:23,280 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: in all things you are working out your perfect will. 6 00:00:28,880 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: We know that we can trust in you and have 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:39,120 Speaker 1: great assurance that as we persevere through life's storms, joys, 8 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:44,920 Speaker 1: and hardships, nothing is ever wasted. Help us to fix 9 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: our eyes on Jesus, the Author and perfector of our faith, 10 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: as we seek you in prayer. May we find strength 11 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: that comes from your infinite God in every situation. Guide 12 00:01:04,600 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: us by your truth and keep our hearts focused on 13 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:14,680 Speaker 1: your perfect plan for our lives. We are so grateful 14 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: that you never leave us, nor forsake us, but lead 15 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:28,680 Speaker 1: us in all things. In Jesus' name, Amen, Thank you 16 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:31,640 Speaker 1: for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free 17 00:01:31,680 --> 00:01:35,960 Speaker 1: podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw 18 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: close to God and find strength in him. 19 00:01:40,280 --> 00:01:43,600 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on becoming present. 20 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:46,240 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, uspray 21 00:01:46,319 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 2: dot Com every day and make prayer a priority. In 22 00:01:49,400 --> 00:01:52,520 Speaker 2: your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is 23 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,640 Speaker 2: all about becoming present. So let's just take a moment 24 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: now just to simply relax. Maybe go to your secret 25 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,760 Speaker 2: place with the Lord, a place where you can hide 26 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 2: under the shelter of his wings, and focus on this 27 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:10,520 Speaker 2: time of reflection with the Holy Spirit. Close your eyes 28 00:02:11,160 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 2: and take a deep breath, and as you exhale, take 29 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 2: captive every thought and shift your attention towards what God 30 00:02:19,720 --> 00:02:24,120 Speaker 2: has prepared for you. Today will be meditating on Philippians one, 31 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 2: verse six from the King James version. It says, being 32 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 2: confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun 33 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,640 Speaker 2: a good work in you will perform it until the 34 00:02:33,760 --> 00:02:37,960 Speaker 2: day of Jesus Christ. My friends, now just take a 35 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:43,160 Speaker 2: moment to pour out your adoration to God. I exalt you, Lord, 36 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 2: for you finish everything you begin. You are the God 37 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:50,919 Speaker 2: of all flesh, and by your word I was made. 38 00:02:51,080 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 2: I adore you, who formed all my days, who holds 39 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 2: all in the palm of his hand. I will glorify 40 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,399 Speaker 2: your name, for you know the beginning before the end. 41 00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:07,520 Speaker 2: You turn my ashes into beauty and my mourning into dancing. Father, 42 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 2: there is truly none like you. You see, God's work 43 00:03:12,400 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 2: is progressive. Your vision, both physical and spiritual, are limited. 44 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 2: You cannot see as God sees, so you don't know 45 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 2: all the plans He has for you or how He 46 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 2: will bring them to pass. You carry hope and aspirations, 47 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 2: but sometimes you become stagnant. Instead of pushing you forward, 48 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: your dreams begin to weigh you down. In these moments, 49 00:03:36,640 --> 00:03:39,880 Speaker 2: you must cling to faith. Satan will come to you 50 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 2: and he'll whisper his lies. You'll try to influence your 51 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 2: thoughts and control what you believe, and if you're not vigilant, 52 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:51,000 Speaker 2: you start imposing your timeliness and ideas onto God's work. 53 00:03:51,680 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 2: You start believing that you've missed your chance, that you've 54 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:57,600 Speaker 2: fallen too far behind in this race to move forward. 55 00:03:58,480 --> 00:04:01,800 Speaker 2: In short, you begin to confuse use your salvation, which 56 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:07,200 Speaker 2: is instantaneous with your transformation, which is progressive, but to 57 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:10,000 Speaker 2: not be discouraged with what you perceive as a lack 58 00:04:10,040 --> 00:04:13,920 Speaker 2: of progress. You cannot control your past, so don't allow 59 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,760 Speaker 2: it to hold you back, but instead allow God to 60 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:21,479 Speaker 2: work his grace and his mercy in your life. Ask 61 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,120 Speaker 2: him to show you where to go, and listen to 62 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:29,200 Speaker 2: his direction. You will not be the canvass God leaves unfinished. 63 00:04:30,760 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 2: He won't stop until his work is complete. Perhaps you've 64 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: been struggling with accepting your transformation, perhaps you've been resisting it. 65 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 2: Right now, my friends, this is your opportunity to come 66 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:48,920 Speaker 2: before God and to confess your sins to him, to 67 00:04:49,040 --> 00:04:53,640 Speaker 2: yield to God's correction and direction. So right now, in 68 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,560 Speaker 2: this moment, surrender your control to Him and trust that 69 00:04:57,640 --> 00:05:02,440 Speaker 2: He will finish what he started. Now, let's take a 70 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 2: moment just to simply dwell on God's faithfulness. Remember the 71 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 2: works and the wonders God has done in your life, 72 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: how he made ways in the wilderness and springs in 73 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 2: the desert. Recollect past situations where you chose to trust 74 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: in the promises of the Lord. Think of the testimony 75 00:05:20,960 --> 00:05:23,359 Speaker 2: you will have when the situation you are in is 76 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: worked out for your good. And thank God for his 77 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:31,799 Speaker 2: peace which surpasses all understanding. Give thanks for his great 78 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: care over you and his continuous movement in your life. 79 00:05:36,360 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: And thank God for his hands. But you're always strong 80 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,279 Speaker 2: enough to save. My friends, do not forget. God is 81 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:47,479 Speaker 2: present and he is making your ways straight. Jesus said 82 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 2: he would send the Holy Spirit, so that you would 83 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:54,040 Speaker 2: never be alone. He wants to continue working in your life, 84 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:59,160 Speaker 2: so let him. Pray for his presence to permeate every 85 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 2: area of your life. Pray for his steady hand to 86 00:06:02,279 --> 00:06:06,400 Speaker 2: continue crafting his masterpiece in your life. Ask the Holy 87 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:10,159 Speaker 2: Spirit to increase your faith, to teach you to trust 88 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 2: even though you can't see what lies ahead. Ask him 89 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:21,040 Speaker 2: to fill you with God's peace that surpasses all understanding. Remember, 90 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: God began a good work in you. He will continue 91 00:06:26,040 --> 00:06:29,359 Speaker 2: it until it is finished when Jesus Christ comes again. 92 00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 2: No matter what you're going through, God is with you today. 93 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,880 Speaker 2: So do not be anxious or afraid. For God knows 94 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 2: what he has for you, and he is not limited 95 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 2: by your past. You can trust that He will keep 96 00:06:44,279 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 2: his word and he will finish everything he starts. My friends, 97 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,600 Speaker 2: thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 98 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, I 99 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:00,240 Speaker 2: believe you're making prayer a priority and your strengthen your 100 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 2: walk with God. As always. My name is Zach Clinton, 101 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:07,479 Speaker 2: Vice President of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and 102 00:07:07,520 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 2: we love being a part of your life. To get 103 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 2: some more information and inspiration, help, hope, and encouragement. Be 104 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:18,360 Speaker 2: sure to visit our website at www dot AACC dot net. Again, 105 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: that's AACC dot net.