1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,440 Speaker 1: And he said, unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, 2 00:00:07,000 --> 00:00:12,440 Speaker 1: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, 3 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:17,040 Speaker 1: therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the 4 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:25,960 Speaker 1: power of Christ may rest upon me Second Corinthians twelve nine. 5 00:00:26,200 --> 00:00:33,159 Speaker 1: Almighty God, you are the source of all strength and focus. 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: You alone grant us the power to be brave despite 7 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: difficulties and remain dedicated to our goals. Your grace is 8 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: sufficient for me. Though I feel vulnerable and weak in 9 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:57,200 Speaker 1: many areas, You provide a way out from my troubles 10 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:02,840 Speaker 1: and equip me with the ability to confidently persevere. I 11 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: cry out to you for help, and by your mighty power, 12 00:01:08,240 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: you strengthen and sustain me. As I turn to you 13 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: in prayer, remind me that no matter my circumstances, I 14 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: place my faith in You. Guide me with the wisdom 15 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:27,360 Speaker 1: and courage to pursue what is good in life, trusting 16 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:34,240 Speaker 1: that you are faithful even when I doubt. In Jesus' name, Amen, 17 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,720 Speaker 1: thank you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for 18 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:43,280 Speaker 1: today's free podcast, Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you 19 00:01:43,400 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: can draw close to God and find strength in him. 20 00:01:49,000 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: Welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and focus. To 21 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:54,880 Speaker 2: get the most out of your spiritual journey, youspray dot 22 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 2: com every day and make prayer a priority in your 23 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: life again. Our goal for today's medaditative prayer is all 24 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 2: about strength and focus. So let's just begin by taking 25 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 2: a moment just simply to relax. Maybe find a comfortable 26 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:12,800 Speaker 2: place where you can get away from disruption and distraction, 27 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:16,360 Speaker 2: where your focus can be entirely on this time with God. 28 00:02:17,639 --> 00:02:20,320 Speaker 2: As you close your eyes, take a deep breath and 29 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,679 Speaker 2: fill your lungs with air, and as you exhale, let 30 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 2: go of what weighs heavy on your mind. Today we'll 31 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:29,919 Speaker 2: be meditating on two Corinthians twelve nine from the King 32 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,440 Speaker 2: James version. It says, and he said, unto me, my 33 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 2: grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made 34 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 2: perfect in weakness. Most gladly. Therefore will I rather glory 35 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 2: in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest 36 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: upon me. Now take a moment just to pour out 37 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 2: your adoration to God for his strength. God, I praise 38 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,320 Speaker 2: you for your abundant grace in all things and at 39 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 2: all times. I praise you, for you supply all my needs, 40 00:02:59,440 --> 00:03:03,920 Speaker 2: and your strength sustains me. I praise you for calling 41 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:08,200 Speaker 2: me your child. I worship you for your glory manifested 42 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:11,280 Speaker 2: in my life through my weaknesses. Then I give you 43 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: all honor, for strength and power belong to you alone. 44 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 2: True strength comes from trusting in God. Strength exists in 45 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,680 Speaker 2: many forms and manifests itself in different ways. Physical strength 46 00:03:25,720 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: allows you mobility and ease with your human body. Mental 47 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:32,960 Speaker 2: strength enables you to push past diversity and to overcome 48 00:03:32,960 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 2: against the odds. Strength of character will aid in keeping 49 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 2: you from sin when temptation knocks. But no matter what 50 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 2: form strength takes, one truth remains certain through them all. 51 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: Strength is not a luxury. It is a necessity for life. 52 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 2: It matters not how hard you try or how much 53 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: of yourself you have to stand on. You will never 54 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 2: make it on your own. Your strength will never be 55 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 2: a nun and sooner or later it will fail you. 56 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:07,080 Speaker 2: Your body will give, your mind will collapse, and your 57 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:11,680 Speaker 2: inner fortitude will run out. But do not despair, for 58 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:16,640 Speaker 2: there is good news. The strength that matters isn't your own, 59 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,320 Speaker 2: but my friends, it is God's. This is why your 60 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:24,760 Speaker 2: weaknesses are not to be looked upon as a disadvantage, 61 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:28,880 Speaker 2: but rather as an opportunity to receive Christ's strength, to 62 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: allow God's power to manifest in you. However, to receive 63 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: God's strength, you cannot stand upon your own. You must 64 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 2: admit that you need him, and you must allow his 65 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:44,719 Speaker 2: strength to shine through your weaknesses. Paul wasn't happy that 66 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 2: he suffered in lacked strength. He was glad that his 67 00:04:49,320 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 2: weaknesses afforded an opportunity for God's strength. Then to be 68 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,880 Speaker 2: upon him. My friends, this is your opportunity to come 69 00:04:56,880 --> 00:05:01,520 Speaker 2: before God and hand your weaknesses to him. Confess your 70 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 2: sins to God right now, and ask the Holy Spirit 71 00:05:05,279 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 2: to minister to your heart. Now, let's take a moment 72 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:13,960 Speaker 2: just to dwell on God's power over you. Thank Jesus 73 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 2: for his faithfulness that endures forever. Thank Him that in 74 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 2: every hardship there is an opportunity to experience his glory. 75 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 2: Thank Jesus that his grace is more than enough for 76 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:29,120 Speaker 2: any and every season of your life. Thank him that 77 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: his grace for you will never cease or run out. 78 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:36,920 Speaker 2: Thank Jesus that his strength is made perfect in your weakness. 79 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:40,080 Speaker 2: And thank Him that through his strength and grace you 80 00:05:40,200 --> 00:05:44,040 Speaker 2: are sustained. My friends, do not forget God is present 81 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 2: and he is listening to you. Once again, bring to 82 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 2: mind the areas of weakness that you're struggling with, and 83 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 2: ask God for the ability to trust in Him, for 84 00:05:55,160 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 2: his provision, to know his grace is enough and that 85 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: he will sustain you. Ask God to increase your faith. 86 00:06:03,360 --> 00:06:05,640 Speaker 2: Ask for faith to pray for His power to be 87 00:06:05,720 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: upon you and for His glory to shine through you. 88 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: And ask for faith to prophesy God's strength over your 89 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:18,920 Speaker 2: life today. And always remember God's grace is enough for you. 90 00:06:20,000 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 2: When you are weak, then His power is made perfect 91 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:27,359 Speaker 2: in you. Having access to this grace, you can be 92 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 2: happy even in weakness, for You'll be confident in the 93 00:06:31,080 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 2: knowledge that Christ's power will be alive in you. So 94 00:06:34,800 --> 00:06:38,159 Speaker 2: no matter what your weaknesses may be, God's strength will 95 00:06:38,200 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 2: cover you. So choose this day to open your heart 96 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: and to trust in God's strength because God's strength will 97 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 2: never fail you. So be blessed in His power and 98 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 2: in his might. Today, my friends, thank you for completing 99 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 100 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,880 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, making prayer priority in 101 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 2: strengthening your walk with God. As always, my name is 102 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 2: Zach Clinton, vice president of the American Association of Christian Counselors, 103 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: And we love being a part of your life.