1 00:00:02,120 --> 00:00:08,039 Speaker 1: Watch ye and pray lest ye enter into temptation. The 2 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak Mark 3 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:23,400 Speaker 1: fourteen thirty eight. Dear Lord, sometimes I feel like I 4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: am being pulled in two different directions. My spirit longs 5 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: to obey you, but my flesh pulls me towards sin. 6 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:41,440 Speaker 1: I know prayer is the weapon against temptation, and intimacy 7 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:46,360 Speaker 1: with You is how I find restoration. So I pray 8 00:00:46,920 --> 00:00:52,240 Speaker 1: now and always that you pull me away from sin 9 00:00:52,880 --> 00:00:58,800 Speaker 1: and toward You. Keep me far from wickedness, Lord, and 10 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 1: save me from myself in Jesus' name. Amen, Thank you 11 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,479 Speaker 1: for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free 12 00:01:10,520 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 1: podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw 13 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:20,400 Speaker 1: clothes to God and find strength in him. 14 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:25,480 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on commitment and perseverance. 15 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:28,160 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 16 00:01:28,240 --> 00:01:31,720 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 17 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 18 00:01:35,400 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: is all about commitment and perseverance, So let's hit pause 19 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:42,959 Speaker 2: for just a second year. Let's find a safe and 20 00:01:43,440 --> 00:01:47,840 Speaker 2: secluded spot where you can comfortably settle down andybe a 21 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: place you can close your eyes and you can breathe in. 22 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 2: Then you can breathe out, and as you exhale, imagine 23 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: the tension leaving your body along with that breath. Now 24 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,560 Speaker 2: take every thought captive and bring your focus to the 25 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:10,240 Speaker 2: Word of God, because God is waiting for you. Today. 26 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 2: Will be meditating on Ephesians chapter six, verse twelve from 27 00:02:13,600 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 2: the King James version. For we wrestle not against flesh 28 00:02:17,800 --> 00:02:22,359 Speaker 2: and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers 29 00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:26,720 Speaker 2: of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in 30 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 2: high places. Take a moment now just to pour out 31 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:37,640 Speaker 2: your adoration to God, Jesus. I worship you, for you overcame, 32 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:41,920 Speaker 2: You are seated in glory at the right hand of 33 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:47,080 Speaker 2: the Father. All honor and praise belong to you, and 34 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 2: to you alone. I adore you, for you are the 35 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 2: great and mighty God. Your grace cannot be hidden, your 36 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: strength cannot be stopped, your glory cannot be denied. Your 37 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 2: vast power stretches across the heavens and the earth. And 38 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 2: I extol your wonderful name, Jesus, for victory is found 39 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 2: in you alone. Let's be real competition is a part 40 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 2: of every race. Don't be caught blindsighted on the eternal 41 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 2: pursuit toward your heavenly reward. Knowing your adversary is crucial 42 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: for victory. You must know what you're up against in 43 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:35,480 Speaker 2: order to understand how to overcome. In your endeavor to persevere, 44 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,240 Speaker 2: at some point you will have to wage spiritual warfare. 45 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 2: You cannot do this, though, if you are oblivious to 46 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 2: its reality, My friends, to overcome evil, you must acknowledge 47 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:54,240 Speaker 2: its existence and be aware of its presence. Make no mistake, 48 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 2: there is a cosmic war happening, and the earth is 49 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 2: the battlefield. The Bible tells us that Satan and his 50 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: demons wage constant war against God's people. They are evil 51 00:04:07,240 --> 00:04:11,520 Speaker 2: forces that move in high places and wield powerful influence. 52 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 2: And even though Satan and his demons are not corporeal, 53 00:04:16,279 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 2: they can manipulate and affect physical matter. Common tools they 54 00:04:21,279 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 2: employ are pride, lust, envy, hatred, hypocrisy, immorality, jealousy, strife, greed, 55 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 2: and rebellion. The Bible does not give this information to 56 00:04:33,279 --> 00:04:37,040 Speaker 2: frighten you, nor to dishearten you. It is to better 57 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 2: equip you on your journey to bring awareness and caution. 58 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,240 Speaker 2: You must be cognizant of Satan's traps so you do 59 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:50,000 Speaker 2: not fall prey to them. So have courage, for although 60 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:54,680 Speaker 2: Satan is a tough opponent, he is not invincible. So 61 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 2: stop for a second and allow God to speak to 62 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 2: your heart, to Jesus the sins you are wrestling with. 63 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:08,239 Speaker 2: Take just a few moments now to dwell on God's 64 00:05:08,320 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 2: victory for your life. Thank Him because He is greater 65 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 2: than anything, and his victory for you is sure. Thank 66 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,760 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit for helping and enabling you to win 67 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:26,400 Speaker 2: this fight. Think of past victories his joy has brought you. 68 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 2: Thank God for watching over you in the past and 69 00:05:30,600 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: for continuing to do so forevermore. Thank God because in 70 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 2: His love and through his strength, you can do all things. 71 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 2: My friends, God is present and he is listening to you. 72 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 2: The Bible says, ask and it shall be given unto you. 73 00:05:48,120 --> 00:05:50,760 Speaker 2: So ask the Holy Spirit to lend you his strength 74 00:05:51,560 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 2: to help you stay in the fight until the final round. 75 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: Ask him to encourage you to fill your mind with determination, 76 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 2: in your heart with hope. Ask the Holy Spirit to 77 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,640 Speaker 2: empower you to live and move in God's mighty power, 78 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: and ask him to remove all fear and doubt to 79 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:16,599 Speaker 2: testify His victory within your soul. Remember, you will face 80 00:06:16,680 --> 00:06:19,679 Speaker 2: opposition in your race toward your heavenly goal and reward. 81 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: You will have to fight to persevere. But your fight 82 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 2: is not against people here on earth. You are fighting 83 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 2: against the rulers, authorities, and the powers of this world's darkness. 84 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 2: You are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in 85 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:41,479 Speaker 2: the heavenly world. You must be vigilant. Therefore, you must 86 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: be vigilant and careful so you do not fall prey 87 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: to the enemy. Instead, seek God's reassurance and reinforcement. In 88 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 2: his word. God will surround you with his protection and 89 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 2: enable you to attain victory. He will never fail you, 90 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:04,160 Speaker 2: nor will he ever abandon you, because He fights beside you. So, 91 00:07:04,480 --> 00:07:09,720 Speaker 2: my friends, trust in God today. Thank you for completing 92 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 93 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer 94 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:20,880 Speaker 2: a priority and strengthening your walk with God. As always, 95 00:07:20,960 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 2: my name is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American 96 00:07:23,680 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 2: Association of Christian Counselors, and we love being a part 97 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 2: of your life.