1 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,960 Speaker 1: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness 2 00:00:07,440 --> 00:00:11,159 Speaker 1: and came and sat down under a juniper tree, and 3 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 1: he requested for himself that he might die, and said, 4 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:21,159 Speaker 1: it is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, 5 00:00:21,239 --> 00:00:25,639 Speaker 1: for I am not better than my father's first kings 6 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:32,479 Speaker 1: nineteen four. Dear Lord, it is comforting that even a 7 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:38,080 Speaker 1: mighty prophet like Elijah felt crushed and depressed. It is 8 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: even more comforting that you tended to him gently and 9 00:00:43,120 --> 00:00:49,600 Speaker 1: restored him with comfort, connection and calling. Minister to my 10 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: heart in the same way, when I am at my lowest, 11 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: would you meet me there? Would you comfort me in 12 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: my despair? I always want to be honest with you. 13 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:07,119 Speaker 1: There is no hiding anything from you, So why lie 14 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: or hide my feelings? 15 00:01:09,760 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 2: Here? 16 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: I am Lord, I am imperfect, struggling and desperately need 17 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: you restore me. Lord in Jesus's name. Amen, Thank you 18 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free 19 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw 20 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:39,759 Speaker 1: close to God and find strength in him. 21 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on overcoming depression. 22 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:47,440 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 23 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 24 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:54,960 Speaker 2: in your life. Again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 25 00:01:55,160 --> 00:02:00,800 Speaker 2: is overcoming depression. So just take a minute your heart, 26 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: maybe go to a place where you can recline and relax, 27 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:12,640 Speaker 2: close your eyes, breathe easy, and let the realization that 28 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,200 Speaker 2: God is waiting and wanting to speak with you fill 29 00:02:16,280 --> 00:02:21,799 Speaker 2: your thoughts. Today we'll be meditating on first Kings nineteen 30 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 2: verse four from the King James version. But he himself 31 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:30,440 Speaker 2: went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and 32 00:02:30,480 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 2: sat down under a juniper tree. And he requested for 33 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 2: himself that he might die, and said, it is enough now, 34 00:02:38,200 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 2: o Lord, take away my life, for I am no 35 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: better than my father's. Let us take time to adore God. 36 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord, 37 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,280 Speaker 2: Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and the God of 38 00:02:57,320 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: all comfort, who comforts us in all all of our affliction. Father, 39 00:03:02,680 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: I praise you, for you are my compassionate father. Your 40 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 2: love is always willing to receive me when I call 41 00:03:11,800 --> 00:03:19,119 Speaker 2: on you. Accomplishments do not grant exemption from depression. Successful 42 00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: people still get depressed. Elijah had just achieved one of 43 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: the greatest biblical milestones. He prayed, and God answered his 44 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 2: call with fire from heaven. In doing so, God proved 45 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:39,720 Speaker 2: his sovereignty before Israel and Babylon and established Elijah as 46 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: his prophet. However, in the immediate aftermath of this glorious experience, 47 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:50,920 Speaker 2: Elijah gave him to fear of Jezebel's retribution and ran away. 48 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:57,000 Speaker 2: While fleeing, he found himself so overcome by heartsickness that 49 00:03:57,080 --> 00:04:02,680 Speaker 2: he asked for death. In life, you will experience both 50 00:04:02,760 --> 00:04:06,840 Speaker 2: upsand downs. You will have moments of triumph and joy 51 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: and moments of fear and despair. That's just a part 52 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:16,799 Speaker 2: of life. The secret to survival, though, lies in trusting God. 53 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:21,919 Speaker 2: So take this moment to confess your doubt to the Lord. 54 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:30,120 Speaker 2: Tell him of your trials and your fears. Now take 55 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:33,159 Speaker 2: a moment to dwell on the compassion of God in 56 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:38,240 Speaker 2: your life. Thank your heavenly Father who sees your struggle 57 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:43,120 Speaker 2: with depression. He will uphold you through these hard times. 58 00:04:44,839 --> 00:04:49,839 Speaker 2: Think of how He tenderly reaches out to you. Remember 59 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 2: how his kindness will never leave you, regardless of where 60 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 2: you are or what's going on. Thank God for all 61 00:04:59,120 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 2: his love of your life life and thank him because 62 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 2: he will always care for you. God is present and 63 00:05:08,480 --> 00:05:12,960 Speaker 2: he is listening to you. If you are struggling in 64 00:05:13,000 --> 00:05:17,160 Speaker 2: your efforts of dealing with depression, my friend, please. 65 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: Do not give up. 66 00:05:18,880 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: Lean on God. He understands what you're feeling. Jesus can 67 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 2: help you get through this. Do not allow this situation 68 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 2: to stifle your love or to keep you from receiving 69 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 2: his Ask God to teach you to depend on him. 70 00:05:38,240 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 2: Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to be patient 71 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 2: and to rely on him. Ask the Holy Spirit to 72 00:05:45,480 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: help you push past the hurt and into his healing hands. Remember, 73 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:56,000 Speaker 2: victories don't exempt you from struggle. When life takes an 74 00:05:56,080 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 2: unexpected turn where you find yourself unsatisfied with where you are, 75 00:06:00,839 --> 00:06:08,520 Speaker 2: turned to God. God's comfort and acceptance are waiting for you. 76 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:13,359 Speaker 2: Do not delay in seeking him. Be confident in the 77 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:17,599 Speaker 2: tenderness and care your heavenly Father has for you, and 78 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 2: allow his everlasting love to flow through you into every 79 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:27,040 Speaker 2: area of your life. My friends, thank you for completing 80 00:06:27,040 --> 00:06:30,919 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 81 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer 82 00:06:33,800 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 2: a priority. And strengthening your walk with God again. My 83 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 2: name is Zach Clinton from the American Association of Christian Counselors. 84 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 2: We love being a part of your life.