1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man sharpeneth the countenance of 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: his friend, Proverbs twenty seven seventeen. Dear Lord, thank you 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: for the blessing of friendship. We can never underestimate the 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: power of relationships and how they shape our lives. Like 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: iron sharpens iron. We are blessed to have those in 6 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: our lives that sharpen us, pushing us to be better 7 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: versions of ourselves. Thank you for giving us friends who 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: motivate us to be brave, courageous, and to never settle. 9 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for being our faithful guide on this journey 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: of life. May we all remember that it is in 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: friendship that we find our greatest joys and successes. In 12 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: Jesus's name, Amen, thank you for joining me in prayer. 13 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, 14 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,400 Speaker 1: where you can draw close to God and find strength 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:12,959 Speaker 1: in him. 16 00:01:15,360 --> 00:01:18,640 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and focus. 17 00:01:19,080 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 18 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 19 00:01:24,200 --> 00:01:28,120 Speaker 2: in your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer 20 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,679 Speaker 2: is all about strength and focus, So take a minute 21 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,399 Speaker 2: just to simply calm down right here upfront. Maybe go 22 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 2: to a place where you can recline and relax. Maybe 23 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: close your eyes and steady your breathing, and let the 24 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 2: realization that God is waiting and wanting to speak with 25 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: you fill your thoughts. So open your heart and invite 26 00:01:49,640 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit to come and to teach you God's word. 27 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: Today we'll be meditating on Proverbs twenty seven seventeen from 28 00:01:57,480 --> 00:02:02,680 Speaker 2: the King James version. Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man 29 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 2: sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. My friends, let us 30 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 2: take time now just to adore God Father. I praise 31 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 2: you for the wisdom found in your word. I worship 32 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:20,560 Speaker 2: your loving kindness and your perfect plans. I bless your name, 33 00:02:20,639 --> 00:02:23,960 Speaker 2: for you know all my needs and supply every. 34 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:24,840 Speaker 1: One of them. 35 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:28,680 Speaker 2: Jesus, I extol your name, for you have provided a 36 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 2: way to bless me through others, and you have made 37 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,880 Speaker 2: me a blessing intern. All honor and glory be yours 38 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:41,360 Speaker 2: now and forever. My friends, we've all heard the saying 39 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 2: stronger together. You were not created to live isolated. You 40 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,000 Speaker 2: were created by a relationship centered God to have fellowship 41 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: with Him and with other brothers. And sisters in the faith. 42 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,679 Speaker 2: It is God's purpose and plan that you be part 43 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 2: of a community and not live alone. God will use 44 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 2: other believers to help you grow and to keep you accountable, 45 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,519 Speaker 2: and in turn, you are used to help others remain 46 00:03:07,600 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: strong and focused in their faith. This may be uncomfortable 47 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:15,720 Speaker 2: and difficult to do, but my friends, it's necessary. When 48 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,800 Speaker 2: you see someone struggling with sin, do not pass judgment. Instead, 49 00:03:19,840 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: approach the person with compassion and in love, speak truth 50 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:27,240 Speaker 2: into their life. Likewise, when another believer approaches you in 51 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:30,240 Speaker 2: love and speaks truth over you, do not turn away. 52 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 2: Do not give place to anger or retaliate and hurt. Instead, 53 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: capitalize on the opportunity before you be sharpened. Allow yourself 54 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 2: to be used to sharpen another. For what use is 55 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 2: a dull blade. Check your heart. Be aware of your 56 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,480 Speaker 2: spiritual health so you can remain obedient to God, and 57 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:55,640 Speaker 2: so you may continue standing firm upon His strength. Now 58 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,720 Speaker 2: take a few minutes to present yourself before the Lord. 59 00:03:59,560 --> 00:04:02,960 Speaker 2: Confess your sins to God. Tell your heavenly Father of 60 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,720 Speaker 2: your failures and frustrations, and open your heart right now 61 00:04:06,760 --> 00:04:12,200 Speaker 2: to receive and to be molded by him. Now take 62 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 2: a moment just to dwell on the blessings of Godly fellowship. 63 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: Think of how your brothers and sisters in Christ encourage 64 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 2: you to grow in the faith. Think of how they 65 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:26,039 Speaker 2: exhort and challenge you to reach all God has for you. 66 00:04:27,480 --> 00:04:30,159 Speaker 2: Thank God for the saints in your life who help 67 00:04:30,279 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: keep you accountable, who worry more about your spiritual wellbeing 68 00:04:33,800 --> 00:04:38,200 Speaker 2: than they do about pleasing you. Thank God for divinely 69 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 2: appointed friends who speak truth into your life, friends who 70 00:04:41,880 --> 00:04:46,000 Speaker 2: are willing to point out sin and love. My friends, 71 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 2: God is present and he is listening to you. So 72 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 2: this is your chance to come before the Lord and 73 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 2: to make your needs known to him. Ask God to 74 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,839 Speaker 2: place people in your path who have a commitment with Him, 75 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 2: people who love the Lord and who diligently seek his face. 76 00:05:03,400 --> 00:05:05,760 Speaker 2: Ask for brothers and sisters who will encourage you and 77 00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 2: push you toward God. Ask for kingdom friendships, for friends 78 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 2: who God will use to minister his strength into your life. 79 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,520 Speaker 2: And ask the Holy Spirit to help you appreciate these 80 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 2: relationships by asking him to teach you to be such 81 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: a friend to others. Remember as iron sharpens iron, so 82 00:05:27,360 --> 00:05:32,359 Speaker 2: one person should sharpen another. There is strength in learning 83 00:05:32,480 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 2: and growth. So do not isolate and become stagnant. Instead, 84 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 2: surround yourself with people who will call out sin in 85 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,680 Speaker 2: your life. You cannot grow from your mistakes if they 86 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 2: are never addressed. So when your friends point out something 87 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 2: to you and love my friends, do not turn away. 88 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,560 Speaker 2: Instead allow the truth being spoken to change your character. 89 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,159 Speaker 2: So choose this day to open your heart to the 90 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 2: wisdom spoken by godly friendships, to have your strength and 91 00:06:03,120 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: focus sharpened through spiritual counsel, and be confident in God's 92 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit. And then watch as He blesses you and 93 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 2: He makes you a blessing Today, my friends, thank you 94 00:06:15,720 --> 00:06:19,040 Speaker 2: for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By 95 00:06:19,080 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 2: incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you are 96 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 2: making prayer priority and strengthening your walk with God. As always, 97 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: my name is Zachlin, Vice President of the American Association 98 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 2: of Christian Counselors. We love being a part of your life.