1 00:00:01,800 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat, 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: And if he be thirsty, give him water to drink. 3 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:14,080 Speaker 1: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, 4 00:00:14,600 --> 00:00:20,079 Speaker 1: and the Lord shall reward thee Proverbs twenty five twenty 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,760 Speaker 1: one through twenty two. Dear Heavenly Father, you are the 6 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,680 Speaker 1: source of all love and mercy. We thank you for 7 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,840 Speaker 1: granting us your grace and help to forgive even those 8 00:00:34,920 --> 00:00:39,800 Speaker 1: who have wronged us by your strength. May we overcome 9 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:45,720 Speaker 1: evil with good kindness and service. Help us to be 10 00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,919 Speaker 1: humble in our actions towards those who hurt us and 11 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: seek to do good in their lives. May we be 12 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: generous with charity and bountiful in our offering of mercy, 13 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: so that you may also taste your grace and experience 14 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: your love. Let us be mindful of the power of forgiveness, Lord, 15 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:14,640 Speaker 1: grateful for the opportunities you have given us to serve 16 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: others in your name. In Jesus's name, Amen, thank you 17 00:01:21,240 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free podcast, 18 00:01:24,959 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw close 19 00:01:28,880 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: to God and find strength in him. 20 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:37,120 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on deep forgiveness 21 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 2: to get the most out of your spiritual journey. Uspray 22 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,960 Speaker 2: dot com every day and make prayer a priority in 23 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 2: your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer is 24 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: all about deep forgiveness. So right now, just take a 25 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 2: moment to hide away in your secret place. Maybe it's 26 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 2: a place where you can relax and be comfortable, a 27 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 2: place where you can turn off all distress action and 28 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:07,440 Speaker 2: write where you are. Simply close your eyes, breathing deep 29 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 2: through your nose, and excel out through your mouth. And 30 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:16,560 Speaker 2: as you feel the tension leave your body, allow your 31 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:19,840 Speaker 2: spirit to reach out to God and let his words 32 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: fill your heart. Today we'll be meditating on Proverbs twenty 33 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: five verses twenty one to twenty two from the King 34 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,520 Speaker 2: James version. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread 35 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 2: to eat, and if he be thirsty, give him water 36 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:38,680 Speaker 2: to drink. For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon 37 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: his head, and the Lord shall reward thee. Right now, 38 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: my friends, let's just take a moment to pour out 39 00:02:46,240 --> 00:02:50,400 Speaker 2: your adoration to God. Jesus, I praise you for loving me, 40 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: for dying in my place while I was still your enemy, 41 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: for choosing to pour out your grace and forgiveness over me, 42 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:03,680 Speaker 2: sacrificing yourself to restore my relationship with God the Father. 43 00:03:05,320 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 2: I worship you for your love demonstrated in salvation. I 44 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:13,800 Speaker 2: praise you, for you alone are good. I extol your name, God, 45 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:19,760 Speaker 2: for you are worthy of all glory. Defeat evil with 46 00:03:19,880 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 2: God's goodness. The Bible teaches us that only love can 47 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:29,359 Speaker 2: conquer hate, and only God's goodness can defeat evil. As 48 00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,360 Speaker 2: illogical and implausible as it may seem, repaying evil for 49 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: good will bring burning shame upon your foes and heavenly 50 00:03:37,720 --> 00:03:42,160 Speaker 2: blessings upon you, For when you show kindness to your enemies, 51 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 2: you overcome them. Because kindness does kill. It kills toxic environments. 52 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: It kills the hold of resentment, It kills the root 53 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 2: of bitterness, It kills the might of anger, It kills 54 00:03:56,800 --> 00:03:59,920 Speaker 2: the power of hate in your life. You see, ge 55 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 2: Jesus demonstrated this when he died at the Cross for 56 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 2: our sins. Christ died for us while we were yet 57 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 2: his enemies, and by doing so, he broke the curse 58 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:13,080 Speaker 2: of sin and defeated the grave. His choice to repay 59 00:04:13,120 --> 00:04:16,719 Speaker 2: evil with goodness and grace resulted in restoration for all 60 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:22,159 Speaker 2: mankind and victory over death. God knows repaying evil with 61 00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 2: goodness is hard to do. Jesus went to the cross, 62 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 2: but it was not easy, nor was it pleasant for 63 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 2: him to succeed in this fight. You must be honest 64 00:04:32,600 --> 00:04:36,760 Speaker 2: with God in prayer. So right now, my friends, just 65 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:43,479 Speaker 2: take a moment to confess your sins before God. And 66 00:04:43,520 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 2: now as we transition, let's think for a minute on 67 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 2: all the times God showed you kindness. Think of the 68 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 2: challenges Jesus had to overcome and showing you his love, 69 00:04:53,720 --> 00:04:56,400 Speaker 2: all the pain he pushed through, and the scorn he 70 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 2: suffered at the cross, All of this out of compassion. 71 00:05:00,240 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 2: You now think of past situations where God demonstrated his 72 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 2: goodness in your life, all the miracles and mercies that 73 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:12,559 Speaker 2: He has manifested over you. Thank Jesus for his grace 74 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 2: poured out to you, for his provision and his care. 75 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: Thank Him for all your current blessings and for those 76 00:05:20,120 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: still to come. My friends, God is present and he 77 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,160 Speaker 2: is listening to you. He never said showing kindness to 78 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,000 Speaker 2: your enemies would be easy, but he promised to help 79 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 2: you every step of the way. God send his Holy 80 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,240 Speaker 2: Spirit to enable you to be compassionate, to show grace 81 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: unto those who would not do the same for you. 82 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 2: So ask the Holy Spirit to increase your mercy for others. 83 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 2: Ask him to make you more like Jesus to aid 84 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:49,960 Speaker 2: those who would harm you. Ask him to empower you 85 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 2: to love the way Jesus did to give to those 86 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: who do not deserve your charity. Ask him to teach 87 00:05:57,320 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 2: you to imitate God's love every day and toward everyone. Remember, 88 00:06:02,800 --> 00:06:06,440 Speaker 2: God said you are to repay evil with kindness. Helping 89 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,480 Speaker 2: your enemy out when they are in need will be 90 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,119 Speaker 2: like pouring burning coals on their head, and the Lord 91 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,880 Speaker 2: will reward you. Even though loving those who caused you 92 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:19,880 Speaker 2: harm is difficult and require self denial, it can be done, 93 00:06:20,160 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: and God promised. 94 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:22,360 Speaker 1: To reward your efforts. 95 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 2: God expects you to love others in the same manner 96 00:06:25,720 --> 00:06:28,760 Speaker 2: you are loved by Him, so do not hold back. 97 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:33,120 Speaker 2: You can be merciful because Jesus has poured out his 98 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 2: mercies over you. So, my friends, do this and you 99 00:06:37,360 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 2: will see the very best of God's goodness manifested in 100 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:46,279 Speaker 2: your life. As always, Thank you, guys for completing today's 101 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,800 Speaker 2: meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy 102 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: habit as a daily practice, I believe you're not only 103 00:06:52,400 --> 00:06:55,760 Speaker 2: making prayer priority, but I also believe that you're strengthening 104 00:06:55,760 --> 00:06:59,000 Speaker 2: your walk with God. I'm Zach Clinton, vice President of 105 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:02,480 Speaker 2: the American Association of Christian Counselors, and we love being 106 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 2: a part of your life. Hey, before you go, if 107 00:07:04,520 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 2: you're looking for some additional help, hope, information or inspiration, 108 00:07:08,400 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: I would encourage you guys to go visit our website, 109 00:07:10,440 --> 00:07:14,600 Speaker 2: which can be found at AACC dot net. Again, that 110 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: is AACC dot net.