1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: First Peter five eight. Dear Heavenly Father, please help us 4 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: to be alert and ready for any challenge that comes 5 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: our way by keeping ourselves spiritually fit. Equip us with 6 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: endurance so we can remain strong in times of difficulty 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,400 Speaker 1: and not be overwhelmed by troubles. Give us a spirit 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,920 Speaker 1: of courage so that we may fearlessly face adversity and 9 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,840 Speaker 1: with your help, overcoming any obstacles that stand in our way. 10 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: Help us to remember that you are always near and 11 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:02,720 Speaker 1: faithful to you support us when we lean on you 12 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 1: in prayer. May we never forget the depths of your 13 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:14,880 Speaker 1: mercy nor the abundance of your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen, 14 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 1: thank you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for 15 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you 16 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:27,199 Speaker 1: can draw close to God and find strength in him. 17 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on spiritual fitness. 18 00:01:34,160 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey is 19 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:39,119 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 20 00:01:39,160 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 21 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 2: is all about enhancing and strengthening your spiritual fitness. So 22 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: go to your secret place. Maybe it's a place where 23 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:52,600 Speaker 2: you can relax and experience intimacy with God. Tune out 24 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 2: everything else, and with your eyes closed, breathing deep through 25 00:01:57,080 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 2: your nose and slowly ex sail through your mouth, and 26 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:05,280 Speaker 2: as you focus on the Lord, ready your heart and 27 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,440 Speaker 2: open your mind to receive from him today Today we'll 28 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 2: be meditating on first Peter five eight from the King 29 00:02:12,280 --> 00:02:17,800 Speaker 2: James version. Be sober and be vigilant, because your adversary, 30 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 2: the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom 31 00:02:21,520 --> 00:02:25,600 Speaker 2: he may devour. Now, my friends, just take a moment 32 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,720 Speaker 2: to simply pour out your adoration to God. God, I 33 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: praise you, and I give you glory unto your great name. Jesus. 34 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:37,760 Speaker 2: I worship you, for you were the victor's crown. You 35 00:02:37,840 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 2: overcame it all, and you are seated in the highest 36 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: place and Holy Spirit. I thank you for ministering grace 37 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,320 Speaker 2: and goodness over my life and for enabling me to 38 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,160 Speaker 2: walk in the power granted through obedience of God's word 39 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 2: constant vigilance. You must live in constant vigilance. You must 40 00:02:58,840 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: be aware and alert. Be careful because the devil will 41 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,360 Speaker 2: try to trip you up. The world you live in 42 00:03:06,600 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 2: is not in your favor. It's actually against you. So 43 00:03:10,200 --> 00:03:13,400 Speaker 2: be mindful of what you do, what you say, where 44 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 2: you go, and who you let influence you. Guard your eyes, 45 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 2: and be watchful of what you will allow to affect you. Satan, 46 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: your adversary, stands to accuse you. He roams the earth 47 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,760 Speaker 2: looking for those who are ready to stumble. If he 48 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:32,839 Speaker 2: is not successful, as he wasn't with Jesus, he will 49 00:03:32,880 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 2: retreat and wait for a more opportune time until you 50 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: are in glory with Christ. He will never stop coming 51 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: for you because you have something that he never will. 52 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 2: You are able to commune with the ruling power of 53 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 2: the universe and be called his child. The devil is 54 00:03:50,440 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 2: called the prince of this world. But his reign will 55 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:55,680 Speaker 2: soon end, and at that time he will no longer 56 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: be able to prow for pray. He will be crushed 57 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,000 Speaker 2: under the feet of the saints, and he will no 58 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 2: longer be a threat to you. Until that time, though, 59 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 2: do not allow sin to creep into your life. So, now, 60 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:11,360 Speaker 2: my friends, take this time to confess your sin before God, 61 00:04:11,880 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: and do not give the enemy a foothold in your life, 62 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: but instead choose to flee from evil. And now, let's 63 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 2: just take some time to thank God for the many 64 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,560 Speaker 2: times he's delivered you from the enemy's hand. Think of 65 00:04:25,600 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 2: the times you are close to stumbling, and thank God 66 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 2: for warning you in the nick of time. For his 67 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,680 Speaker 2: mercy in your life. Recall how God's word upheld you 68 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: in times of weakness, and how the Holy Spirit strengthened 69 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: you in times of weariness. As always, God is present 70 00:04:43,640 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: and he is listening to you, so be mindful that 71 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,880 Speaker 2: seeking God's company is a choice. Take the time to 72 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,799 Speaker 2: do so right now. Call out to God and invite 73 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: him to draw near to you. Ask the Holy Spirit 74 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: to guide you and to protect you. Ask God to 75 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 2: show you the traps of the enemy before you step 76 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: in them, and ask him to keep you from pride, 77 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: which comes before the fall. Remember you must control yourselves 78 00:05:11,680 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 2: and be careful. The devil is your enemy and he 79 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 2: will tear down anyone he can. Nothing in this world 80 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,120 Speaker 2: will help you serve God. You are sojourners in a 81 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: foreign land. Your citizenship is not of this county, but 82 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: of Heaven. Remember to seek God's presence in times of trouble. 83 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,440 Speaker 2: Turn to God and not the pleasures the world has 84 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: to offer. And choose to be influenced by God and 85 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: his word, and you will never be caught unaware by 86 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 2: the enemy. My friends, as always, thank you for completing 87 00:05:44,040 --> 00:05:47,640 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 88 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer 89 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: a priority and strengthening your walk with God. My name 90 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association of 91 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 2: Christian Counselors, and we love being a part of your life.