1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: My flesh and my heart faileth. But God is the 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm seventy three, 3 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:19,680 Speaker 1: twenty six. Dear Lord, you are my strength and my 4 00:00:19,840 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: portion forever. I look to you for guidance in moments 5 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: of darkness where my heart feels weak. In these times, 6 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 1: I remember that you have promised never to leave me 7 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:40,559 Speaker 1: nor forsake me. By your grace, you have given me 8 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: the courage to press on even when I feel lost. 9 00:00:46,120 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: Your strength is unparalleled and immeasurable. It fills me up 10 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:57,840 Speaker 1: with hope, faith and resilience. Even when I stand at 11 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: the edge of exhaustion, you remind me that your grace 12 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 1: is sufficient for me. I rest in your presence, knowing 13 00:01:08,120 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: that no matter what life throws at me, you will 14 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: be with me every step of the way, never failing 15 00:01:16,840 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: to give me love and strength in my moments of weakness. 16 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: I thank you for being my portion forever. In Jesus' name, Amen, 17 00:01:31,160 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 1: thank you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for 18 00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:38,399 Speaker 1: today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you 19 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:41,560 Speaker 1: can draw close to God and find strength in him. 20 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,760 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and 21 00:01:46,840 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: focus to get the most out of your spiritual journey. 22 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:52,960 Speaker 2: Uspray dot Com every day and make prayer a priority 23 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 24 00:01:56,040 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 2: is all about strength and focus. So take a second 25 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,080 Speaker 2: just to slow down. Maybe sit in your favorite spot 26 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,920 Speaker 2: on your bed or wherever you feel the most at ease, 27 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 2: close your eyes, take a couple of deep and steadying breaths, 28 00:02:11,919 --> 00:02:14,800 Speaker 2: and once you feel yourself start to relax, go ahead 29 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,240 Speaker 2: and turn your thoughts toward the teaching God has for 30 00:02:17,320 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 2: you today. Today we'll be meditating on Psalm seventy three, 31 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:25,120 Speaker 2: verse twenty six from the King James version. My flesh 32 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 2: and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of 33 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:33,840 Speaker 2: my heart and my portion forever, my friends, take a 34 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,520 Speaker 2: moment just to pour out your adoration to God. God. 35 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: I worship you for who you are. Your faithfulness and 36 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 2: your strength bring joy and peace to my life. I 37 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: adore you for your love sustains me. I praise you 38 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:52,680 Speaker 2: for your loving kindness and your faithfulness will never fail me. 39 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: You alone are worthy of all praise. God is your 40 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,560 Speaker 2: strength and God is your focus. There will be moments 41 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 2: in life that, even with the help of God's Holy Spirit. 42 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:09,280 Speaker 2: You will struggle to maintain strength and to keep your focus. 43 00:03:10,120 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 2: Your faith will be shaken by situations and circumstances you 44 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 2: cannot understand. Especially during these times, though, you must stand 45 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 2: strong and you must focus on God. When you see 46 00:03:21,720 --> 00:03:24,800 Speaker 2: the ungodly seeming to be doing well, you will be 47 00:03:24,919 --> 00:03:29,399 Speaker 2: tempted to seek their counsel, but you must not. When 48 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:32,239 Speaker 2: sinners appear to be farther down the path, you will 49 00:03:32,240 --> 00:03:35,440 Speaker 2: be tempted to walk beside them, but again you must not. 50 00:03:36,440 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: When the scornful appear to be enjoying comforts, you will 51 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,400 Speaker 2: be tempted to sit in their seat, But my friends, 52 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: you must not. When you see the wicked prospering, you 53 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,400 Speaker 2: will be tempted to doubt your efforts of obedience. But 54 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,480 Speaker 2: again you must not do not rely upon your own judgment, 55 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 2: for you are not master over wisdom. Only God is 56 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 2: all knowing. God said, his thoughts are not our thoughts, 57 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: neither are our ways his ways. As the heavens are 58 00:04:08,560 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 2: higher than the earth, so are God's thoughts and weighs 59 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,640 Speaker 2: higher than ours. Therefore, be aware that even when you 60 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: fail and struggle, when you don't understand why things are 61 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,760 Speaker 2: happening the way they are. God is still God, and 62 00:04:20,839 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 2: God is still good. God says, blessings are not found 63 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,239 Speaker 2: in the counsel of the ungodly, nor in the path 64 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 2: of sinners, nor in the seat of the scornful. Instead 65 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 2: of trying to judge or comprehend someone else's journey, you 66 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 2: should focus on the race you are running and do 67 00:04:37,520 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 2: not forget. There is no strength outside of God's strength, 68 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:45,560 Speaker 2: so obey Him and let him be your strength and 69 00:04:45,600 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 2: your focus. 70 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:46,600 Speaker 1: Today. 71 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,520 Speaker 2: If you're struggling with receiving God's strength and with focusing 72 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: on him, this is your opportunity to present yourself before 73 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 2: the Lord. Maybe confess your sins to God and tell 74 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 2: him of your troubles, your frustrations, and your challenges in 75 00:05:01,520 --> 00:05:05,680 Speaker 2: this moment. And now, let's think for a minute on 76 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 2: all the times God has sustained you. Times when you 77 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: failed and when your strength was not enough but God 78 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:15,360 Speaker 2: held you up. Times when you gave up and gave in, 79 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: but God did not let you fall. Thank Him for 80 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 2: all past instances when God's righteousness was manifested in your life. 81 00:05:24,200 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 2: And now think of your areas of weakness and thank 82 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:30,440 Speaker 2: God for His strength that supports you. Thank him for 83 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 2: his everlasting faithfulness. My friends, God is present and he 84 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: is listening to you. Never forget God can sustain you 85 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 2: when nothing else will. He will uphold you with his 86 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: power and his presence. So reach out to God for 87 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 2: his strength and his righteousness, and ask the Holy Spirit 88 00:05:49,279 --> 00:05:51,760 Speaker 2: to help you be aware of God's love and support. 89 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: Ask him to help you seek and receive God's presence 90 00:05:55,760 --> 00:06:00,200 Speaker 2: and his provision on your life. Remember your mind and 91 00:06:00,279 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 2: your body may become weak, but God will be your strength. 92 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 2: He promised to be yours forever. No matter what you 93 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 2: are going through, God will be there for you. So 94 00:06:10,720 --> 00:06:14,599 Speaker 2: be encouraged because you are never alone. You have God's 95 00:06:14,680 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit to help you focus and to strengthen you. 96 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 2: And remember He will never leave you nor abandon you. 97 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:25,719 Speaker 2: Through faith in Christ, you can and you will be 98 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 2: more than an overcomer. My friends, thank you for completing 99 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 100 00:06:33,640 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer 101 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: a priority and strengthening your walk with God. My name 102 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:43,200 Speaker 2: is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association of 103 00:06:43,279 --> 00:06:47,440 Speaker 2: Christian Counselors, and we love being a part of your life,