1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 2 00:00:07,560 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: James one twenty. Dear God, as we come before you today, 3 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:19,079 Speaker 1: we pray for your help in controlling our anger. We 4 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,799 Speaker 1: confess that at times we have allowed our emotions to 5 00:00:23,920 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: get the best of us, and we ask for your 6 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: forgiveness and grace. Help us to listen carefully, to speak kindly, 7 00:00:33,760 --> 00:00:39,239 Speaker 1: and to act justly in all situations. May our lives 8 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:45,000 Speaker 1: reflect your love and grace, even in the face of adversity. 9 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: We pray for your guidance and strength to live in 10 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:55,920 Speaker 1: this way, trusting in your transformative power to work in 11 00:00:56,080 --> 00:01:02,520 Speaker 1: our hearts. In Jesus' name, Amen, Thank you for joining 12 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative 13 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw close to 14 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: God and find strength in him. 15 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:18,119 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on releasing anger. 16 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 17 00:01:20,720 --> 00:01:23,960 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 18 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,320 Speaker 2: in your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer 19 00:01:27,360 --> 00:01:30,600 Speaker 2: is all about releasing anger. So now let's just take 20 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:33,960 Speaker 2: a second to gather our thoughts and quiet your spirit. 21 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 2: Maybe position yourself into a comfortable state, close your eyes, 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,520 Speaker 2: take a couple of deep breaths, and now fix your 23 00:01:43,520 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 2: attention on what God has prepared for you this day. 24 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:50,080 Speaker 2: Today we'll be meditating on James Chapter one, verse twenty 25 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: from the King James version, it reads, for the wrath 26 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 2: of man worketh, not for the righteousness of God. Let 27 00:01:58,480 --> 00:02:00,600 Speaker 2: us take some time now just to a God for 28 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: his righteousness. Lord, I praise you, for you are righteous 29 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:09,520 Speaker 2: and you love righteous deeds. I worship you for in 30 00:02:09,600 --> 00:02:14,160 Speaker 2: Christ you have manifested your righteousness. Jesus, I sing praises 31 00:02:14,160 --> 00:02:17,080 Speaker 2: to your name, for you who knew no sin, became 32 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 2: sin so I might become the righteousness of God. God, 33 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: I thank you for your eyes are turned towards those 34 00:02:24,360 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: who practice righteousness, and Father, I worship you for your 35 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:34,040 Speaker 2: kingdom and all of its righteousness. Let's be real. Human 36 00:02:34,080 --> 00:02:39,320 Speaker 2: anger cannot accomplish God's justice. This is a difficult truth 37 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:43,440 Speaker 2: to acknowledge and accept. When wrongs are committed against you, 38 00:02:43,560 --> 00:02:45,839 Speaker 2: it is natural for you to become angry and wish 39 00:02:45,960 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 2: to work things out your own way. However, this attitude 40 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: won't make things better. Like trying to shove a square 41 00:02:54,240 --> 00:02:58,080 Speaker 2: block into a round hole. You cannot accomplish God's righteousness 42 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 2: through your rage. Sometimes you may be tempted to try, 43 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: but you must resist. The Bible says vengeance and vindication 44 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 2: belong to the Lord. As frustrating and upsetting as it 45 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 2: may feel, you can hand your troubles to God. You 46 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 2: can trust him. So, my friends, open your heart to 47 00:03:18,440 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit and tell him of your circumstances and 48 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: confess to him your wrath and your rage in this moment. Now, 49 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:28,919 Speaker 2: let's just take a few minutes to dwell on the 50 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,600 Speaker 2: righteousness of God in your life and to thank him 51 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 2: for it. Father, I thank you for your righteousness is 52 00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,760 Speaker 2: remarkable and reliable. You search the hearts of men, and 53 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:41,920 Speaker 2: you know all things, and you give to each person 54 00:03:41,960 --> 00:03:45,840 Speaker 2: according to their deeds. God, I thank you for relieving 55 00:03:45,880 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: my troubled mind and reassuring my heavy heart. Now think 56 00:03:50,120 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: back to all the times God has manifested his righteousness 57 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: in your life. Think how wonderful it was to be 58 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: vindicated by God. To know He acted on your behalf 59 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,720 Speaker 2: and gave you justice. And thank God for providing you 60 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: justice in the past, and know he will do so 61 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: again in the future. God is present and He is 62 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:13,720 Speaker 2: listening to you. He sees your struggle for surrender. So 63 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: if at first you don't succeed, try again. Hand your 64 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: frustration and your fears to the Lord and ask the 65 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:23,000 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit to help you. And trust your rage and 66 00:04:23,080 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 2: resentment to him. Ask him to fill your heart with 67 00:04:26,680 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 2: faith to know he will provide your righteousness. Remember, the 68 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:34,240 Speaker 2: wrath of man does not work the righteousness of God. 69 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 2: There will be times in your life where you will 70 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: feel wronged and mistreated. You will face situations that will 71 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,039 Speaker 2: seem unfair and unjust. You must not seek resolution. You 72 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:48,359 Speaker 2: will face situations that will seem unfair and unjust, but 73 00:04:48,440 --> 00:04:52,840 Speaker 2: you must not seek resolution through your anger. Instead, choose 74 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,719 Speaker 2: to trust in God. Know that God will always care 75 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,520 Speaker 2: for you because He loves you. So do not be afraid. 76 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,760 Speaker 2: God's justice and righteousness will come to pass, for in 77 00:05:04,839 --> 00:05:09,640 Speaker 2: his time God makes all things perfect. So let go 78 00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:12,560 Speaker 2: of your anger and let your heart be filled with 79 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,039 Speaker 2: peace and assurance from the Lord. Today, my friends, thank 80 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 2: you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 81 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,200 Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you 82 00:05:23,240 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: are making prayer priority and your strengthening your walk with 83 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,880 Speaker 2: God as always. My name is Zach Clinton, Vice President 84 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:33,320 Speaker 2: of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and we love 85 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 2: being a part of your life.