1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:06,920 Speaker 1: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness 2 00:00:07,360 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: and came and sat down under a juniper tree, and 3 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:15,640 Speaker 1: he requested for himself that he might die, and said, 4 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: it is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, 5 00:00:21,200 --> 00:00:25,600 Speaker 1: for I am not better than my father's first kings 6 00:00:26,280 --> 00:00:32,440 Speaker 1: nineteen four. Dear Lord, it is comforting that even a 7 00:00:32,560 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: mighty prophet like Elijah felt crushed and depressed. It is 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: even more comforting that you tended to him gently and 9 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:49,559 Speaker 1: restored him with comfort, connection and calling. Ministered to my 10 00:00:49,760 --> 00:00:54,160 Speaker 1: heart in the same way. When I am at my lowest, 11 00:00:54,840 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: would you meet me there? Would you comfort me in 12 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: my despair? I always want to be honest with you. 13 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: There is no hiding anything from you, So why lie 14 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: or hide my feelings? Here? I am Lord, I am imperfect, 15 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 1: struggling and desperately need you restore me. Lord in Jesus' name. Amen, 16 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:28,320 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for 17 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you 18 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 1: can draw close to God and find strength in him. 19 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:47,560 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on overcoming depression. 20 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 21 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 22 00:01:54,200 --> 00:01:57,880 Speaker 2: in your life. Again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 23 00:01:58,080 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 2: is overcoming depression. So just take a minute to calm 24 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,800 Speaker 2: your heart. Maybe go to a place where you can 25 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 2: recline and relax, close your eyes, breathe easy, and let 26 00:02:14,560 --> 00:02:18,320 Speaker 2: the realization that God is waiting and wanting to speak 27 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:23,280 Speaker 2: with you fill your thoughts. Today we'll be meditating on 28 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:27,400 Speaker 2: first Kings nineteen verse four from the King James version. 29 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 2: But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness 30 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,840 Speaker 2: and came and sat down under a juniper tree. And 31 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 2: he requested for himself that he might die, and said, 32 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 2: it is enough now, O Lord, take away my life, 33 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 2: for I am no better than my father's. Let us 34 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 2: take time to adore God. Blessed be the God and 35 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 2: the Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of 36 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: mercies and the God of all comfort, who comforts us 37 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 2: in all of our affliction. Father, I praise you, for 38 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:12,760 Speaker 2: you are my compassionate father. Your love is always willing 39 00:03:12,800 --> 00:03:17,480 Speaker 2: to receive me when I call on you. Accomplishments do 40 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 2: not grant exemption from depression. Successful people still get depressed. 41 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 2: Elijah had just achieved one of the greatest biblical milestones. 42 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 2: He prayed, and God answered his call with fire from heaven. 43 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 2: In doing so, God proved his sovereignty before Israel and 44 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:46,040 Speaker 2: Babylon and established Elijah as his prophet. However, in the 45 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 2: immediate aftermath of this glorious experience, Elijah gave him to 46 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:56,600 Speaker 2: fear of Jezebel's retribution and ran away. While fleeing, he 47 00:03:56,680 --> 00:04:00,600 Speaker 2: found himself so overcome by heartsickness that he he asked 48 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 2: for death. In life, you will experience both upsand downs. 49 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: You will have moments of triumph and joy and moments 50 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,440 Speaker 2: of fear and despair. That's just a part of life. 51 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 2: The secret to survival, though, lies in trusting God. So 52 00:04:21,520 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 2: take this moment to confess your doubt to the Lord. 53 00:04:27,000 --> 00:04:33,039 Speaker 2: Tell him of your trials and your fears. Now take 54 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 2: a moment to dwell on the compassion of God in 55 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: your life. Thank your heavenly Father who sees your struggle 56 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:46,039 Speaker 2: with depression. He will uphold you through these hard times. 57 00:04:47,760 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: Think of how He tenderly reaches out to you. Remember 58 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: how his kindness will never leave you, regardless of where 59 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 2: you are or what's going on. Thank God for all 60 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:06,279 Speaker 2: his love of your life, and thank him because he 61 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:11,479 Speaker 2: will always care for you. God is present and he 62 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: is listening to you. If you are struggling in your 63 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 2: efforts of dealing with depression, my friend, please do not 64 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:25,560 Speaker 2: give up. Lean on God. He understands what you're feeling. 65 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 2: Jesus can help you get through this. Do not allow 66 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 2: this situation to stifle your love or to keep you 67 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: from receiving his Ask God to teach you to depend 68 00:05:39,440 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 2: on him. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to 69 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,799 Speaker 2: be patient and to rely on him. Ask the Holy 70 00:05:47,880 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 2: Spirit to help you push past the hurt and into 71 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 2: his healing hands. Remember, victories don't exempt you from struggle. 72 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 2: When life takes an unexpected turn where you find yourself 73 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:07,039 Speaker 2: unsatisfied with where you are, turn to God. God's comfort 74 00:06:07,360 --> 00:06:12,680 Speaker 2: and acceptance are waiting for you. Do not delay in 75 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: seeking him. Be confident in the tenderness and care your 76 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: heavenly Father has for you, and allow his everlasting love 77 00:06:22,920 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 2: to flow through you into every area of your life. 78 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 2: My friends, thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on 79 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,840 Speaker 2: pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy habit as a 80 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:38,680 Speaker 2: daily practice, you are making prayer a priority and strengthening 81 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:41,799 Speaker 2: your walk with God again. My name is Zach Clinton 82 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:46,280 Speaker 2: from the American Association of Christian Counselors. We love being 83 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:47,520 Speaker 2: a part of your life.