1 00:00:01,440 --> 00:00:04,240 Speaker 1: But the Jews that were at Schuchin assembled together on 2 00:00:04,280 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth day thereof, 3 00:00:08,360 --> 00:00:11,840 Speaker 1: and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:16,160 Speaker 1: and made it a day of feasting and gladness. Esther 5 00:00:16,480 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: nine eighteen. Lord, you called me to fellowship with your 6 00:00:20,760 --> 00:00:24,600 Speaker 1: body and corporate worship. As I assemble with my brothers 7 00:00:24,640 --> 00:00:28,440 Speaker 1: and sisters, you strengthen and refresh me. Teach me to 8 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:31,600 Speaker 1: honor my brothers and sisters as we stand together with 9 00:00:31,720 --> 00:00:35,760 Speaker 1: one mind and one faith against the enemies of our souls. 10 00:00:36,159 --> 00:00:39,279 Speaker 1: Teach me to encourage others so the enemy doesn't rob 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:42,320 Speaker 1: us of our faith and drag us off into compromise 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: in the world. Help me be thankful for every victory, 13 00:00:46,479 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: no matter how small or significant. Teach me to celebrate 14 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: your great mercies every day of my life and never 15 00:00:54,240 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: take them for granted. Amen. Thank you for listening to 16 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: pray dot COM's nightly prayer to experience a pocket of 17 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: peace before you go to sleep. Stay tuned for our 18 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:16,520 Speaker 1: free meditative prayer after this quick word from our sponsors. 19 00:01:23,280 --> 00:01:28,280 Speaker 1: Welcome to your meditative prayer on commitment and perseverance to 20 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,479 Speaker 1: get the most out of your spiritual journey. Use pray 21 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,840 Speaker 1: dot com every day and make prayer a priority in 22 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:41,280 Speaker 1: your life. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is commitment 23 00:01:41,319 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: and perseverance. Take a moment to relax. Find a comfortable 24 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 1: and quiet setting, a place where your focus can be 25 00:01:51,800 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: completely on this moment of reflection, close your eyes and 26 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:04,400 Speaker 1: take a deep breath. As you exhale, release all tension, 27 00:02:05,120 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 1: and direct your thoughts to God's word. We will be 28 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 1: meditating on Hebrews chapter twelve, verse two from the King 29 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:20,760 Speaker 1: James version, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of 30 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, 31 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down 32 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:34,880 Speaker 1: at the right hand of the throne of God. Take 33 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: a moment to pour out your adoration to God, the 34 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:43,959 Speaker 1: author of your faith. Jesus, I praise you for your 35 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:48,280 Speaker 1: gift of faith, faith that allows me to move mountains. 36 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 1: For the faith that comes from you is true, it 37 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: is not deceitful or vain. I praise you, Holy Spirit, 38 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: for continuously working this faith in my heart. For your 39 00:03:02,720 --> 00:03:05,959 Speaker 1: work of love that never ends and will never fail. 40 00:03:07,120 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 1: I bless your name, Lord, for this faith allows me 41 00:03:10,600 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: to persevere, to go forth, and to accomplish all you 42 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: have set before me. Life is a race. It is 43 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:25,840 Speaker 1: a test of endurance, a marathon, and not a sprint. 44 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: To reach the finish line well, and to succeed, you 45 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:35,240 Speaker 1: must have a goal. Jesus Christ endured the crucible of 46 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: the Cross, for he knew this truth. He persevered because 47 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: he foresaw the joy the completion of his task would bring. 48 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 1: Jesus strove toward the reward at the end of his race. 49 00:03:48,400 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 1: And so should you. For in this life you will 50 00:03:52,840 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: have struggles. You will face many obstacles and great opposition. 51 00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:01,240 Speaker 1: Your path will be littered with hurdles and filled with 52 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 1: stumbling blocks, some of your own making and many from 53 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: the evil forces operating in this earth. You will be 54 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:14,119 Speaker 1: met with resistance on every side, Yet you must persevere. 55 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,000 Speaker 1: The world will pressure you to fixate on the pain, 56 00:04:18,440 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: the sorrow, and the suffering. The devil will push you 57 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: to focus on your regret, your sin, and your shame. 58 00:04:27,400 --> 00:04:32,520 Speaker 1: Yet you must persevere. You will be tempted to stagnate 59 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: in your setbacks and shortcomings, and the spirit of self 60 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: destruction will seek to drown you in your failure and mistakes. 61 00:04:40,680 --> 00:04:45,480 Speaker 1: Yet you must persevere. Satan will attempt to extinguish your 62 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 1: faith and exterminate your hope. He will try his best 63 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,119 Speaker 1: to stifle your dreams and to snuff your spark. You 64 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: must persevere. The way to accomplish this is to keep 65 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:05,120 Speaker 1: your eyes on the prize. Jesus Christ. Remember you are 66 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:10,159 Speaker 1: not alone. God runs your race beside you. This is 67 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 1: your opportunity to reflect on the status of your race. 68 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 1: Bring to mind the hurdles and impediments that are keeping 69 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:21,600 Speaker 1: you from running. Confess your sins to the Holy Spirit 70 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 1: and surrender your sufferings to him. Invite him to minister 71 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:32,719 Speaker 1: to your weary soul. Now, let us thank God, who 72 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: sees our faith through to completion. Thank Him for helping 73 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,760 Speaker 1: you overcome all the obstacles in your race. Thank Him 74 00:05:41,800 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: for delivering you from all sin and shame. Thank God 75 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 1: for his continual work in your heart, in your soul, 76 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:54,320 Speaker 1: and in your mind. Thank God that He will bring 77 00:05:54,360 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: his work in you to completion at the day of 78 00:05:56,920 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ. Do not forget. God is present and he's 79 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:08,160 Speaker 1: listening to you. Once again, bring to mind all impediments 80 00:06:08,200 --> 00:06:12,520 Speaker 1: in your life. Ask God to enable and empower you 81 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: to succeed to run your race and run it well. 82 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: Pray for God's grace over your life. Pray that His 83 00:06:21,800 --> 00:06:26,159 Speaker 1: hope will fill your soul and encourage your heart. Pray 84 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:30,680 Speaker 1: and ask the Holy Spirit for his assurance, assurance that 85 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 1: you are loved, cherished, and cared for. Remember, Jesus is 86 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: the one who began your faith, and he makes your 87 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: faith perfect. You only get to live this life once, 88 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,839 Speaker 1: so make the most of it. No matter the season 89 00:06:48,880 --> 00:06:54,679 Speaker 1: you're living in, persevere run your race. If you cannot run, 90 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,640 Speaker 1: then walk. If you cannot walk, then crawl. But don't 91 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 1: stop moving forward. Trust in God's love for you know 92 00:07:04,240 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: that He is here with you. Run your race well 93 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: so that you may cross your finish line with grace. 94 00:07:14,040 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: Thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 95 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you 96 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: are making prayer a priority and strengthening your walk with God.