1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: They that so in tears shall reap enjoy. He that 2 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come 3 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:19,919 Speaker 1: again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. Psalm one 4 00:00:20,079 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: twenty six five through six. Heavenly Father, you have considered 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: my heartache and have acquainted yourself with all my grief. 6 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:36,239 Speaker 1: You have kept every tear I have ever shed. You 7 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 1: know my frailty, and don't hold it against me. May 8 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: the tears I cry be the water that supplies growth 9 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:50,360 Speaker 1: in my life. Cultivate my heart like a garden, and 10 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:54,760 Speaker 1: ten to my soul like a budding tree. I want 11 00:00:54,800 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: to grow from my grief. 12 00:00:56,840 --> 00:00:57,160 Speaker 2: Lord. 13 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:02,280 Speaker 1: I do not want to wallow self pity. I want 14 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: to be transformed and made stronger. Help me, Lord, I 15 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: know you can. In Jesus' name. Amen, thank you for 16 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:20,640 Speaker 1: joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free podcast, 17 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:24,720 Speaker 1: Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw close 18 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: to God and find strength in him. 19 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:34,560 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on overcoming depression. 20 00:01:35,319 --> 00:01:37,560 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 21 00:01:37,600 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 22 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:45,200 Speaker 2: in your life. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is 23 00:01:45,240 --> 00:01:49,720 Speaker 2: all about overcoming depression. So let's begin by just taking 24 00:01:49,720 --> 00:01:54,160 Speaker 2: a second to slow down. Maybe sit in your favorite spot. 25 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:56,800 Speaker 2: Maybe it's on your bed or wherever you feel the 26 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:01,400 Speaker 2: most at ease. Wrap yourself in a way blanket, or 27 00:02:01,440 --> 00:02:05,960 Speaker 2: go and grab a plush pillow. Once you feel yourself 28 00:02:06,000 --> 00:02:10,760 Speaker 2: start to relax, turn your thoughts toward the teaching that 29 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 2: God has for you today Again, this morning will be 30 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,040 Speaker 2: meditating on Psalm one six, verses five to six from 31 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:23,520 Speaker 2: the New International version. It reads, those who sow with 32 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 2: tears will reap with songs of joy, and those who 33 00:02:27,639 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 2: go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with 34 00:02:31,400 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 2: songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. My friends, take 35 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 2: a moment just to pour out your adoration to God. 36 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: God. 37 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 2: I worship you because of your faithfulness. I praise you 38 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:50,920 Speaker 2: for you have called me to be the head and 39 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 2: not the tail. You promise that your blessings shall come 40 00:02:55,520 --> 00:02:59,919 Speaker 2: upon me and overtake me. I praise you for as 41 00:03:00,080 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 2: I hope in you, you renew my strength. You alone 42 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 2: are worthy of all my praise. Sometimes you have to 43 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 2: work through your depression. This can be excruciatingly hard. There's 44 00:03:17,800 --> 00:03:23,079 Speaker 2: a difference between being planted and being buried, and you 45 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:28,040 Speaker 2: decide if you become a grave or a garden. In 46 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 2: the season of opposition, when you find yourself forgotten and alone, 47 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,240 Speaker 2: my friends, you have a choice to make. You can 48 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 2: allow your tears to water your work, or you can 49 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:45,480 Speaker 2: roll over and die. The Bible teaches that hope deferred 50 00:03:45,520 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 2: makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a 51 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 2: tree of life. Sowing through your tears will feel heartbreaking, 52 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: but you must persevere, for if you do not sow, 53 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 2: you will never reap the manifestation of your longing. Perhaps 54 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:09,520 Speaker 2: you find yourself surrounded by dirt and darkness, you must 55 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: remember you are a precious seed. The process might hurt, 56 00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 2: but the results will be worthwhile. God is waiting for you. 57 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:25,279 Speaker 2: Confess your troubles to your Father above, so he may 58 00:04:25,360 --> 00:04:30,360 Speaker 2: aid you in your time of need. My friends, think 59 00:04:30,400 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 2: for a minute on all the times God gave growth 60 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:38,400 Speaker 2: to your life, Those times when you felt stalled out 61 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 2: and stagnant, but God saved you. Times where God's process 62 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 2: hurt but brought amazing results in your life. Thank Him 63 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: for all the past wisdom and righteousness resulted from being planted. 64 00:04:53,800 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: Thank Him for the areas of growth, understanding, and maturity. 65 00:04:59,279 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 2: Now think of this seeds buried in your garden, and 66 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 2: thank God for the blossoms to come. God is present 67 00:05:08,200 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 2: and he is listening to you. Never forget. The sowing 68 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 2: may be painful, but the result will be a tree 69 00:05:15,440 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 2: of life. God wants you to grow as a person 70 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:23,880 Speaker 2: and to experience fulfillment. So reach out to God for 71 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:28,040 Speaker 2: his grace and his mercy to be upon you. Ask 72 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 2: Him to bless you with a mind for endurance and 73 00:05:31,400 --> 00:05:35,560 Speaker 2: a desire for perseverance. Ask to the Holy Spirit to 74 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 2: help you be patient in the process, to not give up, 75 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 2: and to not only survive, but to thrive. Remember what 76 00:05:44,720 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: is sown in tears, you will reap in joy if 77 00:05:48,839 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 2: you do the work, even if it's done in sadness, 78 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 2: you will reap the joy of the harvest. So be encouraged. 79 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:58,839 Speaker 2: Just because you don't see the light at the end 80 00:05:58,880 --> 00:06:02,560 Speaker 2: of the tunnel doesn't mean it isn't there. You have 81 00:06:02,680 --> 00:06:05,760 Speaker 2: God's Holy Spirit to help you and to guide you 82 00:06:05,880 --> 00:06:08,920 Speaker 2: every step of the way. He will never leave you 83 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 2: and he will never abandon you. Through faith in Christ, 84 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 2: you can and you will blossom into a beautiful garden. 85 00:06:19,320 --> 00:06:23,320 Speaker 2: Thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. 86 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:26,479 Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, you 87 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:29,680 Speaker 2: are making prayer a priority and strengthening your walk with 88 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:33,000 Speaker 2: God again. My name is Zach Clinton from the American 89 00:06:33,000 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 2: Association of Christian Counselors, and we love being a part 90 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:37,240 Speaker 2: of your life.