1 00:00:01,520 --> 00:00:05,200 Speaker 1: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of 2 00:00:05,280 --> 00:00:09,760 Speaker 1: mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup 3 00:00:10,160 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 1: runneth over, Psalm twenty three five. Gracious Father, we thank 4 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:22,079 Speaker 1: you for the peace and contentment that comes with knowing you. 5 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:28,480 Speaker 1: Though this world can be chaotic and terrifying at times, 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: we are reminded of your unfailing goodness when we take 7 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 1: time to meditate on your word. Even in the midst 8 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:42,240 Speaker 1: of difficulty, we are blessed with an abundance of peace 9 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: and contentment. Help us to remember this truth when it 10 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:54,480 Speaker 1: feels like life as become overwhelming and chaotic. May we 11 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 1: continue to rest in your loving arms, knowing that you 12 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: will take care of us. In Jesus' name. Amen, Thank 13 00:01:07,880 --> 00:01:10,679 Speaker 1: you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's 14 00:01:10,680 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can 15 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 1: draw close to God and find strength in him. 16 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on staying on track. 17 00:01:25,000 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 18 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 19 00:01:30,160 --> 00:01:32,960 Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer 20 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,959 Speaker 2: is all about staying on track, so right now, let's 21 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:39,959 Speaker 2: just pause for just a second, maybe put aside the 22 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:43,560 Speaker 2: day's distractions and prepare to spend a moment with Jesus 23 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:50,919 Speaker 2: and be close your eyes, breathing deep and then slowly 24 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: let it out. Now, take captive every thought and focus 25 00:01:56,280 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 2: your attention on God's word. Prepare your heart and old 26 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 2: open your mind to receive from the Holy Spirit. Today 27 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 2: we'll be meditating on Romans eight, verse five from the 28 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: King James version. It says, for they that are after 29 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,520 Speaker 2: the flesh, do mind the things of the flesh, But 30 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:18,640 Speaker 2: they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 31 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 2: Right now, my friends, let's just take a moment to 32 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:26,440 Speaker 2: pour out your adoration to God for his Spirit. God, 33 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: I give you praise, for you are just and perfect 34 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 2: in all your ways. Jesus, I worship you for your 35 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:38,080 Speaker 2: unwavering love, for your grace that covers me. I adore you, 36 00:02:38,120 --> 00:02:41,960 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit, for you are faithful and true. God. I 37 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:46,640 Speaker 2: praise you for your eternal kingdom, your reign which will 38 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 2: know no end. Seek after the things of the Spirit. 39 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:55,239 Speaker 2: If you wish to stay on track and your race 40 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:59,320 Speaker 2: here on earth, you will need the Holy Spirit. And 41 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:02,320 Speaker 2: to have more of you need to seek him, to 42 00:03:02,480 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: engage with him through things that please him and invite 43 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 2: his presence. You see, your flesh and your spirit are 44 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:14,240 Speaker 2: like two muscles. Whichever you stretch, exercise and nourish is 45 00:03:14,280 --> 00:03:17,119 Speaker 2: the one that will work better. If you were used 46 00:03:17,120 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: to giving into your flesh, that will become second nature. 47 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 2: That is man's default state, so it's difficult to get 48 00:03:24,800 --> 00:03:28,320 Speaker 2: out of. But if you learn to submit to the spirit, 49 00:03:29,040 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: you will be able to deny your flesh and feed 50 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: your spirit. The Holy Spirit is the companion sent to 51 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: you by Jesus to help you accomplish this. He is 52 00:03:39,080 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 2: the one meant to sustain and encourage you. So if 53 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,320 Speaker 2: you turn away from him, it will be impossible to 54 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 2: serve God in the long term. Don't grieve the Holy Spirit, 55 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 2: don't turn away from him. Instead, let him lead and 56 00:03:54,760 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: guide you into righteousness. So right now, reach out to 57 00:03:59,440 --> 00:04:06,280 Speaker 2: God and confess your sins before him. And now let's 58 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 2: just take a few minutes to simply dwell on the 59 00:04:09,080 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 2: importance of God's Spirit. Thank God because his Holy Spirit 60 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 2: is real and he ministers to you. Thank the Holy 61 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: Spirit for honoring God's promise to help you. Thank the 62 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,719 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit for his love and care over your life. 63 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:29,360 Speaker 2: Thank him for ministering God's word to you and for 64 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:33,440 Speaker 2: renewing your mind. Thank the Holy Spirit for your past 65 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:38,520 Speaker 2: experiences with them and future ones to come. You see, 66 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:43,000 Speaker 2: God is present and he is listening to you. Every 67 00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 2: day we have an opportunity to act according to God's 68 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:50,479 Speaker 2: spirit or our flesh. Reach out to God in this 69 00:04:50,600 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 2: moment and ask him for an outpouring of his spirit. 70 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 2: Ask God to take away the iniquity in your heart, 71 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 2: to cast out all evil thoughts, and to give you 72 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:03,520 Speaker 2: ad desire for His truth. Ask the Holy Spirit to 73 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 2: enable you to live as Christ lived, to walk according 74 00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,560 Speaker 2: to God's Spirit, and to be led by him. Remember, 75 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:16,119 Speaker 2: those who live following their sinful selves think only about 76 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,680 Speaker 2: things that their sinful selves want, but those who live 77 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 2: following the Spirit are thinking about the things that the 78 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:28,440 Speaker 2: Spirit wants them to do. Staying on track requires righteousness, 79 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 2: It requires relationship with God's Spirit. So lean on the 80 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit to guide you, to lead you with godly justice, 81 00:05:38,839 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 2: and watch as your life is changed as you live 82 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:46,560 Speaker 2: in fellowship with God. My friends, go and be blessed. 83 00:05:48,200 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 2: Thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot 84 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,839 Speaker 2: com by incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice. 85 00:05:54,880 --> 00:05:57,560 Speaker 2: I believe you're not only making prayer a priority, but 86 00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,840 Speaker 2: you're also strengthening your walk with God. As always. My 87 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 2: name is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association 88 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 2: of Christian Counselors, and we love being a part of 89 00:06:06,760 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 2: your life. Hey for more help, hope, encouragement, information and inspiration, 90 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:14,280 Speaker 2: I would encourage you guys to go visit our website 91 00:06:14,400 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: at AACC dot net. Again, that's AACC dot net.