1
00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:05,680
Speaker 1: Put on therefore as the elect of God, Holy and

2
00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:12,799
Speaker 1: beloved Bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long

3
00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:20,400
Speaker 1: suffering Colossians three twelve. Dear Lord Jesus, you were the

4
00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:25,279
Speaker 1: ultimate example of meekness. When you walked on earth. You

5
00:00:25,480 --> 00:00:31,000
Speaker 1: held power, but you used that power to build instead

6
00:00:31,040 --> 00:00:35,720
Speaker 1: of destroy. We pray for the same humble spirit among

7
00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,800
Speaker 1: husbands and wives. As a couple, they hold power and

8
00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:45,639
Speaker 1: influence over each other. May they use that power and

9
00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:51,640
Speaker 1: influence to build one another up instead of tear them down.

10
00:00:52,000 --> 00:00:57,960
Speaker 1: In your name, we pray, Amen. Thank you for joining

11
00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:01,760
Speaker 1: me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative

12
00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:05,160
Speaker 1: Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw close to

13
00:01:05,240 --> 00:01:09,320
Speaker 1: God and find strength in him.

14
00:01:10,480 --> 00:01:13,400
Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on creating a

15
00:01:13,400 --> 00:01:16,399
Speaker 2: better marriage. To get the most out of your spiritual journey,

16
00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,800
Speaker 2: usepray dot com every day and make prayer a priority

17
00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,920
Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer

18
00:01:22,959 --> 00:01:26,039
Speaker 2: is all about creating a better marriage. So right now,

19
00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:30,480
Speaker 2: in this moment, let's just slow down. Maybe go to

20
00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:35,880
Speaker 2: a tranquil location, close your eyes and catch your breath.

21
00:01:37,560 --> 00:01:42,280
Speaker 2: Breathe deep in through your nose, and as you exhale,

22
00:01:42,840 --> 00:01:47,119
Speaker 2: let go of the tensions stored in your body. Right now,

23
00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:50,280
Speaker 2: open your heart to the Holy Spirit, and prepare to

24
00:01:50,320 --> 00:01:55,280
Speaker 2: receive from Him today. Today we'll be meditating on Colossians

25
00:01:55,360 --> 00:01:58,680
Speaker 2: chapter three, verses twelve to fourteen from the King James version.

26
00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,760
Speaker 2: Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and

27
00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:10,280
Speaker 2: beloved bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering,

28
00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,200
Speaker 2: forbearing one another and forgiving one another. If any man

29
00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:17,400
Speaker 2: have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you,

30
00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,360
Speaker 2: so also do ye. And above all these things, put

31
00:02:22,360 --> 00:02:28,680
Speaker 2: on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. Now, my friends,

32
00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:30,840
Speaker 2: take a moment just to pour out your adoration to

33
00:02:30,919 --> 00:02:35,760
Speaker 2: God Father. I worship you, for you are long suffering

34
00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:40,400
Speaker 2: and patient. I adore you Jesus, for you are perfect

35
00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:44,160
Speaker 2: in all your ways. Your forgiveness is more than I deserve.

36
00:02:45,480 --> 00:02:49,160
Speaker 2: I praise you, for you are a generous and good

37
00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:55,080
Speaker 2: good Father. Serve God through serving each other in love.

38
00:02:56,320 --> 00:03:00,639
Speaker 2: Forgiveness is the mark of perfect service. Being so selfless

39
00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:06,160
Speaker 2: is hard. Serve God through serving each other in love.

40
00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:10,880
Speaker 2: Forgiveness is the mark of perfect service. But let's be honest.

41
00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,359
Speaker 2: Being selfless is hard. It's even harder when we see

42
00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:19,080
Speaker 2: the flaws in the person you are serving. Living together

43
00:03:19,160 --> 00:03:21,520
Speaker 2: means you will see the best and the worst of

44
00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:25,720
Speaker 2: your spouse. Loving each other means you are not in competition,

45
00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:31,960
Speaker 2: for you are two complementary parts of one whole. Over time,

46
00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,880
Speaker 2: if you do not forgive each other, roots of bitterness

47
00:03:34,920 --> 00:03:38,520
Speaker 2: and resentment will begin to grow. They start off small

48
00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:40,880
Speaker 2: and weak, but if they're not cut off, they will

49
00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:43,840
Speaker 2: begin to suffocate the fruit God wants to bring out

50
00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:48,360
Speaker 2: of your marriage. This is why you must forgive as

51
00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:52,320
Speaker 2: you have been forgiven by God. God's mercy and grace

52
00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:55,440
Speaker 2: towards you is not based on your actions, just as

53
00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,600
Speaker 2: Christ's service to his disciples was not based on their

54
00:03:58,600 --> 00:04:04,040
Speaker 2: Flawlessness is based in selfless love. You cannot base your

55
00:04:04,040 --> 00:04:07,720
Speaker 2: service or forgiveness towards your spouse on their behavior. It

56
00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,320
Speaker 2: is part and parcel of your service to God. We

57
00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:16,960
Speaker 2: are to be perfect, and God is perfect. Only through

58
00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:21,400
Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit can we walk out perfect service. Only

59
00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,039
Speaker 2: with His strength can we bear each other's burdens without

60
00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,440
Speaker 2: growing weary. Only with His love can we show kindness

61
00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:33,000
Speaker 2: without condition. Only with His humility. Can we let go

62
00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:39,120
Speaker 2: of offense without growing resentful? For true service doesn't glory

63
00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:43,840
Speaker 2: in itself. It doesn't commiserate with self righteousness or give

64
00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:49,680
Speaker 2: in to the illusion of martyrdom. Christ gave and still

65
00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:54,520
Speaker 2: give selflessly, and so should we. Through His Holy Spirit,

66
00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,920
Speaker 2: we can forgive and serve sacrificially as Jesus did for us.

67
00:04:59,440 --> 00:05:02,720
Speaker 2: Perhaps you and struggling with loving your spouse and serving

68
00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:06,719
Speaker 2: Christ through serving them, So right now, just take this

69
00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:10,880
Speaker 2: opportunity to reach out to God and confess your sins

70
00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:16,240
Speaker 2: to him. Tell him about your struggle to serve and

71
00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:21,720
Speaker 2: to forgive. Now, my friends, as we make the transition,

72
00:05:21,839 --> 00:05:24,640
Speaker 2: let's take a moment just to simply dwell on God's

73
00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,679
Speaker 2: blessings of sacrifice and forgiveness in our lives. Blessings God

74
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:33,760
Speaker 2: has given you through his son Jesus, blessings given without measure.

75
00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:38,000
Speaker 2: Thank God for removing your sins as far as the

76
00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:43,359
Speaker 2: east is from the west. Thank Jesus for his great sacrifice,

77
00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,599
Speaker 2: the offering of sin he became for you. Thank God

78
00:05:48,960 --> 00:05:52,120
Speaker 2: that his will never runs dry and we may always

79
00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:56,560
Speaker 2: draw from it. And thank Him for his unchanging faithfulness

80
00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,600
Speaker 2: and for his everlasting love. Friends, do not forget. God

81
00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,520
Speaker 2: is present and he is listening to you. This is

82
00:06:05,560 --> 00:06:09,840
Speaker 2: your opportunity to reach out to him. So ask God

83
00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:12,680
Speaker 2: to show you any bitterness or offense hiding in your

84
00:06:12,680 --> 00:06:16,320
Speaker 2: heart and release it to him, asking him to help

85
00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:20,760
Speaker 2: you forgive. Ask God for the ability to extend grace

86
00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,560
Speaker 2: to your spouse as many times as necessary. Ask the

87
00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,680
Speaker 2: Holy Spirit to teach you to rely upon God, to

88
00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:32,479
Speaker 2: serve him wholeheartedly out of love and not obligation. And

89
00:06:32,600 --> 00:06:36,200
Speaker 2: ask the Holy Spirit for humility, asking him to protect

90
00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:41,800
Speaker 2: your heart from pride and presumption. Remember, forgive one another

91
00:06:42,320 --> 00:06:46,960
Speaker 2: as God has forgiven you, show mercy, be kind and

92
00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,039
Speaker 2: be gentle to each other. And above all, let love

93
00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:55,080
Speaker 2: hold you in perfect unity. So do not fear. God

94
00:06:55,120 --> 00:06:58,280
Speaker 2: will help you to live out in service and in love,

95
00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:01,599
Speaker 2: but you have to chew is this day to commit

96
00:07:01,680 --> 00:07:07,719
Speaker 2: yourself to living life through God's grace. My friends, as always,

97
00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,400
Speaker 2: thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com.

98
00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,520
Speaker 2: By incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, I

99
00:07:14,560 --> 00:07:17,600
Speaker 2: believe you're not only making prayer priority, but I also

100
00:07:17,680 --> 00:07:21,120
Speaker 2: believe that you're strengthening your walk with God. As always,

101
00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,520
Speaker 2: my name is Zach Clinton, Vice president of the American

102
00:07:23,560 --> 00:07:26,880
Speaker 2: Association of Christian Counselors and we love being a part

103
00:07:26,920 --> 00:07:30,320
Speaker 2: of your life. Hey, for more help, hope, encouragement, information

104
00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,200
Speaker 2: and inspiration, I would encourage you to go visit our

105
00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:39,320
Speaker 2: website at AACC dot net. Again, that's AACC dot net.