1 00:00:01,600 --> 00:00:05,320 Speaker 1: For they that are after the flesh, do mind the 2 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,959 Speaker 1: things of the flesh, but they that are after the 3 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:17,200 Speaker 1: Spirit the things of the Spirit. Romans eight five. Dear Lord, 4 00:00:18,360 --> 00:00:22,639 Speaker 1: you know the desires of our hearts, our longing to 5 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: draw closer to You and to live in accordance with 6 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:31,240 Speaker 1: your will. We long for the spirit's guidance instead of 7 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: fulfilling the cravings of the flesh. Help us resist the 8 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: temptation to succumb to worldly pleasures, so that we may 9 00:00:41,440 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 1: seek after You, For it is only through you that 10 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 1: we will find true joy and satisfaction. Give us the strength, 11 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: Lord to obey your commands. Enable us to keep our 12 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: eyes fixed on you, and may our hearts continually desire 13 00:01:02,320 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: to please you. Grant that all of our aspirations would 14 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:10,240 Speaker 1: be in line with yours, so that every one of 15 00:01:10,360 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: us may glorify You in what we do. We ask 16 00:01:15,480 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: this in the name of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. 17 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: Thank you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for 18 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:30,800 Speaker 1: today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you 19 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: can draw close to God and find strength in him. 20 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on more productivity 21 00:01:41,120 --> 00:01:43,119 Speaker 2: to get the most out of your spiritual journey. Uspray 22 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,319 Speaker 2: dot Com every day and make prayer a priority in 23 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,640 Speaker 2: your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer is 24 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:53,680 Speaker 2: all about more productivity. So let's just take a second 25 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:57,160 Speaker 2: now just to simply breathe. If you look for a 26 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 2: calm and quiet place, a place where your focus can 27 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 2: be on this time of reflection, close your eyes and 28 00:02:06,840 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 2: take a couple of deep breaths. Let your spirit arise 29 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 2: unto the throne of grace, and open your mind to 30 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 2: receive from the Lord, because God is waiting for you. Again. 31 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,560 Speaker 2: Today we'll be meditating on Colossians chapter three, verses twenty 32 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:28,120 Speaker 2: three to twenty four from the King James version. They read, 33 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,639 Speaker 2: and whatsoever ye do, do it heartily as to the Lord, 34 00:02:33,080 --> 00:02:36,120 Speaker 2: and not unto men, knowing that of the Lord, ye 35 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 2: shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve 36 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:44,440 Speaker 2: the Lord Christ. Now, my friends, let's just take a 37 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 2: moment to pour out our adoration to God for his goodness. God, 38 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:53,520 Speaker 2: I praise you, for you are great and mighty. There 39 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:57,640 Speaker 2: is nothing hidden from your sight. You see all things 40 00:02:57,680 --> 00:03:01,520 Speaker 2: and given to each person according to their work. I 41 00:03:01,560 --> 00:03:04,360 Speaker 2: extol you, Lord, for you are fair and just. You 42 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: will not allow the righteous to be shaken. I worship you, Jesus, 43 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:13,440 Speaker 2: for strength and grace come from you alone, and I 44 00:03:13,560 --> 00:03:18,519 Speaker 2: bless your name. For all glory, honor, and power are yours. 45 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: Today we're going to be talking about what it looks 46 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,240 Speaker 2: like to focus on God. You see in this life, 47 00:03:26,280 --> 00:03:29,919 Speaker 2: your focus will shape who you are and what you do. 48 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:33,520 Speaker 2: This is why it's so important to understand God's plan 49 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 2: and purpose for your life. Once you recognize that you 50 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 2: are created by God to be productive, and you commit 51 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,280 Speaker 2: your plans unto him, God will become your focal point. 52 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: With God as your focus, you will do everything as 53 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: if doing it unto Him. This means that your thoughts 54 00:03:51,400 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 2: and your actions will be centered on Christ. When you 55 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: operate from this mentality, Jesus becomes your incentive and your 56 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:02,800 Speaker 2: boss Us. And when you live for Jesus, his Holy 57 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: Spirit renews your mind and changes your heart, and he 58 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 2: transforms you from a reactive person into a proactive one. 59 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:14,720 Speaker 2: The opinions of others will no longer dictate how you 60 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 2: behave as your actions will not be based on what 61 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,919 Speaker 2: others do, but rather on what God says you should do. 62 00:04:22,040 --> 00:04:24,520 Speaker 2: You will no longer work to please or impress those 63 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 2: around you, but instead everything you do will be done 64 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 2: to bring glory to God. And when you commit your 65 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:35,360 Speaker 2: plans unto God and you focus on him, my friends, 66 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:37,960 Speaker 2: he will bless the work of your hands and you 67 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:43,320 Speaker 2: will have productivity. So right now, just take a moment 68 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: to reflect on what is hindering you from focusing on God, 69 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,880 Speaker 2: and present yourself before the Lord and confess your sins 70 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:58,279 Speaker 2: to him. Now as we transition, let's just thank God 71 00:04:58,600 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 2: for his care. 72 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: Over your life. 73 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:04,840 Speaker 2: Thank God for watching over you. Thank God for being 74 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 2: present in your life and for always being beside you. 75 00:05:08,960 --> 00:05:12,080 Speaker 2: Thank Jesus for his mercy and for his blessings upon 76 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,480 Speaker 2: your life. Thank you for his goodness and his grace 77 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 2: for the reward that comes from Him alone. Thank the 78 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:22,480 Speaker 2: Holy Spirit for the work he is constantly doing within 79 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 2: your heart and your mind. And thank him for ministering 80 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: to you and helping you keep your focus on God. 81 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,479 Speaker 2: Do not forget God is present and he is listening 82 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,360 Speaker 2: to you. You are working for the Lord, and your 83 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 2: reward comes from Him. So lift your voice in prayer 84 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 2: to God and ask him for his heavenly help help 85 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 2: in accomplishing your commitments and responsibilities efficiently. Help to have 86 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: dedication and to be devoted to the timely completion of 87 00:05:56,320 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 2: your tasks. Help to have wisdom and discernment when dealing 88 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 2: with others. Help to stay focused on God and not 89 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 2: become distracted by others in their actions. Help in the 90 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 2: form of Godly strength, so you may persevere in all 91 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:17,039 Speaker 2: the goals set before you. Remember your focus is to 92 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:21,200 Speaker 2: be on God, for you are serving Christ. Therefore, in 93 00:06:21,240 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: everything you do, do the best work that you can, 94 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: work as if you are working for the Lord and 95 00:06:28,200 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 2: not for people. For your reward comes from God. So 96 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 2: take heart and chase after the fullness of what God 97 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,440 Speaker 2: has for you. Go forth in the knowledge that God 98 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:44,560 Speaker 2: sees you and that your blessing comes from Him. You 99 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:50,920 Speaker 2: already are more than an overcomer in Jesus Christ. Be blessed. 100 00:06:52,080 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 2: My friends, thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on 101 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,200 Speaker 2: pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy habit as a 102 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:01,480 Speaker 2: daily practice, I believe you're not not only making prayer priority, 103 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,600 Speaker 2: but you're also strengthening your walk with God. My name 104 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 2: is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association of 105 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 2: Christian counselors and we love being a part of your life. Hey, 106 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: to receive some more help, hope and encouragement, please visit 107 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: our website at AACC dot net. Again, that's AACC dot net.