1 00:00:01,639 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour. 3 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: First Peter five eight. Dear Heavenly Father, please help us 4 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: to be alert and ready for any challenge that comes 5 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:32,239 Speaker 1: our way by keeping ourselves spiritually fit. Equip us with 6 00:00:32,440 --> 00:00:37,200 Speaker 1: endurance so we can remain strong in times of difficulty 7 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: and not be overwhelmed by troubles. Give us a spirit 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: of courage so that we may fearlessly face adversity and 9 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: with your help, overcoming any obstacles that stand in our way. 10 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: Help us to remember that you are always near and faithful, 11 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: support us when we lean on you in prayer. May 12 00:01:04,800 --> 00:01:08,959 Speaker 1: we never forget the depths of your mercy nor the 13 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: abundance of your grace. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you 14 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:20,160 Speaker 1: for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's free 15 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw 16 00:01:24,560 --> 00:01:29,399 Speaker 1: close to God and find strength in him. 17 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on spiritual fitness. 18 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:36,280 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journeys, pray 19 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:39,240 Speaker 2: dot com every day and make prayer a priority in 20 00:01:39,280 --> 00:01:42,200 Speaker 2: your life again Our goal for today's meditative prayer is 21 00:01:42,240 --> 00:01:45,959 Speaker 2: all about enhancing and strengthening your spiritual fitness. So go 22 00:01:46,040 --> 00:01:48,560 Speaker 2: to your secret place. Maybe it's a place where you 23 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 2: can relax and experience intimacy with God. Tune out everything else, 24 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,560 Speaker 2: and with your eyes closed, breathing deep through your nose 25 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 2: and slowly exail through your mouth, and as you focus 26 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:06,279 Speaker 2: on the Lord, ready your heart and open your mind 27 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,280 Speaker 2: to receive from him today. Today we'll be meditating on 28 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:14,040 Speaker 2: first Peter five eight from the King James version. Be 29 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 2: sober and be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as 30 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:24,320 Speaker 2: a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour. Now, 31 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:27,079 Speaker 2: my friends, just take a moment to simply pour out 32 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,920 Speaker 2: your adoration to God. God, I praise you, and I 33 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:35,480 Speaker 2: give you glory unto your great name. Jesus. I worship you, 34 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 2: for you were the Victor's crown. You overcame it all, 35 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 2: and you are seated in the highest place and Holy Spirit. 36 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,320 Speaker 2: I thank you for ministering grace and goodness over my 37 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:48,239 Speaker 2: life and for enabling me to walk in the power 38 00:02:48,320 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 2: granted through obedience of God's word. Constant vigilance. You must 39 00:02:55,800 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: live in constant vigilance. You must be aware and alert. 40 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,639 Speaker 2: Be careful because the devil will try to trip you up. 41 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 2: The world you live in is not in your favor. 42 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:11,600 Speaker 2: It's actually against you. So be mindful of what you do, 43 00:03:12,080 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 2: what you say, where you go, and who you let 44 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:20,040 Speaker 2: influence you. Guard your eyes, and be watchful of what 45 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 2: you wi allow to affect you. Satan, your adversary, stands 46 00:03:24,480 --> 00:03:27,720 Speaker 2: to accuse you. He roams the earth looking for those 47 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:30,880 Speaker 2: who are ready to stumble. If he is not successful, 48 00:03:31,240 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 2: as he wasn't with Jesus, he will retreat and wait 49 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 2: for a more opportune time until you are in glory 50 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,960 Speaker 2: with Christ. He will never stop coming for you because 51 00:03:40,960 --> 00:03:45,040 Speaker 2: you have something that he never will. You are able 52 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:47,960 Speaker 2: to commune with the ruling power of the universe and 53 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 2: be called his child. The devil is called the prince 54 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,880 Speaker 2: of this world. But his reign will soon end, and 55 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 2: at that time he will no longer be able to 56 00:03:56,280 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 2: prowl for prey. He will be crushed under the feet 57 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: of the saints, and he will no longer be a 58 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,400 Speaker 2: threat to you. Until that time, though, do not allow 59 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:08,840 Speaker 2: sin to creep into your life. So now, my friends, 60 00:04:08,880 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 2: take this time to confess your sin before God, and 61 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 2: do not give the enemy a foothold in your life, 62 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: but instead choose to flee from evil. And now, let's 63 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,119 Speaker 2: just take some time to thank God for the many 64 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,599 Speaker 2: times he's delivered you from the enemy's hand. Think of 65 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 2: the times you are close to stumbling, and thank God 66 00:04:29,040 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 2: for warning you in the nick of time. For his 67 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,720 Speaker 2: mercy in your life. Recall how God's word upheld you 68 00:04:35,760 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 2: in times of weakness, and how the Holy Spirit strengthened 69 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 2: you in times of weariness. As always, God is present 70 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:46,920 Speaker 2: and he is listening to you, so be mindful that 71 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,919 Speaker 2: seeking God's company is a choice. Take the time to 72 00:04:50,960 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 2: do so right now. Call out to God and invite 73 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: him to draw near to you. Ask the Holy Spirit 74 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:01,120 Speaker 2: to guide you and to protect you. Ask God to 75 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,640 Speaker 2: show you the traps of the enemy before you step 76 00:05:03,680 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 2: in them, and ask him to keep you from pride, 77 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:11,320 Speaker 2: which comes before the fall. Remember you must control yourselves 78 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,760 Speaker 2: and be careful. The devil is your enemy, and he 79 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:18,360 Speaker 2: will tear down anyone he can. Nothing in this world 80 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: will help you serve God. You are sojourners in a 81 00:05:21,200 --> 00:05:25,320 Speaker 2: foreign land. Your citizenship is not of this county, but 82 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 2: of Heaven. Remember to seek God's presence in times of trouble. 83 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,479 Speaker 2: Turn to God and not the pleasures the world has 84 00:05:33,520 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 2: to offer. And choose to be influenced by God and 85 00:05:36,839 --> 00:05:40,320 Speaker 2: his word, and he will never be caught unaware by 86 00:05:40,360 --> 00:05:44,039 Speaker 2: the enemy. My friends, as always, thank you for completing 87 00:05:44,080 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 2: today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By incorporating this 88 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,279 Speaker 2: healthy habit as a daily practice, you are making prayer 89 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 2: a priority and strengthening your walk with God. My name 90 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 2: is Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association of 91 00:05:56,800 --> 00:06:03,480 Speaker 2: Christian Counselors, and we love being a part of your life.