1 00:00:01,400 --> 00:00:06,520 Speaker 1: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he 2 00:00:06,880 --> 00:00:13,360 Speaker 1: will flee from you. James four seven. Dear Heavenly Father, 3 00:00:14,280 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: resisting temptation and selfish desires is not easy. There are 4 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,799 Speaker 1: plenty of things trying to capture my attention and hinder 5 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: my obedience. But your word promises that the more I resist, 6 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:35,599 Speaker 1: the more these things flee. The way to resist the 7 00:00:35,640 --> 00:00:40,839 Speaker 1: devil is to resist the devil that takes fortitude in 8 00:00:40,920 --> 00:00:46,519 Speaker 1: the beginning and holy habits to keep me grounded. Foster 9 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:50,279 Speaker 1: these things in me, and to give me peace when 10 00:00:50,320 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: it grows tiring. In Jesus' name, Amen, thank you for 11 00:00:57,880 --> 00:01:00,600 Speaker 1: joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today day's free 12 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,920 Speaker 1: podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can draw 13 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: close to God and find strength in him. 14 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer on more productivity. 15 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:16,360 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, use 16 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,360 Speaker 2: pray dot com every day and make prayer a priority 17 00:01:19,400 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 2: in your life again. Our goal for today's meditative Prayer 18 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: is all about more productivity. So right now, let's just 19 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 2: take a break. Maybe go to your secret place, a 20 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 2: place where you can relax and let your guard down. 21 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:38,080 Speaker 2: Tune out everything else with your eyes closed. Go ahead 22 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 2: and breathe in nice and easy, and as you exhale, 23 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:46,039 Speaker 2: focus on shifting your attention toward what God has for you. 24 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: Ready your heart and open your mind to receive the 25 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:54,560 Speaker 2: word of the Lord again. Today will be meditating on 26 00:01:54,600 --> 00:02:00,360 Speaker 2: Ecclesiastes nine, verse ten from the King James versions. However 27 00:02:00,520 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 2: thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might. 28 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:07,120 Speaker 2: For there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge nor 29 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 2: wisdom in the grave. Whither thou goest, my friends. Now, 30 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 2: let's just take a moment to pour out your adoration 31 00:02:14,280 --> 00:02:19,239 Speaker 2: to God. Heavenly Father, I praise you for your immeasurable 32 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:23,560 Speaker 2: wisdom and your mighty strength. Jesus, I worship you, for 33 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,079 Speaker 2: you give power to the weak into those who have 34 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:30,600 Speaker 2: no might, you increase their strength. Holy Spirit, I praise 35 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 2: you for you enable me to focus and to complete 36 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:38,200 Speaker 2: the task before me. God, I bless your name, for 37 00:02:38,280 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 2: you are great and greatly to be praised. Seize the day. 38 00:02:46,040 --> 00:02:50,160 Speaker 2: The only common denominator between all of humanity is death. 39 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:54,639 Speaker 2: Death is the one fate we all share, for all 40 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:58,679 Speaker 2: who are born will one day die. Not only is 41 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,480 Speaker 2: dying inevitable, no one is guaranteed the time they will 42 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:12,240 Speaker 2: have here on earth. Given this irrevocable truth, time is 43 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,280 Speaker 2: of the essence. This is why not a single minute 44 00:03:15,320 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 2: of it should be wasted. The time you are given 45 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:23,440 Speaker 2: should be treasured and taken advantage of, regardless of your circumstances. 46 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,360 Speaker 2: Every day you live is a gift, and you should 47 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 2: seize the opportunity given to accomplish the most you can 48 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:34,040 Speaker 2: while you still can. However, this can be a difficult 49 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:38,240 Speaker 2: mindset to maintain, as life's monotony has a tendency to 50 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,760 Speaker 2: create a sense of complacency. God knows the human heart, 51 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: and this is why his word urges us not to 52 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: be idle. You must give your all in whatever you do, 53 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,280 Speaker 2: as one day you will die and your opportunity at 54 00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:55,880 Speaker 2: productivity will be no more. My friends, God wants you 55 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 2: to be conscious of this truth and aware of your 56 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:03,240 Speaker 2: own mortality, so you do not waste your time. For 57 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 2: God created you to be productive and to experience the 58 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 2: joy of your labor. Perhaps you've been tired and weary, 59 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:16,080 Speaker 2: perhaps life has you down and discouraged. Right now, this 60 00:04:16,200 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 2: is your chance to present yourself before the Lord, and 61 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,360 Speaker 2: this is your moment to bring to mind all your 62 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:29,120 Speaker 2: struggles and confess your sins to God. However, my friends, 63 00:04:29,120 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 2: no matter the season you're in, there is always a 64 00:04:32,279 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 2: reason to be thankful. So take a moment just to 65 00:04:35,480 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 2: set aside all concern and to acknowledge your blessings. Thank 66 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:42,839 Speaker 2: God for his plans and his purpose for your life. 67 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:46,640 Speaker 2: Thank God for blessing what is done in obedience to 68 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 2: His word. Thank God for his wisdom and the blessing 69 00:04:50,440 --> 00:04:54,160 Speaker 2: it brings to your life. Thank God for teaching you 70 00:04:54,240 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 2: to value and redeem your time. And thank God for 71 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 2: the blessings already received and for the one still to come. 72 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 2: You see, God is present and he is listening to you. 73 00:05:07,200 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 2: My friends, be mindful of your mortality. Do not hesitate, 74 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:15,800 Speaker 2: be bold and ask the Holy Spirit to convict you 75 00:05:15,839 --> 00:05:19,240 Speaker 2: of the need for urgency. Ask him to help you 76 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:23,600 Speaker 2: recognize that you are created to be productive. Ask him 77 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 2: to help you dedicate your plans unto God and to 78 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: help you focus on him. Ask him to fill you 79 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 2: with determination and discipline to complete your tasks. Ask him 80 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: to give you wisdom and managing your time and your behavior. 81 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:40,960 Speaker 2: And ask Him to bless the work of your hands 82 00:05:41,400 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: and to help you increase your productivity. Remember, all men 83 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:51,280 Speaker 2: must die, so whatever work you do, do your best, 84 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:54,720 Speaker 2: for one day you will go to the grave and 85 00:05:54,760 --> 00:05:58,480 Speaker 2: there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom. 86 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 2: There not carry regret with you unto eternity. Seize your 87 00:06:05,360 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 2: time here on earth. Choose this day to snatch the 88 00:06:08,920 --> 00:06:12,359 Speaker 2: opportunity God is giving you. Give God your all and 89 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 2: allow him to bless all that you do, and choose 90 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 2: to live your life for Christ. And in doing so 91 00:06:18,440 --> 00:06:22,480 Speaker 2: you will live your best life. My friends, thank you 92 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:26,440 Speaker 2: for completing today's meditative prayer on pray dot com. By 93 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:29,520 Speaker 2: incorporating this healthy habit as a daily practice, I believe 94 00:06:29,560 --> 00:06:32,960 Speaker 2: you're not only making prayer priority, but you're also strengthening 95 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,160 Speaker 2: your walk with God. As always, my name is Zach Clinton, 96 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 2: vice President of the American Association of Christian Counselors, and 97 00:06:39,880 --> 00:06:42,159 Speaker 2: we love being a part of your life. Here. To 98 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,200 Speaker 2: receive some more help, hope and encouragement, please visit our 99 00:06:45,240 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 2: website at AACC dot net. Again, that's AACC dot net.