1 00:00:01,720 --> 00:00:07,800 Speaker 1: Iron sharpeneth iron, So a man sharpeneth the countenance of 2 00:00:07,880 --> 00:00:14,720 Speaker 1: his friend, Proverbs twenty seven seventeen. Dear Lord, thank you 3 00:00:15,040 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: for the blessing of friendship. We can never underestimate the 4 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:24,599 Speaker 1: power of relationships and how they shape our lives. Like 5 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:29,280 Speaker 1: iron sharpens iron. We are blessed to have those in 6 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:33,280 Speaker 1: our lives that sharpen us, pushing us to be better 7 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: versions of ourselves. Thank you for giving us friends who 8 00:00:38,120 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 1: motivate us to be brave, courageous, and to never settle. 9 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: Thank you for being our faithful guide on this journey 10 00:00:47,760 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: of life. May we all remember that it is in 11 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: friendship that we find our greatest joys and successes. In 12 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:04,160 Speaker 1: Jesus's name, Amen, thank you for joining me in prayer. 13 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 1: Stay tuned for today's free podcast Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, 14 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: where you can draw close to God and find strength 15 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: in him. 16 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 2: Welcome to your meditative prayer on strength and focus. To 17 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,759 Speaker 2: get the most out of your spiritual journey, use pray 18 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:23,959 Speaker 2: dot com every day and make prayer a priority in 19 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,039 Speaker 2: your life. Again, our goal for today's meditative prayer is 20 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:30,759 Speaker 2: all about strength and focus, So let's just slow down 21 00:01:30,760 --> 00:01:34,440 Speaker 2: for a moment, maybe go to a quiet location away 22 00:01:34,520 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 2: from the distraction and the chaos of everyday life. And 23 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:41,240 Speaker 2: now let's just close our eyes and catch our breath. 24 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: Breathe in deep, and as you exhale, let go of 25 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,560 Speaker 2: the tension stored in your body. And right now, let's 26 00:01:50,600 --> 00:01:53,400 Speaker 2: open our heart to the Holy Spirit and prepare to 27 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 2: receive from Him today. Today we'll be meditating on Ephesian six, 28 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: verse ten from the King James vers Finally, my brethren, 29 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 2: be strong in the Lord and in the power of 30 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:08,080 Speaker 2: His might. Now, my friends, let's take a moment just 31 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 2: to pour out our adoration to God. Praise be to 32 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,600 Speaker 2: the Lord God, who is a son and a shield, 33 00:02:16,240 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 2: the Lord who bestows strength and power. Remember, no good 34 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 2: thing does he withhold from those whose walk is in Him. Father. 35 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:30,680 Speaker 2: I worship you, Lord Almighty, For blessed is the person 36 00:02:30,760 --> 00:02:36,639 Speaker 2: whose trust is in you. Stand strong in God's strength. 37 00:02:37,560 --> 00:02:40,919 Speaker 2: In life. You'll face many challenges, and you will be 38 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,000 Speaker 2: met with much opposition. In all situations, though and through 39 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:49,960 Speaker 2: every circumstance, you must stand strong. Stand strong not in 40 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 2: your own limited abilities, but in the strength provided to 41 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 2: you by God. Stand strong in true strength, in God's strength, 42 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 2: by relying on God's power, you will overcome spiritual oppression 43 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:06,640 Speaker 2: and succeed at living out the fullness of God's goodness 44 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 2: and grace for your life. Never forget God's strength is 45 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:15,559 Speaker 2: obtained through obedience to his word and by following his commandments. 46 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:20,359 Speaker 2: To continuously do this, you must guard your heart. Here 47 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:23,959 Speaker 2: on earth, the temptation of self dependence will never fully 48 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,120 Speaker 2: go away, and the pull toward the habit of reliance 49 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 2: on your own self confidence will be vicious. Yet you 50 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:33,359 Speaker 2: must not yield to the flesh, nor can you give 51 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 2: in to arrogance and pride, for it is a slippery 52 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 2: slope toward perdition. Once you start relying on your own strength, 53 00:03:40,880 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 2: you must practice constant vigilance. So be on your guard, 54 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: for Satan will also employ sneak attacks against you. Once 55 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 2: you acknowledge the poll toward self sufficiency, Satan will attempt 56 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 2: to shame you for it. But in the name of 57 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 2: the Lord, cast him away. There is no shame in 58 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,440 Speaker 2: awareness of the poll of sin to deny God and 59 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 2: to please the self. Quite the contrary that awareness comes 60 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,880 Speaker 2: from God. Your flesh will never feel like submitting to 61 00:04:11,920 --> 00:04:15,920 Speaker 2: God's commandments or his grace. If you're struggling with trusting 62 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 2: and relying on God. This is your chance to fix it. 63 00:04:19,560 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 2: This is your opportunity to present yourself before the throne 64 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:26,680 Speaker 2: of Grace. So confess your sins to God and tell 65 00:04:26,760 --> 00:04:30,000 Speaker 2: him about your struggle in submitting to him of relying 66 00:04:30,040 --> 00:04:35,040 Speaker 2: completely upon his word. And now let's take a moment 67 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: just to dwell on God's blessing of strength over you. 68 00:04:38,880 --> 00:04:42,679 Speaker 2: Blessings God promised he would give to you, blessings given 69 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:47,359 Speaker 2: without measure. Thank God for his power that strengthens you 70 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:51,039 Speaker 2: and for his strength that sustains you. Thank God for 71 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 2: his gracious promises and his assurance over your life. Thank 72 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 2: God that his righteousness is eternal and that his might 73 00:04:58,640 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 2: cannot be conquered. And thank God that he cannot be 74 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:04,919 Speaker 2: shaken or moved, for he is a solid rock that 75 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 2: you can stand on. Thank Him for his unchanging faithfulness 76 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 2: and for his everlasting love. Do not forget God is 77 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,760 Speaker 2: present and he is listening to you. This is your 78 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: opportunity to reach out to him. So ask God to 79 00:05:21,240 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 2: increase your faith in his promises, to help you believe 80 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 2: He is who he says he is. Ask God for 81 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:31,279 Speaker 2: the ability to stand firm upon his strength and to 82 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,400 Speaker 2: trust that his power is enough. Ask the Holy Spirit 83 00:05:35,440 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: to seal God's love and assurance upon your soul. Ask 84 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 2: him to teach you to rely upon God, to stand 85 00:05:41,960 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 2: upon the truth of his word. Ask the Holy Spirit 86 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 2: for wisdom, and ask him to protect your heart from 87 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 2: pride and presumption. My friends, remember you are to be 88 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 2: strong in the Lord and in his great power. It 89 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,120 Speaker 2: is your privilege and your obligation to live life fully 90 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 2: dependent on God's fortitude. So do not fear, for God 91 00:06:03,839 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 2: will never falter or fail. He will sustain you with 92 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,719 Speaker 2: his righteousness and his might. So choose this day to 93 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:14,880 Speaker 2: commit yourself to living life through God's strength and receive 94 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: God's blessing and his love upon your life today and always. 95 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 2: My friends, thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on 96 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,240 Speaker 2: pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy habit as a 97 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:30,280 Speaker 2: daily practice, you are making prayer a priority and your 98 00:06:30,360 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: strengthening your walk with God. As always. My name is 99 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 2: Zach Clinton, Vice President of the American Association of Christian Counselors, 100 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:39,600 Speaker 2: and we love being a part of your life.