1 00:00:01,840 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing instant in prayer, 2 00:00:09,880 --> 00:00:16,960 Speaker 1: Romans twelve twelve. Dear Lord, we come to you in 3 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: prayer and humbly beseech your grace. We offer up our 4 00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 1: hearts and minds to you, full of joy and hope 5 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: for all you have promised us. We rejoice in the 6 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:36,560 Speaker 1: hope that comes from knowing that you are with us 7 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: even through tribulation. Keep us patient in tribulation as we 8 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: look to you Lord for guidance and comfort. Help us 9 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,959 Speaker 1: not lose heart during times of difficulty, but continue instant 10 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,760 Speaker 1: in prayer as we strive to be faithful servants of 11 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: your will. We thank you for the grace of bounding 12 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: and for the hope that gives us strength and courage 13 00:01:07,319 --> 00:01:14,240 Speaker 1: to carry on. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen, Thank 14 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:17,040 Speaker 1: you for joining me in prayer. Stay tuned for today's 15 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:21,399 Speaker 1: free podcast, Meditative Prayers with Zach Clinton, where you can 16 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: draw close to God and find strength in him. 17 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 2: My friends, welcome to your meditative prayer. On becoming present 18 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,480 Speaker 2: To get the most out of your spiritual journey, uspray 19 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:34,360 Speaker 2: dot com every day and make prayer a priority in 20 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:37,320 Speaker 2: your life again. Our goal for today's meditative prayer is 21 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:40,319 Speaker 2: all about becoming present. So right now, let's just take 22 00:01:40,319 --> 00:01:43,480 Speaker 2: a minute to gather our thoughts and quiet our spirit. 23 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 2: Maybe move yourself into a relaxed position and prepare to receive. 24 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:54,840 Speaker 2: Close your eyes and begin to breathe slow and steady. Now, 25 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:57,480 Speaker 2: turn your heart to God and focus on what He 26 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 2: has for you this day. Let the Holy Spirit lead 27 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:06,400 Speaker 2: you into His presence. Today we'll be meditating on Romans 28 00:02:06,440 --> 00:02:10,639 Speaker 2: twelve twelve from the King James version. It says rejoicing 29 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 2: in hope, patient and tribulation continuing instant in prayer. My friends, 30 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: let us take time now just to adore Jesus Christ, 31 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:26,320 Speaker 2: the Faithful and True Savior. Jesus, I worship you, and 32 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:29,480 Speaker 2: I bless your name. For you know the trials and 33 00:02:29,520 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 2: temptations I face, and you give me the strength to 34 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: overcome them. You steady my heart and my mind. You 35 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,119 Speaker 2: lift up my weary head. Jesus, You are the good 36 00:02:41,160 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 2: shepherd of my soul. You sustain me at all times. 37 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: You will fill my heart with rejoicing and my mouth 38 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,920 Speaker 2: with praise. You see, you can actually have joy in 39 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 2: all seasons. We often equate joy with happiness. But we 40 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 2: can be joyful regardless of what is happening around us. 41 00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 2: Our joy is rooted deep in God, who is our rock. 42 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 2: It strengthens and sustains us through the good times and 43 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 2: the bad. No matter what you may face today, you 44 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:16,480 Speaker 2: can enjoy life in sadness. You can have joy that 45 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 2: springs from hope. For hope and Jesus will anchor your soul. 46 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:24,919 Speaker 2: You can trust Jesus because he is the same yesterday, today, 47 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 2: and forever. His promise for salvation opened a door into 48 00:03:29,200 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 2: his presence and provided a firm foundation for you to 49 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 2: stand on. So be steadfast and patient in the hard times, 50 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:41,680 Speaker 2: and never stop praying no matter what. Run your race, 51 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: knowing the Holy Spirit is with you even now, and 52 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:48,240 Speaker 2: that Jesus is at the finish line waiting for you. 53 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,160 Speaker 2: This is how you live in the moment and persevere 54 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: in your race toward Him. So right now, my friend, 55 00:03:55,240 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 2: take this moment to seek God's face and to ask 56 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 2: for his forgiveness. Confess your sins before him, knowing grace 57 00:04:03,040 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: awaits you in his presence. Right now, let's just take 58 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 2: a moment to dwell on how God has sustained you. 59 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: Give thought to the joy and hope. God has provided 60 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:19,359 Speaker 2: for you in Jesus. Thank Him for going before you 61 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:23,640 Speaker 2: and beside you, for guaranteeing your salvation and your future. 62 00:04:24,640 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 2: Thank Him for hearing your prayers, for his unending faithfulness. 63 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:32,599 Speaker 2: And think back to times of turmoil where God steadied you. 64 00:04:33,760 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: Think of how He gave you joy when everything was 65 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,320 Speaker 2: going wrong around you. And thank God that He is 66 00:04:40,360 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 2: a trustworthy God. Today and always, God is present and 67 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,560 Speaker 2: he is listening to you. God knows this world is 68 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,120 Speaker 2: filled with hardships and that it can be difficult to 69 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 2: carry on. But God longs for you to feel His 70 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,400 Speaker 2: joy and to be sustained by hope. So right now 71 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 2: this is your chain. Ants to call upon him. Ask 72 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,560 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit to fill you with his rivers of 73 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 2: living water. Ask him to strengthen you that you may 74 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 2: continue firm in your faith and run your race. And 75 00:05:12,360 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: ask the Holy Spirit to pray for you when you 76 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 2: cannot pray for yourself, asking him to comfort and carry 77 00:05:18,760 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 2: you to the end of your race. Remember, be joyful 78 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 2: because you have hope, Be patient when trouble comes, and 79 00:05:28,240 --> 00:05:31,880 Speaker 2: pray at all times. You see you can hope in Christ, 80 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:34,719 Speaker 2: and that hope will sustain you. No matter what you 81 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 2: may be going through. You do not have to live 82 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,400 Speaker 2: discontented because things are not always easy, So do not 83 00:05:42,440 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 2: be anxious. Trust yourself to God. You cannot even begin 84 00:05:47,440 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 2: to fathom the goodness that He has in store for you. 85 00:05:51,839 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 2: God has amazing blessings for you, both here and for 86 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:59,600 Speaker 2: all of eternity. So find joy in Jesus Christ today 87 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 2: and let His peace assure your heart today in always, 88 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:08,640 Speaker 2: my friends, thank you for completing today's meditative prayer on 89 00:06:08,720 --> 00:06:11,920 Speaker 2: pray dot com. By incorporating this healthy habit as a 90 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 2: daily practice, I believe you're not only making prayer a priority, 91 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: but you're also strengthening your walk with God. My name 92 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 2: is Zach Clinton, vice President of the American Association of 93 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 2: Christian Counselors, and we love being a part of your life. 94 00:06:25,640 --> 00:06:28,880 Speaker 2: To find out more information, inspiration, help, hope, and encouragement, 95 00:06:29,080 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: I would encourage you visit our website at www dot 96 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: AACC dot net. Again, that is AACC dot net.