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Living a Life of Simplicity: Meditation from Matthew 6:19-24 · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:04
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:08
  Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:16
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation, please check out episode 164, Getting Started in Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why and even the science of all the stages of meditation that we practice.
• 0:39
  Pastor Robert Young: This week's subject is about living a life of simplicity.
• 0:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from Matthew chapter 6, verses 19 through 24.
• 0:54
  Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to Scriptures, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
• 1:10
  Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
• 1:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms chapter 51, verses one through four, which says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
• 1:53
  Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
• 2:10
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Matthew 6, 19 through 24, let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
• 2:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 2:40
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat.
• 2:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and then slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 3:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, let's prepare our body with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 3:09
  Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
• 3:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Remember, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 3:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
• 3:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calves for three seconds.
• 3:29
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, the quads, and glutes.
• 3:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:40
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:43
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the abdominals, chest and back areas.
• 3:48
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and shoulders.
• 3:59
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
• 4:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 4:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can enter into worship of our Heavenly Father by focusing on Psalms chapter 100, verses one through three, where it tells us to shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
• 4:34
  Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
• 4:36
  Pastor Robert Young: Come before Him with joyful songs.
• 4:40
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a moment to lift up your voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who is worthy of all honor and glory.
• 4:52
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat Psalms chapter eight, verse nine, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
• 5:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Now that we have prepared our mind, our body, and our spirit, let's begin to examine Matthew chapter six, verses nineteen through twenty-four.
• 5:31
  Pastor Robert Young: It says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
• 5:45
  Pastor Robert Young: But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
• 5:59
  Pastor Robert Young: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
• 6:14
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to hear the first command.
• 6:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Do not store for yourselves treasures on earth.
• 6:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Quietly ask yourself, what earthly treasures are you holding on to most?
• 6:31
  Pastor Robert Young: It might be a physical possession or the pursuit of status on social media or the need for worldly assurance that everything in this world will be alright.
• 6:56
  Pastor Robert Young: As you breathe, imagine one of those earthly treasures in your hands.
• 7:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Feel its weight.
• 7:06
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, gently imagine Jesus standing before you, and you offer it to him.
• 7:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Not because he demands it, but because he knows it will be destroyed anyway.
• 7:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Imagine the moth and the rust.
• 7:30
  Pastor Robert Young: Imagine the forces of time and change that will take that earthly treasure away eventually.
• 7:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take three minutes to really reflect on the following questions.
• 7:51
  Pastor Robert Young: What does a heavenly treasure look like?
• 11:08
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmation now, and for the next seven days:
• 11:08
  Pastor Robert Young: My eye is singular, my focus is on Christ.
• 11:13
  Pastor Robert Young: Again, my eye is singular, my focus is on Christ.
• 11:30
  Pastor Robert Young: a