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The Road to the Manger: Meditation from Luke 2:1-7 · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:09
  Pastor Robert Young: Here, we put aside all distractions to enter into God's presence and hear from God better and to allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ.
• 0:23
  Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:31
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation, check out episode 164 entitled Getting Started in Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why and even the science of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
• 0:58
  Pastor Robert Young: If you suffer from severe anxiety, depression, trauma, psychotic episodes, or if you are in active addiction, then please consult your physician before beginning this or any meditation practice.
• 1:21
  Pastor Robert Young: Our theme for this week is The Road to the Manger.
• 1:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from Luke chapter two verses one through seven, where it says, And it came to pass in those days that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
• 1:46
  Pastor Robert Young: And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, and all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
• 1:58
  Pastor Robert Young: And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife, being great with child.
• 2:24
  Pastor Robert Young: And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered, and she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
• 2:52
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we begin to reflect on this passage, according to the scriptures, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
• 3:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
• 3:19
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms fifty one verses one through four, where it 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.
• 3:53
  Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
• 4:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on the passage, let's prepare our minds by calming our nervous system.
• 4:17
  Pastor Robert Young: First, close your eyes and take a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to feel us.
• 4:29
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and release slowly for a count of seven.
• 4:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, let's prepare our bodies by releasing any tension with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 5:01
  Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
• 5:09
  Pastor Robert Young: As we always say on the podcast, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 5:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's start with the calf muscles.
• 5:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three.
• 5:26
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:28
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, the quads, and the glutes.
• 5:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 5:39
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:41
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the abdominals, the chest and back areas.
• 5:48
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 5:52
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 5:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and shoulders.
• 5:59
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
• 6:06
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 6:12
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to enter into worship by repeating Psalms one hundred verses one through three where it says, Shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
• 6:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
• 6:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Come before him with joyful songs.
• 6:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to lift up our voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father who is worthy of all honor and glory by repeating Psalms chapter eight, verse nine, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
• 7:10
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to reflect on the scene in Luke chapter two verses one through seven.
• 7:21
  Pastor Robert Young: Imagine yourself traveling with Mary and Joseph.
• 7:27
  Pastor Robert Young: It is twelve days before the nativity.
• 7:32
  Pastor Robert Young: The air is cool.
• 7:35
  Pastor Robert Young: The sky is often pale with the winter sun.
• 7:40
  Pastor Robert Young: You are on a dusty road leading toward the town of Bethlehem.
• 7:48
  Pastor Robert Young: You might be walking beside a gentle donkey, hearing the soft clip clop of its hooves and the creak of the saddle.
• 8:01
  Pastor Robert Young: Hear the quiet shuffling of sandal feet on the rocky path.
• 8:08
  Pastor Robert Young: Feel the steady rhythm of the journey, the continuous movement forward.
• 8:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Look at Mary.
• 8:20
  Pastor Robert Young: She is quiet, maybe leaning against Joseph for support.
• 8:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Notice her posture.
• 8:29
  Pastor Robert Young: She is full of expectation, carrying the promise of the world within her.
• 8:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Her heart is a sanctuary.
• 8:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Notice Joseph, his shoulders squared with responsibilities, his eyes focused on the path ahead.
• 8:54
  Pastor Robert Young: He is a man of quiet strength, a faithful protector.
• 9:01
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, imagine your own heart is on this journey.
• 9:08
  Pastor Robert Young: It is a place of unsettled travel right now, full of your own concerns, deadlines, and preparation.
• 9:19
  Pastor Robert Young: But the path is leading you toward a singular, holy destination, the presence of Christ.
• 9:30
  Pastor Robert Young: You are not running from something, you are moving toward the promise.
• 9:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Feel the faith of Mary and Joseph surrounding you.
• 9:43
  Pastor Robert Young: Despite the hardship of the journey, the crowd, the discomfort, the long days, they move forward in obedience to the census decree and trust in God's divine plan.
• 10:00
  Pastor Robert Young: Rest in their peaceful obedience.
• 10:04
  Pastor Robert Young: The goal is in sight.
• 10:13
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat these affirmations either out loud or silently, letting them sink into the truth of your own life's journey.
• 10:25
  Pastor Robert Young: One, my life's journey is guided by God's purpose, even when the path is difficult.
• 10:36
  Pastor Robert Young: two, I will walk in faithful obedience, trusting the path laid out before me.
• 10:46
  Pastor Robert Young: Three, the promise of Christ is closer than I think.
• 10:53
  Pastor Robert Young: I prepare my heart for his arrival.
• 10:58
  Pastor Robert Young: Four, like Joseph, I will be a faithful protector of the holy things God has entrusted to me.
• 11:10
  Pastor Robert Young: And five, I trust the timing of God.
• 11:15
  Pastor Robert Young: I am exactly where I need to be in this moment of waiting.
• 11:28
  Pastor Robert Young: As you continue to breathe slowly and deeply, open your heart to these questions.
• 11:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Allow the answers to rise within your spirit naturally, without judgment or striving.
• 11:46
  Pastor Robert Young: Then take five minutes to reflect on them.
• 11:53
  Pastor Robert Young: Mary and Joseph obeyed a difficult, inconvenient government decree, the census, because it was God's way of fulfilling prophecy.
• 12:07
  Pastor Robert Young: Where is God currently calling me to a quiet act of obedience or inconvenience that I know is ultimately leading to his will?
• 12:22
  Pastor Robert Young: two Mary and Joseph traveled so far, yet they found no room in the inn.
• 12:33
  Pastor Robert Young: Question, as I prepare for the arrival of Christ, what is my heart's inn like right now?
• 12:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Is it too cluttered with noise, busyness, or distraction to welcome the quiet presence of the Savior.
• 17:57
  Pastor Robert Young: Heavenly Father, thank you for the example of Mary and Joseph, who walked in faith even when the path was long and difficult.
• 18:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Help me to follow their spirit of quiet, trusting obedience.
• 18:18
  Pastor Robert Young: Clear the clutter from the end of my heart.
• 18:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Give me the grace to recognize that every step of my journey is a step toward your holy presence.
• 18:33
  Pastor Robert Young: Amen.
• 18:43
  Pastor Robert Young: Listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul.
• 18:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Follow up every day with the daily devotionals and reflection questions about this subject.
• 19:00
  Pastor Robert Young: As you reflect on God's goodness and mercy, as He guided and protected Mary and Joseph and the promise, feel your soul ignite with faith and confidence that God is with you and guiding you.
• 19:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Amen.
• 20:00
  unknown: Yeah.