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LET GO_ Trusting God Overcome Anxiety With Jesus · Abide Meditation App

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: What are you going through today? What is testing you?
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  Speaker 1: You'll never have a better day than when you learn
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  Speaker 1: to stand strong in the Lord. Some seasons of life
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  Speaker 1: can feel so overwhelming and exhausting, can't they? And in
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  Speaker 1: the middle of those seasons, people think they help by
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  Speaker 1: saying things like there's a plan or something good will
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  Speaker 1: come from this, and that's a nice sentiment, but it
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  Speaker 1: doesn't really acknowledge the pain that's so very real. The
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  Speaker 1: Bible says something better. James is not one to leave
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  Speaker 1: us with nice platitudes. He is an author that tells
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  Speaker 1: the truth, and he gives hope that as we push
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  Speaker 1: through trials, there is reward on the other side of
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  Speaker 1: this life. Do you want to experience that reward that
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  Speaker 1: push through a trial? Well, join me as we meditate,
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  Speaker 1: reflect and pray about hope and trials. From James Chapter one,
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  Speaker 1: verse twelve. But let's start with an opening prayer. Dear God,
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  Speaker 1: you are good and you are true. You see me
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  Speaker 1: in my trial, and though you have the power to
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  Speaker 1: stop it, you choose to allow this test. Sometimes I
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  Speaker 1: don't always understand why. But use this to refine me,
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  Speaker 1: make me better, help me to see you and keep
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  Speaker 1: my eyes focused on you and Heaven. And it's in
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  Speaker 1: the name of God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and
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  Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit that I pray Amen. So as we begin, breathe,
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  Speaker 1: just breathe deeply. Find a position and spot where you
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  Speaker 1: can just stop for a moment and be still and breathe.
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  Speaker 1: Let it out. Focus your mind on God and ask
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  Speaker 1: him to open your heart to what He has to
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  Speaker 1: say today. Tell God what is wearing you out or
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  Speaker 1: hurting you today? Tell him your doubts, your anger, in
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  Speaker 1: your tears. He's God, he can handle it. Our God
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  Speaker 1: is the God of eternity, the architect of heaven. This
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  Speaker 1: world is in it. Ask him now to help you.
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  Speaker 1: Notice one word or phrase or image from James Chapter one,
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  Speaker 1: verse twelve. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial,
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  Speaker 1: for when he has stood the test, he will receive
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  Speaker 1: the crown of life, which God has promised to those
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  Speaker 1: who love him. What did you hear? Listen again carefully
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  Speaker 1: as I read Blessed is the man who remains steadfast
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  Speaker 1: under trial, for when he has stood the test, he
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  Speaker 1: will receive the crown of life, which God has promised
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  Speaker 1: to those who love him. What stood out to you
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  Speaker 1: this time. Take a moment and let that idea soak
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  Speaker 1: up into your heart. Let your thoughts be your prayer.
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  Speaker 1: God doesn't promise an easy life. He promises blessings for
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  Speaker 1: those who walk bravely and faithfully through tough things. Ask
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  Speaker 1: God now to give you strength and endurance to remain
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  Speaker 1: steadfast under trial with your eyes still closed. Listen again
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  Speaker 1: as I read from James Chapter one, verse twelve. Blessed, happy,
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  Speaker 1: spiritually prosperous, and favored by God is the man who
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  Speaker 1: is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted. For when
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  Speaker 1: he has passed the test and been approved, he will
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  Speaker 1: receive the victor's crown of life, which the Lord has
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  Speaker 1: promised to those who love him. Why did you hear
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  Speaker 1: this time? Did God reinforce something or reveal something new
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  Speaker 1: to you? Ask God to help you understand what He
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  Speaker 1: is saying to you today through his word. Did you
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  Speaker 1: notice the phrase spiritually prosperous. Normally we hear the word
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  Speaker 1: blessed in the context of material things or happy endings,
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  Speaker 1: but here it talks about blessed in trial. So blessing
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  Speaker 1: is about getting something more valuable than comfort. How do
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  Speaker 1: you think about blessings and trials. Ask God now to
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  Speaker 1: help you see blessings in the midst of trials instead
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  Speaker 1: of the opposite of trial. The crown of life is
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  Speaker 1: clarified here as the victor's crown of life. If this
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  Speaker 1: life is a marathon, then trial is a stretch that
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  Speaker 1: requires extra endurance and perspective to see the finish line.
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  Speaker 1: Ask Jesus now to help you fix your eyes on
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  Speaker 1: Him as you persevere. Listen one in final time, as
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  Speaker 1: I read and you reflect on James Chapter one, verse twelve.
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  Speaker 1: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for
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  Speaker 1: when he has stood the test, he will receive the
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  Speaker 1: crown of life, which God has promised to those who
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  Speaker 1: love him. Your pain is real, my friend. So as
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  Speaker 1: you keep pushing, keep working, keep going, know that you
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  Speaker 1: have a father God who cheers you on and fills
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  Speaker 1: you up. Imagine your race, your story. What's hard about it?
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  Speaker 1: What doubts or temptations are tripping you up? What burdens
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  Speaker 1: are you trying to carry by yourself? Tell him about
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  Speaker 1: them now. Hebrews chapter twelve, verses one and two says, Therefore,
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  Speaker 1: since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
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  Speaker 1: let us also lay aside every weight and sin which
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  Speaker 1: clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the
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  Speaker 1: race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the
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  Speaker 1: founder and the perfector of our faith, who, for the
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  Speaker 1: joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising
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  Speaker 1: the shame, and is seated now at the right hand
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  Speaker 1: of the throne of God. Use your imagination here. I
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  Speaker 1: want you to feel the weights literally hanging around your neck,
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  Speaker 1: Feel the cold chains, the weights dragging across the floor,
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  Speaker 1: forcing your body to bend over in pain. How do
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  Speaker 1: they feel? What does Jesus see in your eyes as
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  Speaker 1: you carry them? Tell him about the weight, Tell him
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  Speaker 1: about the pain. Now imagine unlocking them, throwing off the weights,
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  Speaker 1: the things that snare you. How did the chain sound
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  Speaker 1: hitting the floor? How to the weight sound dropping to
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  Speaker 1: the floor. Imagine Jesus at the finish line with the
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  Speaker 1: keys to the locks, to your chains, the keys to heaven.
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  Speaker 1: Imagine that now in prayer, a day will come when
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  Speaker 1: you see him face to face. He will look you
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  Speaker 1: in the eye and say well done, as he puts
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  Speaker 1: the crown of life on your head. Think about what
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  Speaker 1: that would mean to you. Ask him to teach you
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  Speaker 1: how to endure by desiring him above every other comfort
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  Speaker 1: the world has to offer. And ask him now join
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  Speaker 1: me in a time of closing prayer. Dear Father God,
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  Speaker 1: you see me here in this broken world. You know
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  Speaker 1: my broken heart. You are all knowing, so you know
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  Speaker 1: the end of the story. You are sovereign, so you
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  Speaker 1: have written the end of the story. Help me to
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  Speaker 1: be steadfast and strong today. Dear God, let me view
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  Speaker 1: my world through an eternal lens, and let me handle
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  Speaker 1: today with your grace and your patience. Give me endurance
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  Speaker 1: as I run this race, and let me hope in
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  Speaker 1: knowing you are there at the end. In Jesus' name, Amen, Hi,
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  Speaker 1: and welcome back. In this second step, we want to
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  Speaker 1: offer a scriptural prayer for those struggling with anxiety disorder
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  Speaker 1: and those closest to them. Symptoms can include stress that's
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  Speaker 1: a bit out of proportion to the impact of an
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  Speaker 1: event in our life, and inability to set aside worry, restlessness.
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  Speaker 1: Anxiety is so conflicting it may be hard to imagine
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  Speaker 1: your life without it, but it may be equally hard
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  Speaker 1: to imagine letting go of it. Want to feel this
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  Speaker 1: way and others don't want you feeling this way either.
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  Speaker 1: You may feel like others don't understand, and you know
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  Speaker 1: what they may not. Others may see your anxiety as well,
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  Speaker 1: just an idea that can be easily dismissed with rational thought.
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  Speaker 1: They may share statistics to prove there is nothing to
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  Speaker 1: worry about. But to you, it's not just a thought.
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  Speaker 1: It's a feeling, a very real feeling. But the strange
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  Speaker 1: thing is, we have feelings all day about so many things,
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  Speaker 1: most of which we easily dismiss. But with some of
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  Speaker 1: these feelings, we start to obsess on them, we give
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  Speaker 1: energy to them, and we become a prisoner to this
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  Speaker 1: endless loop of worry and anxiety. If you're struggling with
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  Speaker 1: anxiety disorder, will you join me in this prayer. Dear Lord, God,
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  Speaker 1: Sovereign God, God of Peace, there is no fear, no anxiety,
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  Speaker 1: no panic in your kingdom. Establish your kingdom in my heart,
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  Speaker 1: in my mind today, right now, so that I can
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  Speaker 1: walk in peace, So that I can walk in confidence
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  Speaker 1: and strength. Open the eyes of my heart so that
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  Speaker 1: I can see all that you want for me. Show
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  Speaker 1: me how I've been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Dear
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  Speaker 1: protective God, you are all around me. You guard me
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  Speaker 1: with your word, with your presence, and with the command
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  Speaker 1: of your angels. Lord God, you will not let me stumble,
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  Speaker 1: You will not let me fall. Help me, trust you,
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  Speaker 1: Help me. Remember I am your child and you are
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  Speaker 1: my father. I'm seated with you in heaven. I'm at
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  Speaker 1: rest in your arms. You cover me with your wings.
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  Speaker 1: You fight for me. You provide everything I need for life,
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  Speaker 1: for peace, provision, and protection. I confess to you that
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  Speaker 1: at times, maybe even today, maybe even in this moment,
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  Speaker 1: maybe even in this second, I feel imprisoned by fear
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  Speaker 1: and anxiety. I confess it to you right now. Give
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  Speaker 1: me the courage, Lord God, to whisper that confession to you.
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  Speaker 1: Right now. Let me take a deep breath and name
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  Speaker 1: my anxiety, share it with you, tell it to you.
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  Speaker 1: These feelings rise up within me. Give me your courage
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  Speaker 1: to face them, to stare them down, acknowledge them, and
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  Speaker 1: bring them into light. They lose power over me in
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  Speaker 1: your light. The anxious thoughts I have that weigh on
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  Speaker 1: me become weak when laid before you. Help me today,
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  Speaker 1: in this moment, this very moment, to not be anxious
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  Speaker 1: about anything. Help me pray to you about everything. Help
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  Speaker 1: me cast every care I have on you. Guide me
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  Speaker 1: along the best paths to take. Advise me, counsel me.
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  Speaker 1: Help me listen to you with my heart as you
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  Speaker 1: speak your peace over me. Father, Live in me and
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  Speaker 1: through me, and help me put all of my trust
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  Speaker 1: in you. And it's in Jesus' name. Amen. What if
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  Speaker 1: this isn't you, But what if someone close to you
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  Speaker 1: may be someone with you right now is struggling with
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  Speaker 1: anxiety disorder? Will you join me in prayer? Dear Lord, God,
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  Speaker 1: Sovereign God, God of Peace, heal and bring peace to
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  Speaker 1: my friend. Release them from their fear, their burden of fear,
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  Speaker 1: of anxiety and panic. Establish your kingdom and their heart
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  Speaker 1: and their mind so that they can walk in peace
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  Speaker 1: and confidence and strength. Open the eyes of their heart
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  Speaker 1: so that they can see all that you want for them.
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  Speaker 1: Show them how they have been blessed with every one
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  Speaker 1: of your spiritual blessings. Dear protective God, guard my friend.
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  Speaker 1: Guard them with your word, with your presence and the
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  Speaker 1: command of your angels. You are all around them right now.
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  Speaker 1: Lord God, give also your words, your wisdom, and your
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  Speaker 1: tenderness to me, so that I may know how to
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  Speaker 1: be a present, peaceful comfort for my friend. Guard my
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  Speaker 1: tongue from saying anything that may make things more anxious
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  Speaker 1: for them, Guard my attitude from maybe hurting them even further.
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  Speaker 1: Help us both listen to you with our hearts so
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  Speaker 1: we understand and feel the peace You are speaking over
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  Speaker 1: both of us. Father, live in and through us, instilling
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  Speaker 1: your peace into our lives. Then it's in Jesus' name? Amen?
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  Speaker 1: Do you feel full of joy and hope even during
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  Speaker 1: troubled times in your life? You and I live in
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  Speaker 1: a broken world, a world fractured by sin and separation
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  Speaker 1: from God. It's not a matter of if, but when
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  Speaker 1: we find ourselves in difficult times. So stop for a moment.
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  Speaker 1: In what area of your life are you struggling the most?
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  Speaker 1: Now ask yourself three questions. First, during these troubled times,
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  Speaker 1: is your life full of joy and hope? Second? Do
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  Speaker 1: I joyfully lean into Jesus during difficult times? Or do
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  Speaker 1: I grumble? Third? Finally, in difficult times, are you deeply
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  Speaker 1: devoted to prayer? Well? Join me as we meditate, reflect
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  Speaker 1: and pray about endurance and how to answer these three
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  Speaker 1: questions from Romans, chapter twelve, verse twelve. But first join
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  Speaker 1: me in just a moment of opening prayer, Dear heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 1: by your grace and mercy. And there are exceptions, but
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  Speaker 1: I struggle to find joy in the midst of difficult times.
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  Speaker 1: I fight to lean in, but often lean away from
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  Speaker 1: You in hard times. And when I should spend more
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  Speaker 1: time in prayer, I spend less when my days are cloudy.
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  Speaker 1: So help me find joy, lean on you and pray
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  Speaker 1: even when my days are far from gray. And I
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  Speaker 1: ask this now by your authority and in the name
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  Speaker 1: of your son Jesus Christ, to whom I pray. Amen.
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  Speaker 1: That's convicting. It really is about time, isn't it. We
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  Speaker 1: are so busy even at rest, and all the more
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  Speaker 1: when caught up in the whorld of our lives. But
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  Speaker 1: it's about making time to find time, time to find joy,
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  Speaker 1: time to lean on Christ, and time to pray. So
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  Speaker 1: today I hope this time of long deep meditation will
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  Speaker 1: help you find time that in your pursuit of Him,
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  Speaker 1: all other things of lesser value will fall away. So
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  Speaker 1: as we begin take a few deep, relaxing breaths, there's peaceful,
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  Speaker 1: deep breaths today and settle into wherever you are being
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  Speaker 1: aware of the majesty of God Like nothing else else
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  Speaker 1: matters in the world. Finding time to focus solely on Him.
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  Speaker 1: Finding time is where we will be going today. Scan
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  Speaker 1: your life in your body for a moment. Are there
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  Speaker 1: words or deeds, thoughts, actions, or pain keeping you from
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  Speaker 1: spending time with Him today? We'll confess that now and
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  Speaker 1: then thank Him for his grace, his forgiveness, and his love.
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  Speaker 1: God is hope, the Holy Spirit, God's joyful voice to
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  Speaker 1: us and Jesus is our example of how to find
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  Speaker 1: time to pray. So listen carefully to every detail as
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  Speaker 1: I read from Romans chapter twelve, Verse twelve. Rejoice in hope,
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  Speaker 1: be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. What
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  Speaker 1: stood out to you from that short and powerful passage?
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  Speaker 1: Listen to it again. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,
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  Speaker 1: and be constant in prayer. That is so short but
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  Speaker 1: so powerful. Let's read it again. Rejoice in hope, be
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  Speaker 1: patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Reflect here on
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  Speaker 1: how God might be using this passage to touch your
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  Speaker 1: life today. So during these troubled times, as You're life
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  Speaker 1: full of joy and hope, even in times far from trouble?
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  Speaker 1: Do you find time to reflect on the joy that
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  Speaker 1: you have and hope in Christ. We'll pause here, meditate
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  Speaker 1: and reflect on that. Make time right now to focus
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  Speaker 1: on the joy that you have and hope in Christ.
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  Speaker 1: Listen again as I read from Romans chapter twelve, verse twelve.
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  Speaker 1: May we constantly rejoice in hope because of our confidence
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  Speaker 1: in Christ, steadfast and patient in distress, and devoted to prayer,
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  Speaker 1: continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength. What did you hear
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  Speaker 1: this time? Did you hear something comforting or recognizable, or
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  Speaker 1: something crisp and unusual? We'll focus there even deeper in
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  Speaker 1: quiet meditation. Do you patiently lean into Jesus during difficult times?
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  Speaker 1: Or grumble impatiently? And again do you lean on Him
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  Speaker 1: even when times are far from difficult? Will pause here again,
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  Speaker 1: meditate and reflect, and make time right now to lean
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  Speaker 1: into the arms of Jesus. Resist pushing away, but surrender
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  Speaker 1: into his arms. Just rest there for several moments. Saint
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  Speaker 1: Francis de Sales once said, every one of us needs
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  Speaker 1: a half an hour of prayer every day, except when
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  Speaker 1: you're busy. Then you need an hour. I love that. D. L.
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  Speaker 1: Moody said something similar. The busier I am, the longer
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  Speaker 1: I pray. That's so counterintuitive to our lives, isn't it so?
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  Speaker 1: How busy are you and what excuses do you use
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  Speaker 1: to not pray? I want to challenge you to pause
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  Speaker 1: the app and pray longer. Right now? Are you? Are
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  Speaker 1: you hesitating over the pause button? Why? Well? Take significant
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  Speaker 1: time right now to rest before the Lord in quiet reflection,
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  Speaker 1: knowing he is your creator and his son is your Lord.
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  Speaker 1: Pause here and whisper to him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son
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  Speaker 1: of God, have mercy on me. Lord Jesus christ, Son
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  Speaker 1: of God, have mercy on me. Pause the app and
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  Speaker 1: keep praying. Lord Jesus christ, Son of God, have mercy
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  Speaker 1: on me. Listen one in final time, as I read
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  Speaker 1: and you meditate on Romans Chapter twelve, verse twelve, Let
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  Speaker 1: your hope make you glad, be patient in time of trouble,
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  Speaker 1: and never stop praying. I just love the simplicity of
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  Speaker 1: today's message. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and
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  Speaker 1: be constant in prayer. Hope, patience, prayer, hope, patience, prayer,
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  Speaker 1: HPP hope patience prayer. Just pause here and continue to
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  Speaker 1: pray for those for hope, for patience, and for time
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  Speaker 1: to pray. What have you felt or maybe experienced during
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  Speaker 1: this time of meditation. We'll offer that now back to
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  Speaker 1: the Lord as a gift of quiet reflection. Seek his
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  Speaker 1: application of it into your life today. Join me now
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  Speaker 1: in a moment of closing prayer. Dear enduring God, Yes,
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  Speaker 1: you know, my heart. You are intimately aware of my circumstances,
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  Speaker 1: and you are more aware of them even than I am.
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  Speaker 1: So in my difficult times, help me find peace, Help
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  Speaker 1: me find paths towards you and not away from you.
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  Speaker 1: And even in the midst of what feels like suffocating darkness,
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  Speaker 1: let the love I show be sincere and active in
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  Speaker 1: the midst of difficult times. Give me the courage to
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  Speaker 1: hate what is evil, to detest all ungodliness, to not
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  Speaker 1: tolerate wickedness, but to hold on tightly to what is good.
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  Speaker 1: Those times when I feel the most isolated and alone,
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  Speaker 1: give me the love to be devoted to others, to
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  Speaker 1: have authentic brotherly affection as members of one family. And
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  Speaker 1: those times where I feel utterly exhausted, give me the
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  Speaker 1: strength to not lag behind in enthusiastically serving you, letting
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  Speaker 1: your spirit knit into me, the awareness of constantly rejoicing hope,
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  Speaker 1: the hope I find in confidence in Christ, the hope
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  Speaker 1: that can help me lean into Christ and not away,
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  Speaker 1: The hope that helps me endure and stay patient during
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  Speaker 1: difficult times, and the hope to stay devoted to prayer,
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  Speaker 1: continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength in your midst. I
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  Speaker 1: offer and pray this in the name of Jesus, your Son,
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  Speaker 1: our Savior, and my Lord Amen. Almost done, but before
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  Speaker 1: rushing off too quickly into a day full of distractions.
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  Speaker 1: I hope you can pause before stepping into that world
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  Speaker 1: and rest a bit longer, just soaking in hope, patience,
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  Speaker 1: and prayer. And I hope that soaking today will bring
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  Speaker 1: you into a place of peace and alignment with God
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  Speaker 1: as you meditate and abide in Christ. Is your personality
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  Speaker 1: one that continues firmly, sometimes stubbornly, on a course of
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  Speaker 1: action in spite of difficulty or opposition. Well, Jesus once
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  Speaker 1: told a story, a story about a persistent woman. It's
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  Speaker 1: really a parable about God and prayer. A persistent widow
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  Speaker 1: bugs a local judge for justice and bothers him so
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  Speaker 1: much that he finally gives her what she wants. It
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: tells a story of a neighbor who needs food for
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: a visitor, so he keeps knocking on the door until
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: he gets what he needs. In Proverbs, Solomon clues us
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: into one of the most important aspects of prayer, persistence.
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: Pursue God, run after him until you find him. So
• 33:49
  Speaker 1: does that describe your relationship with God? Do you continue
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: firmly pursuing God in prayer in spite of difficulty or opposition?
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: Do you wish you could well join me as we meditate,
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: reflect and pray about persistence in prayer from Proverbs chapter
• 34:10
  Speaker 1: twenty one, verse twenty one. But as we begin, please
• 34:15
  Speaker 1: join me in a time of opening prayer. Dear God
• 34:20
  Speaker 1: of Wisdom, your way is true and right, Your way
• 34:25
  Speaker 1: is goodness and love. In my heart, I want the
• 34:30
  Speaker 1: things that you have to give me, but I confess
• 34:35
  Speaker 1: that I do not always go after those things with
• 34:38
  Speaker 1: diligence in persistence. So Lord God, give me drive today,
• 34:45
  Speaker 1: help me to live in a way that actively, unceasingly
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: pursues you. And it's in the name of Jesus that
• 34:54
  Speaker 1: I offer and acknowledge this to you in prayer. Amen. So,
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: as we begin a time posturing and settling before the Lord,
• 35:05
  Speaker 1: what's running through your heart and mind right now? I
• 35:09
  Speaker 1: want you to acknowledge those worries, those stressors, and then
• 35:14
  Speaker 1: put them aside for the next few minutes as we
• 35:16
  Speaker 1: pray and meditate, begin by taking a deep breath several
• 35:23
  Speaker 1: hold it as long as you can, and let the
• 35:27
  Speaker 1: breathing cleanse your mind. Clear your mind, focus on finding
• 35:33
  Speaker 1: the stillness of God in this time of prayer. Is
• 35:53
  Speaker 1: there anything that is still bugging you in your life
• 35:56
  Speaker 1: right now, something that just won't let go, something that
• 36:01
  Speaker 1: blocks you from the quiet focus of prayer, Sin and
• 36:07
  Speaker 1: unconfessed sin, doubt, worry. Confess those to God right now,
• 36:14
  Speaker 1: and remember He's a God of grace and mercy and
• 36:17
  Speaker 1: love and forgiveness. Our God is King of light and life.
• 36:38
  Speaker 1: He is sovereign over everything that was and is and
• 36:42
  Speaker 1: will be, and he works it all for good. Ask
• 36:47
  Speaker 1: Him now to guide you and speak to you as
• 36:50
  Speaker 1: I read from Proverbs chapter twenty one, verse twenty one,
• 36:54
  Speaker 1: and listen carefully. Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love will
• 37:02
  Speaker 1: find life. Righteousness, and honor. So what did you hear?
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: What word stood out to you from this passage? Listen
• 37:13
  Speaker 1: to it again carefully. Whoever pursues righteousness and unfailing love
• 37:20
  Speaker 1: will find life, righteousness, and honor. So what word did
• 37:27
  Speaker 1: you hear? What word can be the basis of a
• 37:31
  Speaker 1: persistent prayer of yours today? Pray that now to God
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: for several moments consider this. Do you keep pursuing God
• 38:11
  Speaker 1: and prayer and keep asking and knocking? Or are there
• 38:15
  Speaker 1: some things you've just given up on? Are you seeking
• 38:20
  Speaker 1: and asking and knocking? What are some prayers that you've
• 38:24
  Speaker 1: given up on that need to be revisited? Pick several
• 38:29
  Speaker 1: moments now of reflection and think back on those prayers
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: with eyes still closed, Listen again as I read from
• 39:07
  Speaker 1: Proverbs chapter twenty one, verse twenty one, he who earnestly
• 39:13
  Speaker 1: seeks righteousness and loyalty finds life, righteousness and honor. What
• 39:23
  Speaker 1: did you hear this time? What is God speaking to
• 39:26
  Speaker 1: your heart through this passage? Who is righteous but God?
• 40:02
  Speaker 1: And who has unfailing love? Except God? No one? So
• 40:08
  Speaker 1: we can't pursue righteousness without pursuing God. But what are
• 40:15
  Speaker 1: you pursuing? What gets your energy? Let this be a
• 40:20
  Speaker 1: time of reflection and perhaps confession. Solomon tells us that
• 40:55
  Speaker 1: if we pursue God, we will find him, and when
• 40:59
  Speaker 1: we get God, we also get his life and his
• 41:03
  Speaker 1: righteousness and his honor. But if we're honest, it's rare
• 41:09
  Speaker 1: to feel righteous when we pray. When praying, I often
• 41:14
  Speaker 1: don't feel righteous. I don't often feel loved. So often
• 41:18
  Speaker 1: I feel like my words just hit a ceiling. But
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: as his children, we are loved. Ask him to show
• 41:28
  Speaker 1: you how he sees you. How has he infused you
• 41:34
  Speaker 1: with his goodness? This can be difficult, this can be humbling,
• 41:39
  Speaker 1: But ask him that question now, How has he revealed
• 41:43
  Speaker 1: himself and his character and who he is inside of you?
• 41:49
  Speaker 1: And let this meditation be your prayer. Listen one in
• 42:22
  Speaker 1: final time, as I read and you reflect on Proverbs
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty one, verse twenty one. Whoever pursues righteousness and
• 42:32
  Speaker 1: unfailing love will find life, righteousness, and honor. You know,
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: a quest takes time and effort. A diligent pursuit of
• 42:46
  Speaker 1: the righteousness of God is the work of a lifetime.
• 42:51
  Speaker 1: Think of someone you know who is seasoned in his
• 42:55
  Speaker 1: or her faith, someone who really buys into being a
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: g Jesus follower, What does their life look like? Let
• 43:04
  Speaker 1: this time of reflection be your prayer to God. Now
• 43:38
  Speaker 1: you may not know the behind the scenes in that
• 43:41
  Speaker 1: person's life, but you can imagine this instead. Imagine an
• 43:47
  Speaker 1: Olympic athlete who has trained honestly. Imagine the hours, the diligence,
• 43:54
  Speaker 1: the sacrifices they've made. They have pursued a goal and
• 43:59
  Speaker 1: earned a pro Again, using your sanctified imagination, get a
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: clear picture in your head of the life of someone
• 44:08
  Speaker 1: who actively trains for the next Olympics. How much time
• 44:13
  Speaker 1: per week does that training take? How much of their
• 44:18
  Speaker 1: life does that training effect. I want you to take
• 44:22
  Speaker 1: some significant time now and ponder that connection, the connection
• 44:27
  Speaker 1: between training for an Olympic event and finding time to
• 44:32
  Speaker 1: pursue and be persistent in your relationship with God. The
• 45:07
  Speaker 1: apostle Paul says that in two Timothy chapter four, I
• 45:11
  Speaker 1: have fought the good fight. I have finished the race,
• 45:16
  Speaker 1: I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up
• 45:21
  Speaker 1: for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
• 45:24
  Speaker 1: Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and
• 45:29
  Speaker 1: not only to me, but also to all who have
• 45:32
  Speaker 1: loved His appearing. If the Christian life is like the
• 45:37
  Speaker 1: training and execution of a race, how are you doing
• 45:41
  Speaker 1: with your training? Is it an occasional burst of a workout,
• 45:47
  Speaker 1: or are you diligently persistently pursuing the strengthening of your
• 45:53
  Speaker 1: faith every day? Are you allowing the goodness of Jesus
• 45:58
  Speaker 1: to infuse what every interaction you have in your life?
• 46:03
  Speaker 1: Continue to ponder this and let that be your prayer
• 46:07
  Speaker 1: to God. Ask God now for fresh or continued persistent
• 46:42
  Speaker 1: desire for Him and his righteousness and his love and
• 46:47
  Speaker 1: his honor. Let this be your prayer. Join me now
• 47:21
  Speaker 1: in a time of closing prayer. Dear unfailing and righteous God,
• 47:27
  Speaker 1: You alone are righteous. You alone can love unfailingly and unconditionally.
• 47:36
  Speaker 1: So help me to pursue you for you, and not
• 47:40
  Speaker 1: your rewards or gifts, but just for you. I admit
• 47:45
  Speaker 1: that I often do not feel your presence when I pray.
• 47:49
  Speaker 1: My days are so busy that even in the middle
• 47:52
  Speaker 1: of prayer or reading your word, my mind wanders back
• 47:55
  Speaker 1: to my schedule. So lock my mind and attention right
• 48:01
  Speaker 1: now and help me to give you my full heart
• 48:04
  Speaker 1: and attention. There are needs that I've brought to you
• 48:08
  Speaker 1: before God, and I've given up. Don't let me lose hope.
• 48:13
  Speaker 1: Give me a persistent spirit in prayer, knowing that you
• 48:17
  Speaker 1: give me what I need in due season, due time,
• 48:21
  Speaker 1: and that you give good gifts to your children. Help
• 48:25
  Speaker 1: me be like the persistent widow and the nagging neighbor.
• 48:29
  Speaker 1: Don't let me stop trusting in your faithfulness and love.
• 48:34
  Speaker 1: I pray because I cannot do these things. Only you can.
• 48:40
  Speaker 1: And it's in the name of Jesus that I pray. Amen.
• 48:45
  Speaker 1: So as we end our time together, the things of
• 48:48
  Speaker 1: today are probably already starting to flood back into your mind.
• 48:52
  Speaker 1: Fuse together what God spoke to you and your reality
• 48:57
  Speaker 1: as you imagine your to do list. Imagine yourself pursuing
• 49:01
  Speaker 1: righteousness as you do your daily tasks. What does that
• 49:06
  Speaker 1: look like? Let words like constant, continual, endless, enduring, insistent
• 49:15
  Speaker 1: describe your prayer life today. So ponder this question today.
• 49:56
  Speaker 1: Have you recently felt weighed down, particularly affected by gravity,
• 50:04
  Speaker 1: and may be fearful of daily pressures in your life?
• 50:09
  Speaker 1: When you feel burdened or fearful, where do you go?
• 50:13
  Speaker 1: Where do you turn? Well? A refuge is where you
• 50:18
  Speaker 1: run to when you're in danger. God actually created refuge
• 50:23
  Speaker 1: cities in ancient Israel so that people who were wrongly
• 50:27
  Speaker 1: accused or in danger could hide out in those cities
• 50:31
  Speaker 1: safe where they could be cared for and protected from harm.
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: So what about you? Where is your refuge? God tells
• 50:42
  Speaker 1: us that he will protect us When we pray, God
• 50:46
  Speaker 1: brings us into His presence and shelters us from harm.
• 50:50
  Speaker 1: His very nearness is good for us. What an amazing thought.
• 50:56
  Speaker 1: So where is your refuge? What is it? Do you
• 51:01
  Speaker 1: want help? Trying to find it? Today? Well join me
• 51:04
  Speaker 1: as we meditate, reflect, and pray about God as your
• 51:08
  Speaker 1: refuge from Psalm Chapter one, nineteen, verse one fourteen. But
• 51:15
  Speaker 1: first join me in a time of opening career. Dear protector, God,
• 51:23
  Speaker 1: you are my safe place. You are my rest. I
• 51:28
  Speaker 1: can trust you because I know you are absolutely sovereign
• 51:34
  Speaker 1: and perfectly good. Help me to lean into you all
• 51:38
  Speaker 1: the time, not just when I need help or go
• 51:41
  Speaker 1: through something hard, but build my faith in you and
• 51:46
  Speaker 1: you alone, Dear God. And it's in Jesus' name that
• 51:50
  Speaker 1: I pray. Amen. So as we begin, and as we
• 51:55
  Speaker 1: posture ourselves before a safe and protecting God, if you can,
• 52:01
  Speaker 1: I'd like you to bow down today, get on your
• 52:04
  Speaker 1: knees if you're able to on the floor. If you
• 52:07
  Speaker 1: can't do that, that's okay. But find a posture or
• 52:10
  Speaker 1: get into a frame of mind that allows you to
• 52:13
  Speaker 1: humble yourself today and place yourself under the shield of
• 52:18
  Speaker 1: our great God. Ponder that now. Do that now if
• 52:23
  Speaker 1: you can. Now in a time of cleansing, I want
• 52:41
  Speaker 1: you to focus on coming clean. If there's anything holding
• 52:45
  Speaker 1: you back from connecting with God, what a perfect time
• 52:50
  Speaker 1: to confess that now as we begin. So take a
• 52:54
  Speaker 1: moment now, really all the time that you need, and
• 52:58
  Speaker 1: focus on those things that are blocking you from feeling
• 53:02
  Speaker 1: in His presence. I know that may be difficult, but
• 53:06
  Speaker 1: remember that God is a God of love and grace
• 53:09
  Speaker 1: and mercy and forgiveness. So approach him now in a
• 53:14
  Speaker 1: time of confession and cleansing. Our God is a god
• 53:33
  Speaker 1: of strength. He is a safe place, a mighty tower.
• 53:38
  Speaker 1: Turn to him now and listen carefully to what he
• 53:41
  Speaker 1: has to tell you about who he is. Open your
• 53:45
  Speaker 1: heart to these words of praise from Psalm chapter one
• 53:49
  Speaker 1: hundred and nineteen, verse one fourteen. You are my refuge
• 53:56
  Speaker 1: and my shield. Your word is my of hope. So
• 54:03
  Speaker 1: what image comes to mind from this passage. Try to
• 54:06
  Speaker 1: create a concrete picture of that in your mind, of
• 54:10
  Speaker 1: God as a refuge or a shield. Listen to this
• 54:14
  Speaker 1: passage carefully one more time. You are my refuge and
• 54:21
  Speaker 1: my shield. Your word is my source of hope. What
• 54:29
  Speaker 1: word did you hear most clearly in that passage? Let
• 54:34
  Speaker 1: that be your focus. Now take several moments and focus
• 54:37
  Speaker 1: on what you heard, and let that focus become your prayer.
• 55:11
  Speaker 1: Ask yourself this question, where do I turn and run
• 55:15
  Speaker 1: to when I'm in trouble? Is God my refuge? Or
• 55:20
  Speaker 1: do I run to other people or things for my protection?
• 55:25
  Speaker 1: Is the Bible my source of hope? Or is my
• 55:29
  Speaker 1: hope in money, or success or recognition or something else.
• 55:35
  Speaker 1: Focus on that question. Ponder that as you prepare to
• 55:39
  Speaker 1: go deeper in your time of meditation and prayer before God.
• 56:13
  Speaker 1: With eyes still closed, listen again as I read from
• 56:16
  Speaker 1: Psalm one nineteenh verse one fourteen. You are my hiding
• 56:22
  Speaker 1: place and my shield. I wait for your word. What
• 56:29
  Speaker 1: does this passage tell you about God? How has He
• 56:33
  Speaker 1: shown himself to be a hiding place for you? Is
• 56:37
  Speaker 1: that a characteristic of God that you embrace or understand?
• 56:41
  Speaker 1: Do you want to pursue that more. Ponder that now
• 56:44
  Speaker 1: in a time of meditation. In Psalm one nineteenh verse
• 57:18
  Speaker 1: one fourteen, we find a man who desires to keep
• 57:22
  Speaker 1: God's laws, but also desires his presence. Perhaps you are
• 57:28
  Speaker 1: weary today and desire God to be near to you.
• 57:32
  Speaker 1: Take a moment right now and just let God read
• 57:36
  Speaker 1: your heart. No eloquent words, no words at all. Really,
• 57:41
  Speaker 1: just sit and rest in his presence. Focus on His
• 57:46
  Speaker 1: presence now in a time of deeper reflection and meditation.
• 58:21
  Speaker 1: To wait is a difficult thing. We want action now.
• 58:27
  Speaker 1: But waiting on the word of God, or putting your
• 58:30
  Speaker 1: hope in his word, means trusting that God will do
• 58:34
  Speaker 1: what he says. He will work all things for our good,
• 58:39
  Speaker 1: just maybe not in our timing or in the way
• 58:42
  Speaker 1: we expect. But He will work on us and make
• 58:47
  Speaker 1: us more like Him every day. It just takes time.
• 58:52
  Speaker 1: He does have a purpose for us, but it may
• 58:55
  Speaker 1: look different or take longer than we want. Are you
• 59:00
  Speaker 1: placing your ultimate hope in God or are you trying
• 59:05
  Speaker 1: to force things to happen in your timing and in
• 59:08
  Speaker 1: your way. Focus on that now as a time of confession.
• 59:12
  Speaker 1: If you need as you ponder that before the Lord,
• 59:46
  Speaker 1: listen one in final time, as I read and you
• 59:49
  Speaker 1: reflect on Psalm one nineteen, verse one fourteen, You are
• 59:55
  Speaker 1: my refuge and my shield. Your word is my source
• 1:00:00
  Speaker 1: of hope. King David talks a lot about God as
• 1:00:06
  Speaker 1: a refuge or a shield. In Psalm three, verse three says,
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 1: but you, o Lord, are my shield, about me, my
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 1: glory and the lifter of my head. In Psalm Chapter
• 1:00:21
  Speaker 1: thirty two, verse seven, it says you are a hiding
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 1: place for me. You preserve me from trouble. You surround
• 1:00:30
  Speaker 1: me with shouts of deliverance. Psalm ninety one, verses one
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 1: and two says he who dwells in the shelter of
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 1: the most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
• 1:00:46
  Speaker 1: I will say to the Lord, my refuge and my fortress,
• 1:00:50
  Speaker 1: my God in whom I trust. So right now, I
• 1:00:56
  Speaker 1: want you to imagine God as a literal hiding place.
• 1:01:03
  Speaker 1: Imagine Him as a place you go for rest from
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 1: the battle or protection from your enemies. What do you
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 1: need a hiding place from today? Using your sanctified imagination,
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 1: I want you to imagine that literally, as God is
• 1:01:20
  Speaker 1: a literal hiding place. And what are you hiding from today?
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 1: What do you need protection from? What do you need
• 1:01:29
  Speaker 1: refuge from? Today? Let this time of reflection be your
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 1: meditation and prayer. It's in the midst of trouble that
• 1:02:08
  Speaker 1: David needs shelter. But more than physical protection, David knows
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 1: that in God he can find restoration, healing. The Lord
• 1:02:19
  Speaker 1: lifts his head, the Lord delivers. The Lord is the
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 1: one whom David trusts. So imagine yourself sitting in the
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 1: literal safe refuge of the presence of God. As you
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 1: sit there, you are not just shielded, but you were
• 1:02:38
  Speaker 1: given energy and joy and peace. So take time now
• 1:02:43
  Speaker 1: to be present with God in this safe place. When
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 1: you are rested, you are ready to accomplish the tasks
• 1:03:22
  Speaker 1: God has given you to do today. So ask God
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 1: now to rejuvenate you, to give you what you need
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 1: to face the day with courage and joy, regardless of
• 1:03:34
  Speaker 1: what comes. And let this consideration be your meditation and
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 1: prayer to God. Join me now as we close our time,
• 1:04:13
  Speaker 1: Oh refuge and shielding God, let me hide myself. And
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 1: you know, don't let my heart be fooled into thinking
• 1:04:23
  Speaker 1: that anyone or anything else can comfort, fulfill, or shelter
• 1:04:29
  Speaker 1: me today only you can. Dear Lord, Please expose the
• 1:04:34
  Speaker 1: idols in my life, the things and people that I
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 1: so often use to make myself feel better instead of you.
• 1:04:43
  Speaker 1: Let me run to you as my true hope, my
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 1: true shelter refuge In God, you care for me as
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 1: a father cares for his child. You love me with
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 1: an everlasting love. All things are yours, and you are
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 1: a generous God. I am yours today and you are mine.
• 1:05:09
  Speaker 1: Teach my heart to trust you more today and destroy
• 1:05:12
  Speaker 1: the false idols and comforts in my life that are
• 1:05:16
  Speaker 1: not of you. I thank you for this time, this realization,
• 1:05:21
  Speaker 1: this new trust, and I pray this all in the
• 1:05:25
  Speaker 1: name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. So, as you
• 1:05:29
  Speaker 1: begin to come out of the stillness of prayer, want
• 1:05:33
  Speaker 1: you to grab onto the things that God spoke to
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 1: you during your time today, internalize them, ask Him to
• 1:05:40
  Speaker 1: help you remember that He is a safe place, that
• 1:05:44
  Speaker 1: He is the true hope, the true refuge, the true rest.
• 1:05:51
  Speaker 1: And as you reach out today towards surrendering to the safe,
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 1: secure refuge arms of Jesus, I hope it brings you
• 1:06:01
  Speaker 1: into a place of peace that lasts throughout your day
• 1:06:04
  Speaker 1: as you continue to meditate, reflect, pray, and abide in Christ.
• 1:06:26
  Speaker 1: So here's an interesting question. What do you think is
• 1:06:30
  Speaker 1: one of the most cruel lessons being taught in some
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 1: churches today? Several may pop in mind, but the one
• 1:06:39
  Speaker 1: I hope we can spend time meditating on today is
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 1: the cruel message that Christ's death on the Cross means
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 1: the end of suffering for all who have sufficient faith.
• 1:06:53
  Speaker 1: It may be in hidden phrases like God wants you
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 1: to be happy, or God never desires for you to
• 1:07:00
  Speaker 1: be in pain, or what about if you just pray
• 1:07:04
  Speaker 1: harder or have more faith, God will heal you. Have
• 1:07:09
  Speaker 1: you heard any of those? Have you hoped any of
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 1: them were true? Well? Sure I know I have. But
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 1: consider this today. Do you ever doubt your faith when
• 1:07:21
  Speaker 1: you suffer trials? Well? Join me as we meditate, reflect,
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 1: and pray about standing firm and suffering from first Peter
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 1: Chapter five, verse ten. But first join me in a
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 1: moment of opening prayer. Dear God, I am no stranger
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 1: to suffering, But oh Dear God, nothing that compares to
• 1:07:45
  Speaker 1: what so many others are experiencing. Compared to others, my
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 1: suffering is more of a mere inconvenience. But you, Dear God,
• 1:07:55
  Speaker 1: by your grace, will restore and strengthen us in the
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 1: midst of our trials and sufferings. Let me remember that,
• 1:08:04
  Speaker 1: and I offer and pray this in the name of Jesus,
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 1: your Son, our Savior, and my Lord. Amen. You know
• 1:08:13
  Speaker 1: we really are addicted to comfort. Just consider how much
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 1: of our economy is based on comforting us food, entertainment, clothing.
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 1: We want to be comfortable, and want to be comfortable
• 1:08:28
  Speaker 1: now immediately. So it's really no wonder that attitude leaks
• 1:08:33
  Speaker 1: into how we pursue God. We want him to make
• 1:08:37
  Speaker 1: us comfortable, but that is neither his goal or our
• 1:08:41
  Speaker 1: highest pursuit. Today's meditation is about suffering. But as we
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 1: begin today's journey and meditation, I want you to start
• 1:08:50
  Speaker 1: by taking a few deep, cleansing breaths. Just be still,
• 1:08:57
  Speaker 1: settle in, close your eyes. Today I want you to
• 1:09:02
  Speaker 1: get uncomfortable. I want you to sit up, uncomfortably straight
• 1:09:09
  Speaker 1: in a chair that is maybe already not comfortable. If
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 1: I lost you already, I hope not. I want you
• 1:09:17
  Speaker 1: to suffer a bit as you find a sacred space
• 1:09:21
  Speaker 1: to posture and reveal yourself before a sustaining God in
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 1: reverent awe. Is there anything in your heart that is
• 1:09:44
  Speaker 1: blocking you from relying on Him today? Maybe even your
• 1:09:49
  Speaker 1: uncomfortable posture right now, or an attitude, a sinful habit,
• 1:09:55
  Speaker 1: maybe some doubt or anger. Well, confess those things to
• 1:09:59
  Speaker 1: God right now, ask him and thank Him for his
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 1: grace and forgiveness. God is revealed glory, the very image
• 1:10:23
  Speaker 1: of glory. Listen carefully as I read from First Peter,
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 1: chapter five, verse ten. And after you have suffered a
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 1: little while, the God of all grace, who has called
• 1:10:36
  Speaker 1: you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen,
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 1: and establish you. So how are you holding up being uncomfortable?
• 1:10:50
  Speaker 1: Will continue to be faithful and consider what stood out
• 1:10:54
  Speaker 1: to you from that passage, Which word, which emotion? Listen
• 1:11:01
  Speaker 1: to it again. And after you have suffered a little while,
• 1:11:05
  Speaker 1: the God of all grace, who has called you to
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 1: his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen,
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 1: and establish you. So what is God telling you through
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 1: the words of this passage? Let those words become your
• 1:11:23
  Speaker 1: prayer to Him in this sacred moment of meditation. As
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 1: you focus on God, are you still a little uncomfortable,
• 1:12:01
  Speaker 1: good tempted to leave? Why what does that reveal to you?
• 1:12:09
  Speaker 1: Notice this passage doesn't say God will bring us comfort
• 1:12:13
  Speaker 1: in our pain. It says He will complete, confirm, strengthen,
• 1:12:18
  Speaker 1: and establish in our suffering. So consider your discomfort now?
• 1:12:25
  Speaker 1: How is God using it to complete you? Open your
• 1:12:30
  Speaker 1: heart more deeply to him right now? Meditate on that
• 1:12:34
  Speaker 1: in the midst of your discomfort? How is he revealing
• 1:12:37
  Speaker 1: himself with eyes still closed? Listen again as I read
• 1:13:10
  Speaker 1: from First Peter five, verse ten. After you have suffered
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 1: for a little while, the God of all grace, who
• 1:13:19
  Speaker 1: imparts his blessing and favor, who called you to his
• 1:13:22
  Speaker 1: own eternal glory in Christ, will himself complete, confirm, strengthen,
• 1:13:29
  Speaker 1: and establish you, making you what you ought to be.
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 1: What did you hear this time? What did you remember
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 1: about the passage that you might have forgotten earlier? Or
• 1:13:42
  Speaker 1: where did your memories settle? Take a moment to focus
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 1: on that, center on it and drive thoughts of that
• 1:13:50
  Speaker 1: deeper into your mind as you meditate. So are you
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 1: still a little uncomfortable? Are you holding in there? Well?
• 1:14:27
  Speaker 1: Listen as the New Living Translation says, God will restore
• 1:14:33
  Speaker 1: support and strengthen you in the midst of your suffering. So,
• 1:14:39
  Speaker 1: besides sitting up straight in an uncomfortable chair, what is
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 1: another recent trial you have had or maybe are experiencing today.
• 1:14:50
  Speaker 1: Meditate on how He might be strengthening you in the
• 1:14:53
  Speaker 1: midst of that. Listen to him now quietly, meditate on that.
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 1: Another interesting aspect of this passage is how the God
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 1: of all grace will impart his blessing and favor on you.
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 1: Grace is receiving something you don't deserve. So here's another
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 1: profound question for you to meditate on. Has there been
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 1: a recent trial in your life of your own doing,
• 1:15:50
  Speaker 1: suffering that you brought on yourself, and yet by his
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 1: grace he strengthened you instead of giving you what you deserved.
• 1:16:01
  Speaker 1: Ponder that. Bring him your thanks right now, and meditate
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 1: on how you will respond to him. Listen one in
• 1:16:38
  Speaker 1: final time as I read and you reflect on First
• 1:16:41
  Speaker 1: Peter Chapter five, verse ten. But God shows undeserved kindness
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 1: to everyone, That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 1: you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 1: for a little while, but God will make you then
• 1:16:59
  Speaker 1: come complete, steady, strong, and firm. Tewod Corinthians chapter four
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 1: has a similar passage. It says, for this light momentary
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 1: affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory
• 1:17:17
  Speaker 1: beyond all comparison. It's interesting how it defines our trials
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 1: as light, momentary afflictions. I know, very possibly yours may
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 1: seem anything but light and momentary and hardly described as
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 1: an affliction. They probably feel like a full onslaught or
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 1: barrage against your sanity. But let's ask Him here for
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 1: that view. Pray here for God to let you see
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 1: your darkest moments as light, momentary and an affliction. Pray
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 1: that and meditate as he transforms your heart into to his.
• 1:18:30
  Speaker 1: Stay there for a moment, using your sanctified imagination from
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 1: the spirit of God. I want you to see your
• 1:18:38
  Speaker 1: darkest moment of suffering. Visualize it, see it physically before
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 1: you see it, Smell it, taste it. Now see it
• 1:18:53
  Speaker 1: actually becoming light, not dark, and maybe even lighter in
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 1: weight and floating away. See it there one moment, now,
• 1:19:06
  Speaker 1: see it gone in a moment, and feel the pain
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 1: dissolving into nothing more than an annoyance. Ask the spirit
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 1: to transform your sufferings so you will see them as
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 1: God sees them, light momentary and mirror afflictions. See it
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 1: happening in your mind as the spirit transforms. You join
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 1: me now in a time of closing prayer. Dear Lord God, Yes,
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 1: I am weak in my own strength. I try and
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 1: face the trials that I suffer, but I fail so
• 1:20:16
  Speaker 1: often in my own strength, I stand only to fall
• 1:20:20
  Speaker 1: back down. So today, as I face trials that cause
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 1: suffering for even just a little while longer, help me
• 1:20:29
  Speaker 1: sense your presence like never before in the midst of
• 1:20:33
  Speaker 1: the trials and suffering in my life. Continue to work
• 1:20:37
  Speaker 1: in my life, complete me, confirm and strengthen me. Give
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 1: me hope in you, establish yourself in and through me,
• 1:20:47
  Speaker 1: so I can become who I ought to be in you.
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 1: I offer and pray this in the name of Jesus,
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 1: your Son, our Savior, and my Lord Amen. Most finished,
• 1:21:00
  Speaker 1: but not quite before we rush off. Want you to
• 1:21:04
  Speaker 1: slowly and softly open your eyes and get comfortable, slouch,
• 1:21:11
  Speaker 1: settle whatever, Just get comfortable, but remember the discomfort, and
• 1:21:19
  Speaker 1: today look for those moments of discomfort to remind you
• 1:21:24
  Speaker 1: of His presence and strength in the midst of your pain.
• 1:21:29
  Speaker 1: And I hope that reminder will keep you in a
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 1: place of peace all day today and through your life
• 1:21:35
  Speaker 1: as you frequently meditate and abide in Christ. What are
• 1:21:44
  Speaker 1: you going through today? What is testing you? You'll never
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 1: have a better day than when you learn to stand
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 1: strong in the Lord. Some seasons of life can feel
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 1: so overwhelming and exhausting, can't they? And in the middle
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 1: of the seasons, people think they help by saying things
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 1: like there's a plan or something good will come from this,
• 1:22:07
  Speaker 1: and that's a nice sentiment, but it doesn't really acknowledge
• 1:22:10
  Speaker 1: the pain that's so very real. The Bible says something better.
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 1: James is not one to leave us with nice platitudes.
• 1:22:20
  Speaker 1: He is an author that tells the truth, and he
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 1: gives hope that as we push through trials, there is
• 1:22:26
  Speaker 1: reward on the other side of this life. Do you
• 1:22:30
  Speaker 1: want to experience that reward? That push through a trial?
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 1: Will join me as we meditate, reflect and pray about
• 1:22:38
  Speaker 1: hope and trials From James Chapter one, verse twelve. But
• 1:22:44
  Speaker 1: let's start with an opening prayer. Dear God, you are
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 1: good and you are true. You see me in my trial,
• 1:22:53
  Speaker 1: and though you have the power to stop it, you
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 1: choose to allow this test. Sometimes I don't always understand why.
• 1:23:01
  Speaker 1: But use this to refine me, make me better, help
• 1:23:05
  Speaker 1: me to see you and keep my eyes focused on
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 1: You and Heaven. And it's in the name of God,
• 1:23:11
  Speaker 1: the Father, Jesus, the Son, and the Holy Spirit that
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 1: I pray. Amen. So as we begin, breathe, just breathe deeply.
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 1: Find a position and spot where you can just stop
• 1:23:28
  Speaker 1: for a moment and be still and breathe. Let it out.
• 1:23:34
  Speaker 1: Focus your mind on God and ask him to open
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 1: your heart to what He has to say today. Tell
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 1: God what is wearing you out or hurting you today,
• 1:24:00
  Speaker 1: your doubts, your anger, and your tears. He's God, He
• 1:24:06
  Speaker 1: can handle it. Our God is the God of eternity,
• 1:24:24
  Speaker 1: the architect of heaven. This world, isn't it? Ask him
• 1:24:29
  Speaker 1: now to help you. Notice one word or phrase or
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 1: image from James Chapter one, verse twelve. Blessed is the
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 1: man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has
• 1:24:43
  Speaker 1: stood the test, he will receive the crown of life,
• 1:24:47
  Speaker 1: which God has promised to those who love him. What
• 1:24:51
  Speaker 1: did you hear? Listen again carefully as I read Blessed
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 1: is the man who remains steadfast under trial. For when
• 1:25:01
  Speaker 1: he has stood the test, he will receive the crown
• 1:25:05
  Speaker 1: of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
• 1:25:10
  Speaker 1: What stood out to you this time? Take a moment
• 1:25:14
  Speaker 1: and let that idea soak up into your heart. Let
• 1:25:17
  Speaker 1: your thoughts be your prayer. God doesn't promise an easy life.
• 1:25:52
  Speaker 1: He promises blessings for those who walk bravely and faithfully
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 1: through tough things. Ask God to give you strength and
• 1:26:01
  Speaker 1: endurance to remain steadfast under trial with your eyes still closed.
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 1: Listen again as I read from James Chapter one, verse twelve. Blessed, happy,
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 1: spiritually prosperous, and favored by God is the man who
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 1: is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted, For when
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 1: he has passed the test and been approved, he will
• 1:26:58
  Speaker 1: receive the victor's crown of life, which the Lord has
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 1: promised to those who love him. Why did you hear
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 1: this time? Did God reinforce something or reveal something new
• 1:27:11
  Speaker 1: to you? Ask God to help you understand what He
• 1:27:14
  Speaker 1: is saying to you today through his word. Did you
• 1:27:47
  Speaker 1: notice the phrase spiritually prosperous. Normally we hear the word
• 1:27:52
  Speaker 1: blessed in the context of material things or happy endings.
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 1: But here it talks about blessed in trial, So blessing
• 1:28:03
  Speaker 1: is about getting something more valuable than comfort. How do
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 1: you think about blessings and trials? Ask God now to
• 1:28:12
  Speaker 1: help you see blessings in the midst of trials instead
• 1:28:17
  Speaker 1: of the opposite of trial. The crown of life is
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 1: clarified here as the victor's crown of life. If this
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 1: life is a marathon, then trial is a stretch that
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 1: requires extra and assurance in perspective to see the finish line.
• 1:29:03
  Speaker 1: Ask Jesus now to help you fix your eyes on
• 1:29:06
  Speaker 1: Him as you persevere. Listen one in final time, as
• 1:29:40
  Speaker 1: I read and you reflect on James Chapter one, verse twelve.
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 1: Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for
• 1:29:49
  Speaker 1: when he has stood the test, he will receive the
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 1: crown of life, which God has promised to those who
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 1: love him. Your pain is real, friend, So as you
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 1: keep pushing, keep working, keep going, know that you have
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 1: a father God who cheers you on and fills you up.
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 1: Imagine your race, your story. What's hard about it? What
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 1: doubts or temptations are tripping you up? What burdens are
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 1: you trying to carry by yourself? Tell him about them. Now.
• 1:30:54
  Speaker 1: Hebrews chapter twelve, verses one and two says, Therefore, since
• 1:30:59
  Speaker 1: we are so rounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
• 1:31:03
  Speaker 1: let us also lay aside every weight and sin which
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 1: clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the
• 1:31:11
  Speaker 1: race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 1: founder and the perfector of our faith, who, for the
• 1:31:19
  Speaker 1: joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising
• 1:31:25
  Speaker 1: the shame, and is seated now at the right hand
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 1: of the throne of God. Use your imagination here. Want
• 1:31:34
  Speaker 1: you to feel the weights literally hanging around your neck,
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 1: Feel the cold chains, the weights dragging across the floor,
• 1:31:48
  Speaker 1: forcing your body to bend over in pain. How do
• 1:31:51
  Speaker 1: they feel? What does Jesus see in your eyes as
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 1: you carry them? Tell him about the weight, Tell him
• 1:32:01
  Speaker 1: about the pain. Now, imagine unlocking them, throwing off the weights,
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 1: the things that snare you. How did the chain sound
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 1: hitting the floor. How did the weights sound dropping to
• 1:32:45
  Speaker 1: the floor. Imagine Jesus at the finish line with the
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 1: keys to the locks to your chains, the keys to heaven.
• 1:32:56
  Speaker 1: Imagine that now in prayer, a day will come when
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 1: you see him face to face. He will look you
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 1: in the eye and say well done as he puts
• 1:33:35
  Speaker 1: the crown of life on your head. Think about what
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 1: that would mean to you. Ask him to teach you
• 1:33:41
  Speaker 1: how to endure by desiring him above every other comfort
• 1:33:46
  Speaker 1: the world has to offer, and ask him. Now join
• 1:34:19
  Speaker 1: me in a time of closing prayer. Dear Father God,
• 1:34:23
  Speaker 1: you see me here in this broken world. You know
• 1:34:26
  Speaker 1: my broken heart. You are all knowing, so you know
• 1:34:31
  Speaker 1: the end of the story. You are sovereign, so you
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 1: have written the end of the story. Help me to
• 1:34:38
  Speaker 1: be steadfast and strong today. Dear God, Let me view
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 1: my world through an eternal lens, and let me handle
• 1:34:47
  Speaker 1: today with your grace and your patience. Give me endurance
• 1:34:52
  Speaker 1: as I run this race, and let me hope in
• 1:34:56
  Speaker 1: knowing you are there at the end. In Jesus' name, Amen,
• 1:35:13
  Speaker 1: we want to offer scriptural prayer for those struggling with
• 1:35:16
  Speaker 1: anxiety disorder and those closest to them. Symptoms can include
• 1:35:22
  Speaker 1: stress that's a bit out of proportion to the impact
• 1:35:26
  Speaker 1: of an event in our life, and inability to set
• 1:35:30
  Speaker 1: aside worry, restlessness. Anxiety is so conflicting it may be
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 1: hard to imagine your life without it, but it may
• 1:35:39
  Speaker 1: be equally hard to imagine letting go of it. You
• 1:35:43
  Speaker 1: don't want to feel this way, and others don't want
• 1:35:47
  Speaker 1: you feeling this way either. You may feel like others
• 1:35:51
  Speaker 1: don't understand, and you know what, they may not. Others
• 1:35:55
  Speaker 1: may see your anxiety as well, just an idea that
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 1: can be easily dismissed with rational thought. They may share
• 1:36:03
  Speaker 1: statistics to prove there is nothing to worry about. But
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 1: to you, it's not just a thought. It's a feeling,
• 1:36:11
  Speaker 1: a very real feeling. But the strange thing is, we
• 1:36:15
  Speaker 1: have feelings all day about so many things, most of
• 1:36:20
  Speaker 1: which we easily dismiss. But with some of these feelings,
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 1: we start to obsess on them, We give energy to them,
• 1:36:30
  Speaker 1: and we become a prisoner to this endless loop of
• 1:36:34
  Speaker 1: worry and anxiety. If you're struggling with anxiety disorder, will
• 1:36:40
  Speaker 1: you join me in this prayer. Dear Lord, God, Sovereign God,
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 1: God of Peace, there is no fear, no anxiety, no
• 1:36:52
  Speaker 1: panic in your kingdom. Establish your kingdom in my heart,
• 1:36:58
  Speaker 1: in my mind today, right now, so that I can
• 1:37:03
  Speaker 1: walk in peace, So that I can walk in confidence
• 1:37:07
  Speaker 1: and strength. Open the eyes of my heart so that
• 1:37:11
  Speaker 1: I can see all that you want for me. Show
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 1: me how I've been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Dear
• 1:37:21
  Speaker 1: protective God, you are all around me. You guard me
• 1:37:25
  Speaker 1: with your word, with your presence, and with the command
• 1:37:29
  Speaker 1: of your angels. Lord God, you will not let me stumble,
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 1: You will not let me fall. Help me, trust you,
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 1: help me. Remember I am your child and you are
• 1:37:40
  Speaker 1: my father. I'm seated with you in heaven. I'm at
• 1:37:44
  Speaker 1: rest in your arms. You cover me with your wings.
• 1:37:48
  Speaker 1: You fight for me. You provide everything I need for life,
• 1:37:53
  Speaker 1: for peace, provision, and protection. I confess to you that
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 1: at times, maybe even today, maybe even in this moment,
• 1:38:02
  Speaker 1: maybe even in this second, I feel imprisoned by fear
• 1:38:07
  Speaker 1: and anxiety. I confess it to you right now. Give
• 1:38:12
  Speaker 1: me the courage, Lord God, to whisper that confession to you.
• 1:38:16
  Speaker 1: Right now. Let me take a deep breath and name
• 1:38:22
  Speaker 1: my anxiety, share it with you, tell it to you.
• 1:38:31
  Speaker 1: These feelings rise up within me. Give me your courage
• 1:38:35
  Speaker 1: to face them, to stare them down, acknowledge them, and
• 1:38:40
  Speaker 1: bring them into light. They lose their power over me
• 1:38:45
  Speaker 1: in your light. The anxious thoughts I have that weigh
• 1:38:48
  Speaker 1: on me become weak, when laid before you. Help me
• 1:38:53
  Speaker 1: today in this moment, this very moment, to not be
• 1:38:57
  Speaker 1: anxious about anything. Pray to you about everything. Help me
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 1: cast every care I have on you. Guide me along
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 1: the best paths to take. Advise me, counsel me. Help
• 1:39:12
  Speaker 1: me listen to you with my heart as you speak
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 1: your peace over me. Father, Live in me and through me,
• 1:39:21
  Speaker 1: and help me put all of my trust in you.
• 1:39:23
  Speaker 1: And it's in Jesus' name. Amen. What if this isn't you,
• 1:39:29
  Speaker 1: But what if someone close to you, may be someone
• 1:39:32
  Speaker 1: with you right now is struggling with anxiety disorder? Will
• 1:39:37
  Speaker 1: you join me in prayer? Dear Lord, God, Sovereign God,
• 1:39:42
  Speaker 1: God of Peace, heal and bring peace to my friend.
• 1:39:48
  Speaker 1: Release them from their fear, their burden of fear, of
• 1:39:52
  Speaker 1: anxiety and panic. Establish your kingdom and their heart and
• 1:39:58
  Speaker 1: their mind. They can walk in peace and confidence and strength.
• 1:40:04
  Speaker 1: Open the eyes of their heart so that they can
• 1:40:07
  Speaker 1: see all that you want for them. Show them how
• 1:40:10
  Speaker 1: they have been blessed with every one of your spiritual blessings.
• 1:40:16
  Speaker 1: Dear protective God, guard my friend, Guard them with your word,
• 1:40:21
  Speaker 1: with your presence and the command of your angels. You
• 1:40:25
  Speaker 1: are all around them. Right now, Lord God, give also
• 1:40:30
  Speaker 1: your words, your wisdom, and your tenderness to me, so
• 1:40:35
  Speaker 1: that I may know how to be a present, peaceful
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 1: comfort for my friend. Guard my tongue from saying anything
• 1:40:43
  Speaker 1: that may make things more anxious for them. Guard my
• 1:40:48
  Speaker 1: attitude from maybe hurting them even further. Help us both
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 1: listen to you with our hearts so we understand and
• 1:40:56
  Speaker 1: feel the peace You are speaking over both of us. Father,
• 1:41:01
  Speaker 1: live in and through us, instilling your peace into our lives.
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 1: Then it's in Jesus' name? Amen? Do you feel full
• 1:41:20
  Speaker 1: of joy and hope even during trouble times in your life?
• 1:41:25
  Speaker 1: You and I live in a broken world, a world
• 1:41:28
  Speaker 1: fractured by sin and separation from God. It's not a
• 1:41:31
  Speaker 1: matter of if, but when we find ourselves in difficult times.
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 1: So stop for a moment. In what area of your
• 1:41:39
  Speaker 1: life are you struggling the most? Now ask yourself three questions. First,
• 1:41:48
  Speaker 1: during these troubled times, is your life full of joy
• 1:41:51
  Speaker 1: and hope? Second? Do I joyfully lean into Jesus during
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 1: difficult times? Or do I grumble? Third? Finally, in difficult times,
• 1:42:04
  Speaker 1: are you deeply devoted to prayer? Will join me as
• 1:42:09
  Speaker 1: we meditate, reflect and pray about endurance and how to
• 1:42:13
  Speaker 1: answer these three questions from Romans chapter twelve, verse twelve.
• 1:42:18
  Speaker 1: But first join me in just a moment of opening prayer.
• 1:42:22
  Speaker 1: Dear heavenly Father, by your grace and mercy. And there
• 1:42:26
  Speaker 1: are exceptions, but I struggle to find joy in the
• 1:42:30
  Speaker 1: midst of difficult times. I fight to lean in, but
• 1:42:34
  Speaker 1: often lean away from You in hard times. And when
• 1:42:38
  Speaker 1: I should spend more time in prayer, I spend less
• 1:42:41
  Speaker 1: when my days are cloudy. So help me find joy,
• 1:42:46
  Speaker 1: lean on you and pray even when my days are
• 1:42:49
  Speaker 1: far from gray. And I ask this now by your
• 1:42:52
  Speaker 1: authority and in the name of your son Jesus Christ,
• 1:42:55
  Speaker 1: to whom I pray. Amen. That's convict. It really is
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 1: about time, isn't it. We are so busy even at rest,
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 1: and all the more when caught up in the world
• 1:43:07
  Speaker 1: of our lives. But it's about making time to find time,
• 1:43:12
  Speaker 1: time to find joy, time to lean on Christ, and
• 1:43:16
  Speaker 1: time to pray. So today I hope this time of
• 1:43:21
  Speaker 1: long deep meditation will help you find time that in
• 1:43:26
  Speaker 1: your pursuit of Him, all other things of lesser value
• 1:43:29
  Speaker 1: will fall away. So as we begin, take a few
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 1: deep relaxing breaths. There's peaceful, deep breaths today, and settle
• 1:43:38
  Speaker 1: into wherever you are being aware of the majesty of
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 1: God like nothing else matters in the world. Finding time
• 1:43:47
  Speaker 1: to focus solely on Him. Finding time is where we
• 1:43:52
  Speaker 1: will be going today. Scan your life in your body
• 1:44:09
  Speaker 1: for a moment. Are there words or deeds, thoughts, actions,
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 1: or pain keeping you from spending time with Him today?
• 1:44:19
  Speaker 1: We'll confess that now and then thank Him for his grace,
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 1: his forgiveness, and his love. God is hope. The Holy
• 1:44:42
  Speaker 1: Spirit speaks God's joyful voice to us, and Jesus is
• 1:44:47
  Speaker 1: our example. I've had a fine time to pray, so
• 1:44:51
  Speaker 1: listen carefully to every detail as I read from Romans
• 1:44:54
  Speaker 1: chapter twelve, Verse twelve. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,
• 1:45:03
  Speaker 1: and be constant in prayer. What stood out to you
• 1:45:08
  Speaker 1: from that short and powerful passage? Listen to it again.
• 1:45:12
  Speaker 1: Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 1: in prayer. That is so short but so powerful. Let's
• 1:45:23
  Speaker 1: read it again. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,
• 1:45:29
  Speaker 1: be constant in prayer. Reflect here on how God might
• 1:45:33
  Speaker 1: be using this passage to touch your life today. So
• 1:46:07
  Speaker 1: during these troubled times, is your life full of joy
• 1:46:09
  Speaker 1: and hope? Even in times far from troubled, do you
• 1:46:14
  Speaker 1: find time to reflect on the joy that you have
• 1:46:17
  Speaker 1: and hope in Christ. We'll pause here, meditate and reflect
• 1:46:22
  Speaker 1: on that. Make time right now to focus on the
• 1:46:26
  Speaker 1: joy that you have and hope in Christ. Listen again
• 1:47:00
  Speaker 1: as I read from Romans chapter twelve, verse twelve. May
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 1: we constantly rejoice in hope because of our confidence in Christ,
• 1:47:10
  Speaker 1: steadfast and patient in distress and devoted to prayer, continually
• 1:47:15
  Speaker 1: seeking wisdom, guidance and strength. What did you hear this time?
• 1:47:20
  Speaker 1: Did you hear something comforting or recognizable or something crisp
• 1:47:25
  Speaker 1: and unusual? We'll focus there even deeper in quiet meditation.
• 1:48:01
  Speaker 1: Do you patiently lean into Jesus during difficult times? Or
• 1:48:04
  Speaker 1: grumble impatiently? And again do you lean on Him even
• 1:48:09
  Speaker 1: when times are far from difficult? Will pause here again,
• 1:48:14
  Speaker 1: meditate and reflect, and make time right now to lean
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 1: into the arms of Jesus. Resist pushing away, but surrender
• 1:48:24
  Speaker 1: into his arms. Just rest there for several moments. Saint
• 1:48:59
  Speaker 1: Francis Descend once said, every one of us needs a
• 1:49:03
  Speaker 1: half an hour of prayer every day, except when you're busy,
• 1:49:07
  Speaker 1: then you need an hour. I love that d Almudi
• 1:49:11
  Speaker 1: said something similar. The busier I am, the longer I pray.
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: That's so counterintuitive to our lives, isn't it so? How
• 1:49:20
  Speaker 1: busy are you and what excuses do you use to
• 1:49:24
  Speaker 1: not pray? I want to challenge you to pause the
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 1: app and pray longer. Right now? Are you? Are you
• 1:49:32
  Speaker 1: hesitating over the pause button? Why? Well, take significant time
• 1:49:38
  Speaker 1: right now to rest before the Lord in quiet reflection,
• 1:49:41
  Speaker 1: knowing he is your creator and his son is your Lord.
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 1: Pause here and whisper to him. Lord Jesus Christ, Son
• 1:49:50
  Speaker 1: of God, have mercy on me. Lord Jesus christ, Son
• 1:49:55
  Speaker 1: of God, have mercy on me. Pause the app and
• 1:49:59
  Speaker 1: keep prayer, saying, Lord Jesus christ, Son of God, have
• 1:50:03
  Speaker 1: mercy on me. Listen one and final time as I
• 1:50:37
  Speaker 1: read and you meditate on Romans chapter twelve, verse twelve.
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 1: Let your hope make you glad, be patient in time
• 1:50:44
  Speaker 1: of trouble, and never stop praying. I just love the
• 1:50:49
  Speaker 1: simplicity of today's message. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation,
• 1:50:54
  Speaker 1: and be constant in prayer. Hope, patience, prayer, patience prayer,
• 1:51:02
  Speaker 1: HPP hope patience prayer. Just pause here and continue to
• 1:51:08
  Speaker 1: pray for those for hope, for patience, and for time
• 1:51:13
  Speaker 1: to pray. What have you felt or maybe experienced during
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 1: this time of meditation. We'll offer that now back to
• 1:51:50
  Speaker 1: the Lord as a gift of quiet reflection. Seek his
• 1:51:53
  Speaker 1: application of it into your life today. Join me now
• 1:52:27
  Speaker 1: in a moment of closing prayer, fear enduring God. Yes,
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 1: you know, my heart, You are intimately aware of my circumstances,
• 1:52:36
  Speaker 1: and you are more aware of them even than I am.
• 1:52:39
  Speaker 1: So in my difficult times, help me find peace, Help
• 1:52:43
  Speaker 1: me find paths towards you and not away from you.
• 1:52:47
  Speaker 1: And even in the midst of what feels like suffocating darkness,
• 1:52:51
  Speaker 1: let the love I show be sincere and active in
• 1:52:55
  Speaker 1: the midst of difficult times. Give me the courage to
• 1:52:58
  Speaker 1: hate what is evil, to detest all ungodliness, to not
• 1:53:03
  Speaker 1: tolerate wickedness, but to hold on tightly to what is good.
• 1:53:09
  Speaker 1: Those times when I feel the most isolated and alone,
• 1:53:13
  Speaker 1: give me the love to be devoted to others, to
• 1:53:16
  Speaker 1: have authentic brotherly affection as members of one family. And
• 1:53:21
  Speaker 1: those times where I feel utterly exhausted. Give me the
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 1: strength to not lag behind in enthusiastically serving You, letting
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 1: your spirit knit into me. The awareness of constantly rejoicing hope,
• 1:53:38
  Speaker 1: the hope I find in confidence in Christ, the hope
• 1:53:42
  Speaker 1: that can help me lean into Christ and not away.
• 1:53:46
  Speaker 1: The hope that helps me endure and stay patient during
• 1:53:49
  Speaker 1: difficult times, and the hope to stay devoted to prayer,
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 1: continually seeking wisdom, guidance, and strength in your midst. I
• 1:53:59
  Speaker 1: offer pray this in the name of Jesus, your Son
• 1:54:02
  Speaker 1: are Savior and my Lord Amen. Almost done, but before
• 1:54:07
  Speaker 1: rushing off too quickly into a day full of distractions.
• 1:54:11
  Speaker 1: I hope you can pause before stepping into that world
• 1:54:13
  Speaker 1: and rest a bit longer, just soaking in hope, patience
• 1:54:19
  Speaker 1: and prayer. And I hope that's soaking today will bring
• 1:54:23
  Speaker 1: you into a place of peace and alignment with God
• 1:54:26
  Speaker 1: as you meditate and abide in Christ. Dear Protector, God,
• 1:54:41
  Speaker 1: you are my safe place. You are my rest. I
• 1:54:46
  Speaker 1: can trust you because I know you are absolutely sovereign
• 1:54:52
  Speaker 1: and perfectly good. Help me to lean into You all
• 1:54:57
  Speaker 1: the time, not just when I need help or go
• 1:55:00
  Speaker 1: through something hard, but build my faith in You and
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 1: you alone, Dear God, and it's in Jesus' name that
• 1:55:08
  Speaker 1: I pray. Amen. Our God is a god of strength.
• 1:55:16
  Speaker 1: He is a safe place, a mighty tower. Turn to
• 1:55:20
  Speaker 1: him now and listen carefully to what he has to
• 1:55:23
  Speaker 1: tell you about who he is. Open your heart to
• 1:55:27
  Speaker 1: these words of praise from Psalm chapter one hundred and nineteen,
• 1:55:32
  Speaker 1: Verse one fourteen. You are my refuge and my shield.
• 1:55:39
  Speaker 1: Your word is my source of hope. So what image
• 1:55:45
  Speaker 1: comes to mind from this passage? Try to create a
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 1: concrete picture of that in your mind, of God as
• 1:55:51
  Speaker 1: a refuge or a shield. Listen to this passage carefully
• 1:55:56
  Speaker 1: one more time. You are my refuge and my shield.
• 1:56:04
  Speaker 1: Your word is my source of hope. What word did
• 1:56:10
  Speaker 1: you hear most clearly in that passage? Let that be
• 1:56:15
  Speaker 1: your focus. Now take several moments and focus on what
• 1:56:19
  Speaker 1: you heard, and let that focus become your prayer. Ask
• 1:56:43
  Speaker 1: yourself this question, where do I turn and run to
• 1:56:48
  Speaker 1: when I'm in trouble? Is God my refuge or do
• 1:56:52
  Speaker 1: I run to other people or things for my protection?
• 1:56:57
  Speaker 1: Is the Bible my source of hope? Or is my
• 1:57:01
  Speaker 1: hope in money or success or recognition or something else.
• 1:57:07
  Speaker 1: Focus on that question ponder that as you prepare to
• 1:57:10
  Speaker 1: go deeper in your time of meditation and prayer before God.
• 1:57:37
  Speaker 1: With eyes still closed, listen again as I read from
• 1:57:40
  Speaker 1: Psalm one nineteen verse one fourteen. You are my hiding
• 1:57:47
  Speaker 1: place and my shield. I wait for your word. What
• 1:57:54
  Speaker 1: does this passage tell you about God? How has he
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 1: shown himself to be a hiding place for you? Is
• 1:58:01
  Speaker 1: that a characteristic of God that you embrace or understand?
• 1:58:05
  Speaker 1: Do you want to pursue that more? Ponder that now
• 1:58:09
  Speaker 1: in a time of meditation. In Psalm one nineteenh verse
• 1:58:43
  Speaker 1: one fourteen, we find a man who desires to keep
• 1:58:47
  Speaker 1: God's laws, but also desires his presence. Perhaps you are
• 1:58:53
  Speaker 1: weary today and desire God to be near to you.
• 1:58:57
  Speaker 1: Take a moment right now and just let God God
• 1:59:00
  Speaker 1: read your heart. No eloquent words, no words at all, really,
• 1:59:06
  Speaker 1: just sit and rest in his presence. Focus on His
• 1:59:11
  Speaker 1: presence now in a time of deeper reflection and meditation,