Latest / Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation / Finding Hope in Darkness: Meditation from Romans 15:13 #198
Transcript
- 0:05Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:08Pastor Robert Young: I am Pastor Robert Young and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
- 0:16Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation, may I suggest that you check out our episode 164 titled, Getting Started in Guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:29Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why and even the science behind all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
- 0:43Pastor Robert Young: Today's subject is about receiving hope in the midst of uncertain times.
- 0:49Pastor Robert Young: Today's meditation is entitled, Our Hope is in G od.
- 1:05Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from Romans 15:13.
- 1:07Pastor Robert Young: But First, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body and spirit.
- 1:17Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
- 1:24Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms, chapter 51, verses 1 through 4, where it says "have mercy upon me, o God, according to thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
- 2:15Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Romans, chapter 15, verses 13, let's prepare our minds by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
- 2:31Pastor Robert Young: Now take a deep breath in for a count of seven.
- 2:35Pastor Robert Young: Hold the breath for a count of five and slowly exhale for a count of seven.
- 2:42Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat, Take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five and then slowly exhale for a count of seven.
- 3:15Pastor Robert Young: Now let's prepare our bodies with muscle relaxation exercises.
- 3:20Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
- 3:27Pastor Robert Young: As always.
- 3:28Pastor Robert Young: Don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
- 3:33Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
- 3:36Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three, now release.
- 3:43Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads and glutes, lightly tense for three seconds, now release.
- 3:53Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the abdominals, chest and back area, lightly tense for three seconds, now release.
- 4:08Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and the shoulders, let's lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds, now release.
- 4:27Pastor Robert Young: Now we can enter into worship of our Heavenly Father by focusing on Psalms 100, verses 1-3, where it tells us to "shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
- 4:43Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs.
- 4:49Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to lift up our voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who is worthy of all honor and glory.
- 5:02Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat Psalms chapter 8, verse 9, which says Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
- 5:28Pastor Robert Young: Now, now that we have prepared our minds, our bodies and our spirit, let's begin to examine Romans, chapter 15, verses 13.
- 5:44Pastor Robert Young: Where it says "may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace, as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- 6:02Pastor Robert Young: In this passage, paul the Apostle tells the church that God is hope and that the Holy Spirit is the one that can fill them with hope, especially during a time when they may not be able to see why they should have hope.
- 6:32Pastor Robert Young: He tells them that the Holy Spirit can fill them with hope that overflows.
- 6:37Pastor Robert Young: And speaking of hope, in 1 Peter 3, verses 15, peter tells the saints to be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope that is in them.
- 6:56Pastor Robert Young: Surely, in our modern times, God can, will and wants to fill us with hope, even though we may not be able to see the reasons why with our natural eyes.
- 7:14Pastor Robert Young: Remember, this is not a promise that things will get better now, but that one day, suffering, pain, confusion and divisions will be done away with by the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- 7:52Pastor Robert Young: Let's take the next three minutes to reflect on the following questions.
- 7:54Pastor Robert Young: One, have my sense of hope run out?
- 7:56Pastor Robert Young: Two, If situations don't change, will I still trust God?
- 11:48Pastor Robert Young: Imagine, you calmly walking through your life being filled with the hope that God Imagine yourself calmly walking through life being filled with the hope and joy that only God gives.
- 11:48Pastor Robert Young: Picture yourself answering people when asked, “why are you so calm.
- 11:48Pastor Robert Young: ” Hear your response and feel the joy flood from you to help someone else.
- 12:11Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmations now and for the next seven: Again, I am filled with the joy and hope that only the Holy Spirit can give
- 12:37Pastor Robert Young: Our assignment.
- 12:46Pastor Robert Young: Listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul.
- 12:52Pastor Robert Young: Take the next 10 minutes to quietly listen and wait to receive the spirit of hope from God to fill your mind, body and spirit.
- 13:08Pastor Robert Young: Amen no-transcript
- 23:29Pastor Robert Young: .