Latest / Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation / How To Recognize Truth When Everything Feels Urgent | Meditation on Discernment
Transcript
- 0:05Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:09Pastor Robert Young: Here, we put aside all distractions to enter into God's presence and to hear from God better and to allow the Holy Spirit to make us more like Christ.
- 0:23Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
- 0:32Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to the podcast or if you're not a believer, then I'd like to suggest that you check out episode 164 that talks about the who, what, and the why of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
- 0:50Pastor Robert Young: If you're not filled with the Holy Spirit, then this process will not apply to you.
- 0:56Pastor Robert Young: In fact, our whole podcast only applies to those who have repented, confessed, and accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
- 1:08Pastor Robert Young: If you haven't done this, then reach out to me with the link in the description box below.
- 1:14Pastor Robert Young: I can help you with the process of becoming a believer in Christ Jesus and you too can experience the joy of living for God.
- 1:27Pastor Robert Young: If you suffer from severe anxiety, depression, or trauma, psychotic episodes, or if you're in active addiction, then please consult your physician before beginning this or any meditation practice.
- 1:52Pastor Robert Young: Our theme for this week is about discernment.
- 1:56Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from Matthew 24, verse 4, where it says, Take heed that no man deceive you.
- 2:05Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to the scriptures, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
- 2:19Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
- 2:27Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin by repeating the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms 51, verses 1 through 4, where it says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
- 3:00Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
- 3:09Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Matthew 24, verse 4, let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
- 3:26Pastor Robert Young: First, take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of four, and slowly release for a count of seven.
- 3:46Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the exercise.
- 3:58Pastor Robert Young: Now, let's prepare our bodies by releasing any tension with muscle relaxation exercises.
- 4:07Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
- 4:14Pastor Robert Young: And as we always say, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
- 4:20Pastor Robert Young: Let's start with the calf muscles.
- 4:22Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three.
- 4:27Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 4:29Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads, and glutes, lightly tense for three seconds.
- 4:38Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 4:40Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the abdominals, chest, and back area.
- 4:45Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
- 4:49Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 4:51Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and shoulders.
- 4:55Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
- 4:59Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:08Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to enter into worship by repeating Psalms verse one through three, where it says, Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
- 5:21Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
- 5:24Pastor Robert Young: Come before Him with joyful songs.
- 5:28Pastor Robert Young: Let's take a moment to lift up our voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who is worthy of all honor and glory, by repeating Psalms chapter 8, verse 9, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
- 6:04Pastor Robert Young: Now that we've prepared our mind, our bodies, and our spirit, let's begin to examine and reflect on Matthew chapter 24, verse 4, where it says, Take heed that no man deceive you.
- 6:24Pastor Robert Young: In this chapter and verse, Jesus is telling the disciples about what's going to happen in the last days.
- 6:34Pastor Robert Young: In verse 4, Jesus is telling them not to be tricked by all of the false signs and misinformation that will be prevalent during that time.
- 6:46Pastor Robert Young: He goes on to tell of wars, famines, and all kinds of trouble, but not to be afraid.
- 6:55Pastor Robert Young: This scene that Jesus is painting is not too different from what we are seeing today.
- 7:00Pastor Robert Young: With all the information available at our fingertips, it can be easy to fall to some of the internet prophets and social media preachers of doom and fear.
- 7:13Pastor Robert Young: Jesus warned that deception would increase as the world moves toward the end of the age.
- 7:21Pastor Robert Young: Discernment isn't about fear, it's about clarity.
- 7:27Pastor Robert Young: It's the spiritual ability to recognize what is true, what is false, and what is simply noise.
- 7:36Pastor Robert Young: In a world filled with opinions, prophecies, and online voices, discernment becomes a shield that protects your heart and anchors your mind in God's truth.
- 7:57Pastor Robert Young: Let's take two minutes to reflect on the following question.
- 8:02Pastor Robert Young: Where in my life do I feel the need for clearer spiritual discernment?
- 10:20Pastor Robert Young: God gives me clarity and I walk in his truth.
- 10:26Pastor Robert Young: Again, God gives me clarity and I walk in his truth.
- 10:48Pastor Robert Young: Along with the daily devotions about this subject, and watch as God continues to transform your thinking as well as your inner man.
- 11:00Pastor Robert Young: Amen.