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Pursuing God Through Solitude: Meditation from Mark 1:35 · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:10
  Pastor Robert Young: I am Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:17
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation, check out Episode 164, entitled, Getting Started in Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:30
  Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why and even the science of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
• 0:42
  Pastor Robert Young: This week's subject is about pursuing God through Solitude.
• 0:49
  Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from Mark chapter one verse thirty five.
• 0:57
  Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to Scriptures, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
• 1:11
  Pastor Robert Young: True confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
• 1:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms chapter 51, verses one through four, where it says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions, wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
• 1:52
  Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me.
• 2:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Mark chapter 1, verse 35, let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
• 2:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five.
• 2:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Now slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 2:36
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat.
• 2:40
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and then slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 2:57
  Pastor Robert Young: Now let's prepare our body with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 3:04
  Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
• 3:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Remember, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 3:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
• 3:19
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calves for a count of three.
• 3:24
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:26
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads, and glutes.
• 3:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:36
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the abdominals, chest, and back area.
• 3:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:47
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:50
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and the shoulders.
• 3:55
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
• 3:59
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 4:08
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can enter into worship of our Heavenly Father by focusing on Psalms chapter 100, verses 1 through 3, where it tells us to shout for joy to the Lord all the earth.
• 4:25
  Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness, come before Him with joyful songs.
• 4:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a moment to lift up your voice in praise and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father, who is worthy of all honor and glory, by repeating Psalms chapter 8, verse 9, which says, Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
• 5:08
  Pastor Robert Young: Now that we have prepared our mind, our body, and our spirit, let's begin to examine Mark chapter one, verse thirty-five.
• 5:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Hear the words from the Gospel of Mark.
• 5:24
  Pastor Robert Young: Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place where he prayed.
• 5:41
  Pastor Robert Young: Today, we focus on the gift of solitude.
• 5:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Remember the example of Jesus, who often withdrew from the crowds, from the demands, the noise, the neediness to find a solitary place to pray.
• 6:03
  Pastor Robert Young: This was how Jesus recharged, prioritized, and connected with the Father.
• 6:12
  Pastor Robert Young: Solitude is not loneliness, it is intentional presence.
• 6:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Imagine yourself joining Jesus in that quiet, solitary place.
• 6:26
  Pastor Robert Young: The world is asleep.
• 6:29
  Pastor Robert Young: The demands are silent.
• 6:31
  Pastor Robert Young: It is just you and the Father.
• 6:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Let go of any guilt about stepping away from the world.
• 6:41
  Pastor Robert Young: This withdrawal is a radical act of spiritual prioritization.
• 6:48
  Pastor Robert Young: You are doing the essential thing.
• 6:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Think about the things that crowd your mind.
• 6:57
  Pastor Robert Young: The list, the notifications, the unresolved worries.
• 7:03
  Pastor Robert Young: As you breathe in, collect one of those distractions.
• 7:07
  Pastor Robert Young: As you breathe out, release it, placing it into the capable hands of Almighty God.
• 7:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Inhale, collect the noise.
• 7:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Exhale.
• 7:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Release the noise.
• 7:26
  Pastor Robert Young: You are inviting the Holy Spirit to transform the crowded marketplace of your heart into a quiet sanctuary.
• 7:40
  Pastor Robert Young: God is here to restore your soul.
• 7:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Allow the silence to act as a spiritual mirror, gently revealing any place where your heart feels dry or depleted.
• 7:58
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat this silent prayer to yourself.
• 8:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Lord, search my heart and refresh my soul.
• 8:09
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a moment to feel the stability that comes from relying on God.
• 8:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Your strength is not found in your striving, but in quietness and trust of Almighty God.
• 8:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Let that trust settle deep your bones.
• 8:38
  Pastor Robert Young: Feel the peace of his presence filling you up, preparing you for re-entry into the world.
• 8:47
  Pastor Robert Young: You are not isolated.
• 8:50
  Pastor Robert Young: You are being replenished so that you can better serve and love those around you.
• 13:17
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmation now and for the next 7 days:
• 13:17
  Pastor Robert Young: In the presence of God is fullness of joy, and at His right hand are pleasures forevermore.
• 13:22
  Pastor Robert Young: Again, In the presence of the Lord is fullness of joy, and at his right hand are pleasures forevermore.
• 13:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Our Assignment: Listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul. Follow up every day with the daily devotionals and watch what God does in your heart.
• 14:00
  Pastor Robert Young: Amen.