Latest / Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation / Seeking Pure & Undefiled Faith: Meditation from James 1:27
Transcript
- 0:08Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:12Pastor Robert Young: Here, we put aside all distractions to enter into God's presence and hear from God better and to allow the Holy Spirit to make us more Christ-like.
- 0:26Pastor Robert Young: I am your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
- 0:35Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Christian meditation, check out episode 164, Getting Started and Guided Christian Meditation.
- 0:48Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why, the origins, and even the science of all of the stages of meditation that we practice.
- 1:03Pastor Robert Young: If you suffer from severe anxiety, depression, or trauma, psychotic episodes, or if you are in active addiction, then consult your physician before beginning this or any meditation practice.
- 1:27Pastor Robert Young: This week's subject is about seeking pure and undefiled faith.
- 1:34Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from James chapter one, verse twenty seven.
- 1:43Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to Scripture, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body, and spirit.
- 1:57Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
- 2:04Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms chapter fifty one, verses one through four, where it says, Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
- 2:29Pastor Robert Young: Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
- 2:36Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
- 2:49Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on James 1, verse 27, let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us.
- 3:05Pastor Robert Young: Now, take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and slowly exhale for count of seven.
- 3:18Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat.
- 3:25Pastor Robert Young: Take a deep breath in for a count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five.
- 3:31Pastor Robert Young: Now slowly exhale for a count of seven.
- 3:46Pastor Robert Young: Let's prepare our bodies with muscle relaxation exercises.
- 3:51Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
- 3:59Pastor Robert Young: Remember, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
- 4:04Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
- 4:08Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three and release.
- 4:16Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads, and the glutes.
- 4:23Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
- 4:26Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 4:29Pastor Robert Young: Going upward to the abdominals, chest, and back area.
- 4:35Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
- 4:38Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 4:41Pastor Robert Young: And last, moving to the arms and shoulders.
- 4:46Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
- 4:50Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
- 5:02Pastor 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.
- 5:19Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness.
- 5:22Pastor Robert Young: Come before Him with joyful songs.
- 5:26Pastor 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.
- 6:01Pastor Robert Young: Now that we have prepared our mind, our body, and our spirit, let's begin to examine James chapter one, verse twenty-seven, where it says, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight reign on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.
- 6:31Pastor Robert Young: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneselves from being polluted by the world."
- 6:55Pastor Robert Young: James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that true religion is not just about personal piety, but also about putting our faith into action by showing compassion for those in need, especially the most vulnerable in our society.
- 7:17Pastor Robert Young: James also admonishes us to not allow our interactions with the world's way of thinking to pollute or even dilute our own faith.
- 7:32Pastor Robert Young: We are to show the unbeliever that faith in Christ's sacrifice is expressed in outward actions as well as inner peace.
- 7:55Pastor Robert Young: Imagine the Holy Spirit bringing you to further sanctification to the point where you can control your emotions, no matter how strong that emotion may be.
- 8:09Pastor Robert Young: Control that you would only speak words that build up and encourage others.
- 8:19Pastor Robert Young: Imagine you walking the walk by adding actions to your words.
- 13:52Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmation now and for the next 7days: Thank you, Lord, for the strength to control my words, and the inner strength to express your love in actions to others.
- 14:04Pastor Robert Young: Again, thank you, Lord, for the strength to control my words and the inner strength to express your love in actions to others.
- 14:31Pastor Robert Young: Our assignment: Listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul.
- 14:37Pastor Robert Young: Follow up every day with the daily devotionals and reflect reflection questions about this subject.
- 14:46Pastor Robert Young: Know that this work of maturing is by God's strength.
- 14:52Pastor Robert Young: You only need a willing heart.
- 14:55Pastor Robert Young: Amen.