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Do You Hunger & Thirst for God's Presence?: Meditation from Matthew 5:6 · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:04
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:08
  Pastor 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.
• 0:23
  Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture for this week is from Matthew chapter 5, verse 6, which says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
• 0:51
  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.
• 1:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of an Almighty God.
• 1:12
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's start by repeating 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 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.
• 1:45
  Pastor Robert Young: For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
• 2:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on Matthew chapter 5, verse 6, let's prepare our minds by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to feel us.
• 2:20
  Pastor 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 a count of seven.
• 2:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat.
• 2:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Take a deep breath in for count of seven, hold the breath for a count of five, and then slowly exhale for count of seven.
• 3:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Now let's prepare our body with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 3:11
  Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
• 3:17
  Pastor Robert Young: As always, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 3:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calves.
• 3:26
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for count of three.
• 3:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:34
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads, and the glutes.
• 3:39
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the abdominals, chest, and back areas.
• 3:51
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense for three seconds.
• 3:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 3:58
  Pastor Robert Young: Finally, moving to the arms and shoulders.
• 4:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds.
• 4:06
  Pastor Robert Young: Now release.
• 4:33
  Pastor Robert Young: Now we can begin to enter into worship by repeating Psalm 100 verse 1-3 were it says, "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness.
• 4:35
  Pastor Robert Young: Come before Him with joyful songs.
• 4:39
  Pastor 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.
• 5:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Now that we have prepared our mind, our body, and our spirit, let's begin to examine Matthew chapter 5, verse 6, where it says, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
• 5:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's concentrate on what Jesus means when he speaks of hungering and thirsting.He is not talking about a casual wish, but a desperate, life-and-death need for food and water. This is how urgently we should crave "righteousness."Righteousness means being right with God and desiring to live a holy, just life. To hunger and thirst for it means that our greatest spiritual need is not for comfort, success, or attention, but for God's perfect standard and presence to fill us
• 6:47
  Pastor Robert Young: completely, first for salvation and ultimately in his perfect kingdom.
• 7:03
  Pastor Robert Young: Begin to visualize time when you were truly hungry or thirsty, that physical persistent ache.
• 7:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, translate that feeling into a spiritual ache.
• 7:22
  Pastor Robert Young: See your soul reaching out for God's righteousness, for his forgiveness, for his wisdom, and for the strength to do what is right in the eyes of God.
• 7:40
  Pastor Robert Young: Now, picture Jesus standing before you, the source of living water, and the bread of life saying, I will satisfy that hunger.
• 7:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Now feel the peace and the quiet contentment in your soul, knowing that the Savior has promised you this ultimate fulfillment.
• 8:08
  Pastor Robert Young: Not the fulfillment that the world gives, but the everlasting food of joy, fulfillment that only a relationship with God through his son Jesus Christ can provide.
• 8:52
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take 5 minutes to really check our hearts to see if our deepest desire is for God’s righteousness by asking ourselves this question: Do I pursue holiness and closeness with God with the same urgency as I pursue my most basic physical needs, such as food, water, and comfort.
• 14:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmation now and for the next 7 days:
• 14:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Thank you, Lord, for giving me a hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
• 14:22
  Pastor Robert Young: And thank you for promising to satisfy me.
• 14:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Again, thank you, Lord, for giving me a hunger and thirst for your righteousness.
• 14:36
  Pastor Robert Young: And thank you for promising to satisfy me.
• 14:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Our assignment.
• 14:46
  Pastor Robert Young: Follow up every day with the daily devotionals and reflection questions about this subject.
• 15:02
  Pastor Robert Young: And as you reflect on God's goodness and mercy, your soul will begin to ignite with desire for more of God's presence.
• 15:14
  Pastor Robert Young: Amen.