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Our Anger Does Not Change Hearts: Meditation from James 1:19-26 #194 · Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation

• 0:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:06
  Pastor Robert Young: I'm your host, Pastor Robert Young, and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey.
• 0:14
  Pastor Robert Young: If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation, then check out our Episode 164, Getting Started in Guided Christian Meditation.
• 0:24
  Pastor Robert Young: Episode 164 explains the why and even the science of all the stages of meditation that we practice.
• 0:45
  Pastor Robert Young: Today's subject is about recognizing and expressing our anger in a healthy way.
• 0:48
  Pastor Robert Young: Today's meditation is titled Releasing your Anger to God.
• 0:54
  Pastor Robert Young: Our scripture is from James, chapter 1, verses 19 through 26.
• 0:59
  Pastor Robert Young: But first, according to scripture, God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind, body and spirit.
• 1:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God.
• 1:17
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed in Psalms, chapter 51, verses 1 through 4.
• 1:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Have mercy upon me, o God, according to thy lovingkindness, according unto the multitude of thy tender mercy, 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.
• 2:05
  Pastor Robert Young: Before we start to reflect on James, chapter 1, verses 19 through 26, 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.
• 2:26
  Pastor Robert Young: Hold the breath for a count of five and slowly exhale for a count of seven.
• 2:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat.
• 2:44
  Pastor Robert Young: 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.
• 3:01
  Pastor Robert Young: Now let's prepare our bodies with muscle relaxation exercises.
• 3:07
  Pastor Robert Young: We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle.
• 3:15
  Pastor Robert Young: Remember, don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation.
• 3:20
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's begin with the calf muscles.
• 3:23
  Pastor Robert Young: Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three, now release.
• 3:30
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving upward to the hamstrings, quads and glutes, lightly tense for three seconds, now release.
• 3:42
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the abdominals, chest and back area, lightly tense for three seconds, now release.
• 3:53
  Pastor Robert Young: Moving to the arms and shoulders, lightly tense these muscle groups for three seconds, now release.
• 4:29
  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.
• 4:34
  Pastor Robert Young: Worship the Lord with gladness, come before him with joyful songs.
• 4:36
  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.
• 4:46
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's repeat Psalms 8, verse 9, which says Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.
• 5:07
  Pastor Robert Young: Now that we have prepared our mind, our bodies and our spirit, let's begin to examine James, chapter 1, verses 19 through 26, where it says "my dear brothers and sisters, take note of this.
• 5:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.
• 5:44
  Pastor Robert Young: Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
• 5:56
  Pastor Robert Young: Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves.
• 6:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Do what it says.
• 6:04
  Pastor Robert Young: Anyone who listens to the word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says.
• 6:11
  Pastor Robert Young: Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
• 6:21
  Pastor Robert Young: But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do.
• 6:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues, deceive themselves and their religion is worthless.
• 6:51
  Pastor 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 oneself from being polluted by the world.
• 7:11
  Pastor Robert Young: In this passage we hear that anger is not necessarily sinful, but the unhealthy expression of our anger can have sinful consequences.
• 7:24
  Pastor Robert Young: We can admit to God that current events have stirred up anger in us.
• 7:31
  Pastor Robert Young: The blatant lawlessness, the hijacking of Christianity, the spirit of delusion that is so widespread that our spirits have become vexed.
• 7:50
  Pastor Robert Young: We may find ourselves angry and yelling into the void that is social media.
• 7:52
  Pastor Robert Young: We may be angry at friends that we thought were on the same wavelength as us, only to find that they are completely opposite of our worldview.
• 8:02
  Pastor Robert Young: Even family members may have become distant because of disagreement with us concerning the events and decisions being made in our country.
• 8:15
  Pastor Robert Young: As James tells the church and as other scriptures throughout the Bible tells us, unchecked anger can ruin lives.
• 8:26
  Pastor Robert Young: It's okay to be angry, but keep it under control.
• 8:31
  Pastor Robert Young: Let it fuel you to do the right things.
• 8:35
  Pastor Robert Young: And remember your angry posts and comments will not change a single heart to do what is right in God's plan.
• 8:47
  Pastor Robert Young: Only God has the power to change hearts, and only if that heart is willing to be changed.
• 8:59
  Pastor Robert Young: Let's take three minutes to really reflect on the following questions.
• 9:04
  Pastor Robert Young: One, have I allowed my anger to sink to the level of bitterness?
• 9:12
  Pastor Robert Young: Two, what is my new godly strategy for social engagement with those that I disagree with?
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: no-transcript.
• 12:26
  Pastor Robert Young: Imagine yourself calmly engaging others.
• 12:27
  Pastor Robert Young: Picture yourself taking a few deep breaths before engaging.
• 12:32
  Pastor Robert Young: Now imagine thinking through your response and presenting in a godly manner.
• 12:49
  Pastor Robert Young: Repeat the following affirmation, now and for the next seven days Thank you, Lord, for helping me to control my anger and to speak the words that bring reconciliation and life.
• 13:16
  Pastor Robert Young: Our assignment Listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul.
• 13:24
  Pastor Robert Young: Find other scriptures that address the subject of anger and remember, God wants to work through your words to bring life to those in your circle of influence.
• 13:37
  Pastor Robert Young: Pray and use your influence wisely, Amen.