Christian Meditation Podcast

KJV 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.

906 You Belong to Christ, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 KJV 21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's; 22 Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are your's; 23 And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's. NABRE 21 So let no one boast about human beings, for everything belongs to you, 22 Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or the present or the future: all belong to you, 23 and you to Christ, and Christ to God. NRSVCE 21 So let no one boast about human leaders. For all things are yours, 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all belong to you, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God. Reflection on Scripture: We spend a great deal of time on earth trying to distinguish what is our property and what is other people's. There are contracts, deeds, titles, ownership, identity verification. It all is an outcropping of the fallen world we live in. Those are rules that apply on earth. In Heaven those distinguishing points make way less sense. Through the Grace of Jesus we are made join heirs with Christ. All the Father has will be ours. All things are yours is what Paul says. All belong to us and we belong to Christ. Imagine what a beautiful notion that is. This is not to make a case for earthly laws at all, far from it. It is an eternal spiritual principle. You belong to God. Through Him all belongs to us as well. With that said there is no need for defensiveness in faith. We should be confident and strong, but also humble and deferential to God's knowledge above our own. We are so blessed by God that we do not need to trust our jealous human emotions when it comes to faith. Ponder instead what a great gift it is that all things are yours. Whatever feeling of scarcity or ownership you experience in your life is a temporary earthly problem. Through God, there is no human supremacy. During this period of reflection I invite you to reflect on what amazing that is. How amazing it is to be love and totally accepted by God. Live in that union and in your heart seek to extend that to all God's children. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

1 Corinthians 3:16-20 NET 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, which is what you are. 18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." 20 And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile."

904 You Are God's Temple, A Guided Christian Meditation on 1 Corinthians 3:16-20 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation 1 Corinthians 3:16-20 NET 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? 17 If someone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, which is what you are. 18 Guard against self-deception, each of you. If someone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become foolish so that he can become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this age is foolishness with God. As it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness." 20 And again, "The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile." ESV 16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," 20 and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." Reflection on Scripture: You are God's temple. An ailment common to many people is the feeling that they must wear a mask of who they think they should be. Perhaps they wonder if they would ever be accepted for who they are. So in order to overcome that, they put on an act of what they think they should act like. If you show who you really are, how would that be perceived. Perhaps we put on airs of being smart of funny, or perhaps we act in ways that would be impressive or strong. And yet down inside there is loneliness. God sees through all that. At all times, God, who knows you perfectly, is willing to be with you. And that is the real you, the whole you. This mask you wear would cover the person who God made. Please dont misunderstand this thought to mean that every part of you is good or that every desire we have is directly linked to some essential element of who we are, in fact quite the opposite. Who you are is an eternal question. You are God's temple. He abides in you. His spirit can be with you and guide you. Never forget that the Lord invites you to be with His spirit. There is no need to be alone in this world. The Lord looks on the heart. He knows your heart. He knows your sin. He sees beyond every lie, every mask, every act of false bravado and pride. You are his Holy temple, because He makes you holy. We are not wise compared to Him. We are not crafty enough to outsmart the eternal game of morality. Yet we are offered to be the temple of His Spirit. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

ESV If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it"—when you have it with you.

NET By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding. 20 By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew. 21 My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. 22 So they will become life for your soul, and grace around your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble.

898 The Lord Founded the Earth by Wisdom, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:19-23 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:19-23 NRSVA NET By wisdom the Lord laid the foundation of the earth; he established the heavens by understanding. 20 By his knowledge the primordial sea was broken open, so that the clouds drip down dew. 21 My child, do not let them escape from your sight; safeguard sound wisdom and discretion. 22 So they will become life for your soul, and grace around your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way with security, and you will not stumble. NASB 19 The Lord founded the earth by wisdom, He established the heavens by understanding. 20 By His knowledge the ocean depths were burst open, And the clouds drip with dew. 21 My son, see that they do not escape from your sight; Comply with sound wisdom and discretion, 22 And they will be life to your soul And adornment to your neck. 23 Then you will walk in your way securely, And your foot will not stumble. Reflection on Scripture: What does God know? Reflect on the different things that God knows. I think many times when we think about God's wisdom we consider moral things. Perhaps we think about how God knows the future. It is beyond that. God… knows… everything… God knows philosophy, all of it He knows physics, He knows history, and metaphysics He knows Psychology, he knows genetics, he knows all possible technologies including ones we will never discover He knows drug pharmacology. He knows how to force atoms together. He has an understanding of the foundation of the universe. He definitely knows what you need and what you want. He knows how to help you overcome every weakness and sin. God has knowledge of everything. Not just what humans have figured out but beyond that. God knows everything. Not just that but he is all wise. Wisdom and knowledge are not the same thing. Knowledge is having a collection of facts; wisdom is knowing how to apply knowledge God has both He knows how to set galactic foundations. The sea, representing chaos, he knows how to quell. He knows how to form clouds and cause them to create dew and rain If we are able to learn from God and then follow God's spirit of wisdom, then we will have the knowledge and wisdom needed to accomplish what we need to in life. You will not stumble Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

Proverbs 3:9-12 NRSVA 13 Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, 14 for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy.

896 Happy Are Those Who Find Wisdom, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:13-18 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:9-12 NRSVA 13 Happy are those who find wisdom, and those who get understanding, 14 for her income is better than silver, and her revenue better than gold. 15 She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called happy. KJV 13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: What is true wisdom? As someone who has studied a lot of ideas of humans in the form of advanced mathematics and physics I find the question of what wisdom is, to be fascinating. As I've learned about philosophers I find some ideas interesting yet it does not compare to the value of the wisdom of the Lord? I was talking with a young man who was really struggling because he felt he wasn't measuring up to what he wanted his life to become. I spent a great deal of time challenging his notion. He was looking for what would make his life feel like it was good enough. The reality is that there is no eternal philosophy of man. When we try to live for ourselves in our own will be eternally unsatisfying As an example. Solomon is pondering all the wisdom he had acquired, and even more curious is that his wisdom was a gift from God. And yet when he reflected on the truth and depth of his wisdom he realized that the only thing that mattered was the wisdom of the Lord. When we look at his life we discover a perfect example of this problem. God gave his wisdom, his wisdom became world renowned and he gained great wealth as a result. Yet as his influence grew, he allowed for his attention to be taken away from the Lord and even yield toward false gods. And then the end of his life was tipified with disappointment and failure. The only success he found in life was by learning the wisdom of God. What would God's wisdom move you toward in your life? What challenge or struggle have you been working through in life? How would God's wisdom change your perspective on it? What of human wisdom is not working for you and how can you incorporate God's wisdom in its place. Ponder on that. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

NIV 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

894 Honor the Lord with Substance and Discipline, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:9-12 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:9-12 NIV 9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; 10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, 12 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. RSV 9 Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights. and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: These two stanzas go together well. Let's reflect on the first. What is the purpose of the substance we have? What can our wealth do for us in the long run? What about beyond 100 years? On an eternal scale it is very limited and has no impact other than where we set our heart. If we learn to prioritize God above the things of the world, to include finances, we are in a far better situation to be able to learn what God wants to teach us. I think this message is valuable in times of plenty but in difficult economic times, this message is even more valuable. What would you pay for a better eternal relationship with God? What would someone pay for their own soul? Now the second Stanza, in modern society discipline is often presented as a negative or a necessary evil. And yet the scripture is very pro discipline. I was talking with someone close to me outside my immediate family and I was talking with them about things that werent going the best in their life. I had a very specific moment where I had to decide how truthful to be with them. Not that I had to decide to lie or not, but I had to decide to intentionally bring up uncomfortable conversation that was absolutely not necessary for my happiness. There is a pattern in that person's life I felt I should highlight for them because it was negatively impacting other relationships for them. I remember at that moment specifically choosing to engage in that lengthy emotionally exhausting and uncomfortable conversation because I cared about that person and I wanted them to do well. My willingness to engage in that discomfort was rooted in care. I wanted nothing from that person other than for them to live a more satisfying life for them and for those around them, but I had no expectation the conversation would help me. The Lord cares for us far more than that. If God chooses to correct us it is not out of an unrighteous desire. It is not out of malice or narcissism or any negative outcome or bias. It is because of his raw care and concern for us. When scripture calls us to repentance or others in our life point out how we could be better, our pride fights it, but God's desire for us is that we rejoice in that correction because it will help us. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPo

NIV 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

892 Everything We Do, Dear Friends, Is For Your Strengthening, A Guided Christian Meditation on Proverbs 3:3-8 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation Proverbs 3:3-8 NIV 3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. NET 3 Do not let mercy and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Then you will find favor and good understanding, in the sight of God and people. 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. 8 This will bring healing to your body, and refreshment to your inner self. Reflection on Scripture: I have been thinking a great deal about the state of modern culture. What the mindset of the world is. I have been increasingly confused to see people who profess faith in Jesus become attached to one cultural idea or another in a way that seems to mirror religious devotion. One very profound goal of our meditations can and perhaps should be, to focus on the content of this scripture as a remedy for this idea. What do you hold to with undue ferocity? Perhaps the easy answer is faith in God. There seems to be no major problem with that, provided it doesn't cause us to hate others. It is perfectly acceptable even to maintain a perspective about certain behavior we should aim for, even while refusing to hate others. I think at all times we should be suspicious of the perspective that the world serves us. Perhaps from the news, politics, social media. Each of these sources are so thoroughly corrupted by the mindset of our fallen world that as believers we should be incredibly hesitant to believe them with anywhere near the ferocity we would place in the God of heaven. A politician should always take a backseat compared to a prophet. Influencers should have far less influence over us than God's word. At this moment I invite you to sit in calm meditation, carefully examining. May each of us not let mercy and truth leave us. May we have them written on the table of our heart. May we acknowledge that we should hold up God's wisdom above the wisdom of the world. We should be willing, at every moment, to turn from the consensus of the voices of the world and turn toward the wisdom of God who will give us good understanding. May we acknowledge him in every way and may he direct our paths for good. Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit!

890 I Spend My Life in God's Service, A Guided Christian Meditation on 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 with the Recenter With Christ app The purpose of this podcast is to help you find more peace in and connect with the true source of peace, Jesus Christ. Outline: Relaxation, Reading, Meditation, Prayer, Contemplation and Visualization. You can sit comfortably and uninterrupted for about 20 minutes.You should hopefully not be driving or anything tense or unrelaxing. If you feel comfortable doing so, I invite you to close your eyes. Guided Relaxation / Guided Meditation: Breathe and direct your thoughts to connecting with God. Let your stomach be a balloon inflate, deflate. Scripture for Meditation 2 Corinthians 12:14-16 KJV 14 Now I am ready to come to you this third time. And I will not be a burden, for I want not what is yours, but you. Children ought not to save for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 I will most gladly spend and be utterly spent for your sakes. If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But granted that I myself did not burden you, yet I was crafty and got the better of you by deceit. 14 Look, for the third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you, because I do not want your possessions, but you. For children should not have to save up for their parents, but parents for their children. 15 Now I will most gladly spend and be spent for your lives! If I love you more, am I to be loved less? 16 But be that as it may, I have not burdened you. Yet because I was a crafty person, I took you in by deceit! Reflection on Scripture: I was counseling with a person one time and they felt devalued by their spouse and they were talking about prioritizing themselves more. I have heard this repeated often. In that moment, I felt an internal conflict, or perhaps better said I felt the weight of the balance that Paul presents in these previous verses regarding his equality with other apostles. On the one hand he is no less valuable, and on the other, he is equally a fallen person. So one side is that we need to learn to not hate ourselves because that is a lie from the enemy, yet the solution to that is not to focus more on ourselves that is an influence from our unhealthy culture. Jesus taught us to love and serve others. He also told us to love others as ourselves. Other people are no more important but no less important than you are. I don't think in general the world has a shortage of people thinking about themselves. Learning to focus more on ourselves is often not the way to resolve these feelings. If we are willing to serve God would that also not be serving God's children. I think the solution to feeling devalued is to truly understand the value God places in us and now that we feel His love, that we look to Jesus for what he wants us to do with this stronger feeling of value and love. As two examples, consider a situation in which both people in a marriage feel as though they are not being focused on and loved enough. It is possible for both people to feel devalued at the same time. The solution to this problem would not be for both partners to focus on themselves more, but to learn how to receive unconditional love from God. Once fed by the love of God we can help to more clearly connect with another person and appropriately negotiate with our spouse on how to feel more loved from them. This is a profound oversimplification but consider it a metaphor. Another example is for people who struggle with social anxiety, if we transition to helping other people feel at ease in social settings it can actually lower our anxiety more than trying to put ourselves at ease. Again both of these are oversimplifications but they are examples. So take Pauls statement here about how he remains dedicated to the Church and try and discern how God wants you to balance your dedication? Meditation of Prayer: Pray as directed by the Spirit. Dedicate these moments to the patient waiting, when you feel ready ask God for understanding you desire from Him. Meditation of God and His Glory / Hesychasm: I invite you to sit in silence feeling patient for your own faults and trials. Summarize what insights you have gained during this meditation and meditate and visualize positive change in your life: This is a listener funded podcast at patreon.com/christianmeditationpodcast Final Question: If you consider the invitation and command to persevere in the faith, what change in your life does that bring to your mind? FIND ME ON: Download my free app: Recenter with Christ Website - ChristianMeditationPodcast.com Voicemail - (602) 888-3795 Email: jared@christianmeditationpodcast.com Apple Podcasts - Christian Meditation Podcast Facebook.com/christianmeditationpodcast Youtube.com/christianmeditaitonpodcast Twitter - @ChristianMedPod

ESV 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.