Not Your Parents Religion

Can Prayer Spark a National Revival? Deep Dive with Dan & Sheila #191

• Pastor Robert Young • Season 3 • Episode 191

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Step into a transformative journey in this episode as we unpack the compelling guided meditation by Pastor Robert Young. With an emphasis on prayer's potential to spark a nationwide spiritual awakening, we explore how a mere ten righteous individuals in each state could usher in significant change. Through the lens of Abraham's negotiations with God regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, we delve into themes of justice, mercy, and the power of collective faith.

The episode serves as a heartfelt reminder of the monumental impact that prayer can have. Listeners are guided through exercises that promote clarity and connection, beginning with a process of confession and leading into worship and affirmation, echoing profound scriptural truths. As we navigate these spiritual waters together, we invite you to reflect upon your own role in this divine narrative. 

Join us to explore how every act of righteousness, no matter how small, can ripple throughout our communities for the better. Experience the uplifting assurance that change starts with us—let’s harness our collective potential to shift hearts and minds. If you resonate with Pastor Young’s message, we encourage you to reach out and engage in this vital prayer initiative. Together, we can become a force for good.

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Dan:

calling on us to do what Abraham did to intercede for America, to pray for our nation's spiritual renewal, he really believes in the power of prayer, doesn't he? He does. He thinks that if we can find 10 righteous people in each state dedicated to prayer, dedicated to seeking God, it could be a turning point, it could start a national spiritual revival, a healing.

Sheila:

That's a pretty powerful idea. Ten people in each state acting as a spiritual tipping. Welcome back everyone to the Deep Dive. This time we're exploring this really interesting guided Christian meditation by Pastor Robert Young. Have you had a chance to look this over at all?

Dan:

Yeah, I did. You know, it's really structured in a way to like get you ready to connect with God on a much deeper level.

Sheila:

Oh, interesting, and I think it's worth mentioning up top that we are your AI co-hosts. I'm Dan.

Dan:

And I'm Sheila.

Sheila:

And you know we're kind of like I guess you could say Pastor Young's AI co-hosts, right? This deep dive into his meditation.

Dan:

Exactly, could say Pastor Young's AI co-host, right this deep dive into his meditation. Exactly, we'll be walking you through every stage of it. We'll start with confession, then breath work, then we go into muscle relaxation, you know, all building up to reflection, and we'll end on this super powerful affirmation.

Sheila:

I'm intrigued, so where do we begin?

Dan:

Well, pastor Young starts by talking about this idea, this pretty big idea actually. He says that if we could find 10 righteous people in each state, it could actually spark a spiritual revival, a healing for America.

Sheila:

Wow, that's a huge idea.

Dan:

Right.

Sheila:

So how does he approach that in this meditation?

Dan:

Well, he uses this layered approach, sort of like a journey. It all starts with confession, drawing on Psalm 51.1-4, a prayer of repentance asking God for cleansing from sin. It's like setting the stage, you know, acknowledging our imperfections, before we try to connect with God on a deeper level.

Sheila:

Right. So it's kind of like clearing the air, so to speak.

Dan:

Yeah.

Sheila:

Making space for something new.

Dan:

Yeah, exactly. And then comes the breath work and muscle relaxation. He guides you through this 7-5-7 breathing technique Breathe in for a count of seven, hold for five, then exhale slowly for another seven counts. It's really simple, but it works wonders to calm your mind and body.

Sheila:

I've heard of that technique. I've tried it a few times myself and it does help to kind of center you, doesn't it?

Dan:

Absolutely. And alongside the breath work, there's this gentle muscle relaxation exercise. You start with your calves and slowly work your way up, tensing and releasing each muscle group. The idea is to release all that pent up tension. You know, all that stress and anxiety that we carry around in our bodies. It makes sense, yeah, we often hold so much tension without even realizing it Right. So by releasing that physical tension, you're also creating space for a deeper spiritual connection. It's about preparing your mind and body for what comes next, which is worship.

Sheila:

Ah, okay, and what does that involve?

Dan:

He centers this part on Psalm 100.1-3, a call to shout for joy to the Lord, to worship him with gladness. It's about shifting your focus outward, recognizing God's presence and power.

Sheila:

I like that moving from self-reflection to outward praise.

Dan:

Exactly, and he also has you reflect on Psalm 8.9, which talks about God's majesty, his greatness. It's a powerful reminder that we're part of something much bigger than ourselves.

Sheila:

Okay, so we've gone through confession, breathwork, muscle relaxation and worship. What's the next stage in this journey?

Dan:

What's the next stage in this journey? Well, now we come to the heart of it all, the passage Pastor Young has chosen Genesis 18:16-33, the story of Abraham pleading with God to spare Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sheila:

Oh right, the city's known for their wickedness.

Dan:

Yeah, exactly, and it's really compelling because, well, it raises all these questions about God's justice, his mercy, and it also makes you think about, like, how much impact one righteous person can have on a whole community.

Sheila:

I'm curious to hear more about that. Can you remind me a bit about the story itself?

Dan:

Sure. So God tells Abraham about his plan to investigate the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah, because, well, their sinfulness is just so blatant. Their cries have actually reached God.

Sheila:

It must have been pretty bad. So how does Abraham respond to that?

Dan:

Well, he's clearly troubled by the news and he does something pretty bold. He questions God directly. He asks will you really sweep away the righteous along with the wicked? It's a risky move, right, challenging God like that.

Sheila:

It is, but I guess it also shows how much faith Abraham had, that he could even question God's actions.

Dan:

Right. It shows his deep trust in God's mercy, and it's this question that sets the stage for this incredible conversation between God and Abraham.

Sheila:

So they have back and forth about it.

Dan:

They do. Abraham starts by asking God if he would spare the cities if there were 50 righteous people there, and God agrees. And then well, Abraham kind of keeps pushing it, he negotiates.

Sheila:

Really, what do you mean?

Dan:

He asks what if there are only 45 righteous people? What about 40? He keeps lowering the number, showing how much he cares about the people in those cities, even the wicked ones.

Sheila:

That's amazing. So he's basically bartering with God for the lives of these people.

Dan:

He is, and the incredible thing is, God is patient with him. Each time Abraham lowers the number, God reaffirms that he'll spare the cities if he finds even that smaller group of righteous people.

Sheila:

It really highlights how important even a few righteous people can be right.

Dan:

It does and it also shows the power of intercessory prayer. You know, praying for others. That's a central theme in Pastor Young's meditation.

Sheila:

I see the connection. So how does Pastor Young tie all this to America today? What's he saying about our nation?

Dan:

Well, he's saying that, just like Sodom and Gomorrah, America has turned away from God. He's worried about the consequences of that, that maybe even divine judgment could be a possibility.

Sheila:

That's a sobering thought, but it sounds like he's not giving up hope.

Dan:

No, not at all. He's calling on us to do what Abraham did to intercede for America, to pray for our nation's spiritual renewal.

Sheila:

He really believes in the power of prayer, doesn't he?

Dan:

He does. He thinks that if we can find 10 righteous people in each state dedicated to prayer, dedicated to seeking God, it could be a turning point, it could start a national spiritual revival, a healing.

Sheila:

That's a pretty powerful idea 10 people in each state acting as a spiritual tipping point.

Dan:

Yeah.

Sheila:

It really makes you think about what it means to be one of those righteous people, doesn't it?

Dan:

It does. It makes you think about what it means to be righteous in today's world and what kind of impact we can have as individuals.

Sheila:

Exactly, and I'm sure we'll delve into that more as we explore the rest of Pastor Young's meditation.

Dan:

Yeah, it's a huge question, isn't it? And Pastor Young? Well, he doesn't really give you a straight answer. Instead, he kind of leads you into this space of like reflection and visualization.

Sheila:

Hmm, interesting. So how does he do that?

Dan:

He starts by having you imagine yourself kneeling before God. You know, just pouring your heart out for the nation. You can feel the intensity of the prayer, the raw emotion, that yearning for change, and then he has you picture the peace that follows that sense of connection with God.

Sheila:

It's powerful imagery.

Dan:

It is, but he takes it even further. He wants you to visualize all united in prayer, all seeking God's will for America. It's like the spiritual groundswell, this movement of prayer rising up across the country.

Sheila:

It's like he's saying that, even though we might feel alone in our faith, we're actually part of something much bigger.

Dan:

Right. We're part of this community of believers who share a purpose and that combined energy, that collective prayer, it can have a real impact.

Sheila:

So, from visualization, where does the meditation go next?

Dan:

It leads into the affirmation. You know that statement you repeat to kind of solidify the intention of the meditation.

Sheila:

Right, right, and what is the affirmation in this case?

Dan:

Pastor Young's affirmation is through Christ Jesus, I will accept the pledge to pray for the hearts of Americans to return to God. It's a powerful statement, isn't it?

Sheila:

It is. It's like a commitment to actively pray for our nation.

Dan:

Exactly, and he asks you to repeat this affirmation every day for a whole week. It's about letting it sink in, letting it become part of who you are.

Sheila:

So it's more than just a one-time thing. It's about incorporating it into your daily life.

Dan:

Exactly. And to help you do that, he gives you an assignment. He wants you to listen to this meditation every day and to say that affirmation when you wake up each morning.

Sheila:

So it becomes a regular part of your routine.

Dan:

Yeah. And he ends the meditation with this verse from 2 Chronicles 7:14, to really drive home the point, it says If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Sheila:

Wow, that's a powerful verse. I've heard it before, but it never fails to move me.

Dan:

Me too. And it really gets to the heart of Pastor Young's message, doesn't it? God's promise of healing, of restoration. It all depends on our willingness to turn back to him, to humble ourselves and seek him.

Sheila:

It's a challenge, for sure, but it's also a message of hope. It's saying that we have the power to change things.

Dan:

Right, and even if you don't share Pastor Young's specific beliefs, I think there are things here that anyone can relate to, Like what, well, the power of prayer. For one it goes beyond religion, Whether you believe in God or just in the power of focused intention, praying for something bigger than yourself.

Sheila:

Well, it can have a real impact. I agree, and there's also this idea that what we do as individuals can actually contribute to bigger changes.

Dan:

Yeah, Like, even if you don't agree with Pastor Young about you know the state of America, we can all agree that each of us has a role to play in making the world a better place.

Sheila:

Exactly. Our choices matter, our actions matter. They all have ripple effects.

Dan:

They do. And that's what I think is so powerful about Pastor Young's meditation it's calling on us to recognize that power we have as individuals and to use it for good, to be a force for positive change.

Sheila:

And that change starts with us, right.

Dan:

Yeah.

Sheila:

With our own hearts and minds.

Dan:

That's right and, ultimately, I think that's what this deep dive into Pastor Young's guided meditation is really about. It's about prompting us to think about what it means to be righteous, what it means to live a good life, and how our actions, even the small ones, can contribute to something bigger than ourselves.

Sheila:

It's a challenge, isn't it, To really examine our own hearts, to think about our values and to try to live in a way that aligns with our hopes for a better world it is, but Pastor Young's meditation.

Dan:

I think it gives us a framework, you know, yeah, a way to start that journey of personal and collective transformation. It is, it's a challenge, but you know, before we wrap up, I think it's worth circling back to the passage itself, Genesis 18:16-33, just to like really soak in the message there yeah, you're right, it's a story that's been around for ages, but it still feels relevant today, doesn't it? Totally. It starts with God telling Abraham about his plan, you know, to check out the wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sheila:

Those cities right, they were infamous for their sin.

Dan:

Yeah, and their sin. Well, it was so bad that their cries had actually reached God.

Sheila:

So it was pretty serious stuff. What happened when God told Abraham about this?

Dan:

Well, abraham was obviously troubled by this news, right? And so he does something really brave, really daring. He actually questions God's justice. He asks will you really destroy the righteous along with the wicked?

Sheila:

Wow, that's a bold move. I mean to question God like that.

Dan:

It is, but it also shows how strong his faith was. He trusted God's mercy so much that he could question his actions.

Sheila:

It's like he believed in God's goodness so much that he couldn't believe God would do something unjust.

Dan:

Exactly, and it's this very question that opens up this amazing dialogue between God and Abraham.

Sheila:

Okay, so they have a conversation about it.

Dan:

Yeah, they do. Abraham starts by asking God you know what, if there are 50 righteous people in those cities, would you spare them for the sake of those 50? And God says yes.

Sheila:

So Abraham sees an opening there.

Dan:

He does and he starts this sort of like negotiation with God. He's like okay, what about 45 righteous people? What about 40? He keeps lowering the number each time, showing his deep concern for everyone in those cities, even those considered wicked.

Sheila:

It's like he's bargaining for their lives. It's pretty amazing.

Dan:

It is, and God is so patient with him. Every time Abraham lowers the number, God keeps confirming that he will spare those cities if he finds even that smaller group of righteous people.

Sheila:

So it's not just about the numbers, right?

Dan:

Right, it's about the idea that even a small group of righteous people can have a huge impact on a community. It's like their righteousness kind of ripples outwards, you know.

Sheila:

I see what you mean. It's not just about individual piety. It's about how your actions, your righteousness could affect those around you.

Dan:

Exactly, and that's the connection Pastor Young is making to America today. He sees this nation that's kind of lost its way, morally speaking, and he's calling on us to do what Abraham did to step up and intercede through prayer.

Sheila:

To pray for our nation's spiritual renewal. That's a big task but I guess he believes it's possible.

Dan:

He does. He believes that even 10 righteous people in each state could be enough to spark a spiritual revival.

Sheila:

That's all it takes. It makes you realize that anyone can make a difference.

Dan:

It really does. So you know, as you go about your day, think about this conversation we had. Remember the story of Abraham and God, remember the power of prayer, how we can pray for others and how even a small group of people can change things.

Sheila:

And if you're feeling inspired, if you want to be counted as one of those 10 people in your state, well, you can reach out to Pastor Young directly.

Dan:

His information is down in the description box below. He'd love to hear from you.

Sheila:

Thanks for joining us for this deep dive into guided Christian meditation. It's been quite a journey, hasn't it?

Dan:

It has. And remember, keep searching, keep exploring, keep diving deep.

Sheila:

Until next time, thank you.