Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation
Welcome to the new season of the podcast, now titled "Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation"!
Join your host, Pastor Robert Young, as we embark on a journey of spiritual exploration and renewal. This podcast is designed to help you deepen your faith and find inner peace through calming, reflective, and transformative meditative practices inspired by scripture.
Our Evolution
While the podcast, formerly known as Not Your Parent's Religion, focused in Seasons 1 and 2 on correcting misinformation and myths about religious beliefs and the teaching of Jesus Christ, the program has evolved. In Season 3, we began drawing closer to God with guided meditations, exploring all the details of why and how to meditate, and discussing the Biblical origins of Christian meditations.
With over 30 years of experience in Church planting and mentoring other Pastors, and 30+ years of training leaders in evangelism/discipleship, Pastor Young is here to guide you through these moments of stillness and connection with God.
What to Expect in Season 4
We are excited to return with Season 4 starting Sunday, October 5. We will continue to offer a structured weekly schedule:
- Sundays: Our weekly guided meditation episode.
- Monday through Friday: Daily devotions and reflections that expand on the topic of the Sunday meditations.
- Wednesdays: Audio episodes of our House Church series. This series reflects the Bible's teaching that believers should gather together for corporate worship, fellowship, encouragement, and even admonishment.
For those seeking an enhanced experience, we are adding video versions of the meditations and devotions to our Patreon page. These videos are designed to give you a more immersive experience as you meditate on the Father, His teachings, and His presence.
Tune in each week as we lead you on this path to connecting more deeply with God.
Growing Closer to God with Guided Meditation
Daily Devotion: What is a Living Sacrifice | Wednesday
Holy and Pleasing to God
The offering must be "holy and pleasing to God." The word holy means "set apart." This isn't just about avoiding sin; it's about being dedicated entirely to God's use. Just as the animals for sacrifice had to be without blemish, our lives are made holy and acceptable not by our own perfection, but because of our position in Christ. Our job is to live up to that holiness by actively pursuing righteousness and purity in our thoughts and actions. A holy life is one that reflects the character of the One to whom it is being offered.
Reflection Questions
- What are the "blemishes" (habits, attitudes, or activities) in your life that currently prevent your offering from being truly "holy" or set apart?
- How does striving for holiness affect your mind (what you think about) and your eyes (what you choose to watch or read)?
- Paul connects this to the renewal of the mind in the next verse (Romans 12:2). What steps are you taking to "renew your mind" so that your whole life becomes more pleasing to God?
Further Scripture
- 1 Peter 1:15-16: "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
- 2 Corinthians 7:1: "Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God."
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