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
The Jesus No One Talks About Series Pt. 3: The Courage To Surrender Wednesday Devotion
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One sentence from Jesus can confront everything we try to control: “Yet not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). We return to Gethsemane not to admire a distant moment, but to learn how surrender to God works when the cost is real and the emotions are loud. This reflection centres on a surprising truth: Jesus doesn’t surrender because the road is easy. He surrenders because the Father’s will is good, and that goodness is worth trusting even through fear.
We talk about obedience as something stronger than calm feelings. Obedience is not the absence of struggle. It’s the victory of trust over fear, the choice to love God with our will when our body still feels the weight of anxiety. Surrender is not passive or numb. It’s active, honest, and deeply personal, a decision to place our plans under God’s wisdom without pretending the struggle isn’t there.
Then we slow the pace with a short guided meditation, imagining the shift in Jesus from anguish to resolve, from fear to trust. We hold a simple question in silence: Where is God inviting me to say, “Not my will, but yours”? The episode closes with an anchor you can carry into your week, “Surrender is my pathway to peace,” and a prayer asking God for courage when His will stretches us.
If you want a Christian devotional, a guided prayer, and a practical way to build trust in God’s will, press play and take these few minutes seriously. Subscribe for more, share this with someone who needs steadiness today, and leave a review with the line that hit you hardest.
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Scripture From Matthew 26:39
Today's scripture is coming from the book of Matthew, chapter 26, verse 39. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
Why Surrender Changes Everything
This is the turning point of salvation history. Jesus does not surrender because the path is easy. He surrendered because the Father's will is good. Obedience is not the absence of struggle, it is the victory of trust over fear. Jesus shows us that surrender is not passive. It is the deepest act of love.
From Anguish To Trust
Begin to see Jesus lifting his face toward heaven, tears still on his cheeks, but resolve rising in his eyes. Feel the shift from anguish to surrender, from fear to trust. Now imagine that same light of surrender touching your own heart.
A Quiet Question For Your Heart
Let's take three minutes to reflect on the following question. Where is God inviting me to say, not my will, but yours?
Surrender As A Pathway To Peace
Surrender is my pathway to peace. Again, surrender is my pathway to peace.
Closing Prayer For Courage
Our closing prayer. Lord, give me the courage to trust your will, even when it stretches me. Shape my heart to surrender like Jesus, honestly, lovingly, and fully. For Christ's sake, Amen.