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
Expressing God's Love through Service: Meditation from Matthew 20:20-28
What if greatness is found in the work no one sees? We slow down with a guided Christian meditation that moves from confession and calm breathing to worship and a reflective reading of Matthew 20:20–28, where Jesus overturns our instincts for status with a call to serve. Along the way, we confront the desire for the “best seat,” the sting of jealousy when others are praised, and the quiet anxiety that chases recognition. Instead of chasing ladders, we follow Jesus into the basin-and-towel way of the kingdom.
We begin by preparing the heart with Psalm 51 and the body with simple breathwork and muscle relaxation, creating space for God’s presence to settle anxious thoughts. Then we enter the text: a mother asks Jesus for honor for her sons, the disciples bristle, and Jesus reframes greatness as service. You’ll be guided to notice where ambition shows up in your life—work, home, church, or online—and to release the need for applause, resting in the truth that you are fully loved by God. We also name indignation and envy, inviting the Spirit to wash away competitive striving that fractures relationships and teams.
From there, we lean into the kingdom reversal: rulers dominate, but followers of Jesus serve. You’ll picture one specific act of humble service you would not normally choose, and you’ll connect that practice to Christ’s own path—he came not to be served but to serve, giving his life as a ransom for many. The episode closes with two focused questions to carry through the week and a simple affirmation to anchor your day: There is greatness in true service. If this meditation helps you realign your priorities and find peace in hidden faithfulness, share it with a friend, subscribe for more guided practices, and leave a review to help others discover it.
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