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: Will You Reflect the Heart of Christmas? | Tuesday
The Gift of Peace and Joy
Main Scripture: John 3:16 Supporting Scripture: Luke 2:10–11
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'"
Brief Explanation: The core message of Christmas is the birth of the Savior, which is "good news that will cause great joy". God's act of giving His Son (John 3:16 ) brings life and peace, which helps calm our nervous system amidst the online shopping and busyness of the season.
Reflection Questions:
- Do I genuinely possess the "great joy" promised by the angel in my daily life? If not, what is blocking it?
- How can the birth of the Savior be the joyful centerpiece of my conversations and family gatherings this year?
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Today's supporting scripture is coming from the book of Luke, chapter 2, verses 10 through 11. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. The core message of Christmas is the birth of the Savior, which is good news that would cause great joy. God's act of giving his son brings life and peace, which helps calm our nervous system amidst the online shopping and busyness of the season. Question for reflection. Do I genuinely possess the great joy promised by the angel in my daily life? If not, what is blocking it? Today's supporting scripture is coming from the book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse ten. This is love. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. In John 316 it states that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. This supporting scripture confirms that God's actions was the initiator of love. Christmas is a celebration of God's unilateral decision to love and redeem us, independent of anything we had done. This reality prepares our hearts for His presence. Question for Reflection How does understanding that God loved me first provide freedom from anxiety or performance pressure during the Christmas season?