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. 2: Making Room for the Outsider | Thursday Devotion
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Jesus clearing the temple can sound like a moment of pure confrontation, but we hear something else underneath it: protection, welcome, and space-making. When the Court of the Gentiles the one area set aside for outsiders gets taken over, Jesus doesn’t just “clean up.” He restores access. He makes room for the people who have been crowded out. That single move reframes the story from spectacle to invitation, and it raises a hard question: where have we blocked the space that was meant for belonging?
From there, we turn the lens inward. Most of us carry an “outsider within” a part of ourselves we avoid, judge, or label as not spiritual enough. It might be the anxious part, the ashamed part, the angry part, or the exhausted part that feels unworthy of prayer. We sit with the idea that Jesus doesn’t only welcome the put-together version of us. He makes room for the hidden parts too, meeting them with kindness rather than contempt. If you’ve ever felt stuck in self-criticism, this is a gentle path toward Christian self-compassion and deeper spiritual formation.
We also guide a short imaginative prayer practice: a peaceful room, a long table, and Jesus pulling out a chair for the part of you that feels overlooked. Then we pause for a simple, piercing reflection question: What part of myself have I treated like an outsider that Jesus is inviting to the table? We close with an affirmation you can carry into daily life and a prayer for an inner life marked by belonging.
If this brings something up for you, listen through, share it with someone who needs it, and subscribe, rate, and review to help more people find the podcast. What part of you needs a seat at the table today?
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The Court For The Outsider
Pastor Robert YoungThe cord for the Gentiles was the only place outsider. And it had been taken over.
Clearing Space With Jesus
Pastor Robert YoungJesus wasn't just clearing. He was making room for the outsider.
Meeting The Outsider Within
Pastor Robert YoungInside each of us is an outsider. A part of ourselves we avoid. A part of ourselves that we judge. Jesus makes room for that part too.
Guided Table Welcome Practice
Pastor Robert YoungPicture a long table in a peaceful room. See Jesus pulling out a chair for the part of you that feels unworthy, overlooked, or not spiritual enough? Watch him welcome that part of kindness.
Three-Minute Reflection Question
Pastor Robert YoungLet's take three minutes to reflect on the following question. What part of myself have I treated like an outsider that Jesus is inviting to the table?
Affirmation Of Full Belonging
Pastor Robert YoungEvery part of me is welcome in God's presence. Again, every part of me is welcome in God's presence.
Closing Prayer For Compassion
Pastor Robert YoungDear Lord, help me welcome the parts of myself I've pushed away. Teach me to see myself with your compassion. Make my inner life a place of belonging. For Christ's sake. Amen.