¶ Intro / Opening
Welcome to this week's Guided Christian Meditation . I am Pastor Robert Young and thank you for allowing me to be your guide on this journey . If you're new to Guided Christian Meditation , check out our episode 164 , getting Started in Christian Meditation . Episode 164 explains the why and even the science of all the stages of meditation that we practice .
Today's subject is about God finding 10 righteous people in each state of our union to pray to God to spare the nation from destruction because of the nation as a whole, turning from God . Today's meditation is entitled Lord , Save Our Nation . Our scripture is from Genesis , chapter 18 , verses 16 through 33 .
But first , according to scriptures , God requires us to be completely involved and free from wrongful acts in mind , body and spirit . Confession prepares the heart for being in the presence of Almighty God .
Let's repeat the prayer that King David prayed, " Have mercy on me O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions , wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin , for I acknowledge my transgressions and my sin is ever before me .
Before we start to reflect on Genesis , chapter 18 , verses 16 through 33. , let's prepare our mind by closing our eyes and taking a deep breath as we invite the presence of God to fill us . Now, take a deep breath in for a count of seven . Hold the breath for a count of five and slowly exhale . For a count of seven .
hold the breath for a count of five and slowly exhale for a count of seven .
Now repeat . Take a deep breath in for a count of seven , hold the breath for a count of five and slowly exhale for a count of seven . Now let's prepare our body with muscle relaxation exercises . We will simply tense each muscle group for three seconds and then release the muscle . Remember , don't hold your breath for this portion of the meditation .
Let's begin with the calves . Lightly tense the calf muscles for a count of three , now release . Moving upward to the hamstrings , quads and glutes Lightly tense for three seconds , now release . Moving to the abdominal , abdominals , chest and back
¶ Introduction to Guided Christian Meditation
area Lightly tense for three seconds , now release . Finally , moving through the arms and shoulders , lightly tense these muscle groups for three , now release . Now we can enter into worship of our Heavenly Father by focusing on Psalms , chapter 100 , verses 1 through 3 , where it tells us to shout for joy to the Lord . All the earth .
Worship the Lord with gladness , come before him with joyful songs . Take a moment to lift up your voice in praise and thanksgiving to our heavenly father , who is worthy of all honor and glory . Repeat Psalms , chapter 8 , verse 9 , which says Lord , our Lord , how majestic is your name in all the earth .
Now that we have prepared our minds , our bodies and our spirit, let's Let's begin to examine Genesis , chapter 18 , verses 16 through 33 . It says: "and and looked toward Sodom , and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way .
And the Lord said Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do , seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him , for I know him that he will command his children and his household after him and they shall keep the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment .
That the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him . And the Lord said Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great and because their sin is very grievous , I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it which is come unto me , and if not , I will know .
And the men turned their faces from thence and went towards Sodom , but Abraham stood yet before the Lord . And Abraham drew near and said Will thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked ? Perhaps there be fifty righteous within the city . Will thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein ?
That be far from thee to do after this manner to slay the righteous with the wicked , and that the righteous should be as the wicked that be . Far from thee . Shall not the judge of all the earth do right . And the Lord said If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city , then I will spare all the place for their sakes .
And Abram answered and said Behold , now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord , which am but dust and ashes . Perhaps there shall lack five of the righteous . Wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five ? And he said If I find there forty and five , I will not destroy it .
And Abraham spake unto him yet again and said Perhaps there shall be forty found there . And the Lord said I will not do it for the sake of forty . And Abraham said unto him O , let not the Lord be angry , and I will speak . Perhaps there shall be 30 found there . And God said I will not do it if I find 30 there .
And Abraham said Behold , now I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord . Perhaps there shall be 20 found there . And In this passage we see cities that had become so wicked that the sound of their sins had reached heaven .
These cities were slated for destruction by God , but Abraham pleaded with God to spare the cities because there might be righteous people living there among the wicked . He was able to talk God into sparing the city if 10 righteous . . We see throughout biblical history that God chastises and punishes cities , nations and kingdoms for sins against his holy standard .
In Proverbs , chapter 14 , verses 34 , Solomon solomon says righteousness exalts a nation , but sin is a reproach to any people . America as a whole has turned its back on God . We don't need to prove it , just look around . Without repentance , America america will be punished or even destroyed by God for its wickedness .
However , as in Abraham's time and others , God god is looking for someone to stand in the gap and pray for this . , Knowing knowing that your righteous prayers matter to God and could save America from destruction , will you be that person in your state to pray for America to come back to God through repentance ?
I truly believe that if we have a minimum of 10 righteous people from each state praying that God would heal our land and not destroy it . Let's take 3 minutes to really reflect on the concept of standing in the gap for America through prayer .
your voice cracking from the sheer magnitude of next assignment, days Through Christ Jesus , I will accept the pledge to pray for the hearts of Americans to return to God . Again , through Christ Jesus , I will accept the pledge to pray for the hearts time: Americans to return to God . Our assignment listen to this meditation daily until it saturates your soul .
Pray your pledge as soon as you open your eyes from sleep . Remember what God told the people as they dedicated the temple during Solomon's time If my people , who are called by my name , will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways , then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land .
May it be so with America , amen .
