1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:08,880 Welcome to 1224 by Worship Transforms. We want to empower you to live your best life through 2 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:14,960 biblical inspiration and through connecting with Jesus in at least 12 minutes of meditative worship. 3 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:22,720 Why 12 minutes? Well, because research has shown that meditating on a good God for at least 12 4 00:00:22,720 --> 00:00:29,520 minutes has the ability to form new neural healthy pathways in our brain that are aligned with the 5 00:00:29,520 --> 00:00:38,800 one that we're focused on. So today we're looking at Psalm 27 verses 11 through 14 and those verses 6 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:46,960 will be in the description below. I want to tell you a little story about John Bunyan. John Bunyan 7 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:53,600 was the author of a very famous book called Pilgrim's Progress. It was one of my very favorites as a 8 00:00:53,600 --> 00:01:01,120 kid. I had a youth version and it's basically an allegory about the Christian life and I think it was 9 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:09,280 so much based on John's life himself. But it's about this character named Christian who's on 10 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:17,040 his way to the celestial city and the road is not always easy. And in fact, it's usually pretty difficult. 11 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:24,160 One of the days he was with his companion and it was especially difficult and they saw this other 12 00:01:24,160 --> 00:01:29,200 road right next to it called Bypath Meadow and they thought, hey, we could just go on this for a 13 00:01:29,200 --> 00:01:35,440 short distance and it'll take us right back to the road we're on. So they decided to detour onto that 14 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:41,680 easier path and wouldn't you know it, a storm came up and actually kept them there overnight. 15 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:51,280 They were captured by the giant despair and taken to doubting castle. Well, as I said, 16 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:59,840 I think this was based on John's life. John Bunyan in the 1600s was living in a society in England 17 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:06,960 where it was illegal to preach the gospel outside of the walls of the Church of England. And anybody 18 00:02:06,960 --> 00:02:12,720 who did that was subject to imprisonment. Well, John was passionate about preaching the gospel and 19 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:19,520 meeting with others, which was also illegal. And so he was imprisoned. You could get out of that prison, 20 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:27,680 you would be released from jail if you would simply agree not to do it anymore. But John wouldn't 21 00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:34,960 because he knew that that was a mandate that he felt from God. So he chose to stay on that hard road. 22 00:02:35,760 --> 00:02:44,000 But in the midst of it, he actually experienced a lot of depression and despair. You see, he 23 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:52,640 had left behind a young wife and their young daughter, as well as four other kids from a previous 24 00:02:52,640 --> 00:03:00,560 marriage, one of whom was blind. So he was really battling this despair and depression. Listen, 25 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:10,800 look at what he wrote in his character, Christian. Christian held in this castle of despair. It was 26 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:15,920 actually doubting castle, right? Filled with despair. Actually, the giant and giant tests were 27 00:03:15,920 --> 00:03:24,640 trying to get he and his companion to commit suicide. But Christian remembered a little 28 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:30,160 key that he had in his pocket, and it's called the key of promise. And with that key of promise, 29 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:39,760 he developed the bravery and the courage to make his way out of the castle and be free 30 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:49,360 from the despair and doubt that he had been saddled with. And John, same thing, he held on to the 31 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:57,600 promise of God's goodness, knowing that God had a purpose for this hard road that he was on. And so 32 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:06,000 he held on and found the bravery and the courage to not give in. Do you know that his book that was 33 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:14,160 finished at the end of that 12 year sentence or 12 year time of imprisonment, went on to, by some 34 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:23,440 literary editors, be considered the most influential English book outside of the Bible. It influenced 35 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:32,240 a host of literary giants, if you will, just a few like C.S. Lewis, Louisa May Alcott, 36 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:42,720 John Steinbeck, Charles Dickens, Charlotte Bronte, Mark Twain, just a few. Look, let me encourage you. 37 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:51,360 You may be on a hard road right now, and you may be dealing, battling with despair and depression, 38 00:04:51,360 --> 00:04:55,920 or you may be facing, knowing you're facing a hard road, or you might actually be at a crossroads, 39 00:04:55,920 --> 00:05:04,720 and you're considering which road to take. If we hold on to the goodness of God, knowing the plans 40 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:10,240 that he has through us and for us, we hold on to that promise, he's going to give us that same 41 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:15,920 bravery, that same courage to face whatever it is we know we need to face. Because let's be honest, 42 00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:25,440 at the same time, there are voices, accusers that are trying to take us out, that are trying to speak 43 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:35,120 lies about our identity, about the fact that we may be rejected, not true, that we may not have 44 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:43,120 enough courage to deal with this, that we don't have enough strength, whatever it is, it is a lie. 45 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:48,160 We need to hold on to the goodness of God, and he's going to give us the ability then to go 46 00:05:48,160 --> 00:06:01,440 through whatever that is, knowing that his plans are good. Holy Spirit, we just invite you 47 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:13,440 to invade this time together. Father, we ask that you would teach us your ways. 48 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:24,800 We ask that you would lead us on the right path. We know that there are so many voices, voices of 49 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:35,680 the accuser that come and try to steal what you mean for us. So don't let us fall into their hands, 50 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:48,800 don't let us buy into those lies. Help keep our eyes fixed on you, because we know your goodness 51 00:06:49,680 --> 00:07:01,520 is all pervasive. Your goodness is real, and it's something we can count on. We know we'll see your 52 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:10,480 goodness in the land of the living. So may we be brave to infuse us with courage 53 00:07:13,760 --> 00:07:26,640 as we hold on to your goodness. 54 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:35,120 You teach me how to live, oh Lord, 55 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:42,240 lead me on the right path. 56 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:58,160 For my enemies are waiting for me, but don't let me fall into their hands. 57 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:08,640 For they accuse me night and day. 58 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:29,120 Don't let me fall into their hands with every word they threaten me. 59 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:45,120 So teach me how to live, oh Lord, 60 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,760 lead me on the right path. 61 00:08:55,360 --> 00:09:01,920 For my enemies are waiting for me, 62 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:08,400 but don't let me fall into their hands. 63 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:16,400 For they accuse me night and day. 64 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,200 Don't let me fall into their hands 65 00:09:23,200 --> 00:09:31,680 with every word they threaten me. 66 00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:42,400 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 67 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,680 Yeah, I'm confident in you. 68 00:09:47,680 --> 00:09:57,280 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 69 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:15,760 While I am here in the land of the living. 70 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:25,360 You teach me how to live, oh Lord, 71 00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:31,360 lead me on the right path. 72 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:41,600 For my enemies are waiting for me, 73 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:48,080 but don't let me fall into their hands. 74 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:56,080 For they accuse me night and day. 75 00:11:00,080 --> 00:11:02,880 Don't let me fall into their hands 76 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:11,360 with every word they threaten me. 77 00:11:15,600 --> 00:11:22,160 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 78 00:11:22,960 --> 00:11:26,800 Yes, I'm confident in you. 79 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:37,280 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 80 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:57,760 While I am here in the land of the living. 81 00:11:57,760 --> 00:12:06,240 So don't let me fall into their hands. 82 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:14,240 For they accuse me night and day. 83 00:12:16,240 --> 00:12:20,240 So don't let me fall into their hands. 84 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:28,720 With every word they threaten me. 85 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:40,720 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 86 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,720 Yeah, I'm confident in you. 87 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:55,200 Yeah, I'm confident that I will see your goodness, Lord. 88 00:12:55,200 --> 00:13:01,200 While I am here, I'll praise you. 89 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:11,200 While I am here, I'll lift my gaze. 90 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:31,680 While I am here in the land of the living. 91 00:13:31,680 --> 00:13:42,160 Cause all my life you have been faithful. 92 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:48,160 All my life you have been so, so good. 93 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,160 With every breath that I am able. 94 00:13:52,160 --> 00:14:02,640 I will sing of the goodness of God. 95 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:06,640 All my life you have been faithful. 96 00:14:06,640 --> 00:14:16,640 All my life you have been so, so good. 97 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:23,120 With every breath that I am able. 98 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:31,120 I will sing of the goodness of God. 99 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:39,120 Cause your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 100 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:45,120 Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 101 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:53,600 With my life laying down and surrendered now, I give you everything. 102 00:14:53,600 --> 00:15:01,600 Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 103 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:07,600 Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 104 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:16,080 Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 105 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:24,080 With my life laying down and surrendered now, I give you everything. 106 00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:40,560 Your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 107 00:15:54,080 --> 00:16:12,560 Cause your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 108 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:18,560 Cause your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 109 00:16:18,560 --> 00:16:27,040 With my life laying down and surrendered now, I give you everything. 110 00:16:27,040 --> 00:16:47,040 Cause your goodness is running after, it's running after me. 111 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:54,720 So be brave and courageous. 112 00:16:54,720 --> 00:16:59,040 So be brave and courageous. 113 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:02,320 Oh my soul. 114 00:17:02,320 --> 00:17:04,160 Be brave. 115 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:09,440 Wait patiently for Him. 116 00:17:09,440 --> 00:17:13,760 So be brave and courageous. 117 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,200 Oh my soul. 118 00:17:17,200 --> 00:17:18,880 Be brave. 119 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:24,160 Wait patiently for Him. 120 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:28,560 So be brave and courageous. 121 00:17:28,560 --> 00:17:31,680 Oh my soul. 122 00:17:31,680 --> 00:17:33,680 Be brave. 123 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:39,040 Wait patiently for Him. 124 00:17:39,040 --> 00:17:43,360 Be brave and courageous. 125 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:46,640 Oh my soul. 126 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:48,400 Be brave. 127 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:53,760 Wait patiently for Him. 128 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:55,840 I'll be brave. 129 00:17:55,840 --> 00:18:01,200 Wait patiently for Him. 130 00:18:01,200 --> 00:18:03,200 I'll be brave. 131 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:11,200 Wait patiently for Him. 132 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:15,440 May you go out today and know how much He is for you. 133 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,360 His goodness is always at work on your behalf. 134 00:18:19,360 --> 00:18:24,320 So no matter what you're going through, you can count on Him. 135 00:18:24,320 --> 00:18:31,200 You can count on Him and His plans for you as you hold on to Him 136 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:35,680 and trust. May you be blessed in all that you do 137 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:41,680 in your comings and your goings throughout this entire day.