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
Discernment Test the Spirits | Daily Devotion (Tuesday)
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When every feed and platform claims authority, how do we know which voice is truly from God? We open 1 John 4:1 and walk through a clear, practical framework for spiritual discernment that anyone can practice: pause first, test the source, look for lasting fruit, and measure everything by Scripture. Instead of chasing what sounds impressive, we learn to value what proves faithful over time.
We share why good-sounding words can still be harmful, how charisma can mask shaky foundations, and what real spiritual fruit looks like in daily life—humility, repentance, and steady love. You’ll hear a short guided reflection to name the voices and messages in your world that need testing rather than instant trust. Then we anchor the day with a simple affirmation—“I pause, I test, and I discern with God’s wisdom”—followed by a closing prayer that asks God to reveal truth, expose deception, and lead us into maturity.
If you’ve ever felt torn between confident claims, viral prophecies, or your own stirred emotions, this conversation offers a calm path forward. We keep it grounded, Scripture-centered, and intensely practical so you can apply it to sermons you hear, posts you read, and even the inner nudges you feel. Listen to cultivate a wiser, slower, more faithful way of hearing God. If this encouraged you, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs clarity, and leave a review to help others find the show.
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Today's scripture is coming from the book of 1 John, chapter 4, verse 1. Test the Spirit to see whether they are from God. Not every message, prophecy, or spiritual insight is from God. Even if it sounds good or feels inspiring. Scripture commands us to test the Spirit, meaning we evaluate the source, the fruit, and the alignment of God's word. Discernment requires patience, wisdom, and the willingness to pause before accepting something as truth. Let's take two minutes to reflect on the following question. What voices or messages in your life need to be tested rather than immediately trusted? Repeat this affirmation now and throughout your day. I pause, I test, and discern with God's wisdom. Again, I pause, I test, and I discern with God's wisdom. A closing prayer. Help me recognize truth, reject deception, and walk in spiritual maturity. Guide me into all your truth for Christ's sake. Amen.