Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation
Speaker 1: is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.
Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find
Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've
Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head
Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com. Now, remember you can.
Speaker 2: Have full access to all our sleep stories commercial free.
Speaker 2: Just text Abide to two two four three three for
Speaker 2: twenty five percent off the app. Now relax your mind
Speaker 2: and body as we hear tonight's sleep story.
Speaker 3: Hello and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. My
Speaker 3: name is Jonathan. Thanks for joining me for our story.
Speaker 3: Take Hold of Hope. In Colossians chapter one, verse twenty three,
Speaker 3: Paul and Timothy encourage believers to take hold of the
Speaker 3: hope offered in the gospel. This is a powerful message
Speaker 3: of grasping the hope found only in Christ. They say,
Speaker 3: continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not
Speaker 3: move from the hope held out in the Gospel. This
Speaker 3: is the gospel that you heard, and that's been proclaimed
Speaker 3: to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
Speaker 3: have become a servant in this peaceful Bible meditation. You'll
Speaker 3: experience renewed hope to continue in whatever measure of faith
Speaker 3: you have. You'll also be encouraged to remain in Christ Jesus,
Speaker 3: secure and established in Him. Find rest as you hear
Speaker 3: powerful scriptures offering hope for your journey, and sleep soundly
Speaker 3: as you encounter faith building illustrations that encourage and inspire.
Speaker 3: Let go of all worry, anxiety, and stress as you
Speaker 3: receive genuine prayers of faith and covering. Listen as long
Speaker 3: as you like, or as long as you need to
Speaker 3: fall asleep in the presence of the Lord. Allow this
Speaker 3: to be a time of full surrender, letting your thoughts
Speaker 3: and emotions be calm by God's love. Together, we will
Speaker 3: invite Him to be with us, guiding us on this
Speaker 3: peaceful sleep journey of renewed trust. Will follow His direction
Speaker 3: every step of the way. I'm truly grateful you're here,
Speaker 3: my friend, and I pray you'll be blessed by the
Speaker 3: words of Paul and Timothy encouraging you to take hold
Speaker 3: of the hope found in Christ Jesus. When you're trying
Speaker 3: to define what hope means, it can feel a bit elusive,
Speaker 3: but When we turn to the scriptures, we're given a
Speaker 3: treasure of hope filled wisdom for our journey. In Kalassians
Speaker 3: Chapter one, verse twenty three, Paul encourages us to remain
Speaker 3: steadfast in hope, saying, continue in your faith, established and firm,
Speaker 3: and don't move from the hope held out in the Gospel.
Speaker 3: This is the gospel that you heard, and that's been
Speaker 3: proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
Speaker 3: have become a servant. But the hope found in Christ
Speaker 3: shine on you like the bright morning sun light your
Speaker 3: heart with joy and peace. Feel the strength God gives
Speaker 3: restoring hope as you rest and trust in Him. According
Speaker 3: to the Dictionary, hope means a feeling of trust or
Speaker 3: a desire for something to happen. Let the thought of
Speaker 3: deeper trust settle over you for a few moments, all
Speaker 3: doubt fades away. As you put your trust in Jesus,
Speaker 3: you can count on Him, my friend. Whatever you desire
Speaker 3: can be committed to the Lord with full trust that
Speaker 3: he hears, sees, and blesses according to his will. Rest
Speaker 3: for a moment in the holy will of God. It's good,
Speaker 3: pleasing and perfect. Continue resting quietly in the peaceful tranquility
Speaker 3: of the room, as I share our key passage again.
Speaker 3: Here's what it says. Continue in your faith, established and firm,
Speaker 3: and do not move from the hope held out in
Speaker 3: the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard, and
Speaker 3: that's been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of
Speaker 3: which I, Paul have become a servant. Rest on the
Speaker 3: phrase continue in your faith. Let it strengthen you as
Speaker 3: you sleep. It's good to continue in wisdom and truth.
Speaker 3: Be steadfast in what you know to be true. Jesus
Speaker 3: is the truest thing in your life. Envision a brick building,
Speaker 3: well established and solid in structure. Each brick is layered
Speaker 3: with the strength of mortar in between. The foundation is
Speaker 3: fortified and stable. This building is a symbol of your faith,
Speaker 3: established and immovable. In Matthew chapter seven, verses twenty four
Speaker 3: and twenty five, Jesus says, everyone, then, who hears these
Speaker 3: words of Mine and does them, will be like a
Speaker 3: wise man who built his house on the rock. And
Speaker 3: the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds
Speaker 3: blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall,
Speaker 3: because it had been founded on the rock founded on
Speaker 3: the rock. Feel the strength of that statement. Your faith
Speaker 3: is built on solid rock. As Deuteronomy chapter thirty two,
Speaker 3: verse four says, He is the rock. His works are perfect,
Speaker 3: and all his ways are Just feel the support underneath you.
Speaker 3: You're safe, protected, upheld, and supported by the God who
Speaker 3: loves you. There's no need to fear. You are immovable
Speaker 3: in Christ Jesus, as Paul encourages, Therefore, my beloved brothers
Speaker 3: and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work
Speaker 3: of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor
Speaker 3: is not in vain. The writer of Hebrews says, Let
Speaker 3: us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
Speaker 3: Rest soundly and the unshakable faith you've been given. Let
Speaker 3: it comfort and assure you that you belong to Christ.
Speaker 3: Gracious God, please speak words of life and truth to
Speaker 3: this precious listening friend, reminding them that they're yours. I
Speaker 3: ask that you strengthen them as they sleep, provide just
Speaker 3: what's needed to be unshakable in the days ahead. Thank you,
Speaker 3: Lord for putting your heads around them and shielding them
Speaker 3: from any storm that comes. You are a holy refuge
Speaker 3: of peace and security in Jesus' name. Amen. In the
Speaker 3: New American Standard Bible, Paul and Timothy encourage the Colossians
Speaker 3: by saying, continue in the faith, firmly established and steadfast,
Speaker 3: and not shifting from the hope of the Gospel that
Speaker 3: you've heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven,
Speaker 3: and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. Dream
Speaker 3: of walking along the beach at night, your feet sinking
Speaker 3: into the soft sand. You stroll along the water's edge
Speaker 3: and stop and gaze at the gentle ocean waves. Almost rhythmically,
Speaker 3: waves form in the deep, cascading towards you and landing
Speaker 3: softly at your feet. Let the continual lull of the
Speaker 3: ocean remind you of the continuance of your faith. No
Speaker 3: matter how strong the waves, you remain steadfast and secure
Speaker 3: in Christ Jesus. Sleep soundly in the security you have
Speaker 3: in Christ. As I read a hope filled passage from
Speaker 3: Psalm one hundred and thirty six, here's what it says.
Speaker 3: Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, for
Speaker 3: his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God
Speaker 3: of Gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. To him
Speaker 3: who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever.
Speaker 3: To him who, by understanding made the heavens, for his
Speaker 3: steadfast love endures forever, To him who spread out the
Speaker 3: earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever,
Speaker 3: To him who made the great lights, for his steadfast
Speaker 3: love endures forever. The sun to rule over the day,
Speaker 3: for his steadfast love endures forever, the moon and stars
Speaker 3: to rule over the night. For his steadfast love inders forever.
Speaker 3: Take hold of the hope offered by your steadfast Lord
Speaker 3: and Savior. He is good to you, and he wants
Speaker 3: the best for you. God of Gods and Lord of lords,
Speaker 3: his love endures forever. Rest in the great wonders He's
Speaker 3: done in your life. He has fashioned you for a
Speaker 3: mighty purpose. He has breathed life into your lungs. He
Speaker 3: upholds you with his righteous right hand and fills you
Speaker 3: with renewed hope and joy. The creator of the universe
Speaker 3: already had you in mine when he out the earth
Speaker 3: above the waters and place the sun, moon and stars
Speaker 3: in specific order for sustained life. What a wonderful maker,
Speaker 3: beautiful Savior, and perfect redeemer you have. Sleep deeply and
Speaker 3: his loving care. He's with you every moment. Let me
Speaker 3: pray for you one last time, Holy God, as this
Speaker 3: precious child rests in full assurance of your loving presence.
Speaker 3: I pray for their mind to be filled with messages
Speaker 3: of hope and peace. By your spirit. Lord, press on
Speaker 3: their hearts the beautiful truth of your gospel. Anew. The
Speaker 3: good news is that Jesus is their hope eternal. Please
Speaker 3: cover them with your love and goodness, renew their trust
Speaker 3: in You, and draw their gaze to your continued work
Speaker 3: in their life. Thank you for keeping them within your good,
Speaker 3: pleasing and perfect will in Jesus' name. Amen. According to
Speaker 3: the Dictionary, hope means a feeling of trust or a
Speaker 3: desire for something to happen. As we close this sleep meditation,
Speaker 3: you can rest assured that every feeling of trust in
Speaker 3: God is much more than a feeling. It's a knowing
Speaker 3: that the one and only true God is for you,
Speaker 3: not against you. He loves you with an everlasting love
Speaker 3: and seals you with the promise of eternal life with him.
Speaker 3: Every desire you have is known by the Father, and
Speaker 3: he invites you to ask of him. Let your asking
Speaker 3: be in the name of Jesus. Your intentions be for
Speaker 3: his glory, and your hope be rooted in Him. And
Speaker 3: as always, continue to abide in Christ
Speaker 1: Anything, anything,