WEBVTT - Be Encouraged!

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abide's Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's

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<v Speaker 1>meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.

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<v Speaker 1>If you go to lifeaudio.com, you will find dozens of

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<v Speaker 1>his peace as we meditate and abide in Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Ben. What kinds of

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<v Speaker 2>things are encouraging to you? Maybe you most enjoy kind

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<v Speaker 2>words from a friend, or small gifts letting you know

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<v Speaker 2>that someone is thinking of you. Take a deep, slow breath.

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<v Speaker 2>as you think about the last time you felt encouraged.

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<v Speaker 2>Let your neck and shoulders relax. Close your eyes and

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<v Speaker 2>keep breathing. In John 16.33, Jesus had some encouragement for

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<v Speaker 2>his disciples. He said, I have said these things to you,

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<v Speaker 2>that in me, you may have peace. In the world

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<v Speaker 2>you will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome

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<v Speaker 2>the world. It might not sound encouraging to know that

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<v Speaker 2>you will have tribulations in this world, but knowing that

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<v Speaker 2>Jesus has overcome the world means everything. How do his

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<v Speaker 2>words make you feel? Negative news seems to dominate the headlines.

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<v Speaker 2>Upsetting stories can seep into your spirit and leave you

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<v Speaker 2>feeling anxious and depressed. When bad news gets the better

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<v Speaker 2>of you, turn to the Bible, the book of good news.

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<v Speaker 2>Let God's word return you to a place of peace.

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<v Speaker 2>When you let the bad news and the trials of

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<v Speaker 2>this world be your focus, discouragement will follow. Jesus offers

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<v Speaker 2>you his peace instead. Let your focus be Jesus and

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<v Speaker 2>the good news that he brings. He has overcome the world.

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<v Speaker 2>Heavenly Father, Your amazing powers are within us. Through your

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit, we can experience triumph over our trials, peace

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<v Speaker 2>in place of discouragement. I need that desperately. Help me

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<v Speaker 2>to fill my mind and my heart with your word

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<v Speaker 2>instead of with the headlines that discourage me. Help me

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<v Speaker 2>to remember to turn to prayer, Whenever I am overwhelmed

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<v Speaker 2>by the problems of this world, you are king over

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<v Speaker 2>all and you love us so much. Thank you. In Jesus'

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<v Speaker 2>name I pray. Amen. Take another deep breath. Close your

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<v Speaker 2>eyes if you can and allow the peace of God

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<v Speaker 2>to infuse you as you sit in silence. Hear His

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<v Speaker 2>promise that you can have peace in this world. Let

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<v Speaker 2>that truth fill you. Take a few moments to open

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<v Speaker 2>your heart and allow the Holy Spirit to discern any

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<v Speaker 2>sin that may be blocking you from hearing from God today.

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<v Speaker 2>Be it words, thoughts, or deeds, your sin is washed away.

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<v Speaker 2>Bring your focus to Jesus once again. Push away all

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<v Speaker 2>distractions as you center your heart on God and His

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<v Speaker 2>Word today. He wants you to trust Him, even in

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<v Speaker 2>the midst of your discouragement. Let's pray. Dear Lord, there

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<v Speaker 2>is no better encouragement than to know that this world

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<v Speaker 2>is not my home. You have a place prepared for

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<v Speaker 2>me where there will be no fear, no tears, no sadness.

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<v Speaker 2>But right now, I live here, and things are a mess.

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<v Speaker 2>Help me to be encouraged by your word and by

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<v Speaker 2>your people. Help me be a beacon of hope shining

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<v Speaker 2>the light of the gospel wherever I go. The world

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<v Speaker 2>needs hope. The world needs Jesus. It's in His name

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<v Speaker 2>I pray. Amen. When you're tempted to stay in the

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<v Speaker 2>dark places of bad news headlines, turn toward the light

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<v Speaker 2>of God's Word and be encouraged. Until next time, may

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<v Speaker 2>you abide in Christ.