1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,635 Speaker 1: Welcome to Abides Daily Christian Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's 2 00:00:40,715 --> 00:00:43,915 Speaker 1: meditation is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio. 3 00:00:44,235 --> 00:00:46,475 Speaker 1: If you go to lifeaudio dot com you will find 4 00:00:46,555 --> 00:00:50,075 Speaker 1: dozens of other faith centered podcasts in their network. They've 5 00:00:50,075 --> 00:00:53,915 Speaker 1: got shows about prayer, Bible study, parenting, and more. Head 6 00:00:53,915 --> 00:00:57,795 Speaker 1: over to lifeaudio dot com now, and remember you can 7 00:00:57,835 --> 00:01:01,555 Speaker 1: have full access to our meditations commercial free. Just text 8 00:01:01,635 --> 00:01:05,075 Speaker 1: Abide to two two four three three for twenty five 9 00:01:05,115 --> 00:01:09,355 Speaker 1: percent off. Now receive his piece as we meditate and 10 00:01:09,435 --> 00:01:16,315 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Tyler Boss. 11 00:01:18,115 --> 00:01:23,875 Speaker 1: Do you hear God's voice? Or perhaps a better question 12 00:01:24,035 --> 00:01:30,795 Speaker 1: is do you listen when the shepherd directs your actions? 13 00:01:31,595 --> 00:01:37,155 Speaker 1: Do you follow him? Take it? Tak deep breath as 14 00:01:37,155 --> 00:01:44,675 Speaker 1: you think about your answer to that question. And John 15 00:01:44,755 --> 00:01:50,075 Speaker 1: ten verse four, Jesus says, but he who enters by 16 00:01:50,115 --> 00:01:53,595 Speaker 1: the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him, 17 00:01:53,755 --> 00:01:58,355 Speaker 1: the gatekeeper opens the sheep. Hear his voice, and he 18 00:01:58,435 --> 00:02:01,635 Speaker 1: calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 19 00:02:03,875 --> 00:02:06,435 Speaker 1: When he has brought out all his own, he goes 20 00:02:06,475 --> 00:02:11,435 Speaker 1: before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know 21 00:02:11,595 --> 00:02:18,635 Speaker 1: his voice. Would you recognize Jesus's voice if you heard it? 22 00:02:21,115 --> 00:02:24,595 Speaker 1: Ask God to help you trust him with every part 23 00:02:24,635 --> 00:02:34,755 Speaker 1: of your life, and to listen for his guidance. Your 24 00:02:34,755 --> 00:02:39,115 Speaker 1: big question might be, what does God's voice sound like? 25 00:02:41,275 --> 00:02:49,075 Speaker 1: Hereso clues It's never shaming or condemning. It's always loving 26 00:02:49,515 --> 00:02:55,355 Speaker 1: and kind, even in discipline. The best way to learn 27 00:02:55,435 --> 00:03:00,115 Speaker 1: his voice is to spend time reading his word the Bible, 28 00:03:02,075 --> 00:03:07,995 Speaker 1: spending time in prayer and meditation, being still without other distractions, 29 00:03:08,995 --> 00:03:19,475 Speaker 1: other voices luring you away from him. For the prophet Elijah, 30 00:03:19,875 --> 00:03:23,035 Speaker 1: God's voice was not in the wind, or in the earthquake, 31 00:03:23,275 --> 00:03:30,515 Speaker 1: or in the fire. His was the low whisper, the silence, 32 00:03:32,435 --> 00:03:39,555 Speaker 1: the calm. God is not a god of chaos. When 33 00:03:39,595 --> 00:03:43,795 Speaker 1: you are still before him, you will hear him say 34 00:03:44,035 --> 00:03:54,635 Speaker 1: this is the way. Walk in it. Let's pray. Lord, 35 00:03:54,835 --> 00:04:00,195 Speaker 1: you are my shepherd. I will follow you. I will 36 00:04:00,195 --> 00:04:05,035 Speaker 1: not want for anything. You leave me beside quiet waters, 37 00:04:05,155 --> 00:04:09,635 Speaker 1: You lead me in green pastures. You restore my soul. 38 00:04:11,435 --> 00:04:14,515 Speaker 1: Even when I walk in darkness. You are right beside me. 39 00:04:15,995 --> 00:04:18,795 Speaker 1: You take care of me. Even when my enemies surround me. 40 00:04:20,235 --> 00:04:23,435 Speaker 1: I am not afraid because I know that you are 41 00:04:23,435 --> 00:04:30,075 Speaker 1: always with me. Thank you for speaking to me. Help 42 00:04:30,115 --> 00:04:33,235 Speaker 1: me to listen, help me to find stillness and quiet. 43 00:04:33,995 --> 00:04:41,915 Speaker 1: Teach me to recognize your voice in Jesus' name. I pray, Amen, 44 00:04:45,835 --> 00:04:51,035 Speaker 1: take another deep breath, close your eyes if you can, 45 00:04:53,635 --> 00:04:58,675 Speaker 1: let your body relax as you push away distractions and 46 00:04:58,875 --> 00:05:04,635 Speaker 1: focus on seeing Jesus as your good shepherd. Listen to 47 00:05:04,755 --> 00:05:24,915 Speaker 1: his voice, calming you. Being unable to hear God's voice 48 00:05:25,035 --> 00:05:29,515 Speaker 1: is not a sin, but sin can be blocking you 49 00:05:29,595 --> 00:05:34,995 Speaker 1: from being able to hear God's voice. Bring anything you 50 00:05:35,115 --> 00:05:39,675 Speaker 1: need to confess to God before him right now. His 51 00:05:39,835 --> 00:06:00,115 Speaker 1: grace is sufficient. By calling himself the good shepherd, Jesus 52 00:06:00,155 --> 00:06:03,395 Speaker 1: aligned himself with a group of people who are considered 53 00:06:04,275 --> 00:06:09,995 Speaker 1: less than in his society. That's just like Jesus, isn't it. 54 00:06:11,475 --> 00:06:20,835 Speaker 1: Let him lead you to green pastures. Let's pray. Lord, 55 00:06:22,875 --> 00:06:27,595 Speaker 1: I thank you that you are the good shepherd. You 56 00:06:27,635 --> 00:06:31,835 Speaker 1: always have the good of your flock and mind. Please 57 00:06:31,875 --> 00:06:35,955 Speaker 1: help me to never mistake your voice. There are a 58 00:06:36,035 --> 00:06:39,515 Speaker 1: whole lot of others who would have me believe that 59 00:06:39,555 --> 00:06:43,075 Speaker 1: they have a better way, but it always leads to death. 60 00:06:44,955 --> 00:06:52,715 Speaker 1: Your way leads to life, abundant life. I may walk 61 00:06:52,755 --> 00:06:57,155 Speaker 1: through dark valleys, but you are always with me. Your 62 00:06:57,235 --> 00:07:02,115 Speaker 1: rod and your staff comfort me. I may tend to wander, 63 00:07:03,835 --> 00:07:10,435 Speaker 1: but You're always there to bring me home. Thank you, Amen, 64 00:07:14,155 --> 00:07:16,915 Speaker 1: for a vivid picture of your good shepherd. Read or 65 00:07:16,995 --> 00:07:21,675 Speaker 1: listen to Psalm twenty three. Let Jesus guide you to 66 00:07:21,715 --> 00:07:28,355 Speaker 1: where your soul can be restored. Until next time, may 67 00:07:28,395 --> 00:07:35,515 Speaker 1: you abide in christm