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 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,955 --> 00:01:19,115 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm James Seawood. What's your 12 00:01:19,155 --> 00:01:25,675 Speaker 2: relationship with the Bible like? Notice how your body responds 13 00:01:25,715 --> 00:01:30,675 Speaker 2: to that question. Maybe you tense up with guilt, ashamed 14 00:01:30,755 --> 00:01:32,995 Speaker 2: that you don't love the Bible the way you think 15 00:01:33,035 --> 00:01:38,075 Speaker 2: you should. Maybe you're bored or curious about it, or 16 00:01:38,155 --> 00:01:44,555 Speaker 2: grateful for it, or some mixture. Take a deep breath 17 00:01:44,995 --> 00:01:54,355 Speaker 2: and consider what that relationship is like. Every new day 18 00:01:54,555 --> 00:01:57,835 Speaker 2: is an invitation for you to find fresh beginning with 19 00:01:57,915 --> 00:02:03,955 Speaker 2: the Bible, to approach it with wonder and curiosity, not 20 00:02:04,115 --> 00:02:10,275 Speaker 2: guilt or stress. Scripture is a gift. It's one way 21 00:02:10,315 --> 00:02:15,035 Speaker 2: that God is continually speaking to his people. Our job 22 00:02:15,115 --> 00:02:19,675 Speaker 2: is simply to listen. That's why the Psalmist declares to God. 23 00:02:20,635 --> 00:02:24,275 Speaker 2: I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes 24 00:02:24,395 --> 00:02:28,115 Speaker 2: on your ways. I will delight in your statutes. I 25 00:02:28,155 --> 00:02:37,355 Speaker 2: will not forget your word. It's normal for your relationship 26 00:02:37,435 --> 00:02:41,755 Speaker 2: to the Bible to shift over time as you change, 27 00:02:41,875 --> 00:02:44,915 Speaker 2: But in every season of your life, God is loving 28 00:02:44,955 --> 00:02:49,515 Speaker 2: you and speaking afresh to you through his word. Today, 29 00:02:49,995 --> 00:02:53,635 Speaker 2: declare your intention to God, just like the Psalmist does. 30 00:02:54,835 --> 00:02:57,475 Speaker 2: Tell God that you want to meditate on his word 31 00:02:57,595 --> 00:03:05,755 Speaker 2: and find delight in it. God's word is a lamp 32 00:03:05,835 --> 00:03:10,835 Speaker 2: unto your feet and a light unto your path. Take 33 00:03:10,875 --> 00:03:14,635 Speaker 2: a moment to picture that you're in the dark woods, 34 00:03:15,075 --> 00:03:19,075 Speaker 2: not sure word to turn, until someone comes beside you 35 00:03:19,155 --> 00:03:22,355 Speaker 2: and hands you a lamp. Now you can see the 36 00:03:22,395 --> 00:03:31,715 Speaker 2: next step. Rest in that safe space. Pray with me God. 37 00:03:32,395 --> 00:03:35,955 Speaker 2: I confess that my feelings about the Bible aren't always simple. 38 00:03:36,995 --> 00:03:43,275 Speaker 2: Sometimes scripture leaves me confused, bored, or guilty. Sometimes other 39 00:03:43,315 --> 00:03:47,595 Speaker 2: people use scripture like a weapon against me. But I 40 00:03:47,675 --> 00:03:51,155 Speaker 2: believe that it is a gift, a lamp to light 41 00:03:51,235 --> 00:03:55,675 Speaker 2: my way. I know you are speaking to me through scripture, 42 00:03:56,635 --> 00:04:00,795 Speaker 2: heal my relationship to the Bible. Help me to hear 43 00:04:00,915 --> 00:04:04,275 Speaker 2: your voice in it, and to meditate on it day 44 00:04:04,395 --> 00:04:10,195 Speaker 2: and night, and find delight in your name. I pray. Amen, 45 00:04:13,715 --> 00:04:18,115 Speaker 2: Take a deep breath, and as you exhale, notice any 46 00:04:18,195 --> 00:04:22,995 Speaker 2: points of tension in your body. Lower your shoulders, roll 47 00:04:23,035 --> 00:04:26,515 Speaker 2: your neck if you need to. Just attend to your 48 00:04:26,555 --> 00:04:45,795 Speaker 2: breath as it moves. When we neglect the good gifts 49 00:04:45,875 --> 00:04:49,235 Speaker 2: God has given us, we limit our ability to grow. 50 00:04:50,195 --> 00:04:54,515 Speaker 2: We miss out on blessings God has for us. Confess 51 00:04:54,595 --> 00:04:57,675 Speaker 2: to God the ways you've neglected the good gifts He's 52 00:04:57,675 --> 00:05:16,995 Speaker 2: given in his word. You are the forgiven and beloved 53 00:05:17,115 --> 00:05:20,955 Speaker 2: child of God, and God wants to give you every 54 00:05:20,995 --> 00:05:25,155 Speaker 2: good gift so that you can grow in life and godliness. 55 00:05:26,475 --> 00:05:30,275 Speaker 2: You can rest secure and his everlasting love for you 56 00:05:30,875 --> 00:05:39,515 Speaker 2: in Jesus. Return your focus to your breath and center 57 00:05:39,635 --> 00:05:46,955 Speaker 2: your mind. Now listen to Psalm one nineteen, verses fifteen 58 00:05:46,995 --> 00:05:54,395 Speaker 2: and sixteen in the new revised standard version. I will 59 00:05:54,435 --> 00:05:58,475 Speaker 2: meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 60 00:05:59,235 --> 00:06:02,675 Speaker 2: I will delight in your statutes. I will not forget 61 00:06:02,715 --> 00:06:09,035 Speaker 2: your word. Let me read that for you again. As 62 00:06:09,075 --> 00:06:12,595 Speaker 2: I do ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate a word 63 00:06:12,875 --> 00:06:19,355 Speaker 2: or phrase. I will meditate on your precepts and fix 64 00:06:19,435 --> 00:06:23,555 Speaker 2: my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes. 65 00:06:23,995 --> 00:06:28,995 Speaker 2: I will not forget your word. What stood out to you. 66 00:06:30,315 --> 00:07:05,315 Speaker 2: Meditate on that word or phrase. Now, think about the 67 00:07:05,435 --> 00:07:10,075 Speaker 2: things or people that delight you. Sometimes your feelings of 68 00:07:10,155 --> 00:07:14,995 Speaker 2: delight may wax and wane. That's probably true for scripture too. 69 00:07:16,515 --> 00:07:19,835 Speaker 2: When you find you're losing your delight in something, think 70 00:07:19,835 --> 00:07:24,355 Speaker 2: about how you reawaken it. How might you awaken your 71 00:07:24,435 --> 00:07:59,235 Speaker 2: delight for God's word. Ask the Holy Spirit to keep 72 00:07:59,275 --> 00:08:03,355 Speaker 2: speaking to you as you continue meditating on God's word 73 00:08:03,675 --> 00:08:12,955 Speaker 2: in the next few moments, and listen to Psalm one nineteen, 74 00:08:13,155 --> 00:08:18,555 Speaker 2: verses fifteen and sixteen in the Living Bible. I will 75 00:08:18,595 --> 00:08:22,795 Speaker 2: study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will 76 00:08:22,795 --> 00:08:32,035 Speaker 2: delight in your decrees and not forget your word. Think 77 00:08:32,155 --> 00:08:35,955 Speaker 2: back on your relationship with scripture and call to mind 78 00:08:35,955 --> 00:08:39,155 Speaker 2: a time when God spoke clearly and directly to you 79 00:08:39,435 --> 00:08:43,635 Speaker 2: through his word. Consider what made it easy for you 80 00:08:43,715 --> 00:08:46,955 Speaker 2: to hear God's word at that time. Is there a 81 00:08:47,035 --> 00:08:50,395 Speaker 2: way you can shift your habits or your life now 82 00:08:51,035 --> 00:08:54,035 Speaker 2: to get back into the place or mindset where you 83 00:08:54,075 --> 00:09:29,115 Speaker 2: can hear God clearly, thank and praise God for speaking 84 00:09:29,155 --> 00:10:04,795 Speaker 2: to you through his word yesterday, today, and tomorrow. It 85 00:10:04,835 --> 00:10:08,595 Speaker 2: can help to hear scripture in modern language. So listen 86 00:10:08,675 --> 00:10:13,035 Speaker 2: to Psalm one nineteen, verses fifteen and sixteen in the 87 00:10:13,075 --> 00:10:19,275 Speaker 2: message translation, I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you. 88 00:10:20,115 --> 00:10:24,395 Speaker 2: I attentively watch how you've done it. I relish everything 89 00:10:24,435 --> 00:10:27,475 Speaker 2: you've told me of life. I won't forget a word 90 00:10:27,515 --> 00:10:35,955 Speaker 2: of it. The Psalmist relishes every morsel of wisdom from God. 91 00:10:37,155 --> 00:10:42,075 Speaker 2: Imagine a banquet table set for a glorious feast. Crisp salads, 92 00:10:42,515 --> 00:10:49,195 Speaker 2: gently simmered soups, savory breezed meats, fresh baked bread, already 93 00:10:49,275 --> 00:10:53,835 Speaker 2: for a hungry guest. Scripture is a feast like this, 94 00:10:54,955 --> 00:10:59,435 Speaker 2: ready to be relished. Imagine approaching the Bible as if 95 00:10:59,515 --> 00:11:02,675 Speaker 2: it were this banquet table. What would that be like. 96 00:11:34,115 --> 00:11:36,355 Speaker 2: Some parts of the meal are just there to whet 97 00:11:36,435 --> 00:11:40,355 Speaker 2: your appetite. Others have a burst of flavor but aren't 98 00:11:40,515 --> 00:11:45,675 Speaker 2: entirely satisfying. But some parts of the meal are deeply nourishing. 99 00:11:46,595 --> 00:11:49,275 Speaker 2: They give you what you need to stay healthy and 100 00:11:49,435 --> 00:11:53,675 Speaker 2: grow stronger. As you eat them, you fill with warmth. 101 00:11:54,515 --> 00:11:56,875 Speaker 2: What's one part of God's Word that has done that 102 00:11:57,035 --> 00:12:31,755 Speaker 2: for you? Helped you grow? Other parts of the banquet 103 00:12:31,795 --> 00:12:35,955 Speaker 2: table engage your senses. They entice you with beauty and 104 00:12:36,115 --> 00:12:41,195 Speaker 2: tease your taste buds. They fill you with delight. They 105 00:12:41,195 --> 00:12:45,115 Speaker 2: make you happy. Think of a time scripture filled you 106 00:12:45,235 --> 00:12:48,475 Speaker 2: with such joy, Or if you can't think of a time, 107 00:12:49,075 --> 00:12:52,155 Speaker 2: ask God to help you delight in the deliciousness of 108 00:12:52,155 --> 00:13:28,155 Speaker 2: his word. Food isn't just something for special feasting occasions. 109 00:13:28,995 --> 00:13:32,915 Speaker 2: To stay healthy, we have to eat regularly, several times 110 00:13:32,915 --> 00:13:36,915 Speaker 2: a day, whether it's cold cereal or rice and beans, 111 00:13:37,075 --> 00:13:40,355 Speaker 2: or birthday cake and ice cream, whether it's a special 112 00:13:40,395 --> 00:13:43,435 Speaker 2: occasion or a meal on the run. Food is a 113 00:13:43,515 --> 00:13:47,755 Speaker 2: daily part of life. How can you make reading God's 114 00:13:47,835 --> 00:14:23,475 Speaker 2: word a daily part of your life? Too? Gracious, Heavenly Father, 115 00:14:24,435 --> 00:14:28,115 Speaker 2: you caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning. 116 00:14:28,995 --> 00:14:34,035 Speaker 2: Help me to hear your voice in them, to read, meditate, study, 117 00:14:34,275 --> 00:14:37,435 Speaker 2: and hold them in my heart, so that they may 118 00:14:37,515 --> 00:14:40,795 Speaker 2: increase my hope in You and in your promise of 119 00:14:40,835 --> 00:14:44,755 Speaker 2: everlasting life, which you have given to me and your 120 00:14:44,795 --> 00:14:49,195 Speaker 2: son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and 121 00:14:49,315 --> 00:14:54,155 Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit, forever and ever in your name. I 122 00:14:54,275 --> 00:15:00,435 Speaker 2: pray Amen. The word of God wasn't given to shame you. 123 00:15:01,435 --> 00:15:05,955 Speaker 2: It was given to help you know God. What a gift. 124 00:15:06,995 --> 00:15:12,675 Speaker 2: Thank God for it. Today, until next time, may you 125 00:15:12,755 --> 00:15:29,115 Speaker 2: abide in Christ