1 00:00:35,675 --> 00:00:40,675 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 00:01:12,835 --> 00:01:17,435 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide meditation. My name is Jonathan. Does 12 00:01:17,475 --> 00:01:22,435 Speaker 2: suffering exempt you from God's work? When challenges arise? It 13 00:01:22,475 --> 00:01:25,715 Speaker 2: can be tempting to turn inward, to numb yourself in 14 00:01:25,795 --> 00:01:30,115 Speaker 2: the face of pain. Two Timothy two twenty one reminds 15 00:01:30,195 --> 00:01:33,075 Speaker 2: us that we're made to be set apart as holy, 16 00:01:33,555 --> 00:01:37,195 Speaker 2: useful to the Master of the House, ready for every 17 00:01:37,195 --> 00:01:44,755 Speaker 2: good work. Is this an overwhelming thought for you in 18 00:01:44,875 --> 00:01:47,835 Speaker 2: light of what you're facing today, Take a moment to 19 00:01:47,955 --> 00:01:52,515 Speaker 2: breathe deeply, letting go of the tension. This might bring. 20 00:01:54,275 --> 00:01:57,675 Speaker 2: We all suffer, but God doesn't want you to hide 21 00:01:57,675 --> 00:02:01,315 Speaker 2: in your suffering. He doesn't want you to be dishonorable. 22 00:02:02,155 --> 00:02:05,675 Speaker 2: He calls you two more to be set apart for 23 00:02:05,755 --> 00:02:10,195 Speaker 2: His purposes, to be useful and ready to do good work. 24 00:02:15,475 --> 00:02:18,595 Speaker 2: Even in our suffering, we can be ready to be 25 00:02:18,755 --> 00:02:21,995 Speaker 2: used by God. Maybe it's to be a comfort to 26 00:02:22,075 --> 00:02:25,315 Speaker 2: others in the future. Maybe it's just to show the 27 00:02:25,355 --> 00:02:28,115 Speaker 2: world that you can still trust in a good God 28 00:02:28,195 --> 00:02:31,555 Speaker 2: even when you face trials. As scripture tells us, we 29 00:02:31,595 --> 00:02:37,595 Speaker 2: will Paul, in spite of tremendous suffering, stayed faithful to God, 30 00:02:38,275 --> 00:02:41,595 Speaker 2: and his impact is felt all over the world. How 31 00:02:41,595 --> 00:02:45,315 Speaker 2: can you turn your pain, large or small, over to 32 00:02:45,395 --> 00:02:54,435 Speaker 2: God today? If you do this, expect to feel peace 33 00:02:54,995 --> 00:03:00,915 Speaker 2: instead of feeling frustrated and overwhelmed, Contentment in spite of 34 00:03:01,035 --> 00:03:05,235 Speaker 2: challenges and envy, joy in place of sorrow and pain. 35 00:03:06,395 --> 00:03:10,315 Speaker 2: Allow God to cleanse you today from all that is dishonorable, 36 00:03:11,035 --> 00:03:17,395 Speaker 2: to make you honorable in every way. Heavenly Father, thank 37 00:03:17,435 --> 00:03:20,195 Speaker 2: you for the gift of being holy, of being set 38 00:03:20,235 --> 00:03:25,235 Speaker 2: apart of being made new. You know my struggles today. 39 00:03:26,115 --> 00:03:29,475 Speaker 2: You know where I'm lacking, where I'm broken, where sin 40 00:03:29,715 --> 00:03:34,115 Speaker 2: is weighing me down, where I suffer. Help me to 41 00:03:34,155 --> 00:03:37,955 Speaker 2: turn to You to offer you what I have, and 42 00:03:37,995 --> 00:03:41,595 Speaker 2: to trust that you'll make it good. Sometimes I can't 43 00:03:41,635 --> 00:03:46,035 Speaker 2: see it. I don't feel honorable or set apart. So 44 00:03:46,115 --> 00:03:49,875 Speaker 2: pour your grace and peace over me now, I pray 45 00:03:50,835 --> 00:03:57,995 Speaker 2: in the name of Jesus. Amen. Now, let the tension 46 00:03:58,115 --> 00:04:02,595 Speaker 2: and stress fall away from your face, your shoulders, and 47 00:04:02,715 --> 00:04:09,435 Speaker 2: your back. Take a few deep, full breaths, breathing in 48 00:04:10,035 --> 00:04:31,355 Speaker 2: the peace of God, breathing out any confusion, overwhelm, or stress. 49 00:04:33,395 --> 00:04:37,595 Speaker 2: Release to God the world on your heart, the burdens 50 00:04:37,955 --> 00:04:42,955 Speaker 2: that you've been carrying. Confess and let him wash your 51 00:04:42,995 --> 00:04:47,635 Speaker 2: heart to give you a clean slate, and then thank 52 00:04:47,715 --> 00:05:07,115 Speaker 2: Him for the gift of forgiveness. Never doubt God's love 53 00:05:07,155 --> 00:05:11,275 Speaker 2: for you. It's bigger and stronger and more all encompassing 54 00:05:11,595 --> 00:05:17,235 Speaker 2: than you can ever imagine. Picture it encircling you now, 55 00:05:18,355 --> 00:05:26,875 Speaker 2: soothing your spirit, filling you with peace. Heavenly Father, thank 56 00:05:26,915 --> 00:05:30,195 Speaker 2: you for the gift of your mercy and strength. I 57 00:05:30,275 --> 00:05:32,515 Speaker 2: know that all my striving to be holy will get 58 00:05:32,515 --> 00:05:36,755 Speaker 2: me nowhere if I don't strive in your strength. Thank 59 00:05:36,795 --> 00:05:40,715 Speaker 2: you for accepting me as I am, but for also 60 00:05:40,875 --> 00:05:43,995 Speaker 2: spurring me on to be better. I want to be 61 00:05:44,035 --> 00:05:46,595 Speaker 2: more like Jesus, and I want to be used in 62 00:05:46,635 --> 00:05:50,115 Speaker 2: your kingdom. Help me to weed out those areas of 63 00:05:50,155 --> 00:05:53,315 Speaker 2: my life that bring dishonor to you, and live a 64 00:05:53,355 --> 00:05:59,795 Speaker 2: life fully committed to you instead. In the name of Jesus, Amen, 65 00:06:01,875 --> 00:06:05,075 Speaker 2: everyone suffers hurt and pain in one way or another. 66 00:06:06,075 --> 00:06:10,635 Speaker 2: Allow your suffering to refine you instead of define you. 67 00:06:12,155 --> 00:06:23,795 Speaker 2: Until next time, may you abide in Christ.