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
00:01:12,875 --> 00:01:17,795
Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide meditation. I'm Melissa. How do you pray?

12
00:01:18,955 --> 00:01:24,275
Speaker 2: Is there a correct way? Prayer can be intimidating. You

13
00:01:24,355 --> 00:01:27,555
Speaker 2: may not know where to begin. More, you may feel

14
00:01:27,675 --> 00:01:32,195
Speaker 2: unworthy of his attention. To pray is to approach the

15
00:01:32,195 --> 00:01:36,355
Speaker 2: throne of God. How do you speak to the one

16
00:01:36,355 --> 00:01:45,675
Speaker 2: who created you? There are many ways to pray. Prayer

17
00:01:45,955 --> 00:01:49,355
Speaker 2: is simply talking to God as you would a close friend.

18
00:01:49,995 --> 00:01:52,675
Speaker 2: Jesus gave us an example to use when we pray.

19
00:01:54,035 --> 00:01:59,235
Speaker 2: Luke eleven one through four says one day Jesus was

20
00:01:59,275 --> 00:02:03,435
Speaker 2: praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of

21
00:02:03,475 --> 00:02:07,435
Speaker 2: his disciples said to him Lord, teach us to pray,

22
00:02:08,515 --> 00:02:12,395
Speaker 2: just as John taught his disciples. He said to them,

23
00:02:13,475 --> 00:02:19,995
Speaker 2: when you pray, say Father, hallowed be your name, your Kingdom.

24
00:02:20,035 --> 00:02:24,755
Speaker 2: Come give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us

25
00:02:24,755 --> 00:02:29,915
Speaker 2: our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

26
00:02:30,555 --> 00:02:41,235
Speaker 2: And lead us not into temptation. Settle into a comfortable position.

27
00:02:42,555 --> 00:02:45,555
Speaker 2: Notice any distractions that might pull you away from this

28
00:02:45,675 --> 00:02:50,595
Speaker 2: moment of prayer, and set them aside for now. Stretch

29
00:02:50,595 --> 00:02:57,075
Speaker 2: your neck, roll your shoulders forward and back, close your eyes,

30
00:02:58,155 --> 00:03:07,435
Speaker 2: and take a deep breath. The example that Jesus gives

31
00:03:07,515 --> 00:03:10,755
Speaker 2: us has come to be known as the Lord's prayer

32
00:03:11,355 --> 00:03:15,515
Speaker 2: or the Our Father. It shows us an order to

33
00:03:15,595 --> 00:03:21,835
Speaker 2: follow praise, asking that God's will be done, requests for

34
00:03:21,915 --> 00:03:30,435
Speaker 2: physical needs, confession, and requests for spiritual needs. Pray with me,

35
00:03:32,195 --> 00:03:38,515
Speaker 2: Lord Jesus, you are holy, set apart from everything by

36
00:03:38,555 --> 00:03:44,675
Speaker 2: your perfect power and perfect goodness. Sometimes it feels difficult

37
00:03:44,715 --> 00:03:48,395
Speaker 2: to find the proper words to say to you. Thank

38
00:03:48,435 --> 00:03:52,275
Speaker 2: you for giving us a guideline to pray, and thank

39
00:03:52,275 --> 00:03:57,435
Speaker 2: you for accepting me. However, I pray as long as

40
00:03:57,475 --> 00:04:01,515
Speaker 2: I am calling on your name. Please open my ears

41
00:04:02,075 --> 00:04:05,795
Speaker 2: to receive everything you have to teach me today and

42
00:04:05,875 --> 00:04:11,515
Speaker 2: soften my heart to embrace it. In Jesus name, I pray. Amen,

43
00:04:13,355 --> 00:04:18,595
Speaker 2: take another deep breath. Take notice of anything that feels

44
00:04:18,715 --> 00:04:25,515
Speaker 2: tight or sore. Stretch it out slowly as you breathe deeply,

45
00:04:26,915 --> 00:04:30,555
Speaker 2: feel the fresh air. Wake up your body, and let

46
00:04:30,595 --> 00:05:05,275
Speaker 2: the peace of God slow your heart rate as the

47
00:05:05,315 --> 00:05:09,675
Speaker 2: Holy Spirit prompts you bring to him anything that may

48
00:05:09,715 --> 00:05:13,275
Speaker 2: get in the way of a relationship with God. Think

49
00:05:13,315 --> 00:05:17,515
Speaker 2: of any sins that you may not have admitted, Confess

50
00:05:17,635 --> 00:05:53,035
Speaker 2: them and thank Him for forgiving you. Have you ever

51
00:05:53,115 --> 00:05:56,235
Speaker 2: wanted to ask God a question and get a direct,

52
00:05:56,595 --> 00:06:01,435
Speaker 2: vocalized answer. He often gives us his answer somewhere in

53
00:06:01,435 --> 00:06:04,995
Speaker 2: the scripture. We can learn to hear his voice more

54
00:06:05,035 --> 00:06:12,275
Speaker 2: clearly by studying the Bible. Listen to Luca Levin two

55
00:06:12,315 --> 00:06:17,275
Speaker 2: through four in the New International Version. He said to them,

56
00:06:18,235 --> 00:06:24,035
Speaker 2: when you pray, say Father, hallowed be thy name, your Kingdom.

57
00:06:24,115 --> 00:06:29,035
Speaker 2: Come give us each day our daily bread, forgive us

58
00:06:29,075 --> 00:06:33,395
Speaker 2: our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us,

59
00:06:34,515 --> 00:06:39,515
Speaker 2: and lead us not into temptation. You've probably heard these

60
00:06:39,555 --> 00:06:43,995
Speaker 2: words before, but when was the last time you thought

61
00:06:44,035 --> 00:06:51,755
Speaker 2: over them, carefully inspecting each word listen closely as I

62
00:06:51,835 --> 00:06:57,275
Speaker 2: read the passage again. He said to them, when you pray,

63
00:06:58,235 --> 00:07:04,075
Speaker 2: say Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom. Come give

64
00:07:04,155 --> 00:07:08,235
Speaker 2: us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins,

65
00:07:09,075 --> 00:07:13,475
Speaker 2: for we also forgive everyone who sins against us, and

66
00:07:13,595 --> 00:07:15,235
Speaker 2: lead us not into temptation.

67
00:07:17,275 --> 00:07:47,755
Speaker 3: What stood out.

68
00:07:49,035 --> 00:07:52,875
Speaker 2: When we pray, we often only ask God for favors.

69
00:07:54,275 --> 00:07:56,635
Speaker 2: He is a good father who wants us to ask

70
00:07:56,675 --> 00:08:01,675
Speaker 2: for things. But in contrast, how does Jesus begin his prayer?

71
00:08:33,435 --> 00:08:33,635
Speaker 3: Now?

72
00:08:33,675 --> 00:08:38,275
Speaker 2: Listen to Luke eleven through four in the English Standard version,

73
00:08:39,475 --> 00:08:43,395
Speaker 2: and he said to them, when you pray, say Father,

74
00:08:44,035 --> 00:08:48,755
Speaker 2: hallowed be your name, your kingdom. Come give us each

75
00:08:48,875 --> 00:08:53,275
Speaker 2: day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for

76
00:08:53,395 --> 00:08:58,035
Speaker 2: we ourselves, forgive everyone who is indebted to us, and

77
00:08:58,155 --> 00:09:02,915
Speaker 2: lead us not into temptation. Jesus begins by praising God,

78
00:09:03,915 --> 00:09:07,955
Speaker 2: calling his name holy. He prays for God's kingdom to come.

79
00:09:09,755 --> 00:09:13,715
Speaker 2: Why does this come before all personal requests? Think for

80
00:09:13,795 --> 00:09:18,275
Speaker 2: a moment about God and who he is. How can

81
00:09:18,315 --> 00:09:24,715
Speaker 2: you praise him today for his character? Tell him now.

82
00:09:52,875 --> 00:09:57,275
Speaker 2: Jesus also asked God to provide his daily bread, which

83
00:09:57,395 --> 00:10:00,715
Speaker 2: takes care of his physical needs. God wants you to

84
00:10:00,795 --> 00:10:04,235
Speaker 2: ask him for the things you need, and he is

85
00:10:04,315 --> 00:10:08,395
Speaker 2: faithful to provide for the ones he loves. Ask him.

86
00:10:08,435 --> 00:10:42,635
Speaker 2: Now listen to Luke eleven two through four in the

87
00:10:42,675 --> 00:10:49,235
Speaker 2: New Living Translation, Jesus said, this is how you should pray. Father,

88
00:10:50,275 --> 00:10:54,555
Speaker 2: May your name be kept holy. May your kingdom come soon.

89
00:10:55,555 --> 00:10:59,595
Speaker 2: Give us each day the food we need. And forgive

90
00:10:59,675 --> 00:11:04,075
Speaker 2: us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.

91
00:11:04,835 --> 00:11:10,195
Speaker 2: And don't let us yield to temptation. With your eyes closed,

92
00:11:11,515 --> 00:11:15,915
Speaker 2: imagine a comfort object you had as a child. Was

93
00:11:15,915 --> 00:11:20,035
Speaker 2: it a stuffed animal or a toy, or maybe a

94
00:11:20,075 --> 00:11:24,075
Speaker 2: baby blanket? Did you carry it around with you or

95
00:11:24,155 --> 00:11:27,835
Speaker 2: talk to it? Did you keep it within reach even

96
00:11:27,835 --> 00:11:32,875
Speaker 2: when you slept? What did it look like and feel like?

97
00:12:05,155 --> 00:12:11,235
Speaker 2: Imagine that comfort object. Now, hold it close. It smells

98
00:12:11,355 --> 00:12:16,835
Speaker 2: like safety and warmth. Run your fingers over it, feeling

99
00:12:16,875 --> 00:12:22,675
Speaker 2: the familiarity of every lump and groove. Picture yourself carrying

100
00:12:22,715 --> 00:12:26,955
Speaker 2: it with you through the grocery store, tugging it safely

101
00:12:26,995 --> 00:12:30,835
Speaker 2: in your bag on your daily commute, and speaking to

102
00:12:30,955 --> 00:13:07,755
Speaker 2: it whenever you feel lonely or stressed. Or if you

103
00:13:07,795 --> 00:13:11,675
Speaker 2: ever talked to this comfort object as a child, did

104
00:13:11,715 --> 00:13:15,315
Speaker 2: you imagine that it listened to you. You may have

105
00:13:15,435 --> 00:13:18,915
Speaker 2: known that you could always tell the truth about how

106
00:13:18,955 --> 00:13:23,435
Speaker 2: you were feeling, whether you were frightened or excited. If

107
00:13:23,435 --> 00:13:28,195
Speaker 2: your favorite comfort object could respond to you, what kinds

108
00:13:28,195 --> 00:14:04,155
Speaker 2: of things would it say? The Holy Spirit is a

109
00:14:04,155 --> 00:14:07,715
Speaker 2: more intangible version of the stuffed animal or toy that

110
00:14:07,795 --> 00:14:11,675
Speaker 2: you used to know, Except the Spirit of God is

111
00:14:11,795 --> 00:14:17,195
Speaker 2: living and breathing. Whatever the time or place, however brief

112
00:14:17,795 --> 00:14:22,955
Speaker 2: or lengthy, the conversation God hears you when you pray.

113
00:14:24,755 --> 00:14:27,395
Speaker 2: What if you let God be your comforter and companion.

114
00:14:28,235 --> 00:14:32,915
Speaker 2: What if prayer was part of every moment of your life,

115
00:14:33,115 --> 00:14:37,435
Speaker 2: and not just for Sunday Church? What would that look like?

116
00:15:08,835 --> 00:15:14,995
Speaker 2: Let's pray, Heavenly Father, I honor your holy name. I

117
00:15:15,155 --> 00:15:18,355
Speaker 2: ask that your kingdom come and your will be done

118
00:15:18,875 --> 00:15:23,635
Speaker 2: here on earth as it is in heaven. Please provide

119
00:15:23,635 --> 00:15:27,635
Speaker 2: me with my physical needs today, with my health and

120
00:15:27,675 --> 00:15:31,715
Speaker 2: the food I need. Forgive me for my sins against you,

121
00:15:32,915 --> 00:15:35,435
Speaker 2: and help me to forgive others as they say and

122
00:15:35,515 --> 00:15:39,955
Speaker 2: against me. Protect me from the temptations of this world.

123
00:15:41,435 --> 00:15:46,555
Speaker 2: In Jesus name, I pray. Amen, take a few more

124
00:15:46,635 --> 00:15:49,955
Speaker 2: moments to pray and sit in the presence of God.

125
00:15:51,795 --> 00:15:58,555
Speaker 2: Next time you pray, consider the Lord's prayer. Until next time,

126
00:15:59,555 --> 00:16:01,075
Speaker 2: may you abide in Christ