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 --> 00:01:17,395 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Tyler Boss. 11 00:01:19,515 --> 00:01:26,235 Speaker 1: What is meditation? The concept has been corrupted in modern 12 00:01:26,275 --> 00:01:31,475 Speaker 1: thought as many Christians associated with Eastern religions like Hinduism 13 00:01:31,675 --> 00:01:36,235 Speaker 1: and Buddhism believe systems that don't acknowledge God as Father 14 00:01:37,675 --> 00:01:43,075 Speaker 1: or Jesus as Savior and Lord. This association leads many 15 00:01:43,115 --> 00:01:47,995 Speaker 1: to believe that meditation in any form opens the mind 16 00:01:48,075 --> 00:01:54,555 Speaker 1: to evil spirits or untrue teaching, but that robs us 17 00:01:55,355 --> 00:02:00,275 Speaker 1: of an important way of interacting with Scripture and the 18 00:02:00,315 --> 00:02:08,955 Speaker 1: Holy Spirit. The truth is that meditation is not something 19 00:02:08,995 --> 00:02:15,955 Speaker 1: to fear, but something to embrace. Meditation has always been 20 00:02:15,995 --> 00:02:20,675 Speaker 1: an important part of Christian practice. The Psalmist writes, in 21 00:02:20,715 --> 00:02:24,315 Speaker 1: the way of your testimonies, I delight as much as 22 00:02:24,315 --> 00:02:30,395 Speaker 1: in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and 23 00:02:30,515 --> 00:02:35,115 Speaker 1: fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in 24 00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:41,195 Speaker 1: your statutes. I will not forget your word. Take a 25 00:02:41,235 --> 00:02:48,115 Speaker 1: deep breath and relax as you let those words sink. 26 00:02:48,195 --> 00:02:59,075 Speaker 1: In Christian meditation engages thought, imagination, emotion, and desire in 27 00:02:59,155 --> 00:03:04,595 Speaker 1: prayer as a way to draw closer to Christ. It 28 00:03:04,715 --> 00:03:07,595 Speaker 1: is a right response to the truth that God's words 29 00:03:07,635 --> 00:03:16,435 Speaker 1: are worth more than human riches. It's normal to feel 30 00:03:16,435 --> 00:03:20,715 Speaker 1: distracted and to struggle to focus during your times of 31 00:03:20,755 --> 00:03:25,235 Speaker 1: meditating on God's word. Every distraction that draws your attention 32 00:03:25,435 --> 00:03:31,195 Speaker 1: away momentarily gives you a chance to turn again toward Christ. 33 00:03:32,995 --> 00:03:43,395 Speaker 1: Just keep turning back to Him. Let's pray, Heavenly Father, 34 00:03:45,355 --> 00:03:47,955 Speaker 1: I believe that your word shows me how to find 35 00:03:48,395 --> 00:03:54,955 Speaker 1: abundant life. Please help me to keep your commands carefully 36 00:03:55,035 --> 00:03:59,395 Speaker 1: so that I may flourish and live a pure life. 37 00:03:59,595 --> 00:04:03,475 Speaker 1: Help me to hide your words in my heart that 38 00:04:03,555 --> 00:04:08,515 Speaker 1: I might not sin against you. I praise you, Oh Lord. 39 00:04:10,715 --> 00:04:14,995 Speaker 1: Teach me your decrees and teach me to delight in them. 40 00:04:16,475 --> 00:04:20,355 Speaker 1: Help me to prioritize time in your word, just letting 41 00:04:20,355 --> 00:04:25,035 Speaker 1: it sink into my soul. I ask these things in 42 00:04:25,075 --> 00:04:33,915 Speaker 1: the name of your son, Jesus. Amen. Meditation involves the 43 00:04:33,915 --> 00:04:38,195 Speaker 1: body as well as the mind and the heart. Find 44 00:04:38,235 --> 00:04:49,675 Speaker 1: a comfortable position and inhale deeply. As you exhale, release 45 00:04:49,755 --> 00:04:55,555 Speaker 1: any tensions, fears, or worries that have taken up a 46 00:04:55,595 --> 00:05:16,915 Speaker 1: residence in your body. Examine your heart. You don't need 47 00:05:16,995 --> 00:05:21,355 Speaker 1: to hide any part of yourself from God. If there 48 00:05:21,395 --> 00:05:26,195 Speaker 1: are any sins you've been trying to ignore or cover up, 49 00:05:27,555 --> 00:05:32,635 Speaker 1: you can bring them before Him. Now God is ready 50 00:05:32,795 --> 00:05:50,955 Speaker 1: to forgive. Jesus came to earth to show us the 51 00:05:50,955 --> 00:05:56,595 Speaker 1: way of freedom, the way of God's kingdom. Through Christ, 52 00:05:56,835 --> 00:06:01,195 Speaker 1: you are forgiven and reconciled to God. You are filled 53 00:06:01,235 --> 00:06:07,035 Speaker 1: with the Holy Spirit and equipped for every good work. 54 00:06:10,915 --> 00:06:14,355 Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, thank you for this time that I could 55 00:06:14,395 --> 00:06:18,635 Speaker 1: be with you. Help me to thirst for your word 56 00:06:18,755 --> 00:06:22,235 Speaker 1: like a deer thirst for the flowing streams of water. 57 00:06:24,115 --> 00:06:28,395 Speaker 1: It is living and active, and sharper than any double 58 00:06:28,435 --> 00:06:36,395 Speaker 1: bladed sword. Sometimes it has some really hard things to say. 59 00:06:37,155 --> 00:06:40,955 Speaker 1: Help me to seek you, to always know that you 60 00:06:40,995 --> 00:06:45,035 Speaker 1: are good, and that your plans for me are good, 61 00:06:46,035 --> 00:06:50,195 Speaker 1: and that I can fully trust you help me to 62 00:06:50,275 --> 00:06:54,035 Speaker 1: carve out time every day to spend alone with you, 63 00:06:55,995 --> 00:07:02,475 Speaker 1: even if it's in silence. In Jesus name, I pray Amen. 64 00:07:06,115 --> 00:07:09,035 Speaker 1: As you practice abiding with God and meditating on the 65 00:07:09,075 --> 00:07:12,675 Speaker 1: words of this psalm, let your delight in God's word 66 00:07:13,755 --> 00:07:20,635 Speaker 1: lead you ever closer to Him until next time. May 67 00:07:20,715 --> 00:07:21,795 Speaker 1: you abide in Christ