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 --> 00:01:19,915 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Diane Jackson. Can you 12 00:01:19,955 --> 00:01:26,355 Speaker 2: set limits and still be a loving person? Sometimes friends 13 00:01:26,435 --> 00:01:29,715 Speaker 2: or family members hurt us so deeply that we need 14 00:01:29,795 --> 00:01:36,275 Speaker 2: to set boundaries. Sometimes the limits we see make us 15 00:01:36,395 --> 00:01:43,195 Speaker 2: feel guilty. Take a moment to take a deep breath. 16 00:01:45,315 --> 00:01:50,835 Speaker 2: This might feel very close to home. Close your eyes 17 00:01:50,875 --> 00:01:59,235 Speaker 2: and sit with Jesus in your struggle. Our days are 18 00:01:59,275 --> 00:02:05,595 Speaker 2: a series of choices, one right after the other. Each 19 00:02:05,715 --> 00:02:09,675 Speaker 2: day we make choices that determine whether we follow the 20 00:02:09,795 --> 00:02:16,995 Speaker 2: Lord or another God. In the story of Joshua, we 21 00:02:17,155 --> 00:02:20,235 Speaker 2: learn that he drew a clear line in the sand 22 00:02:21,395 --> 00:02:28,635 Speaker 2: in regard to boundaries. In Joshua twenty four fifteen, Joshua 23 00:02:28,835 --> 00:02:35,075 Speaker 2: confronts the Israelites. He says, and if it is evil 24 00:02:35,155 --> 00:02:39,715 Speaker 2: in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day 25 00:02:40,435 --> 00:02:44,995 Speaker 2: whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served 26 00:02:45,035 --> 00:02:48,995 Speaker 2: in the region beyond the river, or the gods of 27 00:02:49,035 --> 00:02:54,875 Speaker 2: the Amorites in whose land you jowel. But as for 28 00:02:55,075 --> 00:03:04,715 Speaker 2: me and my house, we will serve the Lord. We 29 00:03:04,875 --> 00:03:09,195 Speaker 2: navigate life engaging with friends and family who either give 30 00:03:09,475 --> 00:03:15,035 Speaker 2: energy or rob us of energy. These choices can move 31 00:03:15,155 --> 00:03:25,315 Speaker 2: us forward or stop us in our tracks. Every day. 32 00:03:25,755 --> 00:03:28,955 Speaker 2: There are many other gods we can choose to serve 33 00:03:31,155 --> 00:03:38,755 Speaker 2: past habits or addictions, or cultural gods like business, money, power, 34 00:03:38,915 --> 00:03:44,915 Speaker 2: or attention. What choices have you made that reflect whom 35 00:03:45,195 --> 00:03:53,435 Speaker 2: or what you have chosen to serve? Dear Lord, like Joshua, 36 00:03:53,635 --> 00:03:57,595 Speaker 2: I want to choose to serve you this day and 37 00:03:57,795 --> 00:04:04,795 Speaker 2: every day. Remind me, through your Holy Spirit when I 38 00:04:04,875 --> 00:04:09,075 Speaker 2: am choosing other gods, and help me to turn back 39 00:04:09,915 --> 00:04:15,475 Speaker 2: once again to my heart's desire to serve you and 40 00:04:15,635 --> 00:04:21,995 Speaker 2: only you. I know that limits are important, so help 41 00:04:22,035 --> 00:04:25,075 Speaker 2: me to do the hard work of drawing a line 42 00:04:25,115 --> 00:04:28,955 Speaker 2: in my life to keep me safe from others who 43 00:04:28,995 --> 00:04:34,995 Speaker 2: would seek to harm me emotionally or physically. Thank you 44 00:04:35,955 --> 00:04:43,555 Speaker 2: in Jesus name, I pray, Amen, sit quietly before God, 45 00:04:44,995 --> 00:04:51,595 Speaker 2: open your hands and offer this day to Him. Keep 46 00:04:51,635 --> 00:04:58,115 Speaker 2: breathing deeply and slowly. Think through what you have planned 47 00:04:59,515 --> 00:05:19,395 Speaker 2: and imagine offering each peace to the Lord. Take this 48 00:05:19,595 --> 00:05:23,955 Speaker 2: time to look over recent events in your life. Where 49 00:05:23,955 --> 00:05:29,235 Speaker 2: did you choose to serve the Lord? Were there times 50 00:05:29,275 --> 00:05:50,315 Speaker 2: you chose another God? Go before the Lord? Now, just 51 00:05:50,435 --> 00:05:54,555 Speaker 2: like Joshua and the Israelites, we face a decision of 52 00:05:54,635 --> 00:05:57,835 Speaker 2: who joins us in the journey of serving the Lord. 53 00:05:59,515 --> 00:06:04,315 Speaker 2: There are friends and family who have our best interests 54 00:06:04,355 --> 00:06:12,035 Speaker 2: in mind, and those who don't. Dear Lord, like Joshua, 55 00:06:12,355 --> 00:06:16,115 Speaker 2: I want to choose to serve you this day and 56 00:06:16,355 --> 00:06:21,875 Speaker 2: every day. Help me to avoid people who have abused 57 00:06:22,235 --> 00:06:26,715 Speaker 2: and tried to control me in the past. Help me 58 00:06:26,795 --> 00:06:34,555 Speaker 2: to avoid destructive situations. Give me the strength to develop 59 00:06:34,715 --> 00:06:39,995 Speaker 2: healthy bats boundaries. Help me to forgive those who have 60 00:06:40,195 --> 00:06:46,995 Speaker 2: hurt me and let go of bitterness. You know the 61 00:06:47,115 --> 00:06:52,515 Speaker 2: dysfunctions and the patterns in my family. Teach me to 62 00:06:52,755 --> 00:07:04,235 Speaker 2: overcome unhealthy relationships. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen, take 63 00:07:04,315 --> 00:07:10,075 Speaker 2: a few moments to sense the weight of your choices. 64 00:07:11,235 --> 00:07:17,515 Speaker 2: Remember that you are not alone. The Lord you have 65 00:07:17,875 --> 00:07:27,075 Speaker 2: chosen to serve is with you until next time. May 66 00:07:27,195 --> 00:07:35,515 Speaker 2: you abide in christm