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 00:01:12,995 --> 00:01:18,675 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Melissa. Have you ever 12 00:01:18,755 --> 00:01:23,035 Speaker 2: wondered about God's plan as he began to settle in? 13 00:01:24,475 --> 00:01:30,715 Speaker 2: Feel your body relax, Close your eyes. Picture in front 14 00:01:30,715 --> 00:01:38,595 Speaker 2: of you along road bracketed by tall, beautiful trees. This 15 00:01:38,715 --> 00:01:44,035 Speaker 2: road stretches on and on, far past what you can see. 16 00:01:44,275 --> 00:01:48,955 Speaker 2: It branches off here and there into other roads, all 17 00:01:49,075 --> 00:01:52,755 Speaker 2: leading to places you can't quite see because of the 18 00:01:52,795 --> 00:01:58,795 Speaker 2: trees blocking your view. You take a deep breath, I 19 00:01:58,955 --> 00:02:06,275 Speaker 2: begin to walk. The sun is shining overhead. Think about 20 00:02:06,435 --> 00:02:10,035 Speaker 2: where on this road God could be calling you to go. 21 00:02:20,875 --> 00:02:25,475 Speaker 2: You can see all the mistakes you've made along the way. 22 00:02:25,755 --> 00:02:27,995 Speaker 2: You may wonder how you can be called to make 23 00:02:28,035 --> 00:02:33,875 Speaker 2: a positive impact, and you've messed up so many times. However, 24 00:02:35,555 --> 00:02:39,595 Speaker 2: two of Ephesians talks about how we've all fallen pray 25 00:02:39,635 --> 00:02:46,635 Speaker 2: to sin, and that by God's grace we are free. 26 00:02:47,195 --> 00:03:02,435 Speaker 2: Take a moment to breathe and think about that. Ephesians 27 00:03:02,515 --> 00:03:08,435 Speaker 2: two ten says, for we are His workmanship created in 28 00:03:08,515 --> 00:03:13,835 Speaker 2: Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that 29 00:03:13,915 --> 00:03:17,835 Speaker 2: we should walk in them. God has given us all 30 00:03:17,915 --> 00:03:31,875 Speaker 2: we need to hear our calling. God, in his grace, 31 00:03:32,875 --> 00:03:37,635 Speaker 2: has provided us with so many blas He's prepared for 32 00:03:37,715 --> 00:03:43,595 Speaker 2: us with his love, his word, his desire for relationship. 33 00:03:44,835 --> 00:03:47,715 Speaker 2: To listen to what he is telling us when we 34 00:03:47,835 --> 00:03:52,715 Speaker 2: ask him for guidance, when we're choosing a path, picking 35 00:03:52,715 --> 00:03:56,995 Speaker 2: a road to walk down. Let me take a moment 36 00:03:57,035 --> 00:04:00,795 Speaker 2: here to pray and to invite God into this time, 37 00:04:01,755 --> 00:04:09,915 Speaker 2: into this space. Father, Thank you for your grace, Thank 38 00:04:09,955 --> 00:04:13,915 Speaker 2: you for your guidance. I ask that as we follow 39 00:04:13,955 --> 00:04:18,435 Speaker 2: your word and meditate on it, they'll open our ears, 40 00:04:19,595 --> 00:04:25,675 Speaker 2: open our hearts, and open our minds to you. Help 41 00:04:25,755 --> 00:04:29,195 Speaker 2: us recognize the path we need to take. And I 42 00:04:29,275 --> 00:04:34,355 Speaker 2: ask that you be there as we take it. Give 43 00:04:34,435 --> 00:04:41,195 Speaker 2: us bravery, give us trust, give us faith, and help 44 00:04:41,275 --> 00:04:45,835 Speaker 2: us see the purpose You've laid out for us. Amen, 45 00:04:48,755 --> 00:04:54,475 Speaker 2: Now take a deep breath. Hold your hands open to 46 00:04:54,555 --> 00:04:59,995 Speaker 2: the sky. Allow the warm sunshine through the trees on 47 00:05:00,075 --> 00:05:06,355 Speaker 2: that road to shine down and envelope you. Imagine that 48 00:05:06,555 --> 00:05:41,235 Speaker 2: sunlight is God's comfort and embrace. Sometimes the hardest parts 49 00:05:41,235 --> 00:05:44,275 Speaker 2: of moving on and being able to hear and recognize 50 00:05:44,275 --> 00:05:47,595 Speaker 2: God's plan for you are the things of your past 51 00:05:47,675 --> 00:05:52,995 Speaker 2: weighing on your heart. Take a moment now to take 52 00:05:53,035 --> 00:06:21,555 Speaker 2: those things before God. Thinking about the future can be 53 00:06:21,795 --> 00:06:26,635 Speaker 2: overwhelming asgan figuring out who you are and where you 54 00:06:26,675 --> 00:06:31,995 Speaker 2: fit in in God's plan. Remember that God knows and 55 00:06:32,075 --> 00:06:37,755 Speaker 2: wants what's best for you on his love and grace. 56 00:06:39,275 --> 00:06:43,915 Speaker 2: Listen again as I read Ephesians two ten, think about 57 00:06:43,955 --> 00:06:48,755 Speaker 2: the roads stretching out before you. Ask God to bring 58 00:06:48,795 --> 00:06:51,595 Speaker 2: to mind what you need in order to choose the 59 00:06:51,675 --> 00:06:56,835 Speaker 2: right path where we are. His workmanship created in Christ 60 00:06:56,915 --> 00:07:01,995 Speaker 2: Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we 61 00:07:01,995 --> 00:07:05,995 Speaker 2: should walk in them. What did God show you in 62 00:07:06,035 --> 00:07:10,715 Speaker 2: that verse? Did he bring anything to mind that might 63 00:07:10,875 --> 00:07:15,075 Speaker 2: help you in choosing which direction to go in life? 64 00:07:15,715 --> 00:07:19,395 Speaker 2: What in your heart or mind might be holding you back. 65 00:07:21,515 --> 00:07:27,555 Speaker 2: Take deep breaths and take this moment to think on 66 00:07:27,635 --> 00:07:34,075 Speaker 2: these questions. Looking at the future, seeing nothing but the 67 00:07:34,155 --> 00:07:39,435 Speaker 2: road stretching on and on, unable to know exactly where 68 00:07:39,435 --> 00:07:43,075 Speaker 2: it leads or or where the other paths branch off to, 69 00:07:44,795 --> 00:07:52,315 Speaker 2: can be scary. Sometimes it can cause stress, uncertainty, and anxiety. 70 00:07:53,275 --> 00:07:57,195 Speaker 2: Take this moment to breathe and ask God to settle 71 00:07:57,235 --> 00:08:21,395 Speaker 2: your heart and bring peace in your thoughts of the future. 72 00:08:32,315 --> 00:08:35,315 Speaker 2: Now listen to Ephesians two ten in the New Living Trance, 73 00:08:36,635 --> 00:08:40,595 Speaker 2: and as you do, see if anything new stands out 74 00:08:40,635 --> 00:08:46,355 Speaker 2: to you. For we are God's masterpiece. He's created us 75 00:08:46,395 --> 00:08:49,675 Speaker 2: anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good 76 00:08:49,675 --> 00:08:54,315 Speaker 2: things He planned for us long ago. Think about the 77 00:08:54,355 --> 00:09:03,075 Speaker 2: differences between the two verses. God has had your future 78 00:09:03,315 --> 00:09:07,435 Speaker 2: mapped out since before you were even created. He cares 79 00:09:07,475 --> 00:09:12,475 Speaker 2: about you, treasures you, and wants your future to hold 80 00:09:12,515 --> 00:09:17,755 Speaker 2: what is best for you. Sometimes it's unclear what that 81 00:09:17,835 --> 00:09:24,075 Speaker 2: may be, and that is where faith comes in. Ask 82 00:09:24,155 --> 00:09:27,075 Speaker 2: him to show you what you need to know, what 83 00:09:27,315 --> 00:09:32,795 Speaker 2: step to take next on the road before you They'll 84 00:09:32,875 --> 00:10:06,995 Speaker 2: let you know in his time what word or image 85 00:10:07,675 --> 00:10:10,635 Speaker 2: might God be putting in your mind to help you 86 00:10:10,675 --> 00:10:43,955 Speaker 2: along the path. When God doesn't show you the whole path, 87 00:10:44,795 --> 00:10:48,955 Speaker 2: it's hard for future insight into the meaning and comfort 88 00:10:48,955 --> 00:10:53,395 Speaker 2: of Ephesians two ten. Listen to it in the God's 89 00:10:53,435 --> 00:10:58,475 Speaker 2: Word translation. God has made us what we are. He 90 00:10:58,515 --> 00:11:02,635 Speaker 2: has created us in Christ Jesus, to live lives filled 91 00:11:02,675 --> 00:11:05,675 Speaker 2: with good works that He has prepared for us to do. 92 00:11:07,915 --> 00:11:10,635 Speaker 2: You may not be sure what may occur when you 93 00:11:10,675 --> 00:11:15,035 Speaker 2: walk down the road before you. However, you can rest 94 00:11:15,075 --> 00:11:18,875 Speaker 2: in the fact that God will be there every step 95 00:11:18,915 --> 00:11:23,555 Speaker 2: of the way, and even if you don't exactly know 96 00:11:23,595 --> 00:11:26,995 Speaker 2: the right thing to do next, you can know that 97 00:11:27,035 --> 00:11:31,235 Speaker 2: God wants you to do good. He's called us on 98 00:11:31,275 --> 00:11:36,795 Speaker 2: this earth to do good works. Take a moment to 99 00:11:36,835 --> 00:11:40,475 Speaker 2: ask God what good works you can be doing and 100 00:11:40,555 --> 00:12:13,115 Speaker 2: how He's prepared you to do that. Go down that 101 00:12:13,195 --> 00:12:16,315 Speaker 2: road with the question what good can I be doing 102 00:12:17,035 --> 00:12:21,555 Speaker 2: on your mind? What good can you do? An even 103 00:12:21,795 --> 00:12:56,235 Speaker 2: just one day, Close your eyes and imagine that road 104 00:12:56,315 --> 00:13:02,235 Speaker 2: before you once more, the trees on either side, the 105 00:13:02,275 --> 00:13:09,075 Speaker 2: paths stretching out, the sun shining down, warm and reassuring. 106 00:13:10,955 --> 00:13:18,035 Speaker 2: It's unknown and uncertain, and you may feel unprepared. It's 107 00:13:18,075 --> 00:13:22,995 Speaker 2: okay to feel these things. Take some time to acknowledge 108 00:13:23,035 --> 00:13:26,475 Speaker 2: any similar feelings you may be having when you think 109 00:13:26,515 --> 00:13:30,795 Speaker 2: about walking down that road of uncertainty, that road to 110 00:13:30,875 --> 00:14:06,195 Speaker 2: the future. Yes, that road is uncertain, and you may 111 00:14:06,235 --> 00:14:12,555 Speaker 2: feel completely unprepared and overwhelmed. But have faith because Jesus 112 00:14:13,155 --> 00:14:18,675 Speaker 2: and whom you were created, has indeed prepared you. God 113 00:14:18,835 --> 00:14:21,515 Speaker 2: knows everything that you will come across on that road. 114 00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:24,915 Speaker 2: He will be by your side as you face it. 115 00:14:26,675 --> 00:14:31,715 Speaker 2: Take a moment to breathe, smile, and thank God for 116 00:14:31,795 --> 00:15:04,955 Speaker 2: his grace in this. Allow me to close this time 117 00:15:04,995 --> 00:15:12,595 Speaker 2: in prayer. Lord, Thank you for your grace. The road 118 00:15:12,635 --> 00:15:17,835 Speaker 2: that lies before us is one filled with doubt and uncertainty, 119 00:15:18,955 --> 00:15:22,715 Speaker 2: we can be certain in You and the plan you 120 00:15:22,755 --> 00:15:26,915 Speaker 2: have laid out for us. Thank you for your love 121 00:15:28,355 --> 00:15:30,835 Speaker 2: that we may know your plan for us as good. 122 00:15:31,835 --> 00:15:36,395 Speaker 2: And thank you for your faithfulness along this road. I 123 00:15:36,515 --> 00:15:41,195 Speaker 2: ask that you bring strength and reassurance to those who 124 00:15:41,235 --> 00:15:45,315 Speaker 2: need it in your name and in the name of 125 00:15:45,355 --> 00:15:51,195 Speaker 2: your Son. Amen. Whatever you may be asking God when 126 00:15:51,235 --> 00:15:56,195 Speaker 2: you think about your passion and your calling, trust that 127 00:15:56,235 --> 00:16:00,875 Speaker 2: He has given you all you need until next time. 128 00:16:02,155 --> 00:16:03,475 Speaker 2: May you abide in Christ