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 --> 00:01:10,435 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. 11 00:01:12,875 --> 00:01:20,515 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Chloe Elmore. Do you 12 00:01:20,675 --> 00:01:26,515 Speaker 2: eve a struggle to believe God's promises? Sarah is remembered 13 00:01:26,555 --> 00:01:31,115 Speaker 2: as a woman of great faith. With her husband Abraham, 14 00:01:31,715 --> 00:01:36,515 Speaker 2: she obeyed God and left her hometown without knowing where 15 00:01:36,555 --> 00:01:41,635 Speaker 2: she was going. Ultimately, she became the mother of Isaac 16 00:01:41,835 --> 00:01:48,155 Speaker 2: and a multitude of descendants. But God's plan unfolded slowly, 17 00:01:48,955 --> 00:01:54,115 Speaker 2: and sometimes she struggled to believe. Does that experience resonate 18 00:01:54,155 --> 00:02:04,675 Speaker 2: with you? Take a deep breath, listen to part of 19 00:02:04,715 --> 00:02:09,875 Speaker 2: the story In Genesis eighteen. Strangers have just appeared and 20 00:02:09,955 --> 00:02:15,875 Speaker 2: told Abraham that Sarah will have a child. Then Sarah 21 00:02:15,995 --> 00:02:20,755 Speaker 2: laughed to herself, saying, after I have grown old and 22 00:02:20,915 --> 00:02:25,795 Speaker 2: my husband is old, shall I have pleasure? The Lord 23 00:02:25,875 --> 00:02:30,235 Speaker 2: said to Abraham. Why did Sarah laugh and say, shall 24 00:02:30,235 --> 00:02:33,795 Speaker 2: I indeed bear a child? Now that I'm old? Is 25 00:02:33,995 --> 00:02:38,555 Speaker 2: anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the set time? 26 00:02:38,795 --> 00:02:42,955 Speaker 2: I will return to you in due season, and Sarah 27 00:02:43,075 --> 00:02:48,195 Speaker 2: shall have a son. But Sarah denied, saying I did 28 00:02:48,195 --> 00:02:53,475 Speaker 2: not laugh, for she was afraid. He said, oh, yes, 29 00:02:53,755 --> 00:03:03,115 Speaker 2: you did laugh. Do God's promises seem too good to 30 00:03:03,155 --> 00:03:07,755 Speaker 2: be true? Ask God to strengthen your faith and keep 31 00:03:07,795 --> 00:03:17,275 Speaker 2: you from falling. When we doubt God's promises, it can 32 00:03:17,315 --> 00:03:21,835 Speaker 2: be easy to fall into sin. But when we trust God, 33 00:03:22,435 --> 00:03:26,675 Speaker 2: we find power to wait patiently through all kinds of trials. 34 00:03:28,515 --> 00:03:39,195 Speaker 2: But either way, God's promises are secure. Pray with me, 35 00:03:41,395 --> 00:03:45,315 Speaker 2: God in heaven, you set the stars in their place 36 00:03:45,435 --> 00:03:49,275 Speaker 2: and called them by name. You are the King of 37 00:03:49,355 --> 00:03:54,635 Speaker 2: creation and the Lord of my life. Yet sometimes I 38 00:03:54,755 --> 00:03:57,755 Speaker 2: still struggle to believe that you will keep your promises. 39 00:04:00,355 --> 00:04:05,075 Speaker 2: Like Sarah, I laugh, and I doubt. Strengthen my faith. 40 00:04:05,955 --> 00:04:10,875 Speaker 2: Speak to me now, help me to trust and obey. 41 00:04:12,515 --> 00:04:17,075 Speaker 2: And God, thank you that even when I fail to trust. 42 00:04:17,875 --> 00:04:22,475 Speaker 2: Your love never fails. I pray this in the name 43 00:04:22,555 --> 00:04:32,475 Speaker 2: of Jesus. Amen. Keep breathing deeply and steadily. Feel your 44 00:04:32,515 --> 00:04:39,155 Speaker 2: heart rate slow and your muscle relax. Be present in 45 00:04:39,235 --> 00:04:45,915 Speaker 2: your body in this moment. As distractions come, acknowledge them 46 00:04:46,235 --> 00:04:54,115 Speaker 2: and let them go. Just breathe. God uses flawed people. 47 00:04:55,355 --> 00:05:00,995 Speaker 2: God loves flawed people. All of us are damaged by sin, 48 00:05:01,555 --> 00:05:05,635 Speaker 2: and all of us damage others by our sin. But 49 00:05:05,795 --> 00:05:09,995 Speaker 2: when we confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive them. 50 00:05:11,195 --> 00:05:29,635 Speaker 2: Confess to God now, the God who made you has 51 00:05:29,715 --> 00:05:34,875 Speaker 2: also redeemed you and set you free. The steadfast love 52 00:05:35,035 --> 00:05:39,475 Speaker 2: of the life Lord never ceases. His mercies never come 53 00:05:39,515 --> 00:05:45,275 Speaker 2: to an end. They are new every morning. Great is 54 00:05:45,355 --> 00:06:10,995 Speaker 2: his faithfulness. Pray with me God all creation. You made 55 00:06:11,195 --> 00:06:13,755 Speaker 2: all that is, and you hold it in your hands 56 00:06:13,835 --> 00:06:19,835 Speaker 2: at all times. I know that your promises are sure. 57 00:06:21,395 --> 00:06:24,915 Speaker 2: Strengthen my faith so that I may wait patiently for 58 00:06:24,995 --> 00:06:30,475 Speaker 2: you to work. Thank you God that even when I 59 00:06:30,635 --> 00:06:35,755 Speaker 2: struggle to believe, my doubts and mistakes don't change your 60 00:06:35,795 --> 00:06:40,835 Speaker 2: love or your plan for me. I know that you 61 00:06:40,875 --> 00:06:52,995 Speaker 2: are always good and always faithful. In your name, I pray, Amen, today, 62 00:06:53,755 --> 00:06:59,435 Speaker 2: let your laughter be joyful laughter. Secure in God's promises, 63 00:07:01,035 --> 00:07:08,755 Speaker 2: Trust that even when you fail, God never fails. Until 64 00:07:08,835 --> 00:07:12,715 Speaker 2: next time. May you abide in Christ