WEBVTT - Your God-given Assurance

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to Abides Sleep Meditations. I'm Tyler Boss. Today's meditation

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<v Speaker 1>is brought to you by our partners at Life Audio.

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<v Speaker 2>Now.

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<v Speaker 3>and body as we hear tonight's sleep story.

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<v Speaker 2>Hello and welcome to this sleep story from Abide. I'm Jennifer.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for joining me for our story titled Your

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<v Speaker 2>God Given Assurance. The Dictionary defines assurance as a positive

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<v Speaker 2>declaration intended to provide confidence. Biblically speaking, our assurance comes

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<v Speaker 2>from the truth that Christ lives in us. Colossians, Chapter one,

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<v Speaker 2>verse twenty seven says, for God wanted them to know

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<v Speaker 2>that the riches and glory of Christ are for you,

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<v Speaker 2>gentiles too, And this is the secret Christ lives in you.

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<v Speaker 2>This gives you assurance of sharing His glory. When Paul

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<v Speaker 2>wrote these words to the believers in Colossie. He wanted

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<v Speaker 2>to build their confidence that they too belonged to Christ.

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<v Speaker 2>By grace through faith, they were included in the riches

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<v Speaker 2>of God's glory through Jesus his Son. Let this sleep

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<v Speaker 2>story and richer faith. As you hear powerful words of

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<v Speaker 2>scripture assuring you of your inclusion in God's beloved family.

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<v Speaker 2>Be encouraged by the knowledge that God has imparted to

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<v Speaker 2>you something that was once a mystery but is now

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<v Speaker 2>revealed through Christ. Jesus, I invite you to rest in

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord and his Holy presence, letting go of all worry,

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<v Speaker 2>stress and anxiety. Let this sleep meditation lull you into

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<v Speaker 2>a peaceful time of relaxation and refreshment. Know that the

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit is guiding this story from an abundance of

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<v Speaker 2>his love of joy, peace and gentleness. Through his comfort

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<v Speaker 2>and his counsel, he will lead you into deep, restorative sleep.

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<v Speaker 2>As you hear from Colossians Chapter one, I'm grateful you've

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<v Speaker 2>chosen this story, and I'm confident you'll be blessed by

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<v Speaker 2>what is shared. Thanks again for listening. Throughout life, God

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<v Speaker 2>sends different people to assure us everything's going to be

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<v Speaker 2>all right. Family members gather around us, offering support. Friends

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<v Speaker 2>lend a hand or a listening near and trusted pastors

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<v Speaker 2>share comforting truths from God's word. The apostle Paul was

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<v Speaker 2>gifted with the ability to encourage others. When he wrote

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<v Speaker 2>to the believers in Colossie, he assured them of their

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<v Speaker 2>heavenly inheritance through Christ Jesus. In Colossians Chapter one, verse

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<v Speaker 2>twenty seven, he said, for God wanted them to know

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<v Speaker 2>that the riches and glory of Christ are for you,

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<v Speaker 2>gentiles too, And this is the secret Christ lives in you.

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<v Speaker 2>This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. My friend,

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<v Speaker 2>It's no secret that Jesus is the savior of the world,

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<v Speaker 2>and all who believe in Him for salvation share in

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<v Speaker 2>his glory. As you fall asleep, let your God give

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<v Speaker 2>an assurance and fold you like a security blanket of

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<v Speaker 2>peace and contentment. There is nothing to worry about. Your

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<v Speaker 2>assurance is in Christ alone. Christian singer and producer Michael

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<v Speaker 2>English shares these lyrics. In Christ alone, I place my

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<v Speaker 2>trust and find my glory in the power of the Cross.

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<v Speaker 2>In every victory, let it be said of me, my

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<v Speaker 2>source of strength, my source of hope is Christ.

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<v Speaker 1>Alone.

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<v Speaker 2>Let his words Christ alone, center your heart on the

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<v Speaker 2>finished work of Jesus. He is your source of strength

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<v Speaker 2>and hope. Sleep comes easily when you rest fully in

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<v Speaker 2>the one true source of peace. In Christ alone, you

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<v Speaker 2>live and move and breathe. He is your light, your joy,

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<v Speaker 2>your song through every valley and mountaintop experience. Jesus is

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<v Speaker 2>the only one who remains with you every second. Let

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<v Speaker 2>that thought settle over you for a moment. Every step

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<v Speaker 2>you take, he takes with you. Nothing is beyond him.

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<v Speaker 2>He sees, he knows, he hears. Thank you, Lord for

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<v Speaker 2>being aware of all that is happening. There is comfort

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<v Speaker 2>in knowing you are God and you are sovereign. Please

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<v Speaker 2>draw this listener close, assuring them of your love, mercy,

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<v Speaker 2>and grace that flows continually around them like a comforting

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<v Speaker 2>blanket of peace. In Jesus' holy name, Amen, continue resting

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<v Speaker 2>in the guidance of the Holy Spirit as he fills

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<v Speaker 2>your dreams with pleasant images of God's creation. In nature,

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<v Speaker 2>there's a bird called a honeyguide. These birds, also known

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<v Speaker 2>as indicator birds, guide other animals and sometimes humans, to

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<v Speaker 2>sources of wild honey. According to the Natural History Museum

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<v Speaker 2>in London, the wild, honeyguides recruit people with a demanding

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<v Speaker 2>call indicating that they have found a be nest. The

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<v Speaker 2>honey hunting humans reply with calls passed down through generations

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<v Speaker 2>and follow the bird. Mostly found in sub Saharan Africa,

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<v Speaker 2>honeyguides are one of the few birds that work together

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<v Speaker 2>with people through something science calls mutualistic interaction, which is

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<v Speaker 2>simply the interaction between two species for mutual benefit. How

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<v Speaker 2>wonderful that God designed honeyguides specifically for this purpose, displaying

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<v Speaker 2>his limitless creativity and thoughtfulness. In vision, following a honey

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<v Speaker 2>guide as it flies through the African woodland, it lands

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<v Speaker 2>on a branch, waiting until you catch up before flying

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<v Speaker 2>to another. This follow the leader game continues as you

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<v Speaker 2>follow the honey guide to the specific tree where honey

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<v Speaker 2>is found. He perches on a branch, giving his distinct call,

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<v Speaker 2>indicating to you there is a hive within the tree.

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<v Speaker 2>You decide to stay at a distance, observing the honey

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<v Speaker 2>guide with his signature brown feathers and pink bill, and

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<v Speaker 2>from the safety of a peaceful, shaded area, you watch

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<v Speaker 2>and wait. Eventually, the honeyguyde loses interest and flies away,

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<v Speaker 2>singing his familiar song. He is off to find other

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<v Speaker 2>sources of honey and someone to help him harvest it.

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<v Speaker 2>You walk for a while, enjoying the warmth of the

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<v Speaker 2>setting sun, and when you grow tired, you find a

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<v Speaker 2>shady place to rest under an acacia tree. Leaning your

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<v Speaker 2>head back, you close your eyes and take in a

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<v Speaker 2>deep breath. The air is fresh around you. Inhaling and eggshaling.

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<v Speaker 2>You drift off to sleep, surrounded by the sounds of nature,

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<v Speaker 2>the distant buzz of bees, the careless rustle of leaves,

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<v Speaker 2>the occasional chirp of a cricket in the brush. You

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<v Speaker 2>remember that spending time in nature is a peaceful way

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<v Speaker 2>to eliminate stress and reconnect with your creator. Even turning

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<v Speaker 2>off your phone for a few moments can restore a

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<v Speaker 2>sense of peace and calm, soothing the tension and recalibrating

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<v Speaker 2>your focus on Jesus. Take time to rest, listen, and

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<v Speaker 2>simply be. God is with you and loves you dearly.

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<v Speaker 2>You are in the palm of his hand, and he

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<v Speaker 2>watches over you like a loving father who keeps you

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<v Speaker 2>in his sight every moment. First John three, verse one says,

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<v Speaker 2>see what kind of love the Father has? Given to

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<v Speaker 2>us that we should be called children of God, and

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<v Speaker 2>so we are. Third John chapter one, verse four says

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<v Speaker 2>I have no greater joy than to hear that my

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<v Speaker 2>children are walking in the truth as a beloved child

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<v Speaker 2>of God. Rest in the assurance that He loves you

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<v Speaker 2>unconditionally and rejoices in you. You are his precious creation,

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<v Speaker 2>made in his likeness to bring him glory. Walk in

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<v Speaker 2>God's truth, not only believing it, but receiving it day

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<v Speaker 2>after day. Spend time reading and listening to the scriptures

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<v Speaker 2>the wonderful words of life. In the song I Belong

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<v Speaker 2>to Jesus, the lyrics provide a peaceful word picture, saying

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<v Speaker 2>You're my shepherd. You are my keeper, my provider, my protector.

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<v Speaker 2>You surround me. You are in every step I take.

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<v Speaker 2>I believe you're the goodness. You're the constant. You are

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<v Speaker 2>my first love and my future. You surround me. You

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<v Speaker 2>are in every step I take. Rest in your good shepherd,

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<v Speaker 2>your keeper and provider. He is the overseer of your soul.

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<v Speaker 2>He surrounds you with goodness. Every step you take is

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<v Speaker 2>guarded in his love and safety. You belong to Jesus,

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<v Speaker 2>my friend, and you are kept safe and sound in

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<v Speaker 2>his presence. Rest well. I pray for you one more time,

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<v Speaker 2>Holy God, Thank you for the constant reminders that we

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<v Speaker 2>belong to you through Jesus, your son. He made the

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<v Speaker 2>way for us to commune with you every single day,

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<v Speaker 2>and I pray that this precious listener will take the

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<v Speaker 2>time to simply rest in your presence and receive the

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<v Speaker 2>peace and goodness you so lavishly give. Please continue assuring

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<v Speaker 2>them of who they are your child, fully loved, accepted, included,

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<v Speaker 2>and welcomed into your holy family in Jesus' beautiful name. Amen,

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you again for choosing this sleep story. I pray

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<v Speaker 2>you were deeply blessed by Paul's assurance that you are

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<v Speaker 2>included in Christ Jesus and blessed by the riches of

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<v Speaker 2>His glory. In the days ahead, I encourage you to

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<v Speaker 2>find time to relax in nature, enjoying the beauty God created,

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<v Speaker 2>and the next time you watch a beautiful sunset, be

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<v Speaker 2>reminded of God's marvelous handiwork displayed throughout heaven and Earth.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm so grateful you tuned in to this peaceful meditation,

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<v Speaker 2>and I hope you gained valuable insight as you listened,

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<v Speaker 2>be blessed my friend, and as always, continue to abide

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<v Speaker 2>in Christ.