WEBVTT - Melodic Bliss

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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 1>If you go to lifeaudio dot com, you will find

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<v Speaker 2>Now.

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<v Speaker 1>Remember, you can.

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

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<v Speaker 2>Hellar and welcome to the sleep story from Abide. I'm Chloe,

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<v Speaker 2>and it's wonderful that you're here to join me for

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<v Speaker 2>our story Melodic bless. If you're in need of a

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<v Speaker 2>night of harmonious pace and bless, you have chosen the

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<v Speaker 2>right place to be here listening to this story, safe

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<v Speaker 2>and warm in the bosom of God. Tonight, we will

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<v Speaker 2>be inspired by First Chronicles sixteen, verse nine from the

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<v Speaker 2>Bible in basic English. Let your voice be sounded in

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<v Speaker 2>songs and malady. Let all your thoughts be of the

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<v Speaker 2>wonder of His works. In the light of this scripture,

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<v Speaker 2>we will follow a young Jewish girl named Rivka in

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<v Speaker 2>ancient Israel. Through her day we will hear how her

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<v Speaker 2>life is a tapestry of devotion, music, and unwavering faith.

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<v Speaker 2>Her story is a tale woven with the threads of

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<v Speaker 2>love for God, of the Hebrew Liar, and the sweet,

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<v Speaker 2>blissful rest that comes from a heart filled with the

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit. Sing to Him, Sing praises to him, Speak

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<v Speaker 2>of all his wonders. If music and malady particularly spect

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<v Speaker 2>your heart during this time, God will make his word

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<v Speaker 2>come alive in you even more, and you will hear

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<v Speaker 2>his sweet voice singing a gentle lullaby over you as

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<v Speaker 2>you fall asleep. The bliss of the presence of God's

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<v Speaker 2>Holy Spirit will fill you and flow over you and

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<v Speaker 2>bring you into a state of complete calm. Your thoughts

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<v Speaker 2>will be focused on the many wonders of His works.

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<v Speaker 2>Perhaps a song will rise up in your heart towards God,

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<v Speaker 2>and He will give you a new song to sing

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<v Speaker 2>to him, a song of praise to your God. He

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<v Speaker 2>loves you so deeply, and He has endless streams of

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<v Speaker 2>affection to shower upon you right now and all the

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<v Speaker 2>days of your life. Sing to Him, Sing praises to Him,

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<v Speaker 2>Speak of all his wonders. In the heart of ancient Israel,

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<v Speaker 2>nestled among rolling fields and serene landscapes, lived a young

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<v Speaker 2>Jewish girl seventeen years old named Revka. Revka's day began

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<v Speaker 2>before the sun peaked over the horizon. The daylight was

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<v Speaker 2>hazy and covered in pastel shades, and the lambs were

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<v Speaker 2>only just starting to wake and bleat for their breakfast.

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<v Speaker 2>Rivka rose to greet her day of chores before any

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<v Speaker 2>of her other siblings or parents awakened. The crisp morning

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<v Speaker 2>air filled her lungs as she stepped outside her family's

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<v Speaker 2>modest clay home. Though her mind awoke slowly after a

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<v Speaker 2>deep sleep, her thoughts began to clear from the night streams.

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<v Speaker 2>Her heart started to sing praise as to God, those

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<v Speaker 2>thoughts of the daunting tasks tried to impose. She fixed

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<v Speaker 2>her minds on the words of King David, sang to

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<v Speaker 2>the Lord a new song, Sing to the Lord all

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<v Speaker 2>the Earth from Psalm ninety six one. She knew worship

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<v Speaker 2>could shift even the most gloomy of moods, so she

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<v Speaker 2>had cultivated a conscious practice of worship. When she felt

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<v Speaker 2>most overwhelmed, she walked to the well her steps light

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<v Speaker 2>and purposeful. As she drew out the water, she hummed

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<v Speaker 2>a familiar malady, a song of worship that had been

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<v Speaker 2>passed down through many generations. The lyrics originated from the

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<v Speaker 2>Scroll of Numbers, chapter twenty one. Then Israel sang this song,

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<v Speaker 2>sprang up, oh Wow, sang about it, about the well,

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<v Speaker 2>that the prince was dug, that the nobles of the

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<v Speaker 2>people sank, the nobles with scepters and staffs. Her sweet voice,

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<v Speaker 2>though quiet, brimmed with passion and reverence. She had been

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<v Speaker 2>waking up extra early every morning for this daily ritual

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<v Speaker 2>for a few years, and she had grown to see

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<v Speaker 2>it not as a chore, but as an opportunity to

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<v Speaker 2>connect with God and prepare her heart for the day ahead.

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<v Speaker 2>When she finished drawing the water for her family and

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<v Speaker 2>feeding and watering the family's humble group of livestock, she

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<v Speaker 2>looked up to the sun. The glowing orb was rising

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<v Speaker 2>higher in the sky, comforting her with a gentle stream

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<v Speaker 2>of warmth, while the morning chill still hung in the air.

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<v Speaker 2>By the placement of the sun, she could tell it

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<v Speaker 2>was time for her parents and siblings to start getting up. Presently,

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<v Speaker 2>she walked back through the cobbled streets to her home.

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<v Speaker 2>She greeted her parents and little siblings with warmarks and

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<v Speaker 2>went to her room. In the corner of Rivka's room,

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<v Speaker 2>leaning against the wall, rested her most treasured possession, the Kinor,

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<v Speaker 2>a beautiful Hebrew liar. Its strings shimmered in the early light,

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<v Speaker 2>inviting her to play. Rivka learned to play the kinnor

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<v Speaker 2>from her father, who had learned from his father before him.

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<v Speaker 2>Each note she played spoke a tribute to her ancestors

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<v Speaker 2>and an offering to the Almighty. As she skillfully strums

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<v Speaker 2>the strings, her bedroom filled with a gentle, soothing melody.

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<v Speaker 2>Rivka closed her eyes and let the music guide her thoughts.

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<v Speaker 2>Her soul danced with the notes, each one lifting her

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<v Speaker 2>closer to God. She recalled the words of Psalm seventy one,

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<v Speaker 2>verse twenty two. I will praise you with the harp

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<v Speaker 2>for your faithfulness.

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<v Speaker 1>My God.

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<v Speaker 2>I will sing praise to you with the liar, Holy

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<v Speaker 2>One of Israel. As she sat on the floor, strum

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<v Speaker 2>and singing the lilting tune of worship, all her anxiety

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<v Speaker 2>melted away. The worries about her family, their health and

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<v Speaker 2>well being, their financial provisions, whether they would have enough

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<v Speaker 2>to eat tomorrow, or whether they would have sufficient food

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<v Speaker 2>for their cattle. All these concerns began to dissolve and

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<v Speaker 2>to fizzle away. Her instrument tethered her to the Lord,

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<v Speaker 2>directing her to sing her surrender to Him and God's

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<v Speaker 2>gift to her. As she played, the kind or was

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<v Speaker 2>to fill her soul with a melodic bless a state

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<v Speaker 2>of freedom from anxiety, freedom from the cares and concerns

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<v Speaker 2>about tomorrow, a perfect kind of peace. She forgot the

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<v Speaker 2>passage of time as she sat frozen in the sweetness

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<v Speaker 2>of that moment. But shortly she heard her mother's voice

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<v Speaker 2>from the kitchen, calling for Rivka to go to the

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<v Speaker 2>local market to sell their wares. She kept the lyre

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<v Speaker 2>with her to take to the market so she could

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<v Speaker 2>play during slower times, and joyfully ran to her mother.

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<v Speaker 2>She gave her mother a big hug, grabbed the coin

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<v Speaker 2>purse in her outstretched hand, and gnosed on a delicious

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<v Speaker 2>piece of crusty bread for breakfast before heading out the door.

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<v Speaker 2>The demands of the chores and community responsibilities filled daily

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<v Speaker 2>life in ancient Israel. Market day was especially hectic, with

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<v Speaker 2>people bustling about trading goods and exchanging news. Rivka brought

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<v Speaker 2>her family's fresh figs, grapes, and hand crafted shawls to sell,

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<v Speaker 2>setting up her store among the throngs of villagers. Despite

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<v Speaker 2>the noise and activity, Rivka's heart remained focused on God.

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<v Speaker 2>She interacted with customers and whispered prayers under her breath,

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<v Speaker 2>asking for wisdom and patience, especially with some of the

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<v Speaker 2>more stubborn hagglers. She remembered the scripture from Exodus fifteen

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<v Speaker 2>to two. The Lord is my strength and my song,

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<v Speaker 2>and he has become my salvation. This is my God,

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<v Speaker 2>and I will praise her, my Father's God, and I

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<v Speaker 2>will exult him. Amidst the busyness, Rivka found moments to

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<v Speaker 2>pause and reflect. She occasionally stepped away from the crowd,

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<v Speaker 2>found a quiet spot and played her kinnor. The music

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<v Speaker 2>soothed her and helped her center her thoughts and reconnect

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<v Speaker 2>with her creator. She sang softly from Psalm twenty eight,

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<v Speaker 2>her voice mingling with the gentle breeze. The Lord as

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<v Speaker 2>my strength and my shield. My heart trusts in him

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<v Speaker 2>and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and

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<v Speaker 2>with my song I praise him. These moments of reflection

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<v Speaker 2>served as an oasis in the desert, providing refreshment and strength.

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<v Speaker 2>Rivka knew that no matter how demanding life became, she

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<v Speaker 2>could always find solace in worship and music. She had

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<v Speaker 2>always found God's presence and strength and worship. Life was

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<v Speaker 2>not always easy for Rivka and her family. There had

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<v Speaker 2>been times of great hardship, seasons when their olive crops

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<v Speaker 2>had not yielded as expected, or illness struck their household.

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<v Speaker 2>During these challenging times, Ryke's faith was put to the test.

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<v Speaker 2>Several months earlier, a severe drought threatened their livelihood. The

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<v Speaker 2>fields were dry and the river beds cracked under the

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<v Speaker 2>relaf lentless son. Fear and uncertainty loomed over not just

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<v Speaker 2>her family, but the whole village. But Rivka clung persistently

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<v Speaker 2>to her faith, reminding herself every day of the words

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<v Speaker 2>of Isaiah. You will keep in perfect peace those whose

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<v Speaker 2>minds are steadfast because they trust in You. Now let

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<v Speaker 2>me pray for you one last time. Dear Heavenly Father,

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<v Speaker 2>make her of music and giver of melodies. We worship you.

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<v Speaker 2>Thank you for causing your child to feel your gentle

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<v Speaker 2>presence and encouragement to their souls. Whatever their days will face,

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<v Speaker 2>they can run to you, sing their songs of praise

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<v Speaker 2>to you, and hear you over them. In turn, You

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<v Speaker 2>are mighty to save, and for that reason we can

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<v Speaker 2>sing to you with all our hearts. We will praise

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<v Speaker 2>here with the harp for your faithfulness, our God. We

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<v Speaker 2>will sing praise to you with the liar, Holy One

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<v Speaker 2>of Israel. Amen, sing to him, Sing praises to him,

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<v Speaker 2>Speak of all his wonders. As you sleep, precious child

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<v Speaker 2>of God, find peace in his presence. Nothing needs to

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<v Speaker 2>be forced. You don't need to strain or strive. Just be,

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<v Speaker 2>be still in his ever loving presence. May you hear

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<v Speaker 2>as heavenly lullabies over you, as he pours out his

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<v Speaker 2>love on you. May you lift up your spirit to

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<v Speaker 2>adore him and draw close to him, sinking deeper into

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<v Speaker 2>his melodic bliss. Once more, I will recite First Chronicles sixteen,

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<v Speaker 2>verse nine. Let your voice be sounded in songs and melody.

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<v Speaker 2>Let all your thoughts be of the wonder of his works.

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<v Speaker 1>You up through Him,