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 00:01:12,915 --> 00:01:19,195 Speaker 2: Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Bonnie Curry. Do you 12 00:01:19,395 --> 00:01:26,115 Speaker 2: ever just want some peace and quiet? Jesus understood this 13 00:01:26,195 --> 00:01:29,715 Speaker 2: feeling well, and he took time to be alone with 14 00:01:29,795 --> 00:01:34,235 Speaker 2: God to pray. That's what you're doing right now, So 15 00:01:35,635 --> 00:01:42,235 Speaker 2: take a deep breath and relax into this quiet space 16 00:01:42,275 --> 00:01:52,835 Speaker 2: with God. In Matthew six six, Jesus instructs his disciples 17 00:01:52,875 --> 00:01:58,635 Speaker 2: about some good practices for their prayer times. But when 18 00:01:58,635 --> 00:02:02,595 Speaker 2: you pray, go into your room and shut the door 19 00:02:03,115 --> 00:02:07,875 Speaker 2: and pray to your father who is in secret. And 20 00:02:07,955 --> 00:02:14,675 Speaker 2: your father, who sees in secret, will reward you when 21 00:02:14,715 --> 00:02:19,115 Speaker 2: you need intentional time with God to pray. It is 22 00:02:19,195 --> 00:02:23,155 Speaker 2: important to make sure you will not be distracted or interrupted. 23 00:02:25,075 --> 00:02:34,035 Speaker 2: Where can you go to find this space? This teaching 24 00:02:34,275 --> 00:02:37,355 Speaker 2: is in the broader cost text of doing good things 25 00:02:37,915 --> 00:02:41,315 Speaker 2: not to be seen by others, but only because of 26 00:02:41,355 --> 00:02:46,475 Speaker 2: your relationship with God. Others don't need to know what 27 00:02:46,595 --> 00:02:49,155 Speaker 2: you're doing so that they can praise you for it. 28 00:02:50,955 --> 00:02:56,715 Speaker 2: Be alone, meet with God, and don't let those distractions 29 00:02:56,835 --> 00:03:00,515 Speaker 2: try to pull you away, whether it's the desire to 30 00:03:00,595 --> 00:03:04,595 Speaker 2: be seen or some task trying to get your attention. 31 00:03:06,515 --> 00:03:15,075 Speaker 2: Set those boundaries to guard your heart. God has a 32 00:03:15,115 --> 00:03:19,995 Speaker 2: responsibility toward us in prayer too. God will be there 33 00:03:20,035 --> 00:03:25,115 Speaker 2: with you, see you in secret, and reward your efforts 34 00:03:25,155 --> 00:03:30,835 Speaker 2: to spend time alone with him. So go into your room, 35 00:03:31,315 --> 00:03:36,595 Speaker 2: wherever that may be, and close the door. Be alone 36 00:03:36,795 --> 00:03:44,875 Speaker 2: with your heavenly Father. Let's pray. Dear God, you call 37 00:03:44,995 --> 00:03:48,635 Speaker 2: me away from distractions and noise to be with you, 38 00:03:49,795 --> 00:03:53,515 Speaker 2: not only so that i'll focus, but so that I 39 00:03:53,555 --> 00:03:58,315 Speaker 2: won't be tempted to show off for others. Help me 40 00:03:58,395 --> 00:04:02,075 Speaker 2: to set clear boundaries around my time with you in 41 00:04:02,195 --> 00:04:06,395 Speaker 2: order to pray and seek your face. Thank you for 42 00:04:06,515 --> 00:04:10,475 Speaker 2: your promise to meet me there in the secret place 43 00:04:11,475 --> 00:04:16,115 Speaker 2: and to reward my desire to seek you. You know 44 00:04:16,195 --> 00:04:20,155 Speaker 2: it's hard for me to find that place, so please 45 00:04:20,515 --> 00:04:31,035 Speaker 2: help me. Thank you in Jesus name. Amen, take a 46 00:04:31,195 --> 00:04:36,075 Speaker 2: deep breath, see yourself entering a room to be alone 47 00:04:36,075 --> 00:04:41,835 Speaker 2: with God. If you can physically do so, go into 48 00:04:41,915 --> 00:04:45,435 Speaker 2: a room away from others right now, so you will 49 00:04:45,475 --> 00:05:04,515 Speaker 2: not be distracted away from time with God. Taking another 50 00:05:04,675 --> 00:05:12,035 Speaker 2: deep breath, set your heart before God. Ask him to 51 00:05:12,355 --> 00:05:16,715 Speaker 2: search it to tell you what sins you need to confess. 52 00:05:18,515 --> 00:05:25,275 Speaker 2: Let him hold your heart gently and graciously. Then thank 53 00:05:25,315 --> 00:05:40,915 Speaker 2: God for his forgiveness and mercy. Dear, One time alone 54 00:05:40,995 --> 00:05:48,115 Speaker 2: with God is a treasure. Protect it well. Join me 55 00:05:48,155 --> 00:05:48,595 Speaker 2: in prayer. 56 00:05:50,955 --> 00:05:51,275 Speaker 1: Lord. 57 00:05:51,875 --> 00:05:57,755 Speaker 2: It's not easy to carve out time with you. Distractions 58 00:05:57,915 --> 00:06:04,795 Speaker 2: are everywhere, but I value that time. So please help 59 00:06:04,875 --> 00:06:10,595 Speaker 2: me establish boundaries, not only with others, but with myself. 60 00:06:12,235 --> 00:06:16,115 Speaker 2: Help me to follow Jesus' advice to go into my 61 00:06:16,235 --> 00:06:21,715 Speaker 2: most secret place. Maybe I'll only get five minutes at 62 00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:27,835 Speaker 2: a time, but you can multiply that. You know the 63 00:06:27,835 --> 00:06:33,315 Speaker 2: circumstances of my life. Help me to know when I'm 64 00:06:33,595 --> 00:06:40,475 Speaker 2: just making excuses and when I really need help. Thank you. 65 00:06:41,795 --> 00:06:48,155 Speaker 2: I love you. Amen. You might not have a room 66 00:06:48,235 --> 00:06:52,995 Speaker 2: in your home that's conducive to privacy and quiet. Ask 67 00:06:53,035 --> 00:06:56,515 Speaker 2: God to help you figure out how to be alone 68 00:06:56,515 --> 00:07:18,555 Speaker 2: with Him. Until next time, may you abide in Christ.