WEBVTT - I Ponder Your Works

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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>twenty five percent off the app. Now relax your mind

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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 Evett.

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<v Speaker 2>Thanks for joining me for our story. I ponder your.

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<v Speaker 4>Works, dearly beloved listener, as you settle into your comfortable

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<v Speaker 4>bed and let your mind drift to a place of

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<v Speaker 4>peace and tranquility.

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<v Speaker 2>I invite you to journey with me through a serene

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<v Speaker 2>meditation inspired by Psalm one hundred and forty three, Verse five.

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<v Speaker 2>I remember the days of old. I meditate on all

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<v Speaker 2>that you have done. I ponder the work of your hands.

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<v Speaker 2>Let's ponder the works of his hands, the majesty of

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<v Speaker 2>his creation and the splendor of his redemptive work. In

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<v Speaker 2>our lives, from the vastness of a sandy shoreline to

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<v Speaker 2>a wide expanse of ocean that stretches as far as

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<v Speaker 2>the eye can see. God works are worthy to be

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<v Speaker 2>meditated upon. It would be a life well spent to

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<v Speaker 2>ponder the works of His hands. As we journey together,

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<v Speaker 2>let's focus on the Lord and his power and goodness

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<v Speaker 2>and love. All you need to do is rest and

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<v Speaker 2>relax and listen to my voice as I guide you

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<v Speaker 2>through this time. I will paint mental images for you,

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<v Speaker 2>and you can let the scenes drift within your mind,

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<v Speaker 2>allow the truth of His greatness and love to seep

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<v Speaker 2>into your heart, soul, and spirit. You will hear the

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<v Speaker 2>Lord's soft voice gently whispering to your heart through the

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<v Speaker 2>images and visions of this story. So be encouraged that

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<v Speaker 2>He is speaking to you as you open yourself to listen.

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<v Speaker 2>Dear listener, allow me to start by setting the scene

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<v Speaker 2>of today's story. You might want to snuggle further into

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<v Speaker 2>your bed or make any other adjustments before we start.

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<v Speaker 2>Take another deep breath, allow your body to relax, close

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<v Speaker 2>your eyes and simply feel the gentle rhythm of your

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<v Speaker 2>belly going up and down with each breath, like the

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<v Speaker 2>ebb and flow of the waves. I will bring back

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<v Speaker 2>to mind the verse from Psalm one hundred and forty three.

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<v Speaker 1>Verse five.

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<v Speaker 2>I remember the days of old. I meditate on all

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<v Speaker 2>that you have done. I ponder the work of your hands. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>imagine yourself standing on the shore of a vast sea.

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<v Speaker 2>The gentle waves kiss the sandy beach under the soft

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<v Speaker 2>light of the moon. This sea is a gateway to

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<v Speaker 2>the past, a place where memories and stories from long

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<v Speaker 2>ago float gently in the water. You feel a deep

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<v Speaker 2>sense of connection to those who came before you. You

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<v Speaker 2>remember the days of old, the wisdom passed down through generations,

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<v Speaker 2>and the simple joys of life. Visualized scenes of ancient

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<v Speaker 2>times where people lived in harmony with nature, where life

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<v Speaker 2>was simpler and slower. Imagine Adam and Eve before the fall,

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<v Speaker 2>walking hand in hand with God in the cool of

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<v Speaker 2>the day, like the very best of friends. See the

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<v Speaker 2>smiles of children as they play under the warm sun.

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<v Speaker 2>Hear the laughter of families gathered around a fire to

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<v Speaker 2>share stories of God's faithfulness, and the peaceful rhythm of

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<v Speaker 2>days gone by. Feel the comfort of these memories enveloping

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<v Speaker 2>you like a warm blanket. Bringing a sense of grounding

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<v Speaker 2>and belonging. They give you a sense that you are

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<v Speaker 2>living out the plan your heavenly father laid out for

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<v Speaker 2>his children. These moments from the past are part of

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<v Speaker 2>your story, and they remind you of the continuity of life,

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<v Speaker 2>of the turning of God's earth on its axis, of

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<v Speaker 2>the cycle of days per night. This is the peaceful

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<v Speaker 2>rhythm that God designed at the beginning of creation when

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<v Speaker 2>he made time itself. The sun and moon have been

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<v Speaker 2>orbiting every day for millennia at God's command. You may

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<v Speaker 2>recall the ancient times when God was faithful to his servants.

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<v Speaker 2>God never forgot Joseph when he had been falsely accused

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<v Speaker 2>and wrongly imprisoned. God didn't deliver him instantly, but God

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<v Speaker 2>did eventually open the prison door to release him and

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<v Speaker 2>raise him up, so he became one of the greatest

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<v Speaker 2>leaders of the known world at the time. If you've

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<v Speaker 2>ever wondered why God delays in delivering you, you are

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<v Speaker 2>in good company. But I know that years after Joseph's

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<v Speaker 2>release and radical favor shown to him, Joseph would have

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<v Speaker 2>prayerfully echoed the words of this psalm. I remember the

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<v Speaker 2>days of old, I meditate on all that you have done.

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<v Speaker 2>I ponder the work of your hands. When we ponder

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<v Speaker 2>the word of God in the Old Testament, we can

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<v Speaker 2>read that God was consistently faithful to his children. Now

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<v Speaker 2>I invite you to let your mind gently shift from

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<v Speaker 2>the days of old to more recent times, to all

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<v Speaker 2>that has been done in your very own life and

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<v Speaker 2>in the lives of those around you. Imagine a lush,

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<v Speaker 2>green forest where every tree and leaf and bud tells

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<v Speaker 2>a story of growth and change. You wander slowly, gracefully

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<v Speaker 2>through this forest, feeling the soft earth beneath your feet,

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<v Speaker 2>hearing the rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze. Perhaps

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<v Speaker 2>you want to pause by a clear, sparkling stream and

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<v Speaker 2>see your reflection in the water. As you gaze into

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<v Speaker 2>the stream, think of the many things that Jesus, by

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<v Speaker 2>his love and grace, has accomplished in your life, both

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<v Speaker 2>big and small. Reflect on the moments of triumph that

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<v Speaker 2>God has brought through your trials, under the many lessons

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<v Speaker 2>His Holy Spirit has helped you learn from the challenges.

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<v Speaker 2>Let everything God has helped you with and brought you

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<v Speaker 2>through play through your mind. Each achievement, no matter how small,

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<v Speaker 2>is a testament to the strength and resilience of God's

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<v Speaker 2>power and presence within you, and your ability to yield

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<v Speaker 2>to His leading. Feel gratitude for the journey that God

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<v Speaker 2>has taken you on, for the experiences that have shaped you,

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<v Speaker 2>and for the friends and family that God has brought

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<v Speaker 2>to walk alongside you. Meditate on the beauty of creation,

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<v Speaker 2>the intricate designs of nature, and the miracles that surround

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<v Speaker 2>you every day. These thoughts bring a sense of awe

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<v Speaker 2>and wonder, filling your heart with peace and reverence for God.

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<v Speaker 2>Continue your journey through the forest until you reach a

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<v Speaker 2>tranquil meadow bathed in the soft glow of the setting sun.

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<v Speaker 2>The work of the Creation is on full display, a

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<v Speaker 2>masterpiece of vibrant colors and luminous lights. Lie down in

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<v Speaker 2>the soft grass, Gaze up at the sky where the

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<v Speaker 2>first stars i emerging from the darkening blanket of sky

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<v Speaker 2>and beginning to twinkle. Ponder the work of his hands,

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<v Speaker 2>the infinite beauty of the universe, and the delicate balance

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<v Speaker 2>of life that he set into motion. Each brilliant star

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<v Speaker 2>in the sky, each blossoming flower in the meadow, is

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<v Speaker 2>a reminder of the divine craftsmanship that has shaped the world.

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<v Speaker 2>Feel a deep sense of peace as you contemplate the

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<v Speaker 2>extravagant love and care that went into creating everything around you.

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<v Speaker 2>Imagine the gentle touch of God's hands guiding and nurturing

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<v Speaker 2>all of creation, delicately placing each petal on each rose,

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<v Speaker 2>meticulously choosing from his painter's palette the shades of orange

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<v Speaker 2>and purple and blue that most beautifully smudge the horizon

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<v Speaker 2>at sunset and sunrise. This same tender and loving care

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<v Speaker 2>is extended to you, providing detailed hands on comfort and

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<v Speaker 2>support in every moment. Trust in the Holy Spirit's divine press,

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<v Speaker 2>knowing that you are always held in a space of

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<v Speaker 2>infinite love and protection. Let me pray for you one

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<v Speaker 2>last time. Dear Loving Jesus, We come to you and

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<v Speaker 2>thank you yet again for this peaceful and serene time together,

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<v Speaker 2>for the moments of deep rest and of the greater

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<v Speaker 2>realizations about your goodness. We surrender all our cares and

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<v Speaker 2>fears to you again. We have seen your faithfulness in

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<v Speaker 2>the past, and we can be confident in your sovereignty

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<v Speaker 2>and faithfulness in the future future. May this racious one

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<v Speaker 2>rest in that knowledge. In your Holy name, Amen, racious listener,

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<v Speaker 2>thank you for choosing to come on this journey with me.

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<v Speaker 2>May you endlessly ponder the works of the Lord. May

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<v Speaker 2>your heart continually lift up praises to Him. Mirroring the

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<v Speaker 2>words of today's passage from Psalm one hundred and forty three,

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<v Speaker 2>verse five, I remember the days of old. I meditate

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<v Speaker 2>on all that you have done. I ponder the work

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<v Speaker 2>of your hands until next time when we meditate together.

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<v Speaker 2>May God bless you and keep you, and make his

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<v Speaker 2>luminous face smile upon you and bring you peace.