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 --> 00:01:17,155 Speaker 1: abide in Christ. Welcome to this Abide Meditation. I'm Tyler Boss. 11 00:01:18,515 --> 00:01:24,395 Speaker 1: Are you living life in community? Our culture values independence, 12 00:01:24,875 --> 00:01:30,435 Speaker 1: the self made man or woman. But God has a different, 13 00:01:31,195 --> 00:01:36,635 Speaker 1: better way. Writing to the Church of Coorn, Paul says, 14 00:01:37,995 --> 00:01:43,435 Speaker 1: if one member suffers, all suffer together. If one member 15 00:01:43,475 --> 00:01:48,195 Speaker 1: is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the Body 16 00:01:48,195 --> 00:01:54,915 Speaker 1: of Christ and individually members of it. Take a deep 17 00:01:54,995 --> 00:02:03,675 Speaker 1: breath as you take in that truth. It's hard to 18 00:02:03,755 --> 00:02:07,235 Speaker 1: let people into our suffering to admit that we can't 19 00:02:07,235 --> 00:02:10,675 Speaker 1: handle the pain. It's easier to let them into our 20 00:02:10,715 --> 00:02:18,395 Speaker 1: rejoicing to celebrate success. But both are necessary and balance 21 00:02:18,475 --> 00:02:22,395 Speaker 1: each other. Our success is only by the grace of God, 22 00:02:23,195 --> 00:02:25,955 Speaker 1: and only the grace of God can heal our suffering. 23 00:02:28,395 --> 00:02:31,595 Speaker 1: When have you experienced the comfort of sharing your suffering 24 00:02:32,555 --> 00:02:43,155 Speaker 1: with others? During creation, as God declared everything he made 25 00:02:43,155 --> 00:02:46,835 Speaker 1: to be good, there was only one thing that was 26 00:02:46,995 --> 00:02:53,675 Speaker 1: not good, That man would be alone. We were made 27 00:02:54,475 --> 00:03:00,235 Speaker 1: for community to share life with others, both the suffering 28 00:03:00,435 --> 00:03:05,715 Speaker 1: and the burdens and the joy when burdens are lifted, 29 00:03:07,835 --> 00:03:16,675 Speaker 1: Who are you sharing life with? Take a moment to 30 00:03:16,715 --> 00:03:22,395 Speaker 1: think about those who are closest to you. Are you 31 00:03:22,435 --> 00:03:26,795 Speaker 1: willing to let them into the deepest parts of your life? 32 00:03:26,915 --> 00:03:31,995 Speaker 1: Jesus calls us to community to share our joys and 33 00:03:32,875 --> 00:03:40,235 Speaker 1: our sorrows. Set down your mask and let yourself be known. 34 00:03:44,475 --> 00:03:48,515 Speaker 1: Lord Jesus, I thank you for not creating me to 35 00:03:48,555 --> 00:03:53,395 Speaker 1: be alone in my suffering or my rejoicing. Thank you 36 00:03:54,395 --> 00:03:58,235 Speaker 1: for creating others to be with me, to shoulder the 37 00:03:58,355 --> 00:04:03,595 Speaker 1: load as well as rejoice together. I admit that sometimes 38 00:04:03,635 --> 00:04:07,995 Speaker 1: I do feel alone. Show me who you have for me, 39 00:04:09,555 --> 00:04:12,995 Speaker 1: and thank you that you are always with me and 40 00:04:13,075 --> 00:04:17,635 Speaker 1: your presence gives me peace. I want to be there 41 00:04:17,675 --> 00:04:20,995 Speaker 1: for others, and so I need to let others be 42 00:04:21,075 --> 00:04:25,235 Speaker 1: there for me, Help me to be open and honest 43 00:04:25,275 --> 00:04:33,275 Speaker 1: with others and your precious name. Amen. Calm your heart 44 00:04:34,395 --> 00:04:40,035 Speaker 1: and take another deep baath. Reflect on how you are 45 00:04:40,115 --> 00:04:43,715 Speaker 1: not alone, but God has placed others in your life. 46 00:04:45,355 --> 00:04:50,475 Speaker 1: Let the memories of shared joys and sorrows make you smile. 47 00:05:06,195 --> 00:05:09,515 Speaker 1: Reflect on missed opportunities you may have had to connect 48 00:05:09,555 --> 00:05:14,875 Speaker 1: with others and with God. Confess those knowing that God 49 00:05:14,955 --> 00:05:20,595 Speaker 1: is always near. Let his love fill you as you 50 00:05:20,675 --> 00:05:39,115 Speaker 1: offer yourself to him. God desires to connect with you 51 00:05:39,275 --> 00:05:42,915 Speaker 1: and provide for you. He has not left you alone 52 00:05:42,915 --> 00:05:48,275 Speaker 1: in this world to do life by yourself. That has 53 00:05:48,315 --> 00:05:56,315 Speaker 1: provided a community of people to live life with you. Father. 54 00:05:58,555 --> 00:06:01,995 Speaker 1: I'm better when I'm with other people who love you 55 00:06:03,035 --> 00:06:09,155 Speaker 1: and who love me. Even though sometimes I do feel alone, 56 00:06:09,475 --> 00:06:12,235 Speaker 1: I know that you are with me, and I know 57 00:06:12,275 --> 00:06:15,515 Speaker 1: that you want me to be in community with others 58 00:06:16,915 --> 00:06:21,715 Speaker 1: even though it's hard. Help me to reach out even 59 00:06:21,715 --> 00:06:26,195 Speaker 1: when I feel like no one will care because you 60 00:06:26,235 --> 00:06:29,315 Speaker 1: don't want me to be alone. I know that you 61 00:06:29,395 --> 00:06:34,355 Speaker 1: will provide community for me. I trust you with this, 62 00:06:36,275 --> 00:06:41,995 Speaker 1: Oh Lord, and I ask these in your name. Amen. 63 00:06:45,075 --> 00:06:48,235 Speaker 1: In community, we can find strength of faith and purpose. 64 00:06:49,795 --> 00:06:53,235 Speaker 1: Take the first step and reach out to someone you 65 00:06:53,235 --> 00:07:00,035 Speaker 1: can do life with. Until next time, may you abide 66 00:07:00,075 --> 00:07:00,595 Speaker 1: in Christ