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Bible Sleep Talk Down for Calming An Overactive Mind & Renewing Your Mind - Abide Meditation App · Abide Meditation App

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  Speaker 1: Find rest as you listen to this peaceful bedtime story.
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  Speaker 1: For more Bible stories that bring you refreshing sleep, download
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  Speaker 1: the Abide app in the iTunes or Google Play store.
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  Speaker 2: Would you say that the constant influences of the world
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  Speaker 2: have infiltrated your mind? Perhaps unlike ever before in history,
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  Speaker 2: we are being bombarded with an overload of the world's
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  Speaker 2: influence on our minds. Media and technology have opened up
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  Speaker 2: the floodgates of stimuli that's really kind of hard to escape.
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  Speaker 2: That's why Romans twelve to two is a key verse
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  Speaker 2: for renewing our minds. Paul gives us a strong reminder
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  Speaker 2: not to be conformed to this world, but to be
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  Speaker 2: transformed by the renewing of our minds. Conformity with the
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  Speaker 2: world is probably the greatest temptation that we face as
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  Speaker 2: believers in Jesus. And not only are we being pulled
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  Speaker 2: in every direction by the world around us, but our
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  Speaker 2: our minds are being filled with things that are definitely
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  Speaker 2: not of God. Pastor Charles Windall once said we need
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  Speaker 2: discernment in what we see, in what we hear, and
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  Speaker 2: what we believe, and that is certainly true in this
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  Speaker 2: day and age of the constant influx of thoughts and ideas.
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  Speaker 2: To be able to discern what the will of God
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  Speaker 2: is amidst the voices of the world, we must allow
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  Speaker 2: the Holy Spirit to renew our minds and tune our
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  Speaker 2: heart to God's voice. Paul spoke in Romans twelve about
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  Speaker 2: what it meant to offer our bodies as living sacrifices
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  Speaker 2: to the Lord. We may think that being a living
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  Speaker 2: sacrifice includes serving in the mission field or doing something
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  Speaker 2: extraordinary for God. However, you and I are called to
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  Speaker 2: be living sacrifices to God in the here and now,
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  Speaker 2: in the every day, in the mundane. The Bible calls
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  Speaker 2: this our spiritual act of worship. Stop and think about
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  Speaker 2: what a living sacrifice really means. How are you offering
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  Speaker 2: yourself and your mind as a living sacrifice each and
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  Speaker 2: every day? Why don't you keep that in mind as
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  Speaker 2: we go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, would
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  Speaker 2: you please help me to break away from the constant
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  Speaker 2: influence of the world and to be renewed in my
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  Speaker 2: mind and spirit. Lord, I want to be transformed into
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  Speaker 2: your likeness and to be set apart for your glory.
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  Speaker 2: I want to be a living sacrifice in body, mind, heart,
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  Speaker 2: and soul. Please forgive me God, for when I've listened
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  Speaker 2: to the world instead of listening to you, would you
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  Speaker 2: center my thoughts on you today? In Jesus name, I
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  Speaker 2: pray Amen. Not only do our actions matter to God,
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  Speaker 2: but our thoughts matter as well. In Ephesians chapter four,
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  Speaker 2: we're actually taught to put off our old self, which
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  Speaker 2: is being corrupt did by its deceitful desires, and to
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  Speaker 2: be made new in the attitude of our minds. How
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  Speaker 2: have thoughts been affected by deceitful desires in your life?
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  Speaker 2: Take a few deep breaths and focus on what it
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  Speaker 2: means to be made new today. As you consider the
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  Speaker 2: ways in which you're thinking has been conformed to the
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  Speaker 2: pattern of this world, why don't you confess that to
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  Speaker 2: the Lord now and just ask him to renew your
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  Speaker 2: thoughts and help you start fresh and clean today. Right now,
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  Speaker 2: turn off all other forms of media and focus on
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  Speaker 2: God's life giving truth sending your mind on the things
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  Speaker 2: of God. As I read from Romans twelve, verse two,
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  Speaker 2: do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
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  Speaker 2: by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
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  Speaker 2: may discern what is the will of God, what is
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  Speaker 2: good and acceptable and perfect? Did God bring anything to
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  Speaker 2: your attention as I read that scripture any words or phrases,
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  Speaker 2: thoughts or ideas here, I'll read it one more time.
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  Speaker 2: Romans twelve two. Do not be conformed to this world,
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  Speaker 2: but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that
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  Speaker 2: by testing you may discern what is the will of God,
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  Speaker 2: what is good and acceptable and perfect. Conformity was once
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  Speaker 2: described by John F. Kennedy as the jailer of freedom
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  Speaker 2: and the enemy of growth. Biblically, conformity to the world
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  Speaker 2: stifles our freedom in Christ. For where the Spirit of
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  Speaker 2: the Lord is, there's freedom. Reflect on that concept for
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  Speaker 2: a moment and consider how the influence of the world
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  Speaker 2: steals your freedom in Christ. Imagine what freedom and renewal
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  Speaker 2: you'll experience when you allow the Holy Spirit to just
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  Speaker 2: transform your mind. Are you ready to shut out the
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  Speaker 2: voices of the world and tune into the voice of
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  Speaker 2: the Lord Lord? Ponder that for the next few moments.
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  Speaker 2: Please listen again as I read from Romans twelve verse two,
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  Speaker 2: do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed
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  Speaker 2: by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you
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  Speaker 2: may discern what is the will of God, what is
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  Speaker 2: good and acceptable and perfect. To discern God's will, we
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  Speaker 2: must approach him with a humble heart. A beautiful example
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  Speaker 2: of a humble heart before God is actually found in
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  Speaker 2: Psalm one thirty nine, verses twenty three and twenty four.
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  Speaker 2: It says, search me, o, God, and know my heart,
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  Speaker 2: Try me and know my thoughts, and see if there
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  Speaker 2: be any grievous way in me, and lead me in
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  Speaker 2: the way everlasting. How does that passage lead you to
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  Speaker 2: cry out to God today? Take a few moments and
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  Speaker 2: make your requests known to him. Part of being transformed
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  Speaker 2: from the inside out is limiting what comes into your mind.
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  Speaker 2: Making simple decisions to turn off certain outside influences. It's
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  Speaker 2: essential to being transformed. Think about the things God might
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  Speaker 2: be asking you to turn off in order to clear
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  Speaker 2: your mind for renewal. Renewing your mind is certainly not
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  Speaker 2: all about just turning off things. Sometimes we need to
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  Speaker 2: turn on things. Are there any godly things that you're
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  Speaker 2: going to begin to put into your mind? Perhaps you'll
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  Speaker 2: choose to listen to worship music or Bible podcasts or
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  Speaker 2: online sermons. Come up with several ways in which you
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  Speaker 2: can focus your mind on the truths of God throughout
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  Speaker 2: your day. Listen again as I read this time Romans
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  Speaker 2: twelve one through two in the message translation, So here's
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  Speaker 2: what I want you to do, God helping you take
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  Speaker 2: your everyday ordinary life, your sleeping, eating, going to work
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  Speaker 2: and walking around life and place it before God as
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  Speaker 2: an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the
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  Speaker 2: best thing you can do for him. Don't become so
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  Speaker 2: well adjusted to your culture that you fit into it
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  Speaker 2: without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll
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  Speaker 2: be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what He
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  Speaker 2: wants from you and quickly respond to it. Unlike the
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  Speaker 2: culture around you, always dragging you down to its level
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  Speaker 2: of immaturity, God brings out the best of you, develops
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  Speaker 2: a well formed maturity in you. Is God speaking anything
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  Speaker 2: to your heart through that translation? If so, spend some
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  Speaker 2: time with Him right now and just ask him to
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  Speaker 2: continue to sow the seeds of what He's trying to
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  Speaker 2: plant in your heart today. The Bible tells us that
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  Speaker 2: God does not tempt us, but he does test us,
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  Speaker 2: and according to James one to three, the testing of
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  Speaker 2: your faith produces steadfastness. Why do you think steadfastness is
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  Speaker 2: so important to discernment? Why don't you ponder that for
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  Speaker 2: the next few moments. Think about a time of trial
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  Speaker 2: and testing that you've experienced in your life, and how
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  Speaker 2: that trial actually helped fine tune your faith. How does
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  Speaker 2: testing from God help you better discern His will? Why
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  Speaker 2: don't you ponder that for the next few moments. Why
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  Speaker 2: don't you think about that for the next few moments
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  Speaker 2: in his presence, Perhaps through testing, God's refocusing your faith.
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  Speaker 2: Maybe it's a way for him to wake you up
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  Speaker 2: for his purpose. Consider how the testing of your faith
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  Speaker 2: is a loving thing to do. How does it refocus
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  Speaker 2: you on His perfect will? Ask Him for insight into
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  Speaker 2: this over the next few moments. God's will is good, acceptable,
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  Speaker 2: and perfect, and it's his desire that you'll be able
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  Speaker 2: to discern what his will is for your life. Ponder
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  Speaker 2: how important it is for you to allow the Holy
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  Speaker 2: Spirit to renew your mind today. Let's close our time
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  Speaker 2: together with a word of prayer, Holy God, As I
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  Speaker 2: come to you today, I ask that you block all
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  Speaker 2: other voices from my mind. Lord, the world is constantly
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  Speaker 2: whispering things in my ear that are not from you.
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  Speaker 2: I want to hear your voice above the rest, Gracious God,
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  Speaker 2: I want to know what your good, pleasing and perfect
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  Speaker 2: will is for my life. Will you show me that today?
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  Speaker 2: Will you, by the power of your spirit, renew my
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  Speaker 2: mind so that I will know without a doubt what
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  Speaker 2: your will is. Thank you so much, God, I focus
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  Speaker 2: my mind on you alone in Jesus name. Amen, rest
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  Speaker 2: here for a few moments longer if you can, keeping
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  Speaker 2: your thoughts free and clear from the world's influences, and
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  Speaker 2: allowing God's Spirit to renew your mind as you abide
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  Speaker 2: in Christ. What old things of your flesh have been
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  Speaker 2: covered by your new spiritual self in Christ. It was
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  Speaker 2: Helen Keller who once said so beautifully, Once I knew
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  Speaker 2: only darkness and stillness, my life was without past or future.
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  Speaker 2: But a little word from the fingers of another fell
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  Speaker 2: into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and I felt
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  Speaker 2: my heart leap to the rapture of the living. Can
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  Speaker 2: you imagine the new life she experienced as words took
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  Speaker 2: on meaning for the very first time, as connections were
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  Speaker 2: made and she was brought out of the depths of darkness.
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  Speaker 2: Helen Keller's entire life was changed, and so it is
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  Speaker 2: with us. From the depths of sin and shame, our
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  Speaker 2: old lives were made new in the perfect sacrifice of
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  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ, and from the moment of belief were being
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  Speaker 2: transformed into His likeness. The Bible describes it in Colossians
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  Speaker 2: three ten as having put on the new self, which
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  Speaker 2: is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
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  Speaker 2: The new self put on like a garment that covers
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  Speaker 2: every bit of the old, so that the ways of
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  Speaker 2: the flesh are no longer seen. That is the new
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  Speaker 2: spiritual life talked about in Colossians three. As God fashioned mankind.
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  Speaker 2: He created them in his own image. This means we
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  Speaker 2: were created to represent Him in everything we do or say.
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  Speaker 2: We're to reflect his image in the world, and by example,
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  Speaker 2: reflect what it means to be transformed by His spirit.
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  Speaker 2: Let's be get our time together in prayer. Heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 2: I come before you with a heart of thanksgiving today,
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  Speaker 2: rejoicing in the new spiritual life that You've given me. Lord,
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  Speaker 2: Would you please forgive me for allowing the old ways
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  Speaker 2: of the flesh to creep in and sometimes even get
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  Speaker 2: the best of me. Lord, I really want to live
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  Speaker 2: in the newness of life, that life You've given me
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  Speaker 2: through your son Jesus Christ. Help me Lord to be
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  Speaker 2: clothed in the righteous that is found in you. And
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  Speaker 2: I pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. As you
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  Speaker 2: think about what it means to have been created in
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  Speaker 2: the image of God, settle your mind on his divine
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  Speaker 2: attributes love, joy, patience, kindness, and goodness. Those are only
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  Speaker 2: a few characteristics that describe our wonderful Creator. Breathe deeply
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  Speaker 2: of God's divine attributes today, and focus on his characteristics
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  Speaker 2: in comparison to the Lord's perfect ways. Think about the
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  Speaker 2: things of your flesh that don't align with the new
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  Speaker 2: life you've been given. If the Lord brings anything into
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  Speaker 2: your mind that needs to be confessed, just confess it
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  Speaker 2: now and offer gratitude for his continue forgiveness. Now, as
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  Speaker 2: we open our hearts to the scriptures, center your thoughts
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  Speaker 2: on what it means to live in the newness of life.
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  Speaker 2: Please join me as I read Colossians three ten and
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  Speaker 2: have put on the new self, which is being renewed
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  Speaker 2: in knowledge after the image of its creator. When something's
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  Speaker 2: been renewed, refurbished, or restored, there's little evidence of its
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  Speaker 2: former existence. For example, if an old, worn out piece
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  Speaker 2: of furniture is sanded down to the bar wood and
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  Speaker 2: restained to look new, people are often amazed at the transformation.
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  Speaker 2: How does this example relate to your old life being
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  Speaker 2: stripped bare and renewed in Christ? Think about that comparison
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  Speaker 2: for a moment. As our passage in Colossians three indicates,
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  Speaker 2: there's a spiritual act of putting on the new self.
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  Speaker 2: It's an action that means we have to discard or
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  Speaker 2: get rid of the old self and its desires. How
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  Speaker 2: is that possible? How do we get rid of our
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  Speaker 2: old ways? Why don't you ponder that seriously for a
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  Speaker 2: few moments. Now join me again as I read Colossians three,
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  Speaker 2: verse ten, and have put on the new self, which
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  Speaker 2: is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
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  Speaker 2: If we're being renewed in the knowledge of our creator,
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  Speaker 2: we must spend time getting to know him. There's a
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  Speaker 2: passage in two Samuel chapter twenty two that gives us
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  Speaker 2: a glimpse into who God is. It says, for who
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  Speaker 2: is God except the Lord? And who is a rock
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  Speaker 2: except our God? God is my strength and power, and
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  Speaker 2: he makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like
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  Speaker 2: the feet of deer, and he sets me on my
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  Speaker 2: high places. Reflect for a moment on those descriptions of God,
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  Speaker 2: our rock, our strength, and our power. Now, if by
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  Speaker 2: knowing more about who God is, we're able to be
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  Speaker 2: renewed into his image, Think about how that applies to
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  Speaker 2: your new spiritual self. No longer are we dependent on
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  Speaker 2: our own abilities, but we can fully depend on God
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  Speaker 2: to make our way perfect. Think about how it would
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  Speaker 2: look to live in full dependence on the Lord. So
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  Speaker 2: often in the Christian life we forget that our new
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  Speaker 2: lives are lived by the power of the Holy Spirit,
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  Speaker 2: not our own power. But often we resort to living
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  Speaker 2: in the flesh. How often do you try to live
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  Speaker 2: by your own flesh? Now, join me one last time
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  Speaker 2: as we read from Colassians three ten, and have put
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  Speaker 2: on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge
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  Speaker 2: after the image of its creator. The image of our
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  Speaker 2: Creator is who we're designed to reflect. Yet so often
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  Speaker 2: we work hard at reflecting ourselves. We long to be noticed, applauded,
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  Speaker 2: and even exalted in life. How have you tried to
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  Speaker 2: reflect yourself instead of your creator? Think about that for
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  Speaker 2: a few moments of quiet, meditation. The more you get
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  Speaker 2: to know the Lord by spending time with him, the
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  Speaker 2: more you'll naturally reflect his image. It's not unlike the
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  Speaker 2: verse that says bad company corrupts good character. The longer
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  Speaker 2: we hang around bad people, the more inclined will be
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  Speaker 2: to develop bad morals ourselves. Stop and think about that
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  Speaker 2: for a minute. How are you influenced by those around you?
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  Speaker 2: And who do you surround yourself with. Part of living
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  Speaker 2: out your new spiritual life is making the necessary changes
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  Speaker 2: to help you along the way. For example, you may
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  Speaker 2: need to change your habits. You may need to end
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  Speaker 2: a relationship. You may need to stop certain behaviors. Whatever
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  Speaker 2: it is that you need to change today, take a
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  Speaker 2: moment and pray about that. Right now. God wants us
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  Speaker 2: to have a new life in him. He provides guidance
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  Speaker 2: and understanding through his spirit. Our renewal comes when we
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  Speaker 2: surrender our old ways to him and begin to reflect
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  Speaker 2: his image in our lives. What are some ways you'll
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  Speaker 2: reflect his image in your new spiritual life. Let's close
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  Speaker 2: our time together with a word of prayer, Holy God,
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  Speaker 2: Giver of new life, I come into your presence today
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  Speaker 2: with humble thanks. Lord. I long to be renewed by
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  Speaker 2: you more and more, and I want to be transformed
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  Speaker 2: into your likeness. Would you forgive me God for allowing
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  Speaker 2: the old ways of the flesh to reappear, and would
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  Speaker 2: you help me to allow your spirit to clothe me
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  Speaker 2: in the newness of Christ. Each and every day, I
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  Speaker 2: thank you for giving me new life through your son Jesus.
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  Speaker 2: And it's in his name I pray, Amen. If possible,
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  Speaker 2: try not to rush off into your day just yet.
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  Speaker 2: Just enjoy this time with your Creator, resting in his
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  Speaker 2: presence and journal whatever He places on your heart. Always
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  Speaker 2: know that your time with God will be rewarded. There's
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  Speaker 2: nothing more important in your day than these precious moments
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  Speaker 2: with Him, and throughout your day to day, as you
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  Speaker 2: recall what He's revealed to you in these sacred moments,
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  Speaker 2: whisper a prayer of thankfulness to Him. This new life
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  Speaker 2: He's given you is deeply dependent on your ability to
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  Speaker 2: rest and abide in Christ. How can waiting on God
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  Speaker 2: renew your strength? There's a one hundred and thirty five
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  Speaker 2: mile ultra marathon that's considered the toughest foot race in
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  Speaker 2: the world. It stretches from California's death Valley all the
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  Speaker 2: way to Mount Whitney, covering three mountain ranges. Perhaps you're
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  Speaker 2: wondering how anyone could ever attempt such a feat. After all,
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  Speaker 2: our bodies can only withstand so much before wearing out completely. Well,
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  Speaker 2: spiritually speaking, we can lose our spiritual f fervor and
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  Speaker 2: grow weary of heart as the trials of life overwhelm us. Stress, anxiety,
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  Speaker 2: and major life events can zap us of strength and
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  Speaker 2: leave us feeling powerless. However, Isaiah had some encouraging words
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  Speaker 2: for us. In Isaiah forty thirty one, he says, they
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  Speaker 2: who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They
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  Speaker 2: shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run
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  Speaker 2: and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
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  Speaker 2: What a glorious reminder that is for those of us
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  Speaker 2: who are weary of mind, soul, and strength. The challenge
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  Speaker 2: for us in our busy lives is the waiting. Often
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  Speaker 2: we don't want to take the time to wait on
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  Speaker 2: the Lord. We want instant gratification and immediate answers to
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  Speaker 2: our problems. But waiting on God is the exact fuel
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  Speaker 2: that we need to complete our race. It's in the
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  Speaker 2: waiting that He's rejuvenating us, plenishing us, and renewing us
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  Speaker 2: so we can finish strong. Why don't you take some
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  Speaker 2: time to stop and wait on the Lord. Seek him
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  Speaker 2: through prayer, meditation, and the study of his word, and
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  Speaker 2: he will renew your power to finish life's race. There's
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  Speaker 2: a modern worship song that reminds us that God is
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  Speaker 2: in the waiting. Isn't it encouraging to know that even
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  Speaker 2: in silence or aloneness, God is there. He hears your
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  Speaker 2: cries for help, and He's always acting on your behalf.
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  Speaker 2: As we prepare to read our passage in Isaiah, think
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  Speaker 2: about what it means to be waiting. Perhaps you're even
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  Speaker 2: waiting on God for something miraculous or life changing right now,
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  Speaker 2: be assured that He is with you in the waiting.
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  Speaker 2: Let's pray together, Holy God, I come before you with
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  Speaker 2: an impatient heart today. Would you please forgive me, Lord
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  Speaker 2: for being restless in the waiting. I know Lord that
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  Speaker 2: my strength is found only in You, and I know
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  Speaker 2: that when I rest in You, through prayer, meditation and
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  Speaker 2: the study of your word, I'm filled with strength and renewal.
• 32:13
  Speaker 2: Would you help me, Lord to wait on you and
• 32:15
  Speaker 2: trust that you will renew my strength in Jesus' name.
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: Amen.
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: Whether you're in the valley or at the base of
• 32:24
  Speaker 2: a tall mountain, you can be assured God is with you.
• 32:28
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you're at a crossroads right now, I'm not really
• 32:31
  Speaker 2: sure which way to go. Wait on the Lord, wait
• 32:36
  Speaker 2: on his direction, wait for his power to give you
• 32:40
  Speaker 2: what you need to carry on. Picture yourself at the
• 32:44
  Speaker 2: base of a mountain right now, Take a deep breath
• 32:47
  Speaker 2: and commit to waiting on God for the strength to
• 32:50
  Speaker 2: climb the mountain in front of you. If there are
• 33:08
  Speaker 2: any obstacles in your way, obstacles that are keeping you
• 33:11
  Speaker 2: from the Lord's direction, confess those now to Him and
• 33:15
  Speaker 2: ask him to remove them from your life so you'll
• 33:18
  Speaker 2: be able to move forward in his power. Then thank
• 33:21
  Speaker 2: Him for his faithfulness and forgiveness. As you put one
• 33:40
  Speaker 2: foot in front of the other, waiting on God to
• 33:42
  Speaker 2: provide the strength you need for your journey. Fix your
• 33:45
  Speaker 2: eyes on Jesus. He's the author and the perfector of
• 33:50
  Speaker 2: your faith. Please join me as I read from Isaiah
• 33:54
  Speaker 2: forty thirty one. But they who wait for the Lord
• 33:58
  Speaker 2: shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings
• 34:01
  Speaker 2: like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They
• 34:05
  Speaker 2: shall walk and not faint. Do anything stand out to
• 34:10
  Speaker 2: you as I read that passage today, let me read
• 34:13
  Speaker 2: it one more time. Listen carefully, Isaiah forty thirty one.
• 34:17
  Speaker 2: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
• 34:21
  Speaker 2: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall
• 34:24
  Speaker 2: run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
• 34:29
  Speaker 2: One of the oldest marathon runners of all time was
• 34:32
  Speaker 2: a man who crossed the finish line at one hundred
• 34:35
  Speaker 2: years of age. Isn't that incredible He was able to
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: accomplish what most thirty year olds couldn't. It's hard to
• 34:42
  Speaker 2: imagine how he even had enough strength to finish. In
• 34:46
  Speaker 2: our daily struggles, it's sometimes hard to imagine how we're
• 34:49
  Speaker 2: going to get through too. We feel weak, worn out,
• 34:53
  Speaker 2: and sometimes unable to go on. But Isaiah was right
• 34:58
  Speaker 2: when he said they shall run and not be weary,
• 35:01
  Speaker 2: they shall walk and not faint. Allow yourself to imagine
• 35:07
  Speaker 2: what it's like to run life's race without growing weary.
• 35:40
  Speaker 2: When the road seems long, in the incline a little
• 35:43
  Speaker 2: too steep, sometimes you feel like giving up and throwing
• 35:47
  Speaker 2: in the towel. And that's understandable. But remember it's not
• 35:52
  Speaker 2: by your own power or strength, but by the Holy Spirit.
• 35:57
  Speaker 2: He provides exactly what is needed to finish strong. Focus
• 36:01
  Speaker 2: on his power here and now. Now join me again
• 36:35
  Speaker 2: as I read Isaiah forty thirty one. But they who
• 36:39
  Speaker 2: wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall
• 36:42
  Speaker 2: mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and
• 36:46
  Speaker 2: not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Such
• 36:51
  Speaker 2: a beautiful word picture for us. They shall mount up
• 36:54
  Speaker 2: with wings like eagles. To imagine an eagle soaring effortlessly
• 37:00
  Speaker 2: through the air, being carried by a gentle breeze. That's
• 37:03
  Speaker 2: how the Holy Spirit leads us. Picture yourself being carried
• 37:08
  Speaker 2: by the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, and rest
• 37:12
  Speaker 2: on that thought for a moment. Jesus offered his disciples
• 37:45
  Speaker 2: a beautiful reminder in John chapter fourteen. He said, the
• 37:50
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
• 37:53
  Speaker 2: he will teach you all things and bring to your
• 37:56
  Speaker 2: remembrance all things that I said to you. Leave with
• 38:00
  Speaker 2: you my peace. I give to you, not as the
• 38:03
  Speaker 2: world gives, do I give to you. Let not your
• 38:06
  Speaker 2: heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. How does
• 38:11
  Speaker 2: that passage bring you peace today. Dwell in that peace
• 38:15
  Speaker 2: for a few quiet moments with the Lord. Even when
• 38:47
  Speaker 2: the road seems difficult and the mountain seems impossible, you
• 38:52
  Speaker 2: can know that God is making a way for you.
• 38:55
  Speaker 2: Do you really believe that today? Take a few moments
• 38:59
  Speaker 2: and surrender your impossible situation to the Lord and ask
• 39:04
  Speaker 2: for his strength to believe. Now, join me as I
• 39:37
  Speaker 2: read one last time from Isaiah forty thirty one. But
• 39:42
  Speaker 2: they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
• 39:45
  Speaker 2: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall
• 39:49
  Speaker 2: run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
• 39:54
  Speaker 2: Part of the problem in waiting on God is that
• 39:56
  Speaker 2: we tend to take matters into our own hands, don't we,
• 40:00
  Speaker 2: Especially when we feel like God is taking a little
• 40:02
  Speaker 2: too long, we assume it's okay to go ahead and
• 40:06
  Speaker 2: proceed without him. We got this God, h how's that
• 40:10
  Speaker 2: worked out for you in the past? Have you ever
• 40:13
  Speaker 2: taken matters into your own hands? Why don't you think
• 40:16
  Speaker 2: about how that turned out for the next few moments.
• 40:49
  Speaker 2: There's a wondrous peace that's found impatiently waiting on the Lord.
• 40:54
  Speaker 2: In Psalm twenty five, verse five, David said this to
• 40:57
  Speaker 2: the Lord lead me in your truth and teach me,
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: for you are the God of my salvation. On you
• 41:04
  Speaker 2: I wait all the day. Are you willing to wait
• 41:09
  Speaker 2: all the day for God's leading? Why don't you consider
• 41:12
  Speaker 2: that now? Although God's renewal can come in an instant,
• 41:46
  Speaker 2: more often than not it's given to us through patient endurance.
• 41:51
  Speaker 2: In Chapter twelve of Hebrews, the Bible says, let us
• 41:55
  Speaker 2: run with endurance the race that is set before us.
• 41:59
  Speaker 2: How are you running the race with endurance? Why don't
• 42:02
  Speaker 2: you think about that for a few quiet moments. To
• 42:34
  Speaker 2: be renewed in strength and power. We don't need to
• 42:37
  Speaker 2: work harder or strive more. What we need is to
• 42:41
  Speaker 2: rest in the strength of the Lord, and in his
• 42:43
  Speaker 2: mighty power. He'll renew us like wings of eagles and
• 42:47
  Speaker 2: help us finish the race without growing weary. As we
• 42:52
  Speaker 2: close our time together, surrender all the ways that you've
• 42:55
  Speaker 2: relied on your own strength. Let's pray together, Mighty God,
• 43:30
  Speaker 2: I place my trust in you today. Would you forgive
• 43:33
  Speaker 2: me for trying to run this race in my own strength.
• 43:37
  Speaker 2: I surrender all the ways in which I've tried to
• 43:39
  Speaker 2: run in my own power, for I know it's not
• 43:42
  Speaker 2: by my power or by my might, but by your
• 43:45
  Speaker 2: spirit that I live and move and breathe. Thank you,
• 43:50
  Speaker 2: God for helping me run this race with perseverance. Give
• 43:53
  Speaker 2: me strength to wait on you all the day, for
• 43:56
  Speaker 2: in you I put my trust in Jesus. Amen, rest
• 44:03
  Speaker 2: here just for a few moments longer, and wait on
• 44:06
  Speaker 2: the Lord to fill you with the power of his spirit.
• 44:39
  Speaker 2: Have you started to doubt that God is working in
• 44:42
  Speaker 2: your life for his glory? If you're currently going through
• 44:46
  Speaker 2: a dry spell spiritually speaking, you're not alone. Many Christians
• 44:51
  Speaker 2: find themselves wondering sometimes if God is still working in
• 44:54
  Speaker 2: their lives, or if He's moved on and given up
• 44:57
  Speaker 2: on them. However, he reminds you today that God has
• 45:02
  Speaker 2: not given up on you, or forgotten about you, or
• 45:06
  Speaker 2: put you on a shelf. Whatever beautiful work He's begun
• 45:10
  Speaker 2: in your life, he will carry it out until the
• 45:12
  Speaker 2: day you meet Him face to face. We're assured of
• 45:17
  Speaker 2: this very thing by the letter that Paul wrote to
• 45:19
  Speaker 2: the believers in Philippi. First, he thanked God for them
• 45:23
  Speaker 2: for their partnership and spreading the Gospel. Then he followed
• 45:27
  Speaker 2: that up by saying, and I'm sure of this, that
• 45:31
  Speaker 2: he who began a good work in you, will bring
• 45:34
  Speaker 2: it to completion At the day of Jesus Christ. Paul
• 45:38
  Speaker 2: had no doubt that God would continue to work in
• 45:41
  Speaker 2: them for his glory, and we too can have the
• 45:44
  Speaker 2: same assurance that God is continually at work in us,
• 45:48
  Speaker 2: whether we feel it or not. Feelings can be so
• 45:52
  Speaker 2: fickle and so undependable, but faith is a whole other thing.
• 45:58
  Speaker 2: If you started to doubt that God is working in
• 46:00
  Speaker 2: your life for his glory, just be assured. He will
• 46:04
  Speaker 2: make all things beautiful in his time, and he'll work
• 46:07
  Speaker 2: in and through you to accomplish his purpose. He has
• 46:11
  Speaker 2: a plan for you. If you woke up this morning
• 46:14
  Speaker 2: and you're breathing, he's not finished with you yet. Often
• 46:18
  Speaker 2: seasons of self doubt can come after a big disappointment
• 46:22
  Speaker 2: or a letdown. Something we're maybe hoping for didn't come
• 46:26
  Speaker 2: to pass, or an opportunity we were looking forward to
• 46:30
  Speaker 2: didn't happen. These experiences can leave us wondering if God
• 46:34
  Speaker 2: is really even working in our lives at all. We
• 46:38
  Speaker 2: may even begin to doubt that he's involved. Well. That
• 46:41
  Speaker 2: can be further from the truth. What are your thoughts
• 46:45
  Speaker 2: about God's involvement in your life. Why don't you ponder
• 46:48
  Speaker 2: that as we prepare to read from Philippians one to six.
• 46:52
  Speaker 2: But first let's go to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father,
• 46:56
  Speaker 2: I admit I don't always sense your power in my life.
• 47:00
  Speaker 2: Sometimes I even wonder if you have a plan for me,
• 47:02
  Speaker 2: and if you've forgotten about me. God, forgive me for that.
• 47:07
  Speaker 2: Forgive me for doubting your sovereignty in my life. Your
• 47:11
  Speaker 2: word is very clear that you're working in me for
• 47:13
  Speaker 2: your glory. Would you help me to trust you and
• 47:16
  Speaker 2: not rely on my feelings of unworthiness. It's in Jesus name,
• 47:20
  Speaker 2: I pray Amen. If you've been struggling through a spiritually
• 47:25
  Speaker 2: dry spell lately, take this opportunity to be renewed by
• 47:29
  Speaker 2: the oasis of God's spirit. Relax into wherever you are
• 47:35
  Speaker 2: and prepare to receive from God. Take a few slow
• 47:40
  Speaker 2: and deep breaths inhaling through the nose and exhaling through
• 47:44
  Speaker 2: the mouth. Just be open to receive from Him today
• 47:50
  Speaker 2: as you enjoy the stillness. Just push away any and
• 47:53
  Speaker 2: all distractions that try to cloud your thinking your mind,
• 47:58
  Speaker 2: close your eyes if possible, and just be still in
• 48:02
  Speaker 2: His presence. Could your season of spiritual dryness be coming
• 48:21
  Speaker 2: from sin in your life. Maybe you've done something that
• 48:25
  Speaker 2: makes you feel unworthy or unable to approach God. This
• 48:29
  Speaker 2: is a great time to confess any sin, or doubt
• 48:32
  Speaker 2: or unbelief that's caused you to question the mighty working
• 48:36
  Speaker 2: of God in your life. Surrender everything to Him right
• 48:40
  Speaker 2: now and receive his forgiveness, acceptance, and deep love for you,
• 49:00
  Speaker 2: sending your focus on God's overall purpose as you seek
• 49:03
  Speaker 2: to find your place in the Lord's plan. There's something
• 49:07
  Speaker 2: he wants to do through you for his glory. Ponder
• 49:10
  Speaker 2: that now. Please join me as I read from Philippians
• 49:28
  Speaker 2: one six, and I'm sure of this that he who
• 49:32
  Speaker 2: began a good work in you will bring it to
• 49:34
  Speaker 2: completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Did God quicken
• 49:39
  Speaker 2: your heart at any point during that verse? Maybe it
• 49:42
  Speaker 2: was almost like a spotlight on a specific word that
• 49:45
  Speaker 2: was read. Listen again, I'm reading Philippians one six, and
• 49:51
  Speaker 2: I'm sure of this that he who began a good
• 49:54
  Speaker 2: work in you will bring it to completion at the
• 49:56
  Speaker 2: day of Jesus Christ. Why don't you ponder right now
• 50:01
  Speaker 2: whatever the Lord is placing on your heart. Something he's
• 50:03
  Speaker 2: trying to show you through that verse today. When Paul
• 50:36
  Speaker 2: told the Philippians that he was sure God would continue
• 50:39
  Speaker 2: to work in them, he wasn't offering a hopeful dose
• 50:42
  Speaker 2: of encouragement. He was giving them a declaration of purpose.
• 50:47
  Speaker 2: Will you allow the Lord to declare his purpose over
• 50:50
  Speaker 2: your life today? Reflect on that for the next several moments.
• 51:23
  Speaker 2: As Paul continued his prayer for the believers in Philippi,
• 51:27
  Speaker 2: he said this in Philippians one, verse nine, it is
• 51:31
  Speaker 2: my prayer that your love may abound more and more
• 51:34
  Speaker 2: with knowledge and all discernment. Paul knew that if the
• 51:38
  Speaker 2: Philippians were going to continue in God's divine plan, they
• 51:42
  Speaker 2: needed his love, his wisdom, and his discernment. We do too.
• 51:48
  Speaker 2: How can love, wisdom, and discernment help you continue to
• 51:52
  Speaker 2: live out God's purpose for you? Ask him to show you. Now,
• 52:27
  Speaker 2: join me as I read again Philippians one, verse six,
• 52:30
  Speaker 2: this time from the New Living Translation. And I am
• 52:34
  Speaker 2: certain that God, who began the good work within you,
• 52:37
  Speaker 2: will continue his work until it is totally finished on
• 52:40
  Speaker 2: the day when Jesus Christ returns. Anything sound a little
• 52:45
  Speaker 2: different to you this time? What's God saying to you?
• 52:49
  Speaker 2: Spend some more time in his presence, asking for insight
• 52:53
  Speaker 2: and discernment into what He wants to show you through
• 52:55
  Speaker 2: this verse. Do you remember the day that God began
• 53:28
  Speaker 2: a good work in you. Maybe it was the day
• 53:31
  Speaker 2: you received His son as your Lord and savior. Think
• 53:35
  Speaker 2: back to that time and ponder the impact that Jesus
• 53:38
  Speaker 2: has had on your life since the moment you received him.
• 54:11
  Speaker 2: A lot of times, as new believers, we have a
• 54:14
  Speaker 2: spiritual fervor that is exciting and on fire for the Lord.
• 54:18
  Speaker 2: I've even heard it called the honeymoon phase. But over
• 54:21
  Speaker 2: time we begin to lose our spiritual fervor, especially when
• 54:26
  Speaker 2: trials and temptations come. Reflect on those early days when
• 54:31
  Speaker 2: your spiritual fervor was at its peak. What's happened in
• 54:35
  Speaker 2: your life to diminish that fervor? Ask the Lord for
• 54:38
  Speaker 2: insight right now. Romans Chapter twelve, verse eleven encourages us
• 55:12
  Speaker 2: to be fervent in spirit when serving the Lord. Could
• 55:16
  Speaker 2: it be that by serving God with an exuberant spirit,
• 55:19
  Speaker 2: we're opening ourselves up to His divine work in our lives.
• 55:22
  Speaker 2: Why don't you think about that for the next several moments. Now,
• 55:55
  Speaker 2: let's read our passage one more time from Philippians one six.
• 56:00
  Speaker 2: Let's go ahead and read the message translation and see
• 56:02
  Speaker 2: what it says. There has never been the slightest doubt
• 56:06
  Speaker 2: in my mind that the God who started this great
• 56:08
  Speaker 2: work in you would keep at it and bring it
• 56:11
  Speaker 2: to a flourishing finish. On the very day that Christ
• 56:14
  Speaker 2: Jesus appears. God is going to bring it to completion
• 56:19
  Speaker 2: that work that He began in you. The question is
• 56:23
  Speaker 2: what will that look like. The truth is we may
• 56:26
  Speaker 2: not see the final outcome until we see Jesus face
• 56:29
  Speaker 2: to face. We can only move forward in faith and
• 56:32
  Speaker 2: trust that God is truly working in us. How does
• 56:36
  Speaker 2: that make you feel? Sometimes walking in faith means we
• 57:10
  Speaker 2: move forward without knowing exactly where we're going, and when
• 57:14
  Speaker 2: we allow God to work in us, we can trust
• 57:17
  Speaker 2: that He's gonna lead us exactly the way we need
• 57:19
  Speaker 2: to go. Do you struggle to walk forward in faith
• 57:23
  Speaker 2: when you don't know exactly where God's leading? Why don't
• 57:26
  Speaker 2: you reflect on that? Now? Ask Him for insight. Even
• 58:00
  Speaker 2: when we don't know exactly what the outcome is going
• 58:02
  Speaker 2: to be, we can be assured God is hard at
• 58:05
  Speaker 2: work for the Gospel of his son in every believer
• 58:09
  Speaker 2: Spreading the good news of Jesus Christ is the great commission.
• 58:14
  Speaker 2: We can know without a doubt he will lead us
• 58:17
  Speaker 2: to spread the gospel. Think about the great commission for
• 58:20
  Speaker 2: a moment and what that means for your life. When's
• 58:23
  Speaker 2: the last time that you asked God for opportunities to
• 58:27
  Speaker 2: share His truth? Now take some time to think about
• 58:59
  Speaker 2: your spiritual gifts. Ponder the strength that God has given
• 59:03
  Speaker 2: you to bring him glory and to help build up
• 59:06
  Speaker 2: the people in his church. How will you allow Him
• 59:09
  Speaker 2: to work in and through you with those specific gifts.
• 59:44
  Speaker 2: Would you please join me in a closing prayer, Holy God,
• 59:48
  Speaker 2: thank you for starting a work in me for your
• 59:50
  Speaker 2: glory and your purpose. Lord, Would you help me when
• 59:54
  Speaker 2: I begin to doubt that you're even working in my life.
• 59:57
  Speaker 2: I do believe your word, Lord, and it says that
• 1:00:00
  Speaker 2: you'll bring to completion the good work that you began
• 1:00:03
  Speaker 2: in me. I trust that forgive me God. When my
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 2: faith waivers and I don't recognize your hand of guidance
• 1:00:10
  Speaker 2: in my life, I ask for a clear vision of
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 2: your purpose in Jesus' name. Amen, remain here for a
• 1:00:19
  Speaker 2: little while longer if you can, and just meditate on
• 1:00:22
  Speaker 2: the fact that God's spirit is at work in your life,
• 1:00:25
  Speaker 2: whether you see it or not. The next time you
• 1:00:28
  Speaker 2: begin to doubt it, just remember that scripture. He promises
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 2: that He will not give up that work that He
• 1:00:35
  Speaker 2: started in you until it's complete when Jesus returns. Live
• 1:00:41
  Speaker 2: your life each day believing that, knowing that even if
• 1:00:45
  Speaker 2: you can't see it, God is at work as you
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 2: rest and abide in Christ. How have you mistaken outward
• 1:01:21
  Speaker 2: cleanliness to be a sign of inward holiness. There's an
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 2: old saying that's often mistaken as scripture which says cleanliness
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 2: is next to godliness. Although the phrase isn't found in
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 2: the Bible, it was recorded in a sermon given by
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 2: John Wesley in seventeen seventy eight. Being clean on the
• 1:01:41
  Speaker 2: outside may be a good practice, but it's not the
• 1:01:45
  Speaker 2: means in which we gain spiritual purity or holiness. Outward
• 1:01:49
  Speaker 2: cleanliness does not indicate a right heart before God. King
• 1:01:54
  Speaker 2: David understood the gravity of needing to be cleansed by
• 1:01:57
  Speaker 2: God in order to have a pure heart. After his
• 1:02:01
  Speaker 2: indiscretion with Bathsheba, David was confronted by a friend. In turn,
• 1:02:06
  Speaker 2: he cried out to the Lord for a renewed heart
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 2: and spirit. His words are recorded in Psalm fifty one
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 2: ten Create in me a clean heart, O God, and
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 2: renew a right spirit within me. This was the same
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 2: David who years earlier was commended for being a man
• 1:02:26
  Speaker 2: after God's own heart, and he was. However, just like
• 1:02:32
  Speaker 2: the rest of us, David needed a reminder that only
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 2: God can make the heart clean and the spirit holy.
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 2: Our attempts at cleanliness can only go so far. Think
• 1:02:43
  Speaker 2: about the ways in which you've mistaken outer cleanliness to
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 2: be a sign of an inward holiness. Keep in mind
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 2: that only God can bring renewal both inside and out.
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 2: In Sandra Felton's book The Messi's Manual, the author gives
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 2: practical tips for deep cleaning and organizing your house. Starting
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 2: at the front door, Sandra advises working your way around
• 1:03:07
  Speaker 2: the room from right to left and top to bottom.
• 1:03:10
  Speaker 2: She provides a methodical plan for getting every room in
• 1:03:13
  Speaker 2: your house in order. Relating this to our spiritual cleanliness,
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 2: there are things we can do to move toward decluttering
• 1:03:21
  Speaker 2: our minds and preparing our hearts to receive God's complete cleansing.
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 2: Starting with humility, we can make ourselves mouldable through prayer.
• 1:03:33
  Speaker 2: Then we can move on to worship, letting joy and
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 2: praise filter out the cobwebs of our souls, if you will. Lastly,
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 2: we can read and study the Bible and allow the
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 2: washing of the Word of God to cleanse us by
• 1:03:48
  Speaker 2: the working of the Holy Spirit. Think about the process
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 2: of God's cleansing as we prepare to meditate on Psalm
• 1:03:56
  Speaker 2: fifty one ten. But before we begin, let's go to
• 1:03:59
  Speaker 2: the Lord in prayer. Gracious God, thank you for cleansing
• 1:04:04
  Speaker 2: me from the inside out. Would you please forgive me
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 2: for thinking that by looking good on the outside, I'm
• 1:04:11
  Speaker 2: automatically clean on the inside. I know God that only
• 1:04:15
  Speaker 2: by your spirit am I made new. I need your
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 2: cleansing touch today. Thank you for creating a clean heart
• 1:04:23
  Speaker 2: and a right spirit within me. In Jesus' name, I
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 2: pray Amen. Now is the time to present yourself before God,
• 1:04:32
  Speaker 2: stains and all. Don't try to cover anything up. Just
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 2: come before Him just as you are. Receive his cleansing power.
• 1:04:43
  Speaker 2: Take a few deep breaths, and come as you are
• 1:04:46
  Speaker 2: before the Lord, resting in his presence. Whatever is cluttering
• 1:05:06
  Speaker 2: your mind or clouding your spirit, just release that to God.
• 1:05:10
  Speaker 2: Right now confess any ways where you've tried to make
• 1:05:14
  Speaker 2: yourself clean enough in your own efforts, and receive His
• 1:05:19
  Speaker 2: washing and forgiveness. Fix your mind on the things of God,
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 2: his word, worship his Spirit. Pause here to center yourself
• 1:05:45
  Speaker 2: on Jesus Christ. Now join me as I read from
• 1:06:04
  Speaker 2: Psalm fifty one, verse ten, create in me a clean heart,
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 2: O God, and renew a right spirit within me. What
• 1:06:14
  Speaker 2: did God point out to you as I read that scripture?
• 1:06:17
  Speaker 2: Was there any word or phrase that sort of resonated
• 1:06:20
  Speaker 2: with your heart today? I'll read it again, Psalm fifty
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 2: one ten, Create in me a clean heart, Oh God,
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 2: and renew a right spirit within me. When we look
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 2: back to the beginning, the moment God created Adam and
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 2: Eve and breathed life into them, we actually do see
• 1:06:41
  Speaker 2: his original design for mankind. God's original plan was for
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 2: us to have clean hearts and write spirits within us.
• 1:06:50
  Speaker 2: He longed for us to walk in perfect unity with Him. However,
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 2: it wasn't long before Adam and Eve strayed from perfect
• 1:06:58
  Speaker 2: unity with God. How have you, like them, wandered away
• 1:07:03
  Speaker 2: from the perfect unity with the Lord? Think about that
• 1:07:07
  Speaker 2: for a few quiet moments. It was satan who tempted
• 1:07:40
  Speaker 2: Eve by turning her focus from God to the desires
• 1:07:43
  Speaker 2: of the flesh. Once she gave in to her fleshly desires,
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 2: her heart became stained with sin. How have the desires
• 1:07:52
  Speaker 2: of your flesh stained your heart with sin? Ponder that? Now?
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 2: Please listen again as I read from Psalm fifty one,
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 2: verse ten, Create in me a clean heart, O God,
• 1:08:35
  Speaker 2: and renew a right spirit within me. David's psalm of
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 2: cleansing came after he had committed the sins of murder
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 2: and adultery. Even in his deepest regret, he still knew
• 1:08:48
  Speaker 2: that God was a just God and willing to forgive.
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 2: In Fact one, John one nine tells us when we
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 2: confess our sins, God is faithful and He's just to
• 1:09:00
  Speaker 2: forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Reflect on
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 2: the power of that truth for a few moments. Sometimes
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 2: it's doubt or even self condemnation that can keep us
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 2: from receiving God's cleansing power. We mistakenly believe that we
• 1:09:46
  Speaker 2: are just too far gone in order for us to
• 1:09:49
  Speaker 2: be made new. But that's not true. God longs to
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 2: make you new today. All he asks is that you
• 1:09:57
  Speaker 2: have a willing heart to receive. Will you receive His
• 1:10:02
  Speaker 2: cleansing touch today? Take a moment and surrender yourself fully
• 1:10:07
  Speaker 2: to the Lord. Now, please listen one last time as
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 2: I read from Psalm fifty one, verse ten, Create in
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 2: me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 2: spirit within me. Psalm fifty one has some wonderful insights
• 1:10:52
  Speaker 2: into how David prayed for renewal. In verse twelve, he said,
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 2: restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold
• 1:11:01
  Speaker 2: me with a willing spirit. Sometimes we forget the true
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 2: joy that's found only in the salvation of the Lord.
• 1:11:10
  Speaker 2: We allow our daily struggles to cloud our vision and
• 1:11:13
  Speaker 2: diminish the joy that we have because of Christ. How
• 1:11:18
  Speaker 2: have you forgotten the true joy found in Christ? Today?
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 2: Ponder that for a few moments. In order for us
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 2: to have a right spirit, we need to fix our
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 2: mind on the things that the Holy Spirit. Romans five
• 1:12:02
  Speaker 2: eight says those who live in accordance with the Spirit
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 2: have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. Do
• 1:12:10
  Speaker 2: you have your mind focused on what God's Spirit desires
• 1:12:13
  Speaker 2: for you? Think about that for a few moments. When
• 1:12:46
  Speaker 2: outside influences fill our minds with thoughts that are not
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 2: in accordance with the Holy Spirit, we can find ourselves
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 2: struggling to live in holiness and purity. David's song of
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 2: Repentance is an example of how the world pulls on
• 1:13:01
  Speaker 2: our affections. Take a moment and think about how the
• 1:13:04
  Speaker 2: world pulls on your affections and draws you away from holiness.
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 2: Toward the end of Psalmn fifty one, David admitted that
• 1:13:42
  Speaker 2: only with the humble spirit could he present himself before
• 1:13:45
  Speaker 2: the Lord. He said, my sacrifice, O, God, is a
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 2: broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart. You will not despise.
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 2: Are you broken before the Lord? Today? Yourself now and
• 1:14:01
  Speaker 2: release every unclean thing to him. Now rest in his
• 1:14:35
  Speaker 2: presence as we close in prayer today, Heavenly Father, thank
• 1:14:39
  Speaker 2: you for your conviction today as I remember that only
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 2: you can renew my heart, mind, and spirit. Lord, There's
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 2: nothing I can do to be pure or holy. Only
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 2: by your cleansing power. Am I made righteous before you?
• 1:14:56
  Speaker 2: Thank you God for giving me a clean heart and
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 2: a right spirit. I want nothing more than to be
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 2: a person after your own heart. So I surrender the
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 2: ways in which I've tried to make myself clean enough
• 1:15:08
  Speaker 2: on my own effort, for it is only by your
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 2: grace that I stand in Jesus name. I pray Amen.
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 2: If you can stay here a moment longer and rest
• 1:15:21
  Speaker 2: in God's renewal. He has so much for you today.
• 1:15:26
  Speaker 2: Allow Him to give you that clean heart and to
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 2: renew your spirit today so you can share his love,
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 2: his forgiveness, his joy, and his peace with others as
• 1:15:38
  Speaker 2: you abide and rest in Christ. There's a one hundred
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 2: and thirty five mile ultra marathon that's considered the toughest
• 1:16:14
  Speaker 2: foot race in the world. It stretches from California's Death
• 1:16:19
  Speaker 2: Valley all the way to Mount Whitney, covering three mountain ranges.
• 1:16:24
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you're wondering how anyone could ever attempt such a feat.
• 1:16:28
  Speaker 2: After all, our bodies can only withstand so much before
• 1:16:32
  Speaker 2: wearing out completely. While spiritually speaking, we can lose our
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 2: spiritual fervor and grow weary of heart as the trials
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 2: of life overwhelm us. Stress, anxiety, and major life events
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 2: can zap us of strength and leave us feeling powerless. However,
• 1:16:52
  Speaker 2: Isaiah had some encouraging words for us. In Isaiah forty
• 1:16:55
  Speaker 2: thirty one, he says, they who wait for the Lord
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 2: shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings
• 1:17:03
  Speaker 2: like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They
• 1:17:07
  Speaker 2: shall walk and not faint. What a glorious reminder that
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 2: is for those of us who are weary of mind, soul,
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 2: and strength. The challenge for us in our busy lives
• 1:17:19
  Speaker 2: is the waiting. Often we don't want to take the
• 1:17:22
  Speaker 2: time to wait on the Lord. We want instant gratification
• 1:17:26
  Speaker 2: and immediate answers to our problems. But waiting on God
• 1:17:30
  Speaker 2: is the exact fuel that we need to complete our race.
• 1:17:35
  Speaker 2: It's in the waiting that He's rejuvenating us, replenishing us,
• 1:17:39
  Speaker 2: and renewing us so we can finish strong. Why don't
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 2: you take some time to stop and wait on the Lord.
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 2: Seek him through prayer, meditation, and the study of his word,
• 1:17:51
  Speaker 2: and he will renew your power to finish life's race.
• 1:17:56
  Speaker 2: There's a modern worship song that reminds us that God
• 1:17:59
  Speaker 2: is in the waiting. Isn't it encouraging to know that
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 2: even in silence or aloneness, God is there. He hears
• 1:18:07
  Speaker 2: your cries for help, and he's always acting on your behalf.
• 1:18:12
  Speaker 2: As we prepare to read our passage in Isaiah, think
• 1:18:15
  Speaker 2: about what it means to be waiting. Perhaps you're even
• 1:18:19
  Speaker 2: waiting on God for something miraculous or life changing right now.
• 1:18:24
  Speaker 2: Be assured that He is with you in the waiting.
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 2: Let's pray together, Holy God, I come before you with
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 2: an impatient heart today. Would you please forgive me, Lord,
• 1:18:36
  Speaker 2: for being restless in the waiting. I know Lord that
• 1:18:39
  Speaker 2: my strength is found only in you, and I know
• 1:18:42
  Speaker 2: that when I rest in You, through prayer, meditation, and
• 1:18:46
  Speaker 2: the study of your word, I'm filled with strength and renewal.
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 2: Would you help me, Lord, to wait on you and
• 1:18:53
  Speaker 2: trust that you will renew my strength in Jesus name.
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 1: Amen.
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 2: Whether if you're in the valley or at the base
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 2: of a tall mountain, you can be assured God is
• 1:19:05
  Speaker 2: with you. Perhaps you're at a crossroads right now and
• 1:19:08
  Speaker 2: not really sure which way to go. Wait on the Lord,
• 1:19:13
  Speaker 2: wait on his direction, wait for his power to give
• 1:19:18
  Speaker 2: you what you need to carry on. Picture yourself at
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 2: the base of a mountain right now, take a deep
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 2: breath and commit to waiting on God for the strength
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 2: to climb the mountain in front of you. If there
• 1:19:46
  Speaker 2: are any obstacles in your way, obstacles that are keeping
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 2: you from the Lord's direction. Confess those now to him
• 1:19:53
  Speaker 2: and ask him to remove them from your life so
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 2: you'll be able to move forward in his power. Then
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 2: thank Him for his faithfulness and forgiveness. As you put
• 1:20:18
  Speaker 2: one foot in front of the other, waiting on God
• 1:20:20
  Speaker 2: to provide the strength you need for your journey, fix
• 1:20:23
  Speaker 2: your eyes on Jesus. He's the author and the perfector
• 1:20:27
  Speaker 2: of your faith. Please join me as I read from
• 1:20:31
  Speaker 2: Isaiah forty thirty one. But they who wait for the
• 1:20:36
  Speaker 2: Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 2: wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary.
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 2: They shall walk and not faint. Do anything stand out
• 1:20:48
  Speaker 2: to you as I read that passage today, let me
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 2: read it one more time. Listen carefully Isaiah forty thirty one.
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 2: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 2: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 2: run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.
• 1:21:07
  Speaker 2: One of the oldest marathon runners of all time was
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 2: a man who crossed the finish line at one hundred
• 1:21:13
  Speaker 2: years of age. Isn't that incredible He was able to
• 1:21:17
  Speaker 2: accomplish what most thirty year olds Couldn't It's hard to
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 2: imagine how he even had enough strength to finish. In
• 1:21:24
  Speaker 2: our daily struggles, it's sometimes hard to imagine how we're
• 1:21:27
  Speaker 2: going to get through too. We feel weak, worn out,
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 2: and sometimes unable to go on. But Isaiah was right
• 1:21:36
  Speaker 2: when he said they shall run and not be weary.
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 2: They shall walk and not faint. Allow yourself to imagine
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 2: what it's like to run life's race without growing weary.
• 1:22:18
  Speaker 2: When the road seems long, in the incline a little
• 1:22:21
  Speaker 2: too steep, sometimes you feel like giving up and throwing
• 1:22:25
  Speaker 2: in the towel. And that's understandable. But remember it's not
• 1:22:30
  Speaker 2: by your own power or strength, but by the Holy Spirit.
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 2: He provides exactly what is needed to finish strong. Focus
• 1:22:39
  Speaker 2: on his power here and now now join me again
• 1:23:13
  Speaker 2: as I read Isaiah forty thirty one. But they who
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 2: wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall
• 1:23:20
  Speaker 2: mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and
• 1:23:24
  Speaker 2: not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Such
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 2: a beautiful word picture for us. They shall mount up
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 2: with wings like eagles. To imagine an eagle soaring effortlessly
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 2: through the air, being carried by a gentle breeze. That's
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 2: how the Holy Spirit leads us. Picture yourself being carried
• 1:23:46
  Speaker 2: by the gentle breeze of the Holy Spirit, and rest
• 1:23:50
  Speaker 2: on that thought for a moment. Jesus offered his disciples
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 2: a beautiful reminder in John chapter fourteen. He said, the
• 1:24:28
  Speaker 2: Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
• 1:24:31
  Speaker 2: he will teach you all things and bring to your
• 1:24:34
  Speaker 2: remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace. I
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 2: leave with you My peace. I give to you. Not
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 2: as the world gives, do I give to you. Let
• 1:24:44
  Speaker 2: not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 2: How does that passage bring you peace? Today? Dwell in
• 1:24:52
  Speaker 2: that peace for a few quiet moments with the Lord.
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 2: Even when the road seems difficult and the mountain seems impossible,
• 1:25:30
  Speaker 2: you can know that God is making a way for you.
• 1:25:33
  Speaker 2: Do you really believe that today? Take a few moments
• 1:25:37
  Speaker 2: and surrender your impossible situation to the Lord and ask
• 1:25:42
  Speaker 2: for his strength to believe. Now, join me as I
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 2: read one last time from Isaiah forty thirty one. But
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 2: they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.
• 1:26:23
  Speaker 2: They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall
• 1:26:27
  Speaker 2: run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.
• 1:26:32
  Speaker 2: Part of the problem in waiting on God is that
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 2: we tend to take matters into our own hands, don't we,
• 1:26:38
  Speaker 2: Especially when we feel like God is taking a little
• 1:26:40
  Speaker 2: too long, we assume it's okay to go ahead and
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 2: proceed without him. We got this God. HM, how's that
• 1:26:48
  Speaker 2: worked out for you in the past? Have you ever
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 2: taken matters into your own hands? Why don't you think
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 2: about how that turned out for the next few moments.
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 2: There's a wondrous peace that's found impatiently waiting on the Lord.
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 2: In Psalm twenty five, verse five, David said this to
• 1:27:23
  Speaker 2: the Lord, Lead me in your truth and teach me,
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 2: for you are the God of my salvation. On you
• 1:27:30
  Speaker 2: I wait all the day. Are you willing to wait
• 1:27:35
  Speaker 2: all the day for God's leading? Why don't you consider
• 1:27:38
  Speaker 2: that now? Although God's renewal can come in an instant,
• 1:27:58
  Speaker 2: more often than not it's given to us through patient endurance.
• 1:28:03
  Speaker 2: In Chapter twelve of Hebrews, the Bible says, let us
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 2: run with endurance the race that is set before us.
• 1:28:10
  Speaker 2: How are you running the race with endurance? Why don't
• 1:28:14
  Speaker 2: you think about that for a few quiet moments? To
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 2: be renewed in strength and power? We don't need to
• 1:28:49
  Speaker 2: work harder or strive more. What we need is to
• 1:28:53
  Speaker 2: rest in the strength of the Lord, and in his
• 1:28:55
  Speaker 2: mighty power. He'll renew us like wings of eagles and
• 1:28:59
  Speaker 2: help us finish the race without growing weary. As we
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 2: close our time together, surrender all the ways that you've
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 2: relied on your own strength. Let's pray together, Mighty God,
• 1:29:29
  Speaker 2: I place my trust in you today. Would you forgive
• 1:29:32
  Speaker 2: me for trying to run this race in my own strength.
• 1:29:35
  Speaker 2: I surrender all the ways in which I've tried to
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 2: run in my own power, for I know it's not
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 2: by my power or by my might, but by your
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 2: spirit that I live and move and breathe. Thank you
• 1:29:49
  Speaker 2: God for helping me run this race with perseverance. Give
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 2: me strength to wait on you all the day, for
• 1:29:55
  Speaker 2: in you I put my trust. In Jesus' name, Amen.
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 1: We hope this meditation brought you peace. To listen to
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 1: the full collection of Biblical bedtime stories, download the Abide
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 1: app in the iTunes or Google Play Store.