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Bible Stories for Sleep_ The Prodigal Son And The Father_s Embrace · Abide Meditation App

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Find rest as you listen to this peaceful bedtime story.
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: For more Bible stories that bring you refreshing sleep, download
• 0:08
  Speaker 1: the Abide app in the iTunes or Google Play store.
• 0:12
  Speaker 2: Welcome to the bedtime story Our Father's compassionate Embrace taken
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: from Luke fifteen. Right now you can relax completely as
• 0:26
  Speaker 2: we experience the love of God who rescues his lost children.
• 0:32
  Speaker 2: Take a deep breath and hold it for a few moments. Now, exhale,
• 0:43
  Speaker 2: Let go of every thought and concern you've had throughout
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: the day, and replace them one by one with the
• 0:51
  Speaker 2: peace of Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you,
• 0:58
  Speaker 2: He surrounds you and keeps you. He wants the best
• 1:04
  Speaker 2: for you, and has given you the gift of sleep
• 1:07
  Speaker 2: in this moment so that you may fully experience his
• 1:11
  Speaker 2: supernatural rest. Once you were lost in confusion, darkness, and discomfort.
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: But now you are found in His love and in
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: his light. You are safe and free to gently drift
• 1:30
  Speaker 2: off to sleep as we open in prayer, Good and
• 1:36
  Speaker 2: caring Father, thank you for all that you have provided
• 1:40
  Speaker 2: for me. Your careful attention to my life assures me
• 1:45
  Speaker 2: that I am loved by you, and I can be
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: still in your presence, Lord, I pray that you help
• 1:54
  Speaker 2: me now to find the peace that surpasses all understanding.
• 1:59
  Speaker 2: As your overtakes me, I release to you all of
• 2:04
  Speaker 2: my worries and distractions and receive the blessing of your
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: inheritance and provision. I trust in your good plan for
• 2:15
  Speaker 2: my life, and pray that you help me to meditate
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: on your goodness and faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream.
• 2:27
  Speaker 2: Imagine that you are the child of a very wealthy family.
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: You live in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: property with acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams.
• 2:46
  Speaker 2: Picture yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: and filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: the horizon, it casts a deep golden you against sculptures
• 3:01
  Speaker 2: and fountains that trickle over moss covered stones into shallow
• 3:07
  Speaker 2: pools of cool, clear water. The savory sense of dinner
• 3:14
  Speaker 2: drift towards you as you move slowly back toward the
• 3:17
  Speaker 2: house for an evening feast. The presence of God surrounds
• 3:22
  Speaker 2: you and lets you know that even beyond all of
• 3:25
  Speaker 2: these earthly blessings. He is there. After dinner, with your
• 3:32
  Speaker 2: stomach full and your eyes heavy with sleep, you tuck
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: into your soft bed. Your body nestles into the blankets
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: as quiet waves of rest wash over you until you
• 3:48
  Speaker 2: are in a deep sleep. The story of the Prodigal
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: Sun starts out with a similar scene and a similar
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: person like you, enjoying all of the benefits of his
• 4:04
  Speaker 2: father's provision. Jesus tells this parable in Luke, chapter fifteen,
• 4:10
  Speaker 2: verse eleven, that begins there was a man who had
• 4:15
  Speaker 2: two sons, and the younger of them said to his father, father,
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: give me the share of property that is coming to me,
• 4:25
  Speaker 2: and he divided his property between them. This generous and
• 4:31
  Speaker 2: loving father did not want to see his son leave,
• 4:35
  Speaker 2: but granted this wish, giving the son half of the
• 4:39
  Speaker 2: estate and let him go. It appeared that, in spite
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: of the life the son lived on his father's estate,
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: he thought he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he
• 4:52
  Speaker 2: gathered all he had and traveled far away from his father.
• 4:57
  Speaker 2: But it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long
• 5:02
  Speaker 2: after his departure, he spends everything, and a severe famine
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: ensured that it would only get worse. In verse fifteen,
• 5:12
  Speaker 2: Jesus goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: to redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself
• 5:20
  Speaker 2: out to one of the citizens of that country, who
• 5:23
  Speaker 2: sent him into the fields to feed pigs, And he
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: was longing to be fed with the paws that the
• 5:30
  Speaker 2: pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: of his life is now gone from savory and rich
• 5:41
  Speaker 2: to stale and rotten. As the sun experiences complete destitution.
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: He lives among pigs, uneble to eat even as well
• 5:53
  Speaker 2: as they do, begging for food that never comes. He
• 5:59
  Speaker 2: longed for the not so distant past of his father's house,
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: where he was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing.
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: He did not realize how much he needed the love
• 6:15
  Speaker 2: and care of his father until it was gone. Imagine
• 6:21
  Speaker 2: the loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as
• 6:25
  Speaker 2: he begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 6:31
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 6:36
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made. It seems that no one truly knows
• 6:41
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 6:46
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 6:48
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forces
• 6:54
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 6:57
  Speaker 2: never have before. Consider the hope the son began to
• 7:03
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 7:12
  Speaker 2: came to himself, he said, how many of my father's
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father,
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned
• 7:29
  Speaker 2: against Heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy
• 7:34
  Speaker 2: to be called your son. Treat me as one of
• 7:38
  Speaker 2: your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove him back
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: to his father in humility. He would have been happy
• 7:48
  Speaker 2: to be treated as a mere servant, just to be
• 7:52
  Speaker 2: back in the safety, comfort and provision of his father's care.
• 7:58
  Speaker 2: But this loving father had in store for his son
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: when he returned, because the loss of half of his
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: estate was nothing compared to what appeared to be the
• 8:09
  Speaker 2: loss of his beloved son. Jesus tells of this father's
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: welcome in verse twenty, saying, but while he was still
• 8:19
  Speaker 2: a long way off. His father saw him and felt compassion,
• 8:26
  Speaker 2: and ran and embraced him and kissed him. What does
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: it feel like to be truly found? When we are lost, isolated,
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: and lonely, it can appear like no one knows or
• 8:43
  Speaker 2: cares about us, But all that changes when we are
• 8:48
  Speaker 2: truly found by God. The deepest longing of our souls
• 8:54
  Speaker 2: can only really be satisfied in the loving arms of
• 8:57
  Speaker 2: our Father in heaven. Imagine the look in the father's eyes,
• 9:04
  Speaker 2: who does not judge you, does not condemn you, and
• 9:09
  Speaker 2: does not turn his back on you, but instead runs
• 9:14
  Speaker 2: to meet you. From alienation to unconditional acceptance, from utter
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: shame to tender affection, you land in the Father's arms,
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: and you are finally home. As if that wasn't enough,
• 9:34
  Speaker 2: the father commanded the very servants his son had planned
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: to join, saying, bring quickly the best robe and put
• 9:41
  Speaker 2: it on him, and put a ring on his hand,
• 9:45
  Speaker 2: and shoes on his feet, and bring the fat and
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.
• 9:53
  Speaker 2: For this, my son was dead and is alive again.
• 9:57
  Speaker 2: He was lost and is found. The entire household stopped
• 10:05
  Speaker 2: everything to celebrate with singing, dancing, and feasting. When the
• 10:10
  Speaker 2: sun returned, he was adorned with clothing and jewelry that
• 10:16
  Speaker 2: identified him with the people who loved him most, his
• 10:20
  Speaker 2: true family. He did not have to beg He was
• 10:25
  Speaker 2: lavish with every blessing, and likewise God celebrated with the
• 10:31
  Speaker 2: whole host of heaven when he found you. The story
• 10:38
  Speaker 2: of the prodigal Son is one of redemption because of
• 10:41
  Speaker 2: the father's unconditional love. But it's also the story of
• 10:46
  Speaker 2: how Jesus made a way for you to be reconciled
• 10:50
  Speaker 2: to your father in heaven. Jesus left his heavenly home
• 10:56
  Speaker 2: to join you here on earth, and then he was
• 11:00
  Speaker 2: truly lost when he was forsaken on the cross. Your safety, comfort, provision,
• 11:09
  Speaker 2: and care is guaranteed by the blood that Jesus shed
• 11:13
  Speaker 2: when he became the prodigal for your sake. This is
• 11:19
  Speaker 2: how much our father in Heaven loves you. These are
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: the lengths he went to so that you could be
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: found in him. You are embraced and you are celebrated.
• 11:32
  Speaker 2: You are home. Now imagine yourself back on that beautiful estate,
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: a foreshadow of heaven, where you are safe, loved, and
• 11:46
  Speaker 2: have all you could ever ask, hope, or imagine. This time,
• 11:51
  Speaker 2: Jesus is walking with you, your brother, your savior, your friend.
• 12:00
  Speaker 2: You are part of a family that will never leave
• 12:03
  Speaker 2: you or forsake you. You belong there in your father's house,
• 12:08
  Speaker 2: in a room that he is provided a comfortable place
• 12:13
  Speaker 2: to drift off to sleep without a single concern, care,
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: or worry, because He holds these things and you in
• 12:23
  Speaker 2: the palm of his mighty hand. As you now lie
• 12:28
  Speaker 2: in the safety, comfort and care of the Father, allow
• 12:33
  Speaker 2: yourself to embrace and appreciate anew all that he has
• 12:37
  Speaker 2: done for you. Rest in that blessing, and let his
• 12:43
  Speaker 2: presence usher you into a deep, tranqu will sleep. Let
• 12:49
  Speaker 2: your thoughts continue to drift off into the serene places
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: of his heavenly dwelling. As we close in prayer, Dear Father,
• 13:00
  Speaker 2: thank you for welcoming me into your home with open arms.
• 13:05
  Speaker 2: I once lived in darkness and confusion, afar off from
• 13:10
  Speaker 2: your love, but you called me home. Now I abide
• 13:16
  Speaker 2: in you, where your spirit consumes me, and sleep comes easily.
• 13:23
  Speaker 2: In the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Right now
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: you can relax completely as we experience the love of
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: God who rescues his lost children. Take a deep breath
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: and hold it for a few moments. Now exhale, Let
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: go of every thought and concern you've had throughout the day,
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: and replace them one by one with the peace of
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you, He surrounds you,
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: and keeps you. He wants the best for you, and
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: has given you the gift of sleep in this moment
• 14:31
  Speaker 2: so that you may fully experience his supernatural rest. Once
• 14:37
  Speaker 2: you were lost in confusion, darkness, and discomfort. But now
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: you are found in his love and in his light.
• 14:48
  Speaker 2: You are safe and free to gently drift off to sleep.
• 14:53
  Speaker 2: As we open in prayer, good and caring Father, thank
• 15:01
  Speaker 2: you for all that you have provided for me. Your
• 15:04
  Speaker 2: careful attention to my life assures me that I am
• 15:08
  Speaker 2: loved by you and I can be still in your presence. Lord,
• 15:15
  Speaker 2: I pray that you help me now to find the
• 15:18
  Speaker 2: peace that surpasses all understanding. As your calm overtakes me,
• 15:25
  Speaker 2: I release to you all of my worries and distractions
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: and receive the blessing of your inheritance and provision. I
• 15:35
  Speaker 2: trust in your good plan for my life and pray
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: that you help me to meditate on your goodness and
• 15:42
  Speaker 2: faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream. Imagine that you
• 15:50
  Speaker 2: are the child of a very wealthy family. You live
• 15:55
  Speaker 2: in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast proper with
• 16:01
  Speaker 2: acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams. Picture
• 16:08
  Speaker 2: yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges and
• 16:14
  Speaker 2: filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to the horizon,
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: it casts a deep golden hue against sculptures and fountains
• 16:24
  Speaker 2: that trickle over moss covered stones into shallow pools of cool,
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: clear water. The savory scents of dinner drift towards you
• 16:37
  Speaker 2: as you move slowly back toward the house for an
• 16:39
  Speaker 2: evening feast. The presence of God surrounds you and lets
• 16:45
  Speaker 2: you know that even beyond all of these earthly blessings,
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: He is there. After dinner, with your stomach full and
• 16:55
  Speaker 2: your eyes heavy with sleep, you tuck into your oft bed.
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: Your body nestles into the blankets as quiet waves of
• 17:07
  Speaker 2: rest wash over you until you are in a deep sleep.
• 17:16
  Speaker 2: The story of the Prodigal Son starts out with a
• 17:19
  Speaker 2: similar scene and a similar person like you, enjoying all
• 17:25
  Speaker 2: of the benefits of his father's provision. Jesus tells this
• 17:30
  Speaker 2: parable in Luke, chapter fifteen, verse eleven, that begins there
• 17:36
  Speaker 2: was a man who had two sons, and the younger
• 17:39
  Speaker 2: of them said to his father, father, give me the
• 17:44
  Speaker 2: share of property that is coming to me, and he
• 17:47
  Speaker 2: divided his property between them. This generous and loving father
• 17:54
  Speaker 2: did not want to see his son leave, but granted
• 17:58
  Speaker 2: this wish, giving the son half of the estate, and
• 18:02
  Speaker 2: let him go. It appeared that, in spite of the
• 18:06
  Speaker 2: life the son lived on his father's estate, he thought
• 18:10
  Speaker 2: he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered all
• 18:15
  Speaker 2: he had and traveled far away from his father. But
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long after
• 18:24
  Speaker 2: his departure he spends everything, and a severe famine ensured
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: that it would only get worse. In verse fifteen, Jesus
• 18:35
  Speaker 2: goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts to
• 18:38
  Speaker 2: redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself out
• 18:42
  Speaker 2: to one of the citizens of that country, who sent
• 18:46
  Speaker 2: him into the fields to feed pigs. And he was
• 18:50
  Speaker 2: longing to be fed with the paws that the pigs ate,
• 18:54
  Speaker 2: and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere of his
• 18:59
  Speaker 2: life is now all gone, from savory and rich to
• 19:03
  Speaker 2: stale and rotten. As the son experiences complete destitution, he
• 19:11
  Speaker 2: lives among pigs, uneble to eat even as well as
• 19:15
  Speaker 2: they do, begging for food that never comes. He longs
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: for the not so distant past of his father's house,
• 19:26
  Speaker 2: where he was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing.
• 19:33
  Speaker 2: He did not realize how much he needed the love
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: and care of his father until it was gone. Imagine
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: the loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: he begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 19:53
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 19:58
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made. It seems that no one truly knows
• 20:03
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 20:08
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 20:10
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forces
• 20:16
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 20:20
  Speaker 2: never have before. Consider the hope the son began to
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 20:30
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: came to himself. He said, how many of my father's
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish
• 20:42
  Speaker 2: here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father,
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: and I will say to him, father, I have sinned
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: against heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy
• 20:56
  Speaker 2: to be called your son. Treat me as one of
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove him back
• 21:06
  Speaker 2: to his father in humility. He would have been happy
• 21:10
  Speaker 2: to be treated as a mere servant, just to be
• 21:14
  Speaker 2: back in the safety, comfort and provision of his father's care.
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: But this loving father had more in store for his
• 21:23
  Speaker 2: son when he returned, because the loss of half of
• 21:27
  Speaker 2: his estate was nothing compared to what appeared to be
• 21:31
  Speaker 2: the loss of his beloved son. Jesus tells of this
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: father's welcome in verse twenty, saying, but while he was
• 21:41
  Speaker 2: still a long way off, his father saw him and
• 21:46
  Speaker 2: felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: What does it feel like to be truly found? When
• 21:58
  Speaker 2: we are lost, isolated, and lonely, it can appear like
• 22:04
  Speaker 2: no one knows or cares about us. But all that
• 22:08
  Speaker 2: changes when we are truly found by God. The deepest
• 22:14
  Speaker 2: longing of our souls can only really be satisfied in
• 22:18
  Speaker 2: the loving arms of our Father in heaven. Imagine the
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: look in the Father's eyes, who does not judge you,
• 22:29
  Speaker 2: does not condemn you, and does not turn his back
• 22:33
  Speaker 2: on you, but instead runs to meet you. From alienation
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: to unconditional acceptance, from utter shame to tender affection, you
• 22:48
  Speaker 2: land in the Father's arms, and you are finally home.
• 22:54
  Speaker 2: As if that wasn't enough, the father commanded the very
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: servants his son had planned to, saying, bring quickly the
• 23:02
  Speaker 2: best robe and put it on him, and put a
• 23:06
  Speaker 2: ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet, and
• 23:09
  Speaker 2: bring the fatten calf and kill it, and let us
• 23:13
  Speaker 2: eat and celebrate. For this, my son was dead and
• 23:18
  Speaker 2: is alive again. He was lost and is found. The
• 23:25
  Speaker 2: entire household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing, and feasting.
• 23:32
  Speaker 2: When the sun returned, he was adorned with clothing and
• 23:37
  Speaker 2: jewelry that identified him with the people who loved him most,
• 23:42
  Speaker 2: his true family. He did not have to beg He
• 23:47
  Speaker 2: was lavished with every blessing, and likewise God celebrated with
• 23:53
  Speaker 2: the whole host of heaven when he found you. The
• 23:59
  Speaker 2: story of the prodigal son is one of redemption because
• 24:03
  Speaker 2: of the father's unconditional love, but it's also the story
• 24:08
  Speaker 2: of how Jesus made a way for you to be
• 24:12
  Speaker 2: reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus left his heavenly
• 24:17
  Speaker 2: home to join you here on earth, and then he
• 24:22
  Speaker 2: was truly lost when he was forsaken on the cross.
• 24:27
  Speaker 2: Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is guaranteed by the
• 24:34
  Speaker 2: blood that Jesus shed when he became the prodigal for
• 24:38
  Speaker 2: your sake. This is how much our father in Heaven
• 24:42
  Speaker 2: loves you. These are the lengths he went to so
• 24:46
  Speaker 2: that you could be found in him. You are embraced
• 24:52
  Speaker 2: and you are celebrated. You are home. Now imagine yourself
• 24:59
  Speaker 2: back that beautiful estate, a foreshadow of heaven, where you
• 25:05
  Speaker 2: are safe, loved, and have all you could ever ask, hope,
• 25:10
  Speaker 2: or imagine this time, Jesus is walking with you, your brother,
• 25:18
  Speaker 2: your savior, your friend. You are part of a family
• 25:23
  Speaker 2: that will never leave you or forsake you. You belong
• 25:28
  Speaker 2: there in your father's house, in room that he has
• 25:32
  Speaker 2: provided a comfortable place to drift off to sleep, without
• 25:37
  Speaker 2: a single concerned care or worry, because He holds these
• 25:43
  Speaker 2: things and you in the palm of his mighty hand.
• 25:49
  Speaker 2: As you now lie in the safety, comfort and care
• 25:53
  Speaker 2: of the Father, allow yourself to embrace and appreciate anew
• 25:59
  Speaker 2: all that He has done for you. Rest in that
• 26:03
  Speaker 2: blessing and let his presence usher you into a deep
• 26:08
  Speaker 2: trank will sleep. Let your thoughts continue to drift off
• 26:13
  Speaker 2: into the serene places of his heavenly dwelling. As we
• 26:17
  Speaker 2: close in prayer, Dear Father, thank you for welcoming me
• 26:24
  Speaker 2: into your home with open arms. I once lived in
• 26:28
  Speaker 2: darkness and confusion, afar off from your love, but you
• 26:34
  Speaker 2: called me home. Now I abide in you, where your
• 26:39
  Speaker 2: spirit consumes me, and sleep comes easily. In the precious
• 26:46
  Speaker 2: name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Right now you can relax
• 27:08
  Speaker 2: completely as we experience the love of God who rescues
• 27:13
  Speaker 2: his lost children. Take a deep breath and hold it
• 27:19
  Speaker 2: for a few moments. Now exhale, Let go of every
• 27:28
  Speaker 2: thought and concern you've had throughout the day, and replace
• 27:33
  Speaker 2: them one by one with the peace of Jesus Christ.
• 27:38
  Speaker 2: He fills you, He protects you, He surrounds you and
• 27:45
  Speaker 2: keeps you. He wants the best for you, and has
• 27:49
  Speaker 2: given you the gift of sleep in this moment, so
• 27:53
  Speaker 2: that you may fully experience his supernatural rest. Once you
• 27:59
  Speaker 2: were long in confusion, darkness, and discomfort, but now you
• 28:05
  Speaker 2: are found in his love and in his light. You
• 28:10
  Speaker 2: are safe and free to gently drift off to sleep
• 28:15
  Speaker 2: as we open in prayer, good and caring Father, thank
• 28:23
  Speaker 2: you for all that you have provided for me. Your
• 28:26
  Speaker 2: careful attention to my life assures me that I am
• 28:30
  Speaker 2: loved by you, and I can be still in your presence. Lord.
• 28:37
  Speaker 2: I pray that you help me now to find the
• 28:40
  Speaker 2: peace that surpasses all understanding. As your calm overtakes me,
• 28:47
  Speaker 2: I release to you all of my worries and distractions
• 28:51
  Speaker 2: and receive the blessing of your inheritance and provision. I
• 28:57
  Speaker 2: trust in your good plan for my life, and pray
• 29:01
  Speaker 2: that you help me to meditate on your goodness and
• 29:04
  Speaker 2: faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream. Imagine that you
• 29:12
  Speaker 2: are the child of a very wealthy family. You live
• 29:17
  Speaker 2: in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast property with
• 29:23
  Speaker 2: acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams. Picture
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges and
• 29:36
  Speaker 2: filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to the horizon,
• 29:42
  Speaker 2: it casts a deep golden hue against sculptures and fountains
• 29:46
  Speaker 2: that trickle over moss covered stones into shallow pools of cool,
• 29:53
  Speaker 2: clear water. The savory scents of dinner drift towards you
• 29:59
  Speaker 2: as you move slow back toward the house for an
• 30:01
  Speaker 2: evening feast. The presence of God surrounds you and lets
• 30:07
  Speaker 2: you know that even beyond all of these earthly blessings,
• 30:11
  Speaker 2: He is there. After dinner, with your stomach full and
• 30:17
  Speaker 2: your eyes heavy with sleep, you tuck into your soft bed.
• 30:25
  Speaker 2: Your body nestles into the blankets as quiet waves of
• 30:29
  Speaker 2: rest wash over you until you are in a deep sleep.
• 30:38
  Speaker 2: The story of the Prodigal Son starts out with a
• 30:41
  Speaker 2: similar scene and a similar person like you, enjoying all
• 30:47
  Speaker 2: of the benefits of his father's provision. Jesus tells this
• 30:52
  Speaker 2: parable in Luke chapter fifteen, verse eleven, that begins there
• 30:58
  Speaker 2: was a man who had two sons, and the younger
• 31:01
  Speaker 2: of them said to his father, father, give me the
• 31:06
  Speaker 2: share of property that is coming to me, and he
• 31:09
  Speaker 2: divided his property between them. This generous and loving father
• 31:16
  Speaker 2: did not want to see his son leave, but granted
• 31:20
  Speaker 2: this wish, giving the son half of the estate and
• 31:24
  Speaker 2: let him go. It appeared that, in spite of the
• 31:28
  Speaker 2: life the son lived on his father's estate, he thought
• 31:32
  Speaker 2: he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered all
• 31:37
  Speaker 2: he had and traveled far away from his father. But
• 31:42
  Speaker 2: it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long after
• 31:46
  Speaker 2: his departure, he spends everything, and a severe famine ensured
• 31:52
  Speaker 2: that it would only get worse. In verse fifteen, Jesus
• 31:57
  Speaker 2: goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts to
• 32:00
  Speaker 2: redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself out
• 32:04
  Speaker 2: to one of the citizens of that country, who sent
• 32:08
  Speaker 2: him into the fields to feed pigs, And he was
• 32:12
  Speaker 2: longing to be fed with the paws that the pigs ate,
• 32:16
  Speaker 2: and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere of his
• 32:21
  Speaker 2: life is now gone from savory and rich to stale
• 32:26
  Speaker 2: and rotten. As the sun experiences complete destitution. He lives
• 32:33
  Speaker 2: among pigs, uneble to eat even as well as they do,
• 32:38
  Speaker 2: begging for food that never comes. He longs for the
• 32:44
  Speaker 2: not so distant past of his father's house, where he
• 32:48
  Speaker 2: was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing. He
• 32:56
  Speaker 2: did not realize how much he needed the love and
• 32:59
  Speaker 2: care of his father until it was gone. Imagine the
• 33:06
  Speaker 2: loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as he
• 33:10
  Speaker 2: begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 33:15
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 33:20
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made. It seems that no one truly knows
• 33:25
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 33:30
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 33:32
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forces
• 33:38
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 33:42
  Speaker 2: never have before. Consider the hope the son began to
• 33:47
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 33:52
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 33:56
  Speaker 2: came to himself, he said, how many of my father's
• 33:59
  Speaker 2: high care servants have more than enough bread, but I
• 34:04
  Speaker 2: perish here with hunger. I will arise and go to
• 34:08
  Speaker 2: my father, and I will say to him, Father, I
• 34:12
  Speaker 2: have sinned against Heaven, and before you I am no
• 34:17
  Speaker 2: longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as
• 34:21
  Speaker 2: one of your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove
• 34:27
  Speaker 2: him back to his father in humility. He would have
• 34:31
  Speaker 2: been happy to be treated as a mere servant, just
• 34:35
  Speaker 2: to be back in the safety, comfort and provision of
• 34:39
  Speaker 2: his father's care. But this loving father had more in
• 34:44
  Speaker 2: store for his son when he returned, because the loss
• 34:48
  Speaker 2: of half of his estate was nothing compared to what
• 34:52
  Speaker 2: appeared to be the loss of his beloved son. Jesus
• 34:58
  Speaker 2: tells of this father's welcome and Verse twenty, saying, but
• 35:02
  Speaker 2: while he was still a long way off, his father
• 35:07
  Speaker 2: saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him
• 35:12
  Speaker 2: and kissed him. What does it feel like to be
• 35:17
  Speaker 2: truly found? When we are lost, isolated, and lonely, it
• 35:25
  Speaker 2: can appear like no one knows or cares about us.
• 35:29
  Speaker 2: But all that changes when we are truly found by God.
• 35:35
  Speaker 2: The deepest longing of our souls can only really be
• 35:39
  Speaker 2: satisfied in the loving arms of our Father in heaven.
• 35:45
  Speaker 2: Imagine the look in the father's eyes, who does not
• 35:49
  Speaker 2: judge you, does not condemn you, and does not turn
• 35:54
  Speaker 2: his back on you, but instead runs to meet you.
• 36:00
  Speaker 2: From alienation to unconditional acceptance, from utter shame to tender affection.
• 36:10
  Speaker 2: You land in the Father's arms, and you are finally home.
• 36:16
  Speaker 2: As if that wasn't enough, the father commanded the very
• 36:20
  Speaker 2: servants his son had planned to join, saying, bring quickly
• 36:24
  Speaker 2: the best robe and put it on him, and put
• 36:27
  Speaker 2: a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet,
• 36:31
  Speaker 2: and bring the fat and calf and kill it, and
• 36:34
  Speaker 2: let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was
• 36:39
  Speaker 2: dead and is alive again. He was lost and is found.
• 36:46
  Speaker 2: The entire household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing,
• 36:53
  Speaker 2: and feasting. When the son returned, he was adorned with
• 36:58
  Speaker 2: clothing and jewelry that identified him with the people who
• 37:02
  Speaker 2: loved him most, his true family. He did not have
• 37:07
  Speaker 2: to beg He was lavish with every blessing, and likewise
• 37:14
  Speaker 2: God celebrated with the whole host of heaven when he
• 37:18
  Speaker 2: found you. The story of the prodigal Son is one
• 37:23
  Speaker 2: of redemption because of the father's unconditional love, but it's
• 37:29
  Speaker 2: also the story of how Jesus made a way for
• 37:32
  Speaker 2: you to be reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus
• 37:38
  Speaker 2: left his heavenly home to join you here on earth,
• 37:43
  Speaker 2: and then he was truly lost when he was forsaken
• 37:47
  Speaker 2: on the cross. Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is
• 37:54
  Speaker 2: guaranteed by the blood that Jesus shed when he became
• 37:59
  Speaker 2: the prodigal for your sake. This is how much our
• 38:03
  Speaker 2: father in Heaven loves you. These are the lengths he
• 38:07
  Speaker 2: went to so that you could be found in him.
• 38:12
  Speaker 2: You are embraced and you are celebrated. You are home.
• 38:20
  Speaker 2: Now imagine yourself back on that beautiful estate, a foreshadow
• 38:25
  Speaker 2: of heaven, where you are safe, loved, and have all
• 38:30
  Speaker 2: you could ever ask, hope, or imagine. This time, Jesus
• 38:36
  Speaker 2: is walking with you, your brother, your savior, your friend.
• 38:44
  Speaker 2: You are part of a family that will never leave
• 38:47
  Speaker 2: you or forsake you. You belong there in your father's house,
• 38:52
  Speaker 2: in a room that he is provided a comfortable place
• 38:57
  Speaker 2: to drift off to sleep without a singer, concern, care,
• 39:02
  Speaker 2: or worry, because he holds these things and you in
• 39:07
  Speaker 2: the palm of his mighty hand. As you now lie
• 39:12
  Speaker 2: in the safety, comfort and care of the Father, allow
• 39:17
  Speaker 2: yourself to embrace and appreciate anew all that he has
• 39:22
  Speaker 2: done for you. Rest in that blessing, and let his
• 39:27
  Speaker 2: presence usher you into a deep tranquill sleep. Let your
• 39:33
  Speaker 2: thoughts continue to drift off into the serene places of
• 39:37
  Speaker 2: his heavenly dwelling. As we close in prayer, Dear Father,
• 39:44
  Speaker 2: thank you for welcoming me into your home with open arms.
• 39:49
  Speaker 2: I once lived in darkness and confusion, afar off from
• 39:54
  Speaker 2: your love, but you called me home. Now I abide
• 40:00
  Speaker 2: you where your spirit consumes me, and sleep comes easily.
• 40:07
  Speaker 2: In the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Right now
• 40:29
  Speaker 2: you can relax completely as we experience the love of
• 40:34
  Speaker 2: God who rescues his lost children. Take a deep breath
• 40:40
  Speaker 2: and hold it for a few moments. Now exhale, Let
• 40:49
  Speaker 2: go of every thought and concern you've had throughout the day,
• 40:54
  Speaker 2: and replace them one by one with the peace of
• 40:58
  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you, He surrounds
• 41:05
  Speaker 2: you and keeps you. He wants the best for you,
• 41:11
  Speaker 2: and has given you the gift of sleep in this
• 41:14
  Speaker 2: moment so that you may fully experience his supernatural rest.
• 41:21
  Speaker 2: Once you were lost in confusion, darkness and discomfort. But
• 41:26
  Speaker 2: now you are found in His love and in His light.
• 41:32
  Speaker 2: You are safe and free to gently drift off to sleep.
• 41:37
  Speaker 2: As we open in prayer, Good and caring Father. Thank
• 41:45
  Speaker 2: you for all that you have provided for me. Your
• 41:48
  Speaker 2: careful attention to my life assures me that I am
• 41:52
  Speaker 2: loved by you, and I can be still in your presence. Lord,
• 41:59
  Speaker 2: I pray that you help me now to find the
• 42:02
  Speaker 2: peace that surpasses all understanding. As your calm overtakes me,
• 42:09
  Speaker 2: I release to you all of my worries and distractions
• 42:13
  Speaker 2: and receive the blessing of your inheritance and provision. I
• 42:19
  Speaker 2: trust in your good plan for my life, and pray
• 42:23
  Speaker 2: that you help me to meditate on your goodness and
• 42:26
  Speaker 2: faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream. Imagine that you
• 42:34
  Speaker 2: are the child of a very wealthy family. You live
• 42:39
  Speaker 2: in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast property with
• 42:45
  Speaker 2: acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams. Picture
• 42:52
  Speaker 2: yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges and
• 42:58
  Speaker 2: filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to the horizon,
• 43:04
  Speaker 2: it casts a deep golden hue against sculptures and fountains
• 43:08
  Speaker 2: that trickle over moss covered stones and into shallow pools
• 43:13
  Speaker 2: of cool, clear water. The savory scents of dinner drift
• 43:20
  Speaker 2: towards you. As you move slowly back toward the house
• 43:23
  Speaker 2: for an evening feast, the presence of God surrounds you
• 43:29
  Speaker 2: and lets you know that even beyond all of these
• 43:32
  Speaker 2: earthly blessings, He is there. After dinner, with your stomach
• 43:39
  Speaker 2: full and your eyes heavy with sleep, you tuck into
• 43:43
  Speaker 2: your soft bed. Your body nestles into the blankets as
• 43:50
  Speaker 2: quiet waves of rest wash over you until you are
• 43:54
  Speaker 2: in a deep sleep. The story of the Prodigal Son
• 44:02
  Speaker 2: starts out with a similar scene and a similar person
• 44:07
  Speaker 2: like you, enjoying all of the benefits of his father's provision.
• 44:13
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells this parable in Luke, chapter fifteen, verse eleven,
• 44:17
  Speaker 2: that begins there was a man who had two sons,
• 44:23
  Speaker 2: and the younger of them said to his father, father,
• 44:27
  Speaker 2: give me the share of property that is coming to me,
• 44:31
  Speaker 2: and he divided his property between them. This generous and
• 44:37
  Speaker 2: loving father did not want to see his son leave,
• 44:41
  Speaker 2: but granted this wish, giving the son half of the estate,
• 44:46
  Speaker 2: and let him go. It appeared that, in spite of
• 44:50
  Speaker 2: the life the son lived on his father's estate, he
• 44:54
  Speaker 2: thought he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered
• 44:59
  Speaker 2: all he had and traveled far away from his father,
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: but it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long
• 45:08
  Speaker 2: after his departure, he spends everything, and a severe famine
• 45:13
  Speaker 2: ensured that it would only get worse. In Verse fifteen,
• 45:18
  Speaker 2: Jesus goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts
• 45:22
  Speaker 2: to redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself
• 45:26
  Speaker 2: out to one of the citizens of that country, who
• 45:29
  Speaker 2: sent him into the fields to feed pigs, And he
• 45:34
  Speaker 2: was longing to be fed with the paws that the
• 45:36
  Speaker 2: pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere
• 45:43
  Speaker 2: of his life is now gone from savory and rich
• 45:47
  Speaker 2: to stale and rotten. As the son experiences complete destitution,
• 45:55
  Speaker 2: he lives among pigs, uneble to eat even as well
• 45:59
  Speaker 2: as they do, begging for food that never comes. He
• 46:05
  Speaker 2: longs for the not so distant past of his father's house,
• 46:10
  Speaker 2: where he was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing.
• 46:17
  Speaker 2: He did not realize how much he needed the love
• 46:21
  Speaker 2: and care of his father until it was gone. Imagine
• 46:28
  Speaker 2: the loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as
• 46:31
  Speaker 2: he begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 46:37
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 46:42
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made, it seems that no one truly knows
• 46:47
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 46:52
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 46:54
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forced
• 47:00
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 47:04
  Speaker 2: never have before. Consider the hope the son began to
• 47:09
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 47:14
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 47:18
  Speaker 2: came to himself, he said, how many of my father's
• 47:21
  Speaker 2: hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish
• 47:26
  Speaker 2: here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father,
• 47:31
  Speaker 2: and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned
• 47:35
  Speaker 2: against Heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy
• 47:40
  Speaker 2: to be called your son. Treat me as one of
• 47:44
  Speaker 2: your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove him back
• 47:50
  Speaker 2: to his father in humility. He would have been happy
• 47:54
  Speaker 2: to be treated as a mere servant, just to be
• 47:58
  Speaker 2: back in the safety, comfort and provision of his father's care.
• 48:04
  Speaker 2: But this loving father had more in store for his
• 48:07
  Speaker 2: son when he returned, because the loss of half of
• 48:11
  Speaker 2: his estate was nothing compared to what appeared to be
• 48:15
  Speaker 2: the loss of his beloved son. Jesus tells of this
• 48:21
  Speaker 2: father's welcome in verse twenty, saying, but while he was
• 48:25
  Speaker 2: still a long way off, his father saw him and
• 48:30
  Speaker 2: felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• 48:38
  Speaker 2: What does it feel like to be truly found? When
• 48:43
  Speaker 2: we are lost, isolated, and lonely, it can appear like
• 48:48
  Speaker 2: no one knows or cares about us. But all that
• 48:52
  Speaker 2: changes when we are truly found by God. The deepest
• 48:58
  Speaker 2: longing of our souls can only really be satisfied in
• 49:02
  Speaker 2: the loving arms of our Father in heaven. Imagine the
• 49:08
  Speaker 2: look in the father's eyes, who does not judge you,
• 49:13
  Speaker 2: does not condemn you, and does not turn his back
• 49:17
  Speaker 2: on you, but instead runs to meet you. From alienation
• 49:24
  Speaker 2: to unconditional acceptance, from utter shame to tender affection, you
• 49:32
  Speaker 2: land in the Father's arms, and you are finally home.
• 49:38
  Speaker 2: As if that wasn't enough, the father commanded the very
• 49:42
  Speaker 2: servants his son had planned to join, saying, bring quickly
• 49:46
  Speaker 2: the best robe and put it on him, and put
• 49:49
  Speaker 2: a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet,
• 49:53
  Speaker 2: and bring the fat and calf and kill it, and
• 49:56
  Speaker 2: let us eat and celebrate for the this my son
• 50:01
  Speaker 2: was dead and is alive again. He was lost and
• 50:06
  Speaker 2: is found. The entire household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing,
• 50:15
  Speaker 2: and feasting. When the son returned, he was adorned with
• 50:20
  Speaker 2: clothing and jewelry that identified him with the people who
• 50:24
  Speaker 2: loved him most, his true family. He did not have
• 50:29
  Speaker 2: to beg He was lavish with every blessing, and likewise
• 50:36
  Speaker 2: God celebrated with the whole host of heaven when he
• 50:40
  Speaker 2: found you. The story of the prodigal Son is one
• 50:45
  Speaker 2: of redemption because of the Father's unconditional love. But it's
• 50:51
  Speaker 2: also the story of how Jesus made a way for
• 50:54
  Speaker 2: you to be reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus
• 51:00
  Speaker 2: left his heavenly home to join you here on earth,
• 51:05
  Speaker 2: and then he was truly lost when he was forsaken
• 51:09
  Speaker 2: on the cross. Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is
• 51:16
  Speaker 2: guaranteed by the blood that Jesus shed when he became
• 51:21
  Speaker 2: the prodigal for your sake. This is how much our
• 51:25
  Speaker 2: father in Heaven loves you. These are the lengths he
• 51:29
  Speaker 2: went to so that you could be found in him.
• 51:34
  Speaker 2: You are embraced, and you are celebrated. You are home. Now.
• 51:42
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself back on that beautiful estate, a foreshadow of heaven,
• 51:49
  Speaker 2: where you are safe, loved, and have all you could
• 51:53
  Speaker 2: ever ask, hope, or imagine. This time, Jesus is walking
• 51:59
  Speaker 2: with you. Your brother, your savior, your friend. You are
• 52:06
  Speaker 2: part of a family that will never leave you or
• 52:09
  Speaker 2: forsake you. You belong there in your father's house, in
• 52:14
  Speaker 2: a room that he is provided a comfortable place to
• 52:19
  Speaker 2: drift off to sleep without a single concern, care, or worry,
• 52:26
  Speaker 2: because he holds these things and you in the palm
• 52:30
  Speaker 2: of his mighty hand. As you now lie in the safety,
• 52:35
  Speaker 2: comfort and care of the Father, allow yourself to embrace
• 52:40
  Speaker 2: and appreciate anew all that he has done for you.
• 52:46
  Speaker 2: Rest in that blessing, and let his presence usher you
• 52:50
  Speaker 2: into a deep drank, will sleep, Let your thoughts continue
• 52:56
  Speaker 2: to drift off into the serene places of his heavenly
• 53:01
  Speaker 2: as we close in prayer, Dear Father, thank you for
• 53:07
  Speaker 2: welcoming me into your home with open arms. I once
• 53:12
  Speaker 2: lived in darkness and confusion, afar off from your love,
• 53:18
  Speaker 2: but you called me home. Now I abide in you,
• 53:23
  Speaker 2: where your spirit consumes me and sleep comes easily. In
• 53:29
  Speaker 2: the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Right now you
• 53:51
  Speaker 2: can relax completely as we experience the love of God
• 53:56
  Speaker 2: who rescues his lost children. Take a deep breath and
• 54:02
  Speaker 2: hold it for a few moments. Now exhale, Let go
• 54:12
  Speaker 2: of every thought and concern you've had throughout the day,
• 54:16
  Speaker 2: and replace them one by one with the peace of
• 54:20
  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you, He surrounds
• 54:27
  Speaker 2: you and keeps you. He wants the best for you,
• 54:33
  Speaker 2: and has given you the gift of sleep in this
• 54:36
  Speaker 2: moment so that you may fully experience his supernatural rest.
• 54:43
  Speaker 2: Once you were lost in confusion, darkness and discomfort. But
• 54:48
  Speaker 2: now you are found in His love and in his light.
• 54:54
  Speaker 2: You are safe and free to gently drift off to sleep.
• 55:00
  Speaker 2: As we open in prayer, Good and caring Father, thank
• 55:07
  Speaker 2: you for all that you have provided for me. Your
• 55:10
  Speaker 2: careful attention to my life assures me that I am
• 55:14
  Speaker 2: loved by you and I can be still in your presence. Lord,
• 55:21
  Speaker 2: I pray that you help me now to find the
• 55:24
  Speaker 2: peace that surpasses all understanding. As your calm overtakes me,
• 55:31
  Speaker 2: I release to you all of my worries and distractions,
• 55:35
  Speaker 2: and receive the blessing of your inheritance and provision. I
• 55:41
  Speaker 2: trust in your good plan for my life, and pray
• 55:45
  Speaker 2: that you help me to meditate on your goodness and
• 55:48
  Speaker 2: faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream. Imagine that you
• 55:56
  Speaker 2: are the child of a very wealthy family. You live
• 56:01
  Speaker 2: in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast property with
• 56:07
  Speaker 2: acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams. Picture
• 56:14
  Speaker 2: yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges and
• 56:20
  Speaker 2: filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to the horizon,
• 56:26
  Speaker 2: it casts a deep golden hue against sculptures and fountains
• 56:30
  Speaker 2: that trickle over moss covered stones into shallow pools of cool,
• 56:37
  Speaker 2: clear water. The savory scents of dinner drift towards you
• 56:43
  Speaker 2: as you move slowly back toward the house for an
• 56:45
  Speaker 2: evening feast. The presence of God surrounds you and lets
• 56:51
  Speaker 2: you know that even beyond all of these earthly blessings,
• 56:55
  Speaker 2: He is there. After dinner, with your stomach full and
• 57:01
  Speaker 2: your eyes heavy with sleep, a tuck into your soft bed,
• 57:09
  Speaker 2: your body nestles into the blankets, as quiet waves of
• 57:13
  Speaker 2: rest wash over you until you are in a deep sleep.
• 57:22
  Speaker 2: The story of the prodigal Son starts out with a
• 57:25
  Speaker 2: similar scene and a similar person like you, enjoying all
• 57:31
  Speaker 2: of the benefits of his father's provision. Jesus tells this
• 57:36
  Speaker 2: parable in Luke, chapter fifteen, verse eleven, that begins there
• 57:42
  Speaker 2: was a man who had two sons, and the younger
• 57:45
  Speaker 2: of them said to his father, father, give me the
• 57:50
  Speaker 2: share of property that is coming to me, and he
• 57:53
  Speaker 2: divided his property between them. This generous and loving thought
• 58:00
  Speaker 2: did not want to see his son leave, but granted
• 58:04
  Speaker 2: this wish, giving the son half of the estate, and
• 58:08
  Speaker 2: let him go. It appeared that, in spite of the
• 58:12
  Speaker 2: life the son lived on his father's estate, he thought
• 58:16
  Speaker 2: he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered all
• 58:21
  Speaker 2: he had and traveled far away from his father. But
• 58:26
  Speaker 2: it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long after
• 58:30
  Speaker 2: his departure, he spends everything, and a severe famine ensured
• 58:36
  Speaker 2: that it would only get worse. In verse fifteen, Jesus
• 58:41
  Speaker 2: goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts to
• 58:44
  Speaker 2: redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself out
• 58:48
  Speaker 2: to one of the citizens of that country, who sent
• 58:52
  Speaker 2: him into the fields to feed pigs, and he was
• 58:56
  Speaker 2: longing to be fed with the paws that the pigs ate,
• 59:00
  Speaker 2: and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere of his
• 59:05
  Speaker 2: life is now gone from savory and rich to stale
• 59:10
  Speaker 2: and rotten. As the son experiences complete destitution. He lives
• 59:17
  Speaker 2: among pigs, uneble to eat even as well as they do,
• 59:22
  Speaker 2: begging for food that never comes. He longs for the
• 59:28
  Speaker 2: not so distant past of his father's house, where he
• 59:32
  Speaker 2: was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing. He
• 59:40
  Speaker 2: did not realize how much he needed the love and
• 59:43
  Speaker 2: care of his father until it was gone. Imagine the
• 59:50
  Speaker 2: loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as he
• 59:54
  Speaker 2: begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 59:59
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 1:00:04
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made. It seems that no one truly knows
• 1:00:09
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 1:00:16
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forces
• 1:00:22
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 1:00:26
  Speaker 2: never have before consider the hope the son began to
• 1:00:31
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 2: came to himself, he said, how many of my father's
• 1:00:43
  Speaker 2: hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 2: here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father,
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 2: and I will say to him, father, I have sinned
• 1:00:57
  Speaker 2: against heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy
• 1:01:02
  Speaker 2: to be called your son. Treat me as one of
• 1:01:06
  Speaker 2: your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove him back
• 1:01:12
  Speaker 2: to his father in humility. He would have been happy
• 1:01:16
  Speaker 2: to be treated as a mere servant, just to be
• 1:01:20
  Speaker 2: back in the safety, comfort and provision of his father's care.
• 1:01:26
  Speaker 2: But this loving father had more in store for his
• 1:01:29
  Speaker 2: son when he returned, because the loss of half of
• 1:01:33
  Speaker 2: his estate was nothing compared to what appeared to be
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 2: the loss of his beloved son. Jesus tells of this
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 2: father's welcome in verse twenty, saying, but while he was
• 1:01:47
  Speaker 2: still a long way off, his father saw him and
• 1:01:52
  Speaker 2: felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• 1:02:00
  Speaker 2: What does it feel like? To be truly found. When
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 2: we are lost, isolated, and lonely, it can appear like
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 2: no one knows or cares about us. But all that
• 1:02:14
  Speaker 2: changes when we are truly found by God. The deepest
• 1:02:20
  Speaker 2: longing of our souls can only really be satisfied in
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 2: the loving arms of our Father in heaven. Imagine the
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 2: look in the father's eyes, who does not judge you,
• 1:02:35
  Speaker 2: does not condemn you, and does not turn his back
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 2: on you, but instead runs to meet you. From alienation
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 2: to unconditional acceptance, from utter shame to tender affection, you
• 1:02:54
  Speaker 2: land in the Father's arms, and you are finally home.
• 1:03:00
  Speaker 2: As if that wasn't enough, the father commanded the very
• 1:03:04
  Speaker 2: servants his son had planned to join, saying, bring quickly
• 1:03:08
  Speaker 2: the best robe and put it on him, and put
• 1:03:11
  Speaker 2: a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet,
• 1:03:15
  Speaker 2: and bring the fatten calf and kill it, and let
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 2: us eat and celebrate. For this, my son was dead
• 1:03:24
  Speaker 2: and is alive again. He was lost and is found.
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 2: The entire household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing,
• 1:03:37
  Speaker 2: and feasting. When the son returned, he was adorned with
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 2: clothing and jewelry that identified him with the people who
• 1:03:46
  Speaker 2: loved him most, his true family. He did not have
• 1:03:51
  Speaker 2: to beg He was lavished with every blessing, and likewise
• 1:03:58
  Speaker 2: God celebrated with the whole host of heaven when he
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 2: found you. The story of the prodigal Son is one
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 2: of redemption because of the father's unconditional love. But it's
• 1:04:13
  Speaker 2: also the story of how Jesus made a way for
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 2: you to be reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 2: left his heavenly home to join you here on earth,
• 1:04:27
  Speaker 2: and then he was truly lost when he was forsaken
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 2: on the cross. Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 2: guaranteed by the blood that Jesus shed when he became
• 1:04:43
  Speaker 2: the prodigal for your sake. This is how much our
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 2: father in Heaven loves you. These are the lengths he
• 1:04:51
  Speaker 2: went to so that you could be found in him.
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 2: You are embraced and you are celebrated. You are home. Now.
• 1:05:04
  Speaker 2: Imagine yourself back on that beautiful estate, a foreshadow of heaven,
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 2: where you are safe, loved, and have all you could
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 2: ever ask, hope or imagine this time, Jesus is walking
• 1:05:21
  Speaker 2: with you, your brother, your savior, your friend. You are
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 2: part of a family that will never leave you or
• 1:05:31
  Speaker 2: forsake you. You belong there in your Father's house, in
• 1:05:36
  Speaker 2: a room that he has provided a comfortable place to
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 2: drift off to sleep, without a single concern, care, or worry,
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 2: because He holds these things and you in the palm
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 2: of his mighty hand. As you now lie in the safety,
• 1:05:57
  Speaker 2: comfort and care of the Father, allow yourself to embrace
• 1:06:02
  Speaker 2: and appreciate anew all that he has done for you.
• 1:06:08
  Speaker 2: Rest in that blessing, and let his presence usher you
• 1:06:12
  Speaker 2: into a deep, tranquil sleep. Let your thoughts continue to
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 2: drift off into the serene places of his heavenly dwelling.
• 1:06:23
  Speaker 2: As we close in prayer, Dear Father, thank you for
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 2: welcoming me into your home with open arms. I once
• 1:06:34
  Speaker 2: lived in darkness and confusion, afar off from your love,
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 2: but you called me home. Now I abide in you,
• 1:06:45
  Speaker 2: where your spirit consumes me, and sleep comes easily. In
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 2: the precious name of Jesus Christ. Amen. Right now you
• 1:07:13
  Speaker 2: can relax completely as we experience the love of God
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 2: who rescues his lost children. Take a deep breath and
• 1:07:24
  Speaker 2: hold it for a few moments. Now exhale, Let go
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 2: of every thought and concern, you've had throughout the day,
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 2: and replace them one by one with the peace of
• 1:07:42
  Speaker 2: Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you, He surrounds you,
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 2: and keeps you. He wants the best for you, and
• 1:07:55
  Speaker 2: has given you the gift of sleep. In this moment
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 2: you may fully experience his supernatural rest. Once you were
• 1:08:05
  Speaker 2: lost in confusion, darkness, and discomfort, but now you are
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 2: found in His love and in his light. You are
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 2: safe and free to gently drift off to sleep. As
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 2: we open in prayer, good and caring Father, thank you
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 2: for all that you have provided for me. Your careful
• 1:08:33
  Speaker 2: attention to my life assures me that I am loved
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 2: by you, and I can be still in your presence. Lord,
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 2: I pray that you help me now to find the
• 1:08:46
  Speaker 2: peace that surpasses all understanding. As your calm overtakes me,
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 2: I release to you all of my worries and distractions
• 1:08:57
  Speaker 2: and receive the blessing of your inheritance and provision. I
• 1:09:03
  Speaker 2: trust in your good plan for my life and pray
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 2: that you help me to meditate on your goodness and
• 1:09:10
  Speaker 2: faithfulness as I fall asleep and dream. Imagine that you
• 1:09:18
  Speaker 2: are the child of a very wealthy family. You live
• 1:09:23
  Speaker 2: in an extraordinary home that sprawls across vast property with
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 2: acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife, and meandering streams. Picture
• 1:09:36
  Speaker 2: yourself walking through lush gardens of carefully manicured hedges and
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 2: filled with colorful flowers. As the sun sinks to the horizon,
• 1:09:48
  Speaker 2: it casts a deep golden hue against sculptures and fountains
• 1:09:52
  Speaker 2: that trickle over moss covered stones into shallow pools of cool,
• 1:09:59
  Speaker 2: clear water. The savory sense of dinner drift towards you
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 2: as you move slowly back toward the house for an
• 1:10:07
  Speaker 2: evening feast. The presence of God surrounds you and lets
• 1:10:13
  Speaker 2: you know that even beyond all of these earthly blessings,
• 1:10:17
  Speaker 2: He is there. After dinner, with your stomach full and
• 1:10:23
  Speaker 2: your eyes heavy with sleep, you tuck into your soft bed.
• 1:10:31
  Speaker 2: Your body nestles into the blankets as quiet waves of
• 1:10:35
  Speaker 2: rest wash over you until you are in a deep sleep.
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 2: The story of the Prodigal Son starts out with a
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 2: similar scene and a similar person like you, enjoying all
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 2: of the benefits of his father's provision. Jesus tells this
• 1:10:58
  Speaker 2: parable and luke chapter fifteen, verse eleven that begins there
• 1:11:04
  Speaker 2: was a man who had two sons, and the younger
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 2: of them said to his father, father, give me the
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 2: share of property that is coming to me, and he
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 2: divided his property between them. This generous and loving father
• 1:11:22
  Speaker 2: did not want to see his son leave, but granted
• 1:11:26
  Speaker 2: this wish, giving the son half of the estate, and
• 1:11:30
  Speaker 2: let him go. It appeared that, in spite of the
• 1:11:34
  Speaker 2: life the son lived on his father's estate, he thought
• 1:11:38
  Speaker 2: he might find greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered all
• 1:11:43
  Speaker 2: he had and traveled far away from his father. But
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 2: it didn't go as he had hoped. Not long after
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 2: his departure, he spends everything, and a severe famine ensured
• 1:11:58
  Speaker 2: that it would only get worse. In verse fifteen, Jesus
• 1:12:03
  Speaker 2: goes on to tell of the son's desperate attempts to
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 2: redeem himself, saying, so he went and hired himself out
• 1:12:11
  Speaker 2: to one of the citizens of that country, who sent
• 1:12:14
  Speaker 2: him into the fields to feed pigs, And he was
• 1:12:18
  Speaker 2: longing to be fed with the paws that the pigs ate,
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 2: and no one gave him anything. The atmosphere of his
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 2: life has now gone from savory and rich to stale
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 2: and rotten. As the sun experiences complete destitution. He lives
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 2: among pigs, uneble to eat even as well as they do,
• 1:12:44
  Speaker 2: begging for food that never comes. He longs for the
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 2: not so distant past of his father's house, where he
• 1:12:54
  Speaker 2: was safe, comfortable, full, and in need of nothing. He
• 1:13:02
  Speaker 2: did not realize how much he needed the love and
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 2: care of his father until it was gone. Imagine the
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 2: loneliness he must have felt among the pigs as he
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 2: begged for help and no one came to his rescue.
• 1:13:21
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you have felt alone in moments, even because of
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 2: decisions you've made. It seems that no one truly knows
• 1:13:31
  Speaker 2: what you're experiencing, and that help is nowhere to be found.
• 1:13:36
  Speaker 2: This place of loneliness can be one of the most
• 1:13:38
  Speaker 2: difficult but valuable moments we may experience, as it forces
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 2: us to depend on our father in Heaven like we
• 1:13:48
  Speaker 2: never have before. Consider the hope the son began to
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 2: feel as he thought about returning to his father's home.
• 1:13:58
  Speaker 2: Jesus tells us about this moment, saying, but when he
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 2: came to himself, he said, how many of my father's
• 1:14:05
  Speaker 2: hired servants have more than enough bread, But I perish
• 1:14:10
  Speaker 2: here with hunger. I will arise and go to my father,
• 1:14:15
  Speaker 2: and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned
• 1:14:19
  Speaker 2: against Heaven, and before you I am no longer worthy
• 1:14:24
  Speaker 2: to be called your son. Treat me as one of
• 1:14:28
  Speaker 2: your hired servants. The prodigal son's desperation drove him back
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 2: to his father in humility. He would have been happy
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 2: to be treated as a mere servant, just to be
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 2: back in the safety, comfort and provision of his father's care.
• 1:14:48
  Speaker 2: But this loving father had more in store for his
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 2: son when he returned, because the loss of half of
• 1:14:55
  Speaker 2: his estate was nothing compared to what appeared to be
• 1:14:59
  Speaker 2: the loss of his beloved son. Jesus tells of this
• 1:15:05
  Speaker 2: father's welcome in verse twenty, saying, but while he was
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 2: still a long way off, his father saw him and
• 1:15:14
  Speaker 2: felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 2: What does it feel like to be truly found? When
• 1:15:27
  Speaker 2: we are lost, isolated, and lonely, it can appear like
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 2: no one knows or cares about us. But all that
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 2: changes when we are truly found by God. The deepest
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 2: longing of our souls can only really be satisfied in
• 1:15:46
  Speaker 2: the loving arms of our Father in Heaven. Imagine the
• 1:15:52
  Speaker 2: look in the father's eyes, who does not judge you,
• 1:15:57
  Speaker 2: does not condemn you, and not turn his back on you,
• 1:16:02
  Speaker 2: but instead runs to meet you. From alienation to unconditional acceptance,
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 2: from utter shame to tender affection, you land in the
• 1:16:17
  Speaker 2: Father's arms, and you are finally home. As if that
• 1:16:22
  Speaker 2: wasn't enough, the father commanded the very servants his son
• 1:16:27
  Speaker 2: had planned to join, saying, bring quickly the best robe
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 2: and put it on him, and put a ring on
• 1:16:34
  Speaker 2: his hand, and shoes on his feet, and bring the
• 1:16:38
  Speaker 2: fat and calf and kill it, and let us eat
• 1:16:41
  Speaker 2: and celebrate. For this, my son was dead and is
• 1:16:46
  Speaker 2: alive again. He was lost and is found. The entire
• 1:16:53
  Speaker 2: household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing, and feasts.
• 1:17:00
  Speaker 2: When the son returned, he was adorned with clothing and
• 1:17:05
  Speaker 2: jewelry that identified him with the people who loved him most,
• 1:17:10
  Speaker 2: his true family. He did not have to beg He
• 1:17:15
  Speaker 2: was lavish with every blessing, and likewise God celebrated with
• 1:17:21
  Speaker 2: the whole host of heaven when he found you. The
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 2: story of the prodigal son is one of redemption because
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 2: of the father's unconditional love, but it's also the story
• 1:17:36
  Speaker 2: of how Jesus made a way for you to be
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 2: reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus left his heavenly
• 1:17:45
  Speaker 2: home to join you here on earth, and then he
• 1:17:50
  Speaker 2: was truly lost when he was forsaken on the cross.
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 2: Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is guaranteed by the
• 1:18:02
  Speaker 2: blood that Jesus shed when he became the prodigal for
• 1:18:06
  Speaker 2: your sake. This is how much our father in Heaven
• 1:18:10
  Speaker 2: loves you. These are the lengths he went to so
• 1:18:14
  Speaker 2: that you could be found in him. You are embraced
• 1:18:20
  Speaker 2: and you are celebrated. You are home. Now imagine yourself
• 1:18:27
  Speaker 2: back on that beautiful estate, a foreshadow of heaven, where
• 1:18:33
  Speaker 2: you are safe, loved, and have all you could ever ask,
• 1:18:38
  Speaker 2: hope or imagine this time, Jesus is walking with you,
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 2: your brother, your savior, your friend. You are part of
• 1:18:51
  Speaker 2: a family that will never leave you or forsake you.
• 1:18:55
  Speaker 2: You belong there in your father's house, in room that
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 2: he is provided a comfortable place to drift off to
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 2: sleep without a single concern, care, or worry, because he
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 2: holds these things and you in the palm of his
• 1:19:14
  Speaker 2: mighty hand. As you now lie in the safety, comfort
• 1:19:20
  Speaker 2: and care of the Father, allow yourself to embrace and
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 2: appreciate anew all that he has done for you. Rest
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 2: in that blessing and let his presence usher you into
• 1:19:35
  Speaker 2: a deep, tranqu will sleep. Let your thoughts continue to
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 2: drift off into the serene places of his heavenly dwelling.
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 2: As we close in prayer, Dear Father, thank you for
• 1:19:51
  Speaker 2: welcoming me into your home with open arms. I once
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 2: lived in darkness and confusion, a far off from your love,
• 1:20:02
  Speaker 2: but you called me home. Now I abide in you,
• 1:20:07
  Speaker 2: where your spirit consumes me, and sleep comes easily. In
• 1:20:13
  Speaker 2: the precious name of Jesus Christ.
• 1:20:17
  Speaker 1: Amen.
• 1:20:34
  Speaker 2: Right now you can relax completely as we experience the
• 1:20:39
  Speaker 2: love of God who rescues his lost children. Take a
• 1:20:44
  Speaker 2: deep breath and hold it for a few moments. Now exhale,
• 1:20:55
  Speaker 2: Let go of every thought and concern you've had throughout
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 2: the day, and replace them one by one with the
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 2: peace of Jesus Christ. He fills you, He protects you,
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 2: He surrounds you and keeps you. He wants the best
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 2: for you, and has given you the gift of sleep
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 2: in this moment so that you may fully experience his
• 1:21:24
  Speaker 2: supernatural rest. Once you were lost in confusion, darkness, and discomfort.
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 2: But now you are found in His love and in
• 1:21:36
  Speaker 2: his light. You are safe and free to gently drift
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 2: off to sleep as we open in prayer, good and
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 2: caring Father, thank you for all that you have provided
• 1:21:53
  Speaker 2: for me. Your careful attention to my life assures me
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 2: that I am loved by you, and I can be
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 2: still in your presence. Lord, I pray that you help
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 2: me now to find the peace that surpasses all understanding.
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 2: As your calm overtakes me, I release to you all
• 1:22:16
  Speaker 2: of my worries and distractions and receive the blessing of
• 1:22:21
  Speaker 2: your inheritance and provision. I trust in your good plan
• 1:22:27
  Speaker 2: for my life, and pray that you help me to
• 1:22:30
  Speaker 2: meditate on your goodness and faithfulness as I fall asleep
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 2: and dream. Imagine that you are the child of a
• 1:22:41
  Speaker 2: very wealthy family. You live in an extraordinary home that
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 2: sprawls across vast property with acres of forests, fruit trees, wildlife,
• 1:22:55
  Speaker 2: and meandering streams. Picture yourself walking through lush gardens of
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 2: carefully manicured hedges and filled with colorful flowers. As the
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 2: sun sinks to the horizon, it casts a deep golden
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 2: hue against sculptures and fountains that trickle over moss covered
• 1:23:17
  Speaker 2: stones into shallow pools of cool, clear water. The savory
• 1:23:24
  Speaker 2: scents of dinner drift towards you as you move slowly
• 1:23:28
  Speaker 2: back toward the house for an evening feast. The presence
• 1:23:33
  Speaker 2: of God surrounds you and lets you know that even
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 2: beyond all of these earthly blessings, He is there. After dinner,
• 1:23:44
  Speaker 2: with your stomach full and your eyes heavy with sleep,
• 1:23:48
  Speaker 2: you tuck into your soft bed. Your body nestles into
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 2: the blankets as quiet waves of rest wash over you
• 1:23:59
  Speaker 2: until you are in a deep sleep. The story of
• 1:24:06
  Speaker 2: the Prodigal Son starts out with a similar scene and
• 1:24:11
  Speaker 2: a similar person like you, enjoying all of the benefits
• 1:24:16
  Speaker 2: of his father's provision. Jesus tells this parable in Luke
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 2: chapter fifteen, verse eleven, that begins there was a man
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 2: who had two sons, and the younger of them said
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 2: to his father, father, give me the share of property
• 1:24:35
  Speaker 2: that is coming to me, and he divided his property
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 2: between them. This generous and loving father did not want
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 2: to see his son leave, but granted this wish, giving
• 1:24:50
  Speaker 2: the son half of the estate and let him go.
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 2: It appeared that, in spite of the life the son
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 2: lived on his father's estate, he thought he might find
• 1:25:01
  Speaker 2: greater happiness elsewhere. So he gathered all he had and
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 2: traveled far away from his father. But it didn't go
• 1:25:10
  Speaker 2: as he had hoped. Not long after his departure, he
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 2: spends everything, and a severe famine ensured that it would
• 1:25:20
  Speaker 2: only get worse. In verse fifteen, Jesus goes on to
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 2: tell of the son's desperate attempts to redeem himself, saying,
• 1:25:31
  Speaker 2: so he went and hired himself out to one of
• 1:25:33
  Speaker 2: the citizens of that country, who sent him into the
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 2: fields to feed pigs, And he was longing to be
• 1:25:41
  Speaker 2: fed with the paws that the pigs ate, and no
• 1:25:44
  Speaker 2: one gave him anything. The atmosphere of his life has
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 2: now gone from savory and rich to stale and rotten.
• 1:25:56
  Speaker 2: As the son experiences complete destitution. He lives among pigs,
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 2: uneble to eat even as well as they do, begging
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 2: for food that never comes. He longs for the not
• 1:26:13
  Speaker 2: so distant past of his father's house, where he was safe, comfortable, full,
• 1:26:20
  Speaker 2: and in need of nothing. He did not realize how
• 1:26:26
  Speaker 2: much he needed the love and care of his father
• 1:26:30
  Speaker 2: until it was gone. Imagine the loneliness he must have
• 1:26:35
  Speaker 2: felt among the pigs as he begged for help and
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 2: no one came to his rescue. Perhaps you have felt
• 1:26:44
  Speaker 2: alone in moments, even because of decisions you've made. It
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 2: seems that no one truly knows what you're experiencing, and
• 1:26:54
  Speaker 2: that help is nowhere to be found. This place of
• 1:26:59
  Speaker 2: loneliness can be one of the most difficult but valuable
• 1:27:03
  Speaker 2: moments we may experience, as it forces us to depend
• 1:27:07
  Speaker 2: on our father in Heaven like we never have before.
• 1:27:13
  Speaker 2: Consider the hope the son began to feel as he
• 1:27:16
  Speaker 2: thought about returning to his father's home. Jesus tells us
• 1:27:21
  Speaker 2: about this moment, saying, but when he came to himself,
• 1:27:25
  Speaker 2: he said, how many of my father's hired servants have
• 1:27:29
  Speaker 2: more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger.
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 2: I will arise and go to my father, and I
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 2: will say to him, Father, I have sinned against Heaven,
• 1:27:42
  Speaker 2: and before you I am no longer worthy to be
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 2: called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 2: The prodigal son's desperation drove him back to his father
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 2: in humility. He would happy to be treated as a
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 2: mere servant just to be back in the safety, comfort
• 1:28:06
  Speaker 2: and provision of his father's care. But this loving father
• 1:28:11
  Speaker 2: had more in store for his son when he returned,
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 2: because the loss of half of his estate was nothing
• 1:28:19
  Speaker 2: compared to what appeared to be the loss of his
• 1:28:23
  Speaker 2: beloved son. Jesus tells of this father's welcome in verse twenty, saying,
• 1:28:30
  Speaker 2: but while he was still a long way off, his
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 2: father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 2: him and kissed him. What does it feel like to
• 1:28:45
  Speaker 2: be truly found? When we are lost, isolated, and lonely,
• 1:28:53
  Speaker 2: it can appear like no one knows or cares about us,
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 2: But all that changes we are truly found by God.
• 1:29:03
  Speaker 2: The deepest longing of our souls can only really be
• 1:29:07
  Speaker 2: satisfied in the loving arms of our Father in heaven.
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 2: Imagine the look in the father's eyes, who does not
• 1:29:17
  Speaker 2: judge you, does not condemn you, and does not turn
• 1:29:22
  Speaker 2: his back on you, but instead runs to meet you.
• 1:29:28
  Speaker 2: From alienation to unconditional acceptance, from utter shame to tender affection,
• 1:29:38
  Speaker 2: you land in the Father's arms, and you are finally home.
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 2: As if that wasn't enough, the father commanded the very
• 1:29:48
  Speaker 2: servants his son had planned to join, saying, bring quickly
• 1:29:52
  Speaker 2: the best robe and put it on him, and put
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 2: a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 2: Bring the fat and calf and kill it, and let
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 2: us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead
• 1:30:08
  Speaker 2: and is alive again. He was lost and is found.
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 2: The entire household stopped everything to celebrate with singing, dancing,
• 1:30:21
  Speaker 2: and feasting. When the son returned, he was adorned with
• 1:30:26
  Speaker 2: clothing and jewelry that identified him with the people who
• 1:30:30
  Speaker 2: loved him most, his true family. He did not have
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 2: to beg He was lavished with every blessing, and likewise
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 2: God celebrated with the whole host of heaven when he
• 1:30:46
  Speaker 2: found you. The story of the prodigal Son is one
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 2: of redemption because of the father's unconditional love, but it's
• 1:30:57
  Speaker 2: also the story of how Jesus made away for you
• 1:31:01
  Speaker 2: to be reconciled to your father in heaven. Jesus left
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 2: his heavenly home to join you here on earth, and
• 1:31:11
  Speaker 2: then he was truly lost when he was forsaken on
• 1:31:15
  Speaker 2: the cross. Your safety, comfort, provision, and care is guaranteed
• 1:31:23
  Speaker 2: by the blood that Jesus shed when he became the
• 1:31:27
  Speaker 2: prodigal for your sake. This is how much our Father
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 2: in heaven loves you. These are the lengths he went
• 1:31:35
  Speaker 2: to so that you could be found in him. You
• 1:31:40
  Speaker 2: are embraced and you are celebrated. You are home. Now
• 1:31:48
  Speaker 2: imagine yourself back on that beautiful estate, a foreshadow of heaven,
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 2: where you are safe, loved, and have all you could
• 1:31:59
  Speaker 2: ever ask, hope, or imagine. This time, Jesus is walking
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 2: with you. Your brother, your savior, your friend. You are
• 1:32:12
  Speaker 2: part of a family that will never leave you or
• 1:32:15
  Speaker 2: forsake you. You belong there in your Father's house, in
• 1:32:20
  Speaker 2: room that he has provided a comfortable place to drift
• 1:32:26
  Speaker 2: off to sleep without a single concern, care, or worry,
• 1:32:32
  Speaker 2: because he holds these things and you in the palm
• 1:32:36
  Speaker 2: of his mighty hand. As you now lie in the safety,
• 1:32:41
  Speaker 2: comfort and care of the Father, allow yourself to embrace
• 1:32:46
  Speaker 2: and appreciate anew all that he has done for you.
• 1:32:52
  Speaker 2: Rest in that blessing, and let his presence usher you
• 1:32:56
  Speaker 2: into a deep drank, will sleep. Let your thoughts continue
• 1:33:02
  Speaker 2: to drift off into the serene places of his heavenly dwelling.
• 1:33:07
  Speaker 2: As we close in prayer, Dear Father, thank you for
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 2: welcoming me into your home with open arms. I once
• 1:33:18
  Speaker 2: lived in darkness and confusion, afar off from your love,
• 1:33:24
  Speaker 2: but you called me home. Now I abide in you,
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 2: where your spirit consumes me and sleep comes easily. In
• 1:33:35
  Speaker 2: the precious name of Jesus Christ.
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 1: Amen, we hope this meditation brought you peace. To listen
• 1:33:44
  Speaker 1: to the full collection of biblical bedtime stories, download the
• 1:33:47
  Speaker 1: Abide app in the iTunes or Google Play Store.