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Bible Stories for Sleep Abide in Mercy Tonight! - Abide Meditation App · Abide Meditation App

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  Speaker 1: Hello, and welcome to the Sleep story from Abide. I'm Melissa,
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  Speaker 1: and I'm so glad you're joining me tonight for our
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  Speaker 1: story titled they will be shown Mercy. When Jesus shared
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  Speaker 1: the Beatitudes, which were a prelude to his sermon on
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  Speaker 1: the Mount, one of the things he said was Blessed
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  Speaker 1: are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. As
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  Speaker 1: I picture Jesus saying these words, I imagined some of
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  Speaker 1: his disciples feeling a bit regretful that they hadn't always
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  Speaker 1: been merciful. Matthew Chapter nineteen, verse thirteen says, then people
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  Speaker 1: brought little children to Jesus for him to place his
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  Speaker 1: hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples
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  Speaker 1: rebuked them. You see, they didn't have the time or
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  Speaker 1: patience for children that day, and they weren't being kind
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  Speaker 1: or merciful to the parents who brought them. However, Jesus
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  Speaker 1: welcomed those precious little ones with open arms. Tonight, I
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  Speaker 1: encourage you to let that imagery bring you great comfort
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  Speaker 1: and joy. As you picture Jesus welcoming the little children,
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  Speaker 1: you can know that he welcomes you as well. Jesus
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  Speaker 1: always has mercy to extend, and I pray that you
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  Speaker 1: will find the love, compassion, and grace that you're seeking tonight.
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  Speaker 1: Now let's hear Jesus's words again as he blessed his
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  Speaker 1: listeners with this beatitude. Blessed are the merciful, where they
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  Speaker 1: will be shown mercy. As you prepare for sleep, please
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  Speaker 1: take a few moments to remove any distractions, turn off
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  Speaker 1: the lights and settle into bed. Allow some time to
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  Speaker 1: be still before the Lord. Perhaps this is the first
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  Speaker 1: quiet moment you've had all day. If so, please lean
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  Speaker 1: into the stillness and calm your mind to receive what
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  Speaker 1: God has for you. Take a nice, deep breath in
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  Speaker 1: and exhale slowly. Do this a few more times. Inhaling
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  Speaker 1: and exhaling, release all stress, worry, and anxiety to the Lord.
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  Speaker 1: If you like, lift your hands as a symbol of
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  Speaker 1: releasing everything to him. Now, invite the Holy Spirit to
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  Speaker 1: be with you. Ask him to cover you and your
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  Speaker 1: household as you sleep. His presence is what you need most,
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  Speaker 1: and when you call on him, he hears you. As
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  Speaker 1: you feel your body relax, begin to release any tension
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  Speaker 1: you're holding. If your forehead is creased with worry, soften
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  Speaker 1: the gaze behind your eyelids and feel your brow loosen.
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  Speaker 1: If you're clenching your teeth, let your mouth fall slightly open.
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  Speaker 1: Gently massage each side of your jaw if that helps
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  Speaker 1: you relax. Roll your shoulders back a few times, feeling
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  Speaker 1: them unwind from head to toe. Let your body release
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  Speaker 1: every bit of tension and stress inhale and exhale. Allow
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  Speaker 1: your breath to find its rhythm, a continuous flow of
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  Speaker 1: oxygen filling your lungs and being released again. If there
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  Speaker 1: are any competing thoughts trying to divert your tension, simply
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  Speaker 1: draw your focus back to Jesus. Allow what you need
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  Speaker 1: to be fully present for this meditation tonight. Let's pray,
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  Speaker 1: Gracious God, please bless this listener with a deep sense
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  Speaker 1: of calm and peace as they settle in for the night.
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  Speaker 1: I pray for your presence to be with them, covering
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  Speaker 1: them like a soft blanket of grace and mercy. Lord,
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  Speaker 1: you know what is going on in their mind and
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  Speaker 1: heart and life. You know exactly what they need to
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  Speaker 1: find peace right now. Please comfort this beloved child with
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  Speaker 1: your tender mercies. As Psalm twenty five, verse six says,
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  Speaker 1: remember your mercy, O Lord and your steadfast love, for
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  Speaker 1: they have been from old. Let your steadfast love and
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  Speaker 1: wordy flow over them as they listen to the wisdom
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  Speaker 1: from Matthew chapter five, the chapter of the Beatitudes. Lord,
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  Speaker 1: open their eyes to see what it means to be merciful.
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  Speaker 1: Give them a willing heart to show mercy and receive it.
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  Speaker 1: Please bless their sleep with beautiful images of grace as
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  Speaker 1: they rest safely in your presence in the precious name
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  Speaker 1: of Jesus. Amen. When seeking the mercy of God, it's
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  Speaker 1: always best to start at the source, As Hebrews chapter four,
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  Speaker 1: verse sixteen says, let us come boldly to the throne
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  Speaker 1: of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,
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  Speaker 1: and we will find grace to help us when we
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  Speaker 1: need it most. Rest in the world words, we will
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  Speaker 1: find grace to help us. The writer of Hebrews didn't
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  Speaker 1: say we might find grace, but we will find grace.
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  Speaker 1: Each time you go boldly to the throne, humbly seeking
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  Speaker 1: the Lord, you will receive mercy and grace right when
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  Speaker 1: you need it most. Oh, what comfort the springs. Knowing
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  Speaker 1: you can approach God with boldness and expectancy. With these
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  Speaker 1: assurances in mind, imagine for a moment they are kneeling
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  Speaker 1: before the throne of God in heaven. His glory fills
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  Speaker 1: the room as you humbly bow at his feet. As
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  Speaker 1: Isaiah wrote about his experience, I saw the Lord sitting
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  Speaker 1: upon a throne high and lifted up, and the train
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  Speaker 1: of his robe filled the temple. Allow this awesome picture
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  Speaker 1: of God to reside in your soul to night, the
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  Speaker 1: Lord sitting upon his throne high and lifted up, the
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  Speaker 1: terrain of his robe filling the temple. Now you might
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  Speaker 1: feel unworthy to be in God's holy presence, but know this,
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  Speaker 1: you are worthy because He's made you worthy. He created
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  Speaker 1: you in his image and loved you so much that
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  Speaker 1: he sent his only son to die for you. In
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  Speaker 1: Christ Jesus, you have been made worthy. There's a worship
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  Speaker 1: song with beautiful lyrics that say, come to the altar.
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  Speaker 1: The Father's arms are open wide. My friend. Let these
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  Speaker 1: words be an invitation for you tonight to come boldly
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  Speaker 1: to the throne room of Grace, the altar of God,
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  Speaker 1: and find mercy. Remember, every time you seek mercy from
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  Speaker 1: God with a humble and repentant heart, he will give it.
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  Speaker 1: If there's anything preventing you from receiving God's mercy. Tonight,
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  Speaker 1: lay it down right now. Imagine you're laying your burdens
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  Speaker 1: at his feet. Look up to the one who loves you.
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  Speaker 1: His face is gentle and kind, his eyes are full
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  Speaker 1: of love, his arms are open wide. The mercy God
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  Speaker 1: lavishes on you might feel undeserved, but it is available
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  Speaker 1: every time you approach his throne, boldly believing he will
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  Speaker 1: give it. Breathe deeply of God's goodness, his favor, his love.
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  Speaker 1: Be reminded of this. There is no condemnation to those
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  Speaker 1: who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according
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  Speaker 1: to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Allow these
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  Speaker 1: merciful words to wash over you. Now, casting away all
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  Speaker 1: thoughts of self condemnation. In Jesus, you are free from
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  Speaker 1: the accusations that come against you. Other people have nothing
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  Speaker 1: to say against you when you remain in the truth
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  Speaker 1: of the Word. The enemy has no accusations to throw
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  Speaker 1: at you. When you're clothed in the righteousness of Christ,
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  Speaker 1: you are free to walk in the Spirit and experience peace, joy, goodness,
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  Speaker 1: and mercy. Now, if you find it difficult to show mercy,
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  Speaker 1: it could be because you're relying on your own strength.
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  Speaker 1: But remember, at some point our strength fails us. When
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  Speaker 1: Jesus said be merciful as your Father is merciful, he
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  Speaker 1: knew it was only by the Father's help that people
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  Speaker 1: would be able to show mercy. His words point us
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  Speaker 1: to the source of all mercy, God, the Father. Lord,
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  Speaker 1: we look to you tonight as the giver of mercy.
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  Speaker 1: In our own strength we fail, but in You we
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  Speaker 1: have all we need to show mercy to others. Please
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  Speaker 1: lead this listener to be fully dependent on you and
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  Speaker 1: fully reliant on your strength. Whatever hardships they're carrying, Lord,
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  Speaker 1: help them unload their burdens on you. If they're harboring
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  Speaker 1: any bitterness, unforgiveness, or resentment, please lift it from their
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  Speaker 1: heart tonight. Like a father who carries a heavy suitcase
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  Speaker 1: for their child, Please be the carrier of the heaviness
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  Speaker 1: they're trying to bear. Most of all, please help this
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  Speaker 1: child find peace in Jesus tonight, receiving mercy and being
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  Speaker 1: strengthened to show mercy to others. In His name, we
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  Speaker 1: pray Amen. In Psalm fifty one, David prayed, have mercy
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  Speaker 1: on me, O, God, according to your unfailing love. According
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  Speaker 1: to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away
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  Speaker 1: all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse
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  Speaker 1: me with hissap, and I will be clean. Wash me,
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  Speaker 1: and I will be whiter than snow, My friend. The
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  Speaker 1: starting point of mercy is the recognition that we are
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  Speaker 1: in great need of it ourselves. According to God's unfeeling
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  Speaker 1: love and great compassion for us, he sent the most
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  Speaker 1: lavish gift of mercy we could ever receive, in the
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  Speaker 1: form of his son. Romans five, verse eight says, but
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  Speaker 1: God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While
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  Speaker 1: we were sinners, Christ died for us. This, my friend,
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  Speaker 1: is the perfect example of mercy. God's love, holy and complete,
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  Speaker 1: was demonstrated through the greatest act of mercy ever to
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  Speaker 1: be displayed, Christ's death in our place. Allow the magnitude
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  Speaker 1: of God's mercy to fill you to the full tonight.
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  Speaker 1: The Lord is mercy and gracious, long suffering and abounding
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  Speaker 1: in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands. All the
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  Speaker 1: paths of the Lord are mercy and truth, to such
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  Speaker 1: as keep his covenant and his testimonies. The Lord is
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  Speaker 1: gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger, and great
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  Speaker 1: in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and his
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  Speaker 1: tender mercies are over all his works. Holy God, Please
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  Speaker 1: let the words of your truth sink deeply into the
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  Speaker 1: heart of this listener tonight. Let them recall with great
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  Speaker 1: joy the mercy you have bestowed on them. Help them
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  Speaker 1: grasp the abundance of your grace, the continued faithfulness you've
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  Speaker 1: shown through your unfailing love and limitless compassion. Please, Lord,
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  Speaker 1: help this child feel the immensity of your love and
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  Speaker 1: experience your tender mercies anew in the precious name of
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  Speaker 1: Jesus Amen. According to Noah Webster's American Dictionary, written in
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  Speaker 1: eighteen twenty eight, mercy is defined as the benevolence, mildness
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  Speaker 1: or tenderness of heart, which disposes a person to overlook
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  Speaker 1: injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves. First,
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  Speaker 1: we hear the word benevolence in the simplest of terms.
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  Speaker 1: It means to do good, showing mercy as an act
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  Speaker 1: of goodness, a choice to do good to others. Next,
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  Speaker 1: the definition means mildness or tenderness of heart. You probably
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  Speaker 1: know someone who's mild tempered and tender hearted. It's likely
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  Speaker 1: their sensitive, compassionate, and kind. Of course, it's one thing
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  Speaker 1: to have a tender heart, but quite another to overlook offenses.
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  Speaker 1: According to Webster's Dictionary, mercy disposes a person to overlook
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  Speaker 1: injuries or to treat an offender better than he deserves.
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  Speaker 1: As we all know, overlooking an offense is much easier
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  Speaker 1: said than done. Even the most tender hearted people might
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  Speaker 1: struggle to show mercy to those who've hurt them. After all,
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  Speaker 1: it's part of our human nature to keep a record
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  Speaker 1: of wrongs. Tonight, I encourage you to release your record
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  Speaker 1: of wrongs in exchange for love. As First Corinthians chapter
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  Speaker 1: thirteen reminds us, love is patient, love is kind. It
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  Speaker 1: keeps no record of wrongs. Take these words to heart,
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  Speaker 1: allowing God's love to flow through you, pushing out any
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  Speaker 1: harborance of bitterness or resentment. Jesus said, blessed are the merciful,
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  Speaker 1: for they will be shown mercy. His promise was true
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  Speaker 1: for the listeners on the mountain side, and it's true
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  Speaker 1: for you today. You will be shown mercy when you
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  Speaker 1: are merciful to others. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow
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  Speaker 1: through you with power, so you can offer mercy even
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  Speaker 1: when it's undeserved. How wonderful it feels to finally let
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  Speaker 1: go and be free from all that's contrary to forgiveness.
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  Speaker 1: How liberating it is to walk in mercy instead of condemnation.
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  Speaker 1: What a blessing it is to know your walking in
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  Speaker 1: the freedom Jesus provided when he took your sin and
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  Speaker 1: shame to the cross. Continue to rest in the freedom
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  Speaker 1: you have in Christ, as I pray over you, Heavenly Father,
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  Speaker 1: you are rich in mercy and we are in desperate
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  Speaker 1: need of your riches. Please help this beloved child open
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  Speaker 1: the treasure chest of mercy and grease tonight as they
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  Speaker 1: gaze at the splendor of your heavenly riches. Help them
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  Speaker 1: grasp the immense value of receiving your mercy and offering
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  Speaker 1: it to others. Fill their heart with the wealth of
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  Speaker 1: your love, so much so that they will overflow with
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  Speaker 1: the jewels of your grace. Lord, Please speak to this
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  Speaker 1: beloved child tonight in whatever place they're in, and tenderize
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  Speaker 1: their heart toward benevolence, doing good even when they don't
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  Speaker 1: feel like it. As they sleep, Please bless them with
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  Speaker 1: a renewal of peace, a touch of comfort and a
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  Speaker 1: blessing of deep rest in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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  Speaker 1: There's a beautiful description of mercy found in Matthew nine,
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  Speaker 1: verses ten through thirteen. Here we find Jesus reclining at
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  Speaker 1: a table in the home of a tax collector named Matthew.
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  Speaker 1: The Bible says when the Pharisees saw this, they asked
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  Speaker 1: his disciples, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
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  Speaker 1: and sinners. On hearing this, Jesus said, it is not
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  Speaker 1: the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But
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  Speaker 1: go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
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  Speaker 1: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
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  Speaker 1: Jesus was so willing to reach out to the unlovable
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  Speaker 1: in society, he didn't let the pressures of the Pharisees
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  Speaker 1: dissuade him from carrying out his purpose saving the lost.
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  Speaker 1: As the great physician. It is Jesus who forgives all
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  Speaker 1: your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your
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  Speaker 1: life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love
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  Speaker 1: and mercy. Receive the healing Jesus brings to your life
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  Speaker 1: today from the inside out. He heals every broken part
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  Speaker 1: of you and crowns you with love and mercy. Lord Jesus,
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  Speaker 1: be the gentle healer in the life of this child tonight,
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  Speaker 1: as a healing balm of mercy, wash their wounds and
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  Speaker 1: bandage their hearts, restore every part of them their hearts, minds, bodies,
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  Speaker 1: and souls. Thank you for reaching out to the lost,
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  Speaker 1: and for extending your hand of salvation to us and
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  Speaker 1: your precious name. Amen. There's an old Shakespearean poem that says,
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  Speaker 1: the quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth us
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  Speaker 1: the gentle reign from heaven upon the place beneath. It
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  Speaker 1: is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives, and him
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  Speaker 1: that takes God's mercy, does bless the one who gives it.
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  Speaker 1: Of this you can be sure. Tewod Corinthians, chapter one,
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  Speaker 1: verses three and four says, bless it be the God
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  Speaker 1: and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of
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  Speaker 1: mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in
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  Speaker 1: all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
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  Speaker 1: those who are in any trouble with the comfort with
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  Speaker 1: which we ourselves are comforted by God. My friend, your
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  Speaker 1: Father of mercies and God of all comfort, pours into
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  Speaker 1: you so that you can pour out to others. This
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  Speaker 1: continual flow of mercy filters out the toxic thoughts and
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  Speaker 1: beliefs you've held on to for far too long and
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  Speaker 1: replaces them with peace and healing. Mercy begins to come
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  Speaker 1: easily to you and is passed on to others through
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  Speaker 1: the overflow of comfort you've received from the Father. Oh,
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  Speaker 1: come to the Father. His arms are open wide. Come
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  Speaker 1: to the Throne of Grace and find favor. The weeping
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  Speaker 1: may last for a night. Joy comes in the morning.
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  Speaker 1: Let the endless mercy of God bring you to a
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  Speaker 1: place of fullness and joy. Rest contentedly in the comfort
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  Speaker 1: you've received from your heavenly Father. He is with you,
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  Speaker 1: He loves you, He bestows mercy upon you. The invitation
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  Speaker 1: is on go, an invitation to the throne room of
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  Speaker 1: his love. Nothing separates you from entering the Holy of
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  Speaker 1: Holies and bowing at his feet. Blessed are the merciful,
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  Speaker 1: for they will be shown. Mercy, benevolence, and compassion are
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  Speaker 1: your friends in this life. They are faithful companions that
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  Speaker 1: come with a promise the promise of God's mercy. Let
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  Speaker 1: these companions walk with you always as you show mercy
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  Speaker 1: to others. Gracious God, as the listener sleeps peacefully in
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  Speaker 1: your presence, please continue to surround them with a sense
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  Speaker 1: of inner joy and peace. Please hold them in your
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  Speaker 1: tender arms of mercy, renewing their minds with thoughts of
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  Speaker 1: your good, pleasing and perfect will receive the infilling of
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  Speaker 1: your mercy so that they will overflow with tender compassion
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  Speaker 1: for others. Thank you for loving them, comforting them, and
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  Speaker 1: showing them your mercies each new day. In Jesus' name. Amen,
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  Speaker 1: thank you for joining me on this journey tonight discovering
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  Speaker 1: the true nature of God's mercy and what it means
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  Speaker 1: to be merciful. May God continue to bless you as
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  Speaker 1: you sleep. I pray this has been a time of
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  Speaker 1: comfort and peace for you. I hope you've been moved
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  Speaker 1: by Jesus's words. Blessed are the merciful where they will
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  Speaker 1: be shown mercy. Most of all, I pray this sleep
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  Speaker 1: story has drawn you closer to God and his word
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  Speaker 1: with a renewed sense of joy in his presence. Let's
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  Speaker 1: listen again to the sleep story about the abundant mercy
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  Speaker 1: of God. When seeking the mercy of God, it's always
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: best to start at the source. As Hebrews chapter four,
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: verse sixteen says, let us come boldly to the throne
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,
• 27:32
  Speaker 1: and we will find grace to help us when we
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  Speaker 1: need it most. Rest in the words, we will find
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  Speaker 1: grace to help us. The writer of Hebrews didn't say
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  Speaker 1: we might find grace, but we will find grace. Each
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  Speaker 1: time you go boldly to the throne, humbly seeking the Lord,
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  Speaker 1: you will receive mercy and grace. Write when you need
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  Speaker 1: it most. Oh, what comfort the springs knowing you can
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  Speaker 1: approach God with boldness and expectancy. With these assurances in mind.
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  Speaker 1: Imagine for a moment they are kneeling before the throne
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  Speaker 1: of God in heaven. His glory fills the room as
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  Speaker 1: you humbly bow at his feet. As Isaiah wrote about
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: his experience, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne
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  Speaker 1: high and lifted up, and the train of his robe
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  Speaker 1: filled the temple. Allow this awesome picture of God to
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: reside in your soul tonight. The Lord sitting upon his
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  Speaker 1: throne high and lifted up the terrain of his robe
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  Speaker 1: filling the temple. Now you might feel unworthy to be
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  Speaker 1: in God's holy presence, but know this, you are worthy
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  Speaker 1: because He's made you worthy. He created you in his
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  Speaker 1: image and loved you so much that he sent his
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  Speaker 1: only son to die for you. In Christ Jesus, you
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  Speaker 1: have been made worthy. There's a worship song with beautiful
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  Speaker 1: lyrics that say, come to the altar. The Father's arms
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  Speaker 1: are open wide. My friend. Let these words be an
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  Speaker 1: invitation for you tonight to come boldly to the throne
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  Speaker 1: room of grace, the altar of God, and find mercy. Remember,
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  Speaker 1: every time you seek mercy from God with a humble
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  Speaker 1: and repentant heart, he will give it. If there's anything
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  Speaker 1: preventing you from receiving God's mercy, tonight, lay it down
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  Speaker 1: right now. Imagine you're laying your burdens at his feet.
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  Speaker 1: Look up to the one who loves you. His face
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: is gentle and kind, his eyes are full of love.
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: His arms are open wide. The mercy God lavishes on
• 30:49
  Speaker 1: You might feel undeserved, but it is available every time
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: you approach his throne boldly believing he will it. Breathe
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: deeply of God's goodness, his favor, his love. Be reminded
• 31:13
  Speaker 1: of this. There is no condemnation to those who are
• 31:17
  Speaker 1: in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh,
• 31:22
  Speaker 1: but according to the Spirit. Allow these merciful words to
• 31:27
  Speaker 1: wash over you now, casting away all thoughts of self condemnation.
• 31:36
  Speaker 1: In Jesus, you are free from the accusations that come
• 31:40
  Speaker 1: against you. Other people have nothing to say against you
• 31:47
  Speaker 1: when you remain in the truth of the Word. The
• 31:50
  Speaker 1: enemy has no accusations to throw at you. When you're
• 31:54
  Speaker 1: clothed in the righteousness of Christ, you are free to
• 32:01
  Speaker 1: walk in the Spirit and experience peace, joy, goodness, and mercy. Now,
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: if you find it difficult to show mercy, it could
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: be because you're relying on your own strength. But remember,
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: at some point our strength fails us. When Jesus said,
• 32:28
  Speaker 1: be merciful as your Father is merciful, he knew it
• 32:32
  Speaker 1: was only by the Father's help that people would be
• 32:35
  Speaker 1: able to show mercy. His words point us to the
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: source of all mercy, God, the Father. Lord. We look
• 32:49
  Speaker 1: to you tonight as the giver of mercy. In our
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: own strength we fail, but in You we have all
• 32:57
  Speaker 1: we need to show mercy to others. Please lead this
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  Speaker 1: listener to be fully dependent on you and fully reliant
• 33:08
  Speaker 1: on your strength. Whatever hardships they're carrying, Lord, help them
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: unload their burdens on you. If they're harboring any bitterness, unforgiveness,
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: or resentment, please lift it from their heart tonight. Like
• 33:32
  Speaker 1: a father who carries a heavy suitcase for their child,
• 33:36
  Speaker 1: Please be the carrier of the heaviness they're trying to bear.
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: Most of all, Please help this child find peace in
• 33:47
  Speaker 1: Jesus tonight, receiving mercy and being strengthened to show mercy
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: to others. In His name, we pray Amen. In Psalm
• 34:03
  Speaker 1: fifty one, David prayed, have mercy on me, O, God,
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion,
• 34:14
  Speaker 1: Blot out my transgressions, Wash away all my iniquity, and
• 34:19
  Speaker 1: cleanse me from my sin. Cleanse me with hissop and
• 34:24
  Speaker 1: I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: whiter than snow. My friend. The starting point of mercy
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: is the recognition that we are in great need of
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: it ourselves. According to God's unfailing love and great compassion
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: for us, he sent the most lavish gift of mercy
• 34:50
  Speaker 1: we could ever receive in the form of his son.
• 34:58
  Speaker 1: Romans five, verse eight said, but God demonstrates his own
• 35:03
  Speaker 1: love for us in this. While we were sinners, Christ
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: died for us. This, my friend, is the perfect example
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: of mercy. God's love, holy and complete, was demonstrated through
• 35:22
  Speaker 1: the greatest act of mercy ever to be displayed, Christ's
• 35:27
  Speaker 1: death in our place. Allow the magnitude of God's mercy
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: to fill you to the full tonight. The Lord is
• 35:40
  Speaker 1: merciful and gracious, long suffering and abounding in goodness and truth,
• 35:48
  Speaker 1: keeping mercy for thousands. All the paths of the Lord
• 35:55
  Speaker 1: are mercy and truth, to such as keep his covenant
• 35:59
  Speaker 1: and his test to monies. The Lord is gracious and
• 36:06
  Speaker 1: full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy.
• 36:11
  Speaker 1: The Lord is good to all, and his tender mercies
• 36:15
  Speaker 1: are over all his works. Holy God, Please let the
• 36:21
  Speaker 1: words of your truth sink deeply into the heart of
• 36:24
  Speaker 1: this listener tonight. Let them recall with great joy the
• 36:29
  Speaker 1: mercy you have bestowed on them. Help them grasp the
• 36:35
  Speaker 1: abundance of your grace, the continued faithfulness you've shown through
• 36:39
  Speaker 1: your unfailing love and limitless compassion. Please Lord, help this
• 36:48
  Speaker 1: child feel the immensity of your love and experience your
• 36:52
  Speaker 1: tender mercies anew in the precious name of Jesus Amen.
• 37:01
  Speaker 1: According to Noah Webster's American Dictionary, written in eighteen twenty eight,
• 37:07
  Speaker 1: mercy is defined as the benevolence, mildness, or tenderness of heart,
• 37:14
  Speaker 1: which disposes a person to overlook injuries or to treat
• 37:18
  Speaker 1: an offender better than he deserves. First, we hear the
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: word benevolence in the simplest of terms, It means to
• 37:29
  Speaker 1: do good. Showing mercy is an act of goodness, a
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: choice to do good to others. Next, the definition means
• 37:43
  Speaker 1: mildness or tenderness of heart. You probably know someone who's
• 37:48
  Speaker 1: mild tempered and tender hearted. It's likely they're sensitive, compassionate,
• 37:53
  Speaker 1: and kind. Of course, it's one thing to have a
• 37:59
  Speaker 1: tender heart, but quite another to overlook offenses. According to
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: Webster's Dictionary, mercy disposes a person to overlook injuries or
• 38:12
  Speaker 1: to treat an offender better than he deserves. As we
• 38:17
  Speaker 1: all know, overlooking an offense is much easier said than done.
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: Even the most tender hearted people might struggle to show
• 38:26
  Speaker 1: mercy to those who've hurt them. After all, it's part
• 38:31
  Speaker 1: of our human nature to keep a record of wrongs. Tonight,
• 38:36
  Speaker 1: I encourage you to release your record of wrongs in
• 38:39
  Speaker 1: exchange for love. As First Corinthians chapter thirteen reminds us,
• 38:45
  Speaker 1: love is patient, love is kind, It keeps no record
• 38:50
  Speaker 1: of wrongs. Take these words to heart, allowing God's love
• 38:57
  Speaker 1: to flow through you, pushing out any heart arbance of
• 39:00
  Speaker 1: bitterness or resentment. Jesus said, blessed are the merciful, for
• 39:07
  Speaker 1: they will be shown mercy. His promise was true for
• 39:10
  Speaker 1: the listeners on the mountain side, and it's true for
• 39:14
  Speaker 1: you today. You will be shown mercy when you are
• 39:18
  Speaker 1: merciful to others. Allow the Holy Spirit to flow through
• 39:25
  Speaker 1: you with power, so you can offer mercy even when
• 39:30
  Speaker 1: it's undeserved. How wonderful it feels to finally let go
• 39:37
  Speaker 1: and be free from all that's contrary to forgiveness. How
• 39:43
  Speaker 1: liberating it is to walk in mercy instead of condemnation.
• 39:51
  Speaker 1: What a blessing it is to know your walking in
• 39:53
  Speaker 1: the freedom Jesus provided when he took your sin and
• 39:57
  Speaker 1: shame to the cross. Continue to rest in the freedom
• 40:04
  Speaker 1: you have in Christ. As I pray over you Heavenly Father,
• 40:13
  Speaker 1: you are rich in mercy, and we are in desperate
• 40:17
  Speaker 1: need of your riches. Please help this beloved child open
• 40:22
  Speaker 1: the treasure chest of mercy and grace tonight as they
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: gaze at the splendor of your heavenly riches, help them
• 40:33
  Speaker 1: grasp the immense value of receiving your mercy and offering
• 40:37
  Speaker 1: it to others. Fill their hearts with the wealth of
• 40:42
  Speaker 1: your love, so much so that they will overflow with
• 40:46
  Speaker 1: the jewels of your grace. Lord, Please speak to this
• 40:50
  Speaker 1: beloved child tonight in whatever place they're in, and tenderize
• 40:56
  Speaker 1: their heart toward benevolence, doing good, even when they don't
• 41:00
  Speaker 1: feel like it. As they sleep, please bless them with
• 41:06
  Speaker 1: a renewal of peace, a touch of comfort, and a
• 41:11
  Speaker 1: blessing of deep rest in the name of Jesus. Amen.
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: There's a beautiful description of mercy found in Matthew nine,
• 41:23
  Speaker 1: verses ten through thirteen. Here we find Jesus reclining at
• 41:28
  Speaker 1: a table in the home of a tax collector named Matthew.
• 41:32
  Speaker 1: The Bible says, when the Pharisee saw this, they asked
• 41:36
  Speaker 1: his disciples, why does your teacher eat with tax collectors
• 41:40
  Speaker 1: and sinners? On Hearing this, Jesus said, it is not
• 41:45
  Speaker 1: the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But
• 41:48
  Speaker 1: go and learn what this means. I desire mercy, not sacrifice,
• 41:55
  Speaker 1: for I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
• 42:03
  Speaker 1: Jesus was so willing to reach out to the unlovable
• 42:06
  Speaker 1: in society, he didn't let the pressures of the Pharisees
• 42:12
  Speaker 1: dissuade him from carrying out his purpose saving the lost.
• 42:20
  Speaker 1: As the great physician. It is Jesus who forgives all
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your
• 42:30
  Speaker 1: life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: and mercy. Receive the healing Jesus brings to your life
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: today from the inside out. He heals every broken part
• 42:49
  Speaker 1: of you and crowns you with love and mercy. Lord Jesus,
• 42:57
  Speaker 1: be the gentle healer in the life of this child
• 43:01
  Speaker 1: tonight as a healing balm of mercy. Wash their wounds
• 43:08
  Speaker 1: and bandage their hearts. Restore every part of them their hearts, minds, bodies,
• 43:17
  Speaker 1: and souls. Thank you for reaching out to the lost,
• 43:24
  Speaker 1: and for extending your hand of salvation to us, and
• 43:28
  Speaker 1: your precious name Amen. There's an old Shakespearean poem that says,
• 43:38
  Speaker 1: the quality of mercy is not strained. It droppeth us
• 43:43
  Speaker 1: the gentle rain from Heaven upon the place beneath. It
• 43:47
  Speaker 1: is twice blessed. It blesseth him that gives, and him
• 43:53
  Speaker 1: that takes God's mercy. Does bless the one who gives?
• 44:00
  Speaker 1: Of this, you can be sure Tewod Corinthians Chapter one,
• 44:07
  Speaker 1: verses three and four says, bless it be the God
• 44:11
  Speaker 1: and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of
• 44:14
  Speaker 1: mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in
• 44:19
  Speaker 1: all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort
• 44:22
  Speaker 1: those who are in any trouble with the comfort with
• 44:25
  Speaker 1: which we ourselves are comforted by God, my friend, your
• 44:33
  Speaker 1: Father of mercies and God of all Comfort, pours into
• 44:36
  Speaker 1: you so that you can pour out to others. This
• 44:42
  Speaker 1: continual flow of mercy filters out the toxic thoughts and
• 44:45
  Speaker 1: beliefs you've held on too for far too long, and
• 44:49
  Speaker 1: replaces them with peace and healing. Mercy begins to come
• 44:55
  Speaker 1: easily to you and is passed on to others through
• 44:58
  Speaker 1: the overflow of comfort. You've seen from the Father, Oh,
• 45:02
  Speaker 1: come to the Father his arms are open wide. Come
• 45:07
  Speaker 1: to the Throne of Grace and find favor. The weeping
• 45:12
  Speaker 1: may last for a night. Joy comes in the morning.
• 45:18
  Speaker 1: Let the endless mercy of God bring you to a
• 45:20
  Speaker 1: place of fullness and joy. Rest contentedly in the comfort
• 45:27
  Speaker 1: you've received from your heavenly Father. He is with you,
• 45:33
  Speaker 1: He loves you, He bestows mercy upon you. The invitation
• 45:40
  Speaker 1: is ongoing, an invitation to the throne room of His love.
• 45:46
  Speaker 1: Nothing separates you from entering the Holy of Holies and
• 45:50
  Speaker 1: bowing at his feet. Blessed are the merciful, where they
• 45:56
  Speaker 1: will be shown. Mercy, benevoless, and compassion are your friends
• 46:02
  Speaker 1: in this life. They are faithful companions that come with
• 46:06
  Speaker 1: a promise, the promise of God's mercy. Let these companions
• 46:14
  Speaker 1: walk with you always as you show mercy to others.
• 46:20
  Speaker 1: Gracious God, as the listener sleeps peacefully in your presence,
• 46:26
  Speaker 1: please continue to surround them with a sense of inner
• 46:29
  Speaker 1: joy and peace. Please hold them in your tender arms
• 46:33
  Speaker 1: of mercy, renewing their minds with thoughts of your good,
• 46:37
  Speaker 1: pleasing and perfect will. Let them receive the infilling of
• 46:42
  Speaker 1: your mercy so that they will overflow with tender compassion
• 46:46
  Speaker 1: for others. Thank you for loving them, comforting them, and
• 46:54
  Speaker 1: showing them your mercies each new day. In Jesus's name. Amen,
• 47:03
  Speaker 1: thank you for joining me on this journey tonight discovering
• 47:08
  Speaker 1: the true nature of God's mercy and what it means
• 47:12
  Speaker 1: to be merciful. May God continue to bless you as
• 47:16
  Speaker 1: you sleep. I pray this has been a time of
• 47:22
  Speaker 1: comfort and peace for you. I hope you've been moved
• 47:26
  Speaker 1: by Jesus' words. Blessed are the merciful where they will
• 47:32
  Speaker 1: be shown mercy. Most of all, I pray this sleep
• 47:39
  Speaker 1: story has drawn you closer to God and his word
• 47:43
  Speaker 1: with a renewed sense of joy in his presence. Let's
• 47:50
  Speaker 1: listen again to the sleep story about the abundant mercy
• 47:54
  Speaker 1: of God. When seeking them word of God, it's always
• 48:01
  Speaker 1: best to start at the source, As Hebrews chapter four,
• 48:05
  Speaker 1: verse sixteen says, let us come boldly to the throne
• 48:10
  Speaker 1: of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy,
• 48:15
  Speaker 1: and we will find grace to help us when we
• 48:18
  Speaker 1: need it most rest in the words, we will find
• 48:25
  Speaker 1: grace to help us. The writer of Hebrews didn't say
• 48:33
  Speaker 1: we might find grace, but we will find grace. Each
• 48:41
  Speaker 1: time you go boldly to the throne, humbly seeking the Lord,
• 48:47
  Speaker 1: you will receive mercy and grace. Write when you need
• 48:50
  Speaker 1: it most. Oh what comfort this springs, knowing you can
• 48:57
  Speaker 1: approach God with boldness and expel vacancy with these assurances
• 49:05
  Speaker 1: in mind. Imagine for a moment they are kneeling before
• 49:09
  Speaker 1: the throne of God in heaven. His glory fills the
• 49:16
  Speaker 1: room as you humbly bow at his feet. As Isaiah
• 49:20
  Speaker 1: wrote about his experience, I saw the Lord sitting upon
• 49:25
  Speaker 1: a throne high and lifted up, and the train of
• 49:30
  Speaker 1: his robe filled the temple. Allow this awesome picture of
• 49:35
  Speaker 1: God to reside in your soul tonight, the Lord sitting
• 49:40
  Speaker 1: upon his throne high and lifted up, the terrain of
• 49:45
  Speaker 1: his robe filling the temple. Now you might feel unworthy
• 49:53
  Speaker 1: to be in God's holy presence, but know this, you
• 49:57
  Speaker 1: are worthy because He he made you worthy. He created
• 50:03
  Speaker 1: you in his image and loved you so much that
• 50:07
  Speaker 1: he sent his only son to die for you. In Christ, Jesus,
• 50:12
  Speaker 1: you have been made worthy. There's a worship song with
• 50:18
  Speaker 1: beautiful lyrics that say, come to the altar. The Father's
• 50:24
  Speaker 1: arms are open. Wide, my friend. Let these words be
• 50:31
  Speaker 1: an invitation for you tonight to come boldly to the throne,
• 50:36
  Speaker 1: room of grace, the altar of God, and find mercy. Remember,
• 50:46
  Speaker 1: every time you seek mercy from God with a humble
• 50:50
  Speaker 1: and repentant heart, he will give it. If there's anything
• 50:59
  Speaker 1: preventing you from receiving God's mercy, tonight lay it down
• 51:03
  Speaker 1: right now. Imagine you're laying your burdens at his feet.
• 51:11
  Speaker 1: Look up to the one who loves you. His face
• 51:18
  Speaker 1: is gentle and kind, his eyes are full of love,
• 51:24
  Speaker 1: his arms are open wide. The mercy God lavishes on
• 51:32
  Speaker 1: you might feel undeserved, but it is available every time
• 51:37
  Speaker 1: you approach his throne boldly believing he will give it.
• 51:45
  Speaker 1: Breathe deeply of God's goodness, his favor, his love. Be
• 51:55
  Speaker 1: reminded of this. There is no condemnation to those who
• 51:59
  Speaker 1: are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to
• 52:03
  Speaker 1: the flesh, but according to the spirit. Allow these merciful
• 52:08
  Speaker 1: words to wash over you now, casting away all thoughts
• 52:14
  Speaker 1: of self condemnation. In Jesus, you are free from the
• 52:21
  Speaker 1: accusations that come against you. Other people have nothing to
• 52:28
  Speaker 1: say against you when you remain in the truth of
• 52:31
  Speaker 1: the word. The enemy has no accusations to throw at you.
• 52:35
  Speaker 1: When you're clothed in the righteousness of Christ, you are
• 52:42
  Speaker 1: free to walk in the spirit and experience peace, joy, goodness,
• 52:48
  Speaker 1: and mercy. Now, if you find it difficult to show mercy,
• 52:56
  Speaker 1: it could be because you're relying on your own strength.
• 53:00
  Speaker 1: But remember, at some point our strength feels us when
• 53:08
  Speaker 1: Jesus said, be merciful as your Father is merciful.