Description
There is nothing better we can do with our anxiety and stress than to bring it to God. This meditation focuses on some h… (visit YouTube for more)
Transcript
In this period of stress and anxiety, we come to the Word of God to meditate and to seek His counsel and His comfort. Whenever we meditate, it’s helpful to make sure we’re comfortable and that we won’t be interrupted. So I recommend putting your phone on do not disturb, closing the door, and doing whatever else you need to do to make sure that for the next 15 minutes or so, It’s just you and God.
Let’s be fully present and ready to spend time with God, grateful for Jesus and listening to the Holy Spirit sent to us to comfort and guide us. From Genesis chapter 2 verse 7, we know that God breathed His breath into our lungs. And so let’s use that breath now to help us to settle.
Three times we’re going to breathe in for 8 seconds and out for 8 seconds. You can follow my voice prompts and the progress bar on screen. Ready?
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
And again, breathe in.
Breathe out.
Last time, breathe in.
And breathe out.
The Word of God is a vast treasure trove, full of important messages from God to us, covering so many facets of life. Before we meditate, Please can I ask you to offer a brief prayer in your head or out loud, thanking God for his word, and telling him you would love to hear and receive from him. I’ll give you a moment to pray.
The first scripture we come to is a lovely verse from Psalm 94. Psalm 94, verse 19.
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
Please repeat that after me, out loud or in your mind. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
And again, repeat after me. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
One last time, more slowly. When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul.
To help guide our meditation, I’m now going to ask two questions for you to answer. I’ll leave the scripture and the questions on screen for you.
The first question is, what are God’s consolations? And when answering this question, it might help to think about all the things God has done to bless you, including giving you your salvation.
The second question: how do God’s consolations cheer your soul?
Our second meditation is a well known pair of verses from Philippians 4. Philippians 4, verses 6 to 7.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Repeat that after me. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Repeat again. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
And last time, slower. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Here’s our first question for meditation, and you may find it helpful to pause the video if you need to make some notes. What petitions, what requests, should you bring to God?
Our second meditation question. How does gratitude to God help us?
Third question. How can God’s peace guard your heart and mind?
Our final meditation scripture comes from the reassuring words of Jesus himself as recorded in John’s Gospel.
John, chapter 14, verse 27. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Please repeat that passage now. Peace I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
And again. Peace, I leave with you. My peace, I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Last time, slowly. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled neither let them be afraid.
We have just the one question to aid our meditation on this verse, and it’s a big one. What makes Jesus’s peace so different?
I’d like to pray for you now.
Lord God, you know the heart and mind of my dear friend. You know everything we need. I ask now that you grant relief from this stress and anxiety.
Lord, I know sometimes you allow these times to endure, and in all things we know you’re working for our good and for your glory. So during this time of stress and anxiety, I ask you to reveal your purposes and bring a real inner knowledge that you are at work and that your purposes can never be thwarted.
We thank you, Jesus, for sending the Holy Spirit as our comforter. I ask now that your Holy Spirit will bring that deep and unassailable peace to your child who waits on you now. Your gift of peace is so precious to us as we walk through troubled and troubling times.
And Father God, we submit to you. You are our King, and we know that we can trust you whatever we go through. Thank you for being our loving Father. Please give your precious child an increasing revelation of your unchanging, steadfast love.
For the kingdom and the power and the glory are yours God. Amen.
We make some space now for you to make your petition to God or simply to rest quietly in his presence as his peace surrounds you.
As this meditation comes to an end, please know that you are eternally safe in God’s hands. He will truly never leave you, nor forsake you. Whatever circumstances you face, you face them with the support of the Creator of the universe.
You can come back to this meditation as many times as you find it helpful. We have an infinite God, and He can show us so many different things in just one verse, that each time is fresh and full of His life.
For now, let me pray one final blessing over you.
Oh, Holy Father, You are so kind and loving, and You walk beside my dear friend today. Please open the eyes of Your child to see wonderful things in Your Word and in this world You have created. May you shower down your abundant peace. We know you bring us safely through every trial until at last we see you face to face.
We love you God. Amen.
