welcome and thanks for meditating with abide for access to over 1500 meditation sessions
download the abide app for free in iTunes or the Google Play Store do you feel the
struggles of the world pressing in at you at times well we live in a unique time in history
and this little book of Jude can help equip us for the untold challenges of living in times of
struggle well the book of Jude was written by Jude a brother of James it's an important book
for us today because it's written for the end times for the end of the church age for
times of struggling he encourages us to fight our faith in times of struggle and how we can
succeed against struggles and spiritual warfare can you relate to that do you have that need do
you feel the struggling times we live in well join me today as we meditate deeply reflect and
pray about fighting through struggles from the 24th and 25th verses of the letter of Jude but
first join me in a time of opening prayer dear sovereign holy God it's hard to even spend a few
minutes on social media and not be reminded of this suffering in the world the struggles and I
need look no further than my own life to see it Romans even tells us that creation groans
under the weight of sin and suffering so I come to you today searching for peace for relief to
make sense of my struggles and it's in the name of Jesus I boldly pray amen so when you're ready
begin your time with the Lord today by softly closing your eyes let this become a safe still
place a place for a few quiet moments take several deep deep breaths right now and in
quiet yourself as he prepares you for time with him and prayer is there oppression and
heavy weight on your heart as you consider the struggles of the world are you anxious about
the world we live in well whisper those concerns to God now in a time of confession and cleansing
as you quiet your mind become aware now of God present with you there and you ask him to make you
aware of a word or a phrase or a thought something from today's passage one that you can Center on
all throughout your day and now listen carefully to the 24th and 25th verses of the letter of Jude
now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence
of his glory with great joy to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord to him be
the glory Majesty Dominion and authority before all time and now and forever amen what did you
hear in that passage what did you notice take a moment right now to Center on that word or
thought or maybe even an image that God gave you just soak in that for several moments in prayer
both Peter and Jude dedicate much of their writings to the fiery trials and suffering
that we as Christians often have to enjoy in suffering for the name of Christ we experience a
greater sense of union and intimacy with God when suffering for Christ's sake we are assured of a
special measure of the Ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives how does your suffering
bring you closer to God move towards him now in prayer for several more moments as you consider
with your eyes still closed listen again as I read from the 24th and 25th verses of the
letter of Jude now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling or falling into
sin and to present you unblemished blameless and faultless in the presence of his glory
with triumphant joy an unspeakable delight to the only God our Savior through Jesus Christ
our Lord to him be the glory the Majesty Dominion and power before all time and now
and forever amen what did you hear this time something different but did you notice was it
unexpected so with your eyes still closed take a moment right now to center again on
that word or thought maybe something even knew that God gave you go before him now in prayer
did you hear how this version mentioned how God is able to keep you from stumbling or
falling into sin are you like me that in the midst of your struggles you're sometimes most
vulnerable to fall into sin or do you feel the pull of sin when you feel the oppression
of the struggles of the world around us what are those sins you feel most tempted by as
you struggle where do you need God to protect you most from stumbling whisper that to him
now in prayer and ponder it in meditative deep reflective prayer for several months
the passage went on to say that even in the midst of our struggles he is able to present
you unblemished blameless and faultless in the presence how does that feel to hear do
you carry any guilt or shame by how you have or are acting in the midst of your struggles
of how you have reacted to struggles around you do you feel unblemished do you feel blameless
or faultless and your deeds or actions will ponder that now in prayer and let this time
of deep meditation be your prayer to God bringing your sins and struggles to God
in a time of confession and healing spend time now in a time of Thanksgiving giving
praise to the Lord for how he is able and willing to save you from struggles
the world struggles how by removing your sin you are able to stand before him unblemished
blameless and faultless thank him now in a time of deep reflective meditative clear
listen one and final time as I read and you reflect on the 24th and 25th verses of the
letter of Jew offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ only God can
keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence before time began and now
and forevermore God is worthy of glory honor power and authority amen I love that by God's
grace through our faith in Christ we are able to stand in the presence of God in the midst of his
glory his honor his power and authority how do you feel standing before God you feel guilt or
shame well don't be ashamed what is the opposite of shame I think the opposite of shame was light
nothing kills shame like crawling out from under the covers into the light to acknowledge your
pain your struggles and your suffering having others become aware of your hurts and struggles
and walking through your suffering and community shame is not what you've done shame is when you
believe that what you've done is who you are shame is when you let your sin define you it
doesn't what defines you is Christ his suffering defined you how are you who you are because of
Christ how does his suffering define you ponder that in several moments of deep reflective prayer
you light destroys shame so how can you shine a light on your suffering what
would light do to your suffering your shame and your struggles where could
that light come from what is that light ponder that now in meditation before God
I love how this version ended with God is worthy of glory honor power and authority amen so with
your eyes still closed listen to a similar passage from Romans 8 as I read it as a prayer dear Lord
God when I am yours I am no longer ruled by my desires my emotions my shame or my struggles I
am ruled by your spirit who lives in me I have the Spirit of Christ in me and you have accepted me
your acceptance of me brings praise to your father while my old self my old shame my old sufferings
and struggles were taken by you you took them all when you are crucified your suffering reminds me
of what you have endured your suffering is also part of my healing for this I give you
thanks and it's in Jesus name I pray and give thanks amen so what did you hear in this prayer
from Romans that gave you pause I'll pause a moment longer and stay before God right there
join me now in the time of closing prayer dear healing and caring God give me strength today to
say thank you for my suffering give me courage today to praise you for pain give me the power
today to claim my trials as a way to experience a deeper union intimacy and communion with you
and in the days ahead help me remember to look back on these days with joy knowing
you were with me you were guiding me you were teaching me and showing me in the midst of my
trials and my struggles about your love and your care and your protection I can't pray
this prayer in my strength it's not human so transform my mind let it focus on you and in
the name of Jesus I pray amen so when you feel ready slowly and softly start to open your eyes
but before you rush off into your hectic day rest here for a few more moments and consider
this be intentional today when you encounter suffering intentionally turn your thoughts to
the cross and not inward towards you upward not inward on Christ not here I hope you do
that today just as I hope you come back here to meditate reflect pray and abide in Christ
we hope you enjoyed this meditation and that you come back for more for access to over 1,500
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