welcome and thanks for meditating with abide for more guided Christian meditations download the
abide app in the iTunes or Google Play Store welcome to this time on abide meditation to
guide you into a relaxing night of sleep this soothing story from Holy Scripture will help
you softly fall asleep and the caring arms of God who loves you and watches over you as you
rest as you begin shift your mind slowly away from today's tasks and worries soak instead in
God's presence and begin to get comfortable close your eyes and relax breathe in God's
peace and breathe out your troubles if you fall asleep before the story is finished all
the better I give you permission now to fall asleep and dream sweet dreams God is present
too even while you dream listen to me pray for you now as you begin to sleep dear God for this
cherished child of yours fill their heart and mind fresh with your presence and peace invite
them to you and give them the rest for their souls let their sleep be easy as you lift their
burdens and sleep and now may your Holy Spirit guide their dreams and renew their hearts as
they rest in you in Jesus name Amen now drift off to the land of dreams as the story begins
it is late in the evening the cool moist breeze from the Sea of Galilee blows through the open
windows of your house you sense changes in the air after eating the disciples follow Jesus outside
towards the shore of the Sea of Galilee more and more people have heard of this rabbi and
the miracles that he has done the needy the demanding crowds continued to grow pressing
Jesus and the disciples towards the sea over the shouts of the crowd Jesus tells them to get a boat
ready he wants to cross to the other side of the lake night is falling small gray clouds begin to
block some of the evening sunlight but for now the red-orange glow can still be seen over the
mountains to the west but any one growing up on the shore of the Sea of Galilee would be able to
recognize the signs the feeling in the air a storm is approaching storms are frightening darkening
skies a sudden burst of wind and the sound of distant thunder all can be signs of changes in
the weather but there are other storms we face - the storms of life the disciples following Jesus
saw many unexpected storms blow into their lives but none were bigger than what Jesus could handle
Jesus delivered them time and time again yet even his closest followers questioned how they could
get through the next storm these trials tested their faith and the testing of faith produces
endurance and determination when storms come into your life unexpectedly Jesus has the power
to calm anything the world can throw at you but this evening the disciples are getting restless
they sense another storm approaching so settle in now as the story unfolds through the eyes
of Peter you Andrew and the other disciples quickly prepare sails and oars and a bale for
the wooden boat feel the small waves splash over your bare feet remember you met Jesus
near here once just up the seashore you and Andrew were casting a fishing net into the
sea when he called out to you come after me Jesus said and I will make you fishers of
men you're still learning what that means you wonder what Jesus will ask you to do look up at
Jesus in the growing darkness of night as you get ready to board the boat and see him smile
at you see his eyes as he thinks of you how does it feel to trust Jesus with your journey ahead
now rest for another moment just breathe in trust from God let the Holy Spirit fill you with faith
and then breathe out and release your worries rest now in God's arms you finished preparing for the
journey across the lake at night the wind seems to be picking up in the larger waves start to lap
against the pebbles on the shore your hair begins to blow slightly around your ears and neck someone
important pushes his way through the crowd he is dressed like a teacher of religious law he looks
impressed at the crowds and the excitement about the healings he sees you and the other disciples
preparing the boat for Jesus teacher he calls out to Jesus I'll follow you wherever you go
foxes have dens to live in and birds have nests Jesus replies but the son of man has no place
to lay his head indeed tonight you don't have any place to lay your head either you're going to be
on a small crowded boat it's not like your warm bed just across the village is it feel yourself
let go of your tasks and worries to follow Jesus see him waving to you saying follow me
Jesus takes off his sandals pulls up his robes and walks through the waves to the boat that
you've been preparing he steps into the boat and you follow him along with the other disciples you
push off from shore and start across the water to the other side the boat begins to rock heavily in
the waves you steer toward the faint lights of a village in the distance soon Jesus is lying
peacefully asleep near you how does Jesus look in the night look at his face as he sleeps in
the boat the boat rolling in the growing waves rest for a moment breathe and trust from God
and let the Holy Spirit fill you with faith and breathe out and release your worries rest
now even deeper in God's arms you Andrew and the other disciples continue working to keep the boat
on course with so many people on board the side of the boat sits only a bit above the water you
hope it will only take a couple of hours to get where you're going the wind pulls harder on the
sails tipping the boat towards the downwind side you instinctively move towards the upwind side
of the boat to against the wind and help keep the boat afloat the wind turns into a storm slapping
the sails back and forth the boat rocks hard and water splashes against your back you need
to take down the sails which means the boat will stop moving forward you will have to wait out the
storm you can't even see the villages lights across the lake anymore there's just darkness
and wind and water splashing into the boat you scoop it out with a bale and more splashes in it
could be at home right now in your bed sleeping warm and safe but instead you're soaking wet in
a tipping boat in the middle of the dark night with no way to navigate back to shore the boat
is now being blown across the sea by the wind feel your feet splashing in water on the wooden
boat feel your back splashed by another wave but through all of this your teacher Jesus lays sound
asleep how can he sleep through this storm see his face sleeping peacefully as rain and wind and
waves crash onto the boat another large gust hits you some of the men leaned the wrong way and for
a moment you have the gut-wrenching feeling that the boat may tip over you and the other disciples
shake Jesus and wake him up save us Lord you say we're dying Jesus wakes up why are you so afraid
he says still lying down oh you of little faith Jesus gets up and rebukes the wind he rebukes
the sea all around you suddenly it's calm the strong winds are gone look at the waves just
gently lapping against the side of the boat see the surprise and the other disciples eyes you are
all safe your journey across the sea continues you and Andrew and the other disciples marvel
together as you land the boat on the other side what kind of man is this that even the wind and
the sea obey Him now as you dream feel the winds and storms in your life calm down to a gentle
breeze and see Jesus right there next to you but for tonight rest safe from storms protected from
darkening skies allow God's presence to muffle the sound of distant thunder close your eyes
from the sudden flashes of lightning breathe in God's peace and breathe out your troubles
and now with your eyes still closed softly just rest and dream as the
word of god has prayed softly over you in this continuing time of peaceful
relaxation just breathe slowly and deeply as every few moments you hear god's word
being offered to you now just breathe and imagine and dream hear his whisper
tonight come to me you are safe here no condemnation only my grace come to me now
tonight salvation has come to you by God's grace
alone through faith in Jesus alone salvation is yours rest there now
tonight you will hear rest without a worry and sleep soundly
tonight the Holy Spirit is present and caring for
you the Lord cares for his own even while you sleep in your bed
and now glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit as it was in the
beginning is now and ever shall be world without end amen we hope this meditation brought you peace
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