welcome and thanks for meditating with abide for more guided Christian meditations download the
abide app in the iTunes or Google Play Store so here's a question to Padma what is most important
to you what do you spend your time working to achieve also do you ever get burned out working
for that thing well the prophet Isaiah speaks to this very thing in Isaiah chapter 2 in context
Isaiah is writing about the end times and he writes of peace yes sometimes we can focus so
intently on our day to day that we feel as though the weight of the world is on our shoulders we buy
into the lie that we can fix the world or at least our part of it with our own sweat and strength so
are you tired today take a breath in the end it will be God's glory that rises highest it will be
his fame that unifies the nations his power that heals the broken earth his grace that invites us
into his kingdom forever he has this so take a breath several take some time now to just stop
stop spinning stop worrying for a moment just breathe and remember that God is highest do you
need help breathing today stopping today well join me as we meditate reflect and pray about climbing
over mountains from Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 but first join me in a time of opening prayer dear
God yes I need help breathing today stopping today pausing today taking burdens off my weak shoulders
and placing them on to you and there are even days I don't feel strong enough to give you my burdens
so be strong enough for me I know you are but help me be strong enough to remember your strength and
it's in the name of Jesus I offer and acknowledge this in prayer amen so try something new again
today rather than trying to recall and surrender each of the items that bring you the most distress
as you recall them simply acknowledge them today even recalling our pressures can feel overwhelming
so in this time recall without reliving recall pressure without trying to fix it begin by
posturing yourself before God I want you to grip your fists together tightly and now slowly open
them release your grip relax your grip do that several times in each time take a slow deep
cleansing breath as you grip and release let the rhythm be the beginning of your time in meditation
you
what are you gripping to most tightly a worry a poor attitude sinful habit
some doubt or fear or anxiety will open your grip right now and confess that to
God ask him and thank him for his grace and his love and His mercy and his forgiveness
you
your time in prayer is often filled asking God questions and that's fine but let
today's meditation be more about listening to his answers embrace that truth and listen
carefully as I read from Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 it shall come to pass in the later
days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of
the mountains and shall be lifted up above the hills and all the nations shall flow to
it what stood out to you from that passage which word which thought or maybe an image
today listen to that again it shall come to pass in the later days that the mountain of
the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains and shall be
lifted up above the hills and all the nations shall flow to it so what is God telling you
through the word he gave you through the image he gave you let that image be your prayer to him
in this sacred moment of meditation as you focus not on your will but his will for you
you
using your imagination see the mountain of God feel its power look at it and rest
now in its shadows for a moment release your grip as you rest in the shadow of his Mountain
you
with eyes still closed listen again as I read from Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 now it will come
to pass that in the last days the mountain of the house of the Lord will be firmly
established as the highest of the mountains and will be exalted above the hills and all
the nations will stream to it well did you hear this time what did you remember about
the passage she might have forgotten before where did your memory settle take a moment
again to focus on that Center on it and drive it deeper into your mind as you pray
you
stay there with your imagination stay in the shadow how does the height of the mountain
compare to you how does its firm foundation compare to you look at it compare it relax
your grip again how does it feel what is your response to God in this moment respond to him now
you
stay there a bit longer and all the nations will stream to it see that every nation
every land every tribe everyone streams to the base of the mountain of God nothing blocking
them nothing diverting them how do you feel watching the nations of the world streaming
to the base of the mountain of God what is your response to God here respond to him now
you
listen one final time as I read and you reflect on Isaiah chapter 2 verse 2 in the future the
mountain with the Lord's temple will be the highest of all it will reach above the hills
every nation will rush to it as we shared earlier often in prayer we ask in meditation we listen
each moment you spend in quiet meditation is an ear hearing the very breath of God in the book
of first Kings chapter 19 God reveals himself to Elijah all at once a strong wind shook the
mountain and shattered the rocks but the Lord was not in the wind next there was an earthquake but
the Lord was not in the earthquake then there was a fire but the Lord was not in the fire finally
there was a gentle breeze and when Elijah heard it he covered his face with his coat and stood at the
entrance to the cave we often expect to encounter God in majestic ways like earthquakes fires and
strong winds but he often reveals himself in gentle breezes so stop here for a moment no
asking just listen listen to the gentle breezes in your life right now listen and expect to hear
you
what did you hear was it disorder and unrest God is not in those things did you hear what
was pure moral spiritual and peace loving those are the things of God stay in the
moment of listening to his gentle breeze a moment longer listen for what is pure
you
is it hard to stay focused on listening to God and gentle breezes do you drift well once again
don't fight that let the spirit guide you keep your focus on Christ the mountain of
God nothing too specific or detailed just keep your gaze on him and your meditation
drift into thoughts of purity and peace listen now as you rest in the shadow of his creation
you
join me now in a time of closing prayer dear Jehovah God the world is yours and everything in
it you have given me all that I have including my talents resources and experiences but in my
own self-reliance I mistakenly believe that this life is mine to control Lord God take my
life into your capable hands help me to remember that you are God and that it isn't my job to fix
everyone and everything your Mountain your name is highest and will rise to heal our world in
the end and it's in the name of Lord Jesus that I pray amen well we're almost finished but stay
here for just another moment if you can she let the world back in do you already feel yourself
drifting from the shadow of his Mountain finding your own way that's okay let it be a reminder for
you to stay in the shadow of his wings today return to them as often as you need and I hope
the returning will bring you to that place of peace peace that will last all throughout your
day as you consistently meditate reflect pray and abide in Christ we hope this meditation brought
you peace for more Christian meditations download the abide out in iTunes or the Google Play Store