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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