In this practice,
I'm going to lead you through a meditation that's less of me,
But more of him.
It's all about being available to him and just soaking in his presence.
So whether you're listening to this first thing in the morning or before you go to bed,
Or maybe you just need him right in the middle of the day,
Allow him to meet you where you are.
I invite you to find a comfortable seat if that feels okay.
Maybe close the eyes or just take a soft gaze out in front of you.
And perhaps you bring your hands palms facing up in this gesture of receiving as you allow them to rest on your knees or along your side.
And just take a moment to notice here.
So maybe starting with a cleansing breath inhaling through the nose and releasing out of the mouth.
Take a moment to release the day behind you,
Whatever has happened before this moment,
As well as releasing any plans for later.
And also release any expectations for this meditation.
Can you allow your heart to be open?
Can you allow his presence to fill the space?
As you soften in this moment,
Relaxing the belly,
The chest,
Can you allow the breath to move deeper,
Filling the lungs completely and emptying it all out?
Just continue to breathe in a way that's natural that fills most studies today.
And I want to begin with a reading from Acts 17.
Just a gentle reminder from Paul,
Beginning at verse 24,
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.
And he is not served by human hands as if he needed anything.
Rather he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made all the nations that they should inhabit the whole earth and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.
God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him,
Though he is not far from any one of us.
For in him we live and move and have our being.
Just allow those words to settle,
To land on you today.
Knowing that he is the God who has made everything,
Who has a plan for your life,
Who wants nothing but for us to acknowledge what he has done and that we serve him and give him thanks.
Can you feel him now?
Can you allow yourself to just be comfortable being in his presence?
Can you take note of what is showing up when you allow yourself to get still?
Can you acknowledge whatever he needs to tell you and land on your heart today?
Can you seek him?
Can you reach out for him?
Can you find him here in this moment?
Perhaps we just continue to take this time to be in his presence.
With our hands open up or even uplifted,
Can you continue to open your heart?
Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for this day.
We thank you for giving us life,
For giving us breath,
For getting us to this point.
God,
We are available to you,
For you to move within us today,
For you to help us as we go on this path in life.
We thank you for just being you,
For all that you've done.
God,
We want nothing more than to be used by you.
So use us,
Lord.
Have your way and we trust you today.
We know that our lives are in your hands and we have faith to release control over what we think or what we plan in order to surrender to your plans.
God,
We thank you for this moment just to slow down and be still in your presence.
Help us to realize this gift that you have and that only comes from you.
God,
We thank you for your covering over our lives today.
God,
We thank you that whatever you're doing behind the scenes that is in our favor,
That we know that you're with us and you will continue to be with us as we move through this life.
God,
I ask you that you provide for us and whatever we need most,
You allow that to be met.
God,
We thank you for your presence.
We thank you for your love.
We thank you for your grace.
We know we're not perfect,
But we're coming here just as we are ready,
Available,
Willing to be used by you,
God.
Help us to continue to see our light so that we may shine it on others,
That we may share it with the world,
That only comes from you.
God,
We thank you for everything that you're doing in our lives.
We thank you for transformation.
We thank you for healing.
We thank you for just everything that you're doing behind the scenes.
God,
We trust you.
We know that you're moving.
God,
Continue to fill our hearts with your love and with your grace.
In Jesus' name,
I pray.
Amen.
And I invite you to stay here as long as you need to.
But when you're ready,
Just take one cleansing breath,
Inhaling fully through your nose.
Release it out of the mouth.
When you're ready,
Slowly enter back into your day.
