Hello and welcome to meditation time.
My name is James Whitaker.
This meditation can be done either seated or lying down,
As long as you are comfortable.
This evening I am going to read a prayer for help straight from the book of Psalms.
After we are going to spend some time in prayer,
Meditation and reflection as we make it more personal.
As always,
Let's open with prayer.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for being close at all times.
Thank you for being a Father who helps and saves.
Please hear the cries of our hearts as we spend time in your presence.
Calm our hearts,
Calm our minds,
Calm our breath.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
We are now going to focus deeply on our breath.
Start by just being with your breath.
In and out.
Don't change anything yet.
Just focus on where you feel it and how it feels.
For instance,
How does it feel on the space between your mouth and your nose?
Is it cold air?
Or is it warm?
Just settle into those thoughts.
Okay,
Now we are going to make our breath more even and balanced.
Please follow along.
In through your nose,
Long and deep.
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
In through your nose,
Long and deep.
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
Gently close your eyes.
In through your nose,
Long and deep.
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
In through your nose,
Long and deep.
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
In through your nose,
Long and deep.
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
Let your breathing return to its normal rhythm.
If you find yourself distracted during the meditation,
You can return to this breath practice.
Let yourself settle a little more.
Feel your body on whatever surface you are on.
Keep your eyes closed and focus on the prayer as I read it.
Psalms 4,
1-8,
The Passion Translation God,
You are my righteousness,
My champion defender.
Answer me when I cry for help.
Whenever I was in distress,
You enlarged me.
I'm being squeezed again and I need your kindness right away.
Grant me your grace,
Hear my prayer,
And set me free.
Listen to me,
You elite among men.
How long will you defame my honor and drag it down into shame?
Will you ever stop insulting me?
How long will you set your heart on shadows,
Chasing your lies and delusions?
Pause in his presence.
May we never forget that Yahweh works wonders for every one of his devoted lovers.
And this is how I know that he will answer my every prayer.
Tremble in awe before the Lord and do not sin against him.
Be still upon your bed and search your heart before him.
Pause in his presence and bring to Yahweh the sacrifice of righteousness and put your trust in him.
Lord,
Prove them wrong when they say God can't help you.
Let the light of your radiant face break through and shine upon us.
The intense pleasure you give me surpasses the gladness of harvest time,
Even more than when the harvesters gaze upon the ripened grain and when their new wine overflows.
Now because of you,
Lord,
I will lie down in peace and sleep comes at once.
For no matter what happens,
I will live unafraid.
Let your eyes remain closed as we personalize this.
Take a deep breath.
In through your nose,
Long and deep,
Out through your mouth,
Long and slow.
Now search your heart.
Find where you aren't right with God.
We will take a few moments here.
I'd like you to focus on a time you feel God answered your prayers.
How did it make you feel?
Remember the emotion.
Now please think of something God has done that you are thankful for.
Keep those thoughts in your mind.
Next,
Focus on somewhere in your life that you feel you have a need.
Be very detailed in your thoughts.
We will take a moment here.
Now that we have these things in our minds,
We are going to make personal prayers to God.
I am going to start the prayer and then give you five minutes to make your personal prayers to God.
And then I will close.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We know you hear our cries and we know that you answer our prayers.
We pray to be right before you,
Lord.
Thank you.
This evening we come to you and are in need.
Hear us as we pray.
Thank you,
Lord.
Praise you,
Lord.
Thank you,
Lord,
For listening to us as we prayed.
And thank you for the answers we know are coming.
In Jesus' name,
Amen.
Thank you for joining me this evening as we spent time with our Father.
Have an amazing rest of your night and God bless.
