Good evening and welcome to meditation time.
Tonight we will start with prayer and then some breathing to slow ourselves down.
Then I will be reading a selection of verses from the book of Philippians to help calm your heart and mind before sleep.
I will be using the New Living Translation.
After the verses the music will continue.
Have a pleasant and peaceful sleep.
Let's pray.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us another day on this earth.
Thank you for sending your son so we could be closer to you.
Help us to follow your example and work together as one body.
Protect us as we sleep and give us a peaceful and restful night.
Speak to us as we rest.
May we have the strength and motivation for the coming day.
Calm our hearts,
Calm our minds,
Calm our bodies and calm our breath.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
Let's do some breathing.
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 in through your nose long and deep out through your mouth long and slow let your breathing return to its normal rhythm Philippians 1 3 to 11 every time I think of you I give thanks to my God whenever I pray I make my requests for all of you with joy for you have been my partners in spreading the good news about Christ from the time you first heard it until now and I am certain that God who began the good work within you will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns so it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you for you have a special place in my heart you share with me the special favor of God both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the good news God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus I pray that your love will overflow more and more and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding for I want you to understand what really matters so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ's return may you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ for this will bring much glory and praise to God Philippians 2 1 to 11 is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ any comfort from his love any fellowship together in the spirit are your hearts tender and compassionate then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other loving one another and working together with one mind and purpose don't be selfish don't try to impress others be humble thinking of others as better than you don't look out only for your own interests but take an interest in others too you must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had though he was God he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to instead he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being when he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died in a criminal's death on a cross therefore God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue declared that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father Philippians 4 4 to 9 always be full of joy in the Lord I say it again rejoice let everyone see that you are considered and all that you do remember the Lord is coming soon don't worry about anything instead pray about everything tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done then you will experience God's peace which exceeds anything we can understand his peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus and now dear brothers and sisters one final thing fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable think about things that are excellent and worthy keep putting into practice all you have learned and received from me everything you heard from me and saw me doing then the God of peace will be with you you you you You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You You
