Welcome.
You made it to the end of this day.
However it went.
Whatever it held.
You are here now.
And it is enough simply to be here.
This time belongs to you and to God.
There's nothing left to figure out tonight.
Nothing left to carry.
The one who holds the stars in place also holds you,
Right now,
In this very moment.
So let's begin to let go.
Find a comfortable position in your bed.
Lying down,
Letting your arms rest gently at your sides.
Allowing your eyes to gently close.
And just notice.
Without changing anything just yet,
Just notice how your body feels right now.
Maybe there's tension in your shoulders.
Maybe your mind is still moving quickly.
Maybe you feel the weight of the day pressing on your chest.
Whatever is here.
You can bring it with you.
God has seen it all already.
And tonight he is inviting you to simply rest in him.
Let's begin with the breath.
Because your breath is one,
Let's begin with the breath.
One of the most beautiful gifts God has placed inside of you.
The rhythm of life itself.
Simply notice the rise and fall of your chest.
The air moving in and out of the lungs.
Let's begin to connect the breath with a simple prayer.
So inviting in God's presence as you inhale.
And releasing the day with the exhale.
So as you breathe in,
Baby,
You hold on to the word come.
And as you exhale.
Let the word be peace.
So inhale.
Calm.
Exhale.
Peace.
In hell come.
Exhale.
Peace continue flowing with your breath.
Giving your body permission to soften.
Giving your body permission to let go.
Now we're going to invite each part of your body into rest.
God made you.
Body,
Soul,
Spirit.
And tonight he is tending to all of you.
Bring your awareness to the top of your head.
Imagine a gentle warmth beginning there.
Like sunlight,
Like grace,
Spreading slowly downward.
Let your forehead soften.
Release the furrow between your brows.
Let your eyes relax.
Eyelids heavy and still.
Let your jaw unhinge slightly.
Let your tongue rest softly in your mouth.
Let the warmth move down into your neck and shoulders.
This is where so many of us carry the weight of the day.
So just breathe here for a moment.
Inhale.
And as you exhale,
Let your shoulders drop away from your ears.
Let them sink down into the surface beneath you.
Let your arms grow heavy.
Your hands.
Your fingers Let them uncurl and open.
Open hands are praying hands.
Release what you've been gripping.
Breathe into your chest now.
If there's anything tight here.
Any creed.
Any worry.
Any unfinished heartache.
Know that you don't have to resolve it tonight.
You can simply say to God,
I give this to you.
And breathe.
Let the warmth continue down through your belly.
Through your lower back.
With each exhale,
Your body is sinking deeper into rest.
Your hips.
Your thighs.
The back of your knees.
Your calves.
All the way down to your ankles.
Your heels the soles of your feet.
Your whole body is settling now.
Heavy and still.
And held.
I want to offer you a passage of scripture to rest inside tonight.
You don't have to analyze it or study it.
Simply receive it.
Like water.
From Psalm 91.
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord,
He is my refuge and my fortress.
My God in whom I trust.
You the shelter of the most high.
Picture that for a moment.
A shelter.
A place built for protection.
A place where the wind and rain cannot reach you.
Tonight,
This is where you are.
Not metaphorically,
Truly.
You are hidden in Him.
He will cover you with his feathers,
And under his wings you will find refuge.
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Under his wings like a bird that tucks her young close against herself in the night.
That is how God holds you right now.
Close,
Covered,
Safe.
Let yourself be small in this image.
You don't have to be strong tonight.
You don't have to have it all together.
You can be small and held and safe.
Proverbs 3 verse 24 says,
When you lie down,
You will not be afraid.
When you lie down.
Your sleep will be sweet.
Sweet sleep.
That's God's intention for you tonight.
He does not sleep.
He does not slumber.
He watches through the night so that you don't have to.
Every anxious thought that tries to rise up.
You can release it to the one who is already awake.
Already working.
Already holding every detail of your life and your tomorrow.
Psalm 48 says,
In peace I will lie down and sleep.
For you alone,
Lord,
Make me dwell in safety.
Say that quietly in your heart if you like.
In peace,
I will lie down and sleep.
You alone,
Lord,
Make me dwell in safety.
In peace,
I will lie down.
And sleep.
Now we're going to move into a time of simply resting in God's presence.
You don't need words for this.
You don't need to pray anything in particular.
This is a prayer of simply being.
Of saying,
By your stillness,
I trust you.
I am yours.
You Imagine yourself held.
The way a parent holds a sleeping child.
Completely without reservation.
The child does not have to do anything to be held.
She only has to rest.
That's you right now.
Let go.
Rest.
If your mind drifts,
And it will,
That's okay.
Gently bring your attention back to your breath.
Back to the warmth of his presence.
Back to the simplest truth of this moment.
I am held.
Let go.
And rest.
The Lord your God is with you.
The mighty warrior who saves.
He will take great delight in you.
He will quiet you with his love.
He quiets you with His love.
Let yourself be quieted.
Let the noise of the day grow distant.
Let every should and could And what if.
.
.
Float away like clouds across a dark still sky.
You are held.
Let go and rest.
You are not behind.
You are not failing.
You are not forgotten.
You are held.
You As you drift towards sleep,
I want to leave you with one final truth.
His love is for you.
His love for you is not based on your performance today.
It's not contingent on how you did or did not show up.
It does not rise and fall with your emotions or your energy level.
It's simply there.
Constant.
Sure.
Rooted in who he is.
Not in anything you've done.
You are love tonight,
Fully,
Freely,
Without condition.
May your sleep be deep and untroubled.
May your dreams,
If they come,
Be gentle.
May you wake tomorrow held in the same grace that holds you now.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord turn his face towards you and give you peace.
Good night,
Friend.
Rest well.
You are held.
You you you Bye!
You you you you you Thank you.
You you
