Bible Sleep Story: Psalms 121 My Help Comes From God With Spontaneous Worship Sleep Music

find rest as you listen to this peaceful bedtime story for more bible stories that bring you refreshing sleep download the abide app in the itunes or google play store welcome to the bedtime story my help comes from god taken from psalm 121 this psalm speaks words of promise about god's providence and protection on life's journey i invite you now [Music] to relax close your eyes softly get comfortable [Music] and allow the presence of the lord to fill your heart take a slow deep breath as we journey through the mountains and valleys of psalm 121 to reflect on god's comfort and provision for you remember god loves you and cares for you all the help you'll ever need comes from him allow me to pray over you as you begin to dream and drift into a peaceful night of sleep lord god i ask you to watch over your child tonight hold them in the fold of your tender loving arms father i pray for deep rest and security for this dear and wonderful person that you love and care for give them visions and dreams of your hope refresh them for a new day be their help in time of need and allow them to sleep deeply tonight in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit [Music] amen imagine that you are in a peaceful valley it's lush and green with glorious rolling hills that rise and fall into the distance wildflowers dot the landscape with vibrant color yellow daffodils white jasmine with sweet smelling petals you walk slowly through the valley and perfect piece breathing the fresh spring air up above you see a clear blue sky with wispy clouds floating overhead [Music] there is stillness [Music] and peace all around you are fully content and fully relaxed in the valley jesus is there with you he is happy that you want to spend time with him here see the glow of his smile as you walk side by side [Music] you hear jesus speak psalm 121 out loud to you the words fill the valley alive with his spirit they calm your heart mind and soul [Music] i will lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from my help comes from the lord who made heaven [Music] and earth he will not allow your foot to be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel shall never slumber nor sleep [Music] the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade at your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night the lord shall preserve you from all evil he shall preserve your soul [Music] the lord shall preserve your going out in your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore you come to a soft blanket spread out for you in the shade the sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night jesus invite you to rest right here [Music] and you lie dreamily in the valley [Music] the lord is your keeper he who keeps you will not slumber he keeps israel safe and he will keep you safe he will neither sleep nor slumber your heart fills with the comfort that god is your keeper your protector your guide his spirit fills your room he shall preserve you from all evil you fall you drift slowly softly asleep [Music] your mind is refreshed your arms and back feel light and restored from deep sleep jesus walks again with you through the valley [Music] he continues speaking psalm 121 over you slowly like a command making each word true [Music] i lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help come from [Music] as you walk through the beautiful green valley the gentle rolling hills rising up all around you know where your help comes from he is standing right beside you in glowing robes the risen lord he is so peaceful you are immersed in a sense of stillness and security as you look around at the magnificent landscape you know just by the beauty of creation that god is your creator your provider [Music] your help you also know that the psalmist does not look to nature for help as beautiful as the hills may be the psalmist's help comes from the very one who made the hills the heavens and the earth god my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth the lord god is with you in the valley [Music] god the father calls out to you from the hills your heart rejoices at his voice you call out to him and before a word is even on your tongue he knows it he is already sending the help you need at just the right time and in just the right way he will not let your foot be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel will neither slumber nor sleep you are amazed by the faithfulness of god [Music] the one who does not slumber or sleep he never grows weary of that you can be sure he is a constant presence in your life you feel his presence now your feet are steady on solid ground you have nothing to fear the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade on your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night [Music] the warmth of the sun is shining down on you and you bask in its light [Music] and when it becomes too hot god becomes your shade the coolness on your face he is your keeper and guardian you allow yourself to relax fully in his loving arms [Music] he is guiding you and the way you should go even in the night watches when the way seems dark and unfamiliar your foot does not stumble his spirit is there to lead you feel him leading you tonight no matter how dark it seems your footsteps are sure the lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life [Music] the safety you feel [Music] in the fold of the lord's loving arms is the most secure feeling in the world all the cares of life have faded into the night you are able to breathe deeply and know that you are completely safe no evil can touch you for the lord is keeping you from everything that is harmful or contrary to his love for you your very life is held fastly in the palm of his hand you've never felt so protected it's as if walls of love have been placed around you so that nothing can reach you you are surrounded by god's perfect peace [Music] the lord will keep your going out and you're coming in from this time forth [Music] and forever more [Music] as you go through the valley and find pasture your life is locked in and secured in the fold of the great shepherd he watches over your coming and you're going there is nothing that escapes his sovereignty he is your keeper [Music] he keeps watch over you from this time forth now and forevermore tomorrow god will watch over you he will guide your steps the peace of jesus will guard your heart from this time forth and forevermore you are kept by the love of the lord he is your help in time of need he is your rock your fortress and your deliverer now be still rest deeply and know that god is with you allow his presence to cover you as you sleep in total peace tonight [Music] dream peacefully as i pray [Music] gracious god thank you for your provision over your loved one tonight i ask for healing rest and peaceful sleep as they trust in you help them always to remember that their help comes from you alone in jesus's holy name i pray [Music] may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you may the lord turn his face toward you and give you peace i invite you now to relax close your eyes softly get comfortable and allow the presence of the lord to fill your heart [Music] take a slow deep breath as we journey through the mountains and valleys of psalm 121 to reflect on god's comfort and provision for you remember god loves you and cares for you all the help you'll ever need comes from him [Music] allow me to pray over you as you begin to dream and drift into a peaceful night of sleep [Music] lord god i ask you to watch over your child tonight hold them in the fold of your tender loving arms father i pray for deep rest and security for this dear and wonderful person that you love and care for give them visions and dreams of your hope refresh them for a new day be their help in time of need and allow them to sleep deeply tonight in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit amen [Music] imagine that you are in a peaceful valley it's lush and green with glorious rolling hills that rise and fall into the distance wildflowers dot the landscape with vibrant color yellow daffodils white jasmine with sweet smelling petals you walk slowly through the valley and perfect piece breathing the fresh spraying air up above you see a clear blue sky with wispy clouds floating overhead there is stillness and peace all around you are fully content [Music] and fully relaxed in the valley jesus is there with you he is happy that you want to spend time with him here see the glow of his smile as you walk side by side you hear jesus speak psalm 121 out loud to you the words fill the valley alive with his spirit they calm your heart mind and soul i will lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth he will not allow your foot to be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel shall never slumber nor sleep the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade at your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night the lord shall preserve you from all evil he shall preserve your soul [Music] the lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore [Music] you come to a soft blanket spread out for you in the shade or the sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night jesus invites you to rest right here and you lie dreamily in the valley [Music] the lord is your keeper he who keeps you will not slumber he keeps israel safe and he will keep you safe he will neither sleep nor slumber [Music] your heart fills with the comfort that god is your keeper your protector your guide his spirit fills your room he shall preserve you from all evil you fall you drift slowly softly asleep [Music] your mind is refreshed [Music] your arms and back feel light and restored from deep sleep jesus walks again with you through the valley he continues speaking psalm 121 over you slowly like a command making each word true i lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help come from as you walk through the beautiful green valley the gentle rolling hills rising up all around you you know where your help comes from he is standing right beside you in glowing robes the risen lord he is so peaceful you are immersed in a sense of stillness and security as you look around at the magnificent landscape you know just by the beauty of creation that god is your creator your provider help you also know that the psalmist does not look to nature for help as beautiful as the hills may be the psalmist's help comes from the very one who made the hills the heavens and the earth god [Music] my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth the lord god is with you in the valley god the father calls out to you from the hills your heart rejoices at his voice [Music] you call out to him and before a word is even on your tongue he knows it he is already sending the help you need at just the right time and in just the right way he will not let your foot be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel will neither slumber nor sleep you are amazed by the faithfulness of god the one who does not slumber or sleep he never grows weary of that you can be sure he is a constant presence in your life [Music] you feel his presence now [Music] your feet are steady on solid ground you have nothing to fear the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade on your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night the warmth of the sun is shining down on you and you bask in its light and when it becomes too hot god becomes your shade the coolness on your face he is your keeper and guardian you allow yourself to relax fully in his loving arms he is guiding you and the way you should go even in the night watches when the way seems dark and unfamiliar your foot does not stumble his spirit is there to lead you feel him leading you tonight no matter how dark it seems your footsteps are sure the lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life the safety you feel [Music] in the fold of the lord's loving arms [Music] is the most secure feeling in the world all the cares of life have faded into the night you are able to breathe deeply and know that you are completely safe no evil can touch you for the lord is keeping you from everything that is harmful or contrary to his love for you your very life [Music] is held fastly in the palm of his hand [Music] you've never felt so protected it's as if walls of love have been placed around you so that nothing can reach you you are surrounded by god's perfect peace [Music] the lord will keep your going out and you're coming in from this time forth [Music] and forever more as you go through the valley and find pasture your life is locked in and secured in the fold of the great shepherd he watches over your coming and you're going there is nothing that escapes his sovereignty he is your keeper [Music] he keeps watch over you from this time forth now and forevermore tomorrow god will watch over you he will guide your steps the peace of jesus will guard your heart from this time forth and forevermore you are kept by the love of the lord he is your help in time of need he is your rock your fortress and your deliverer now be still rest deeply and know that god is with you allow his presence to cover you as you sleep in total peace tonight [Music] dream peacefully as i pray gracious god thank you for your provision over your loved one tonight i ask for healing rest and peaceful sleep as they trust in you help them always to remember that their help comes from you alone in jesus's holy name i pray [Music] amen [Music] may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you may the lord turn his face toward you and give you peace imagine that you are in a peaceful valley it's lush and green with glorious rolling hills that rise and fall into the distance [Music] wildflowers dot the landscape with vibrant color yellow daffodils white jasmine with sweet smelling petals you walk slowly through the valley and perfect peace breathing the fresh spraying air up above you see a clear blue sky with wispy clouds floating overhead [Music] there is stillness and peace all around you are fully content fully relaxed in the valley [Music] jesus is there with you he is happy that you want to spend time with him here see the glow of his smile as you walk side by side you hear jesus speak psalm 121 out loud to you the words fill the valley alive with his spirit they calm your heart mind and soul i will lift my eyes to the hills where does my help come from my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth [Music] he will not allow your foot to be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel shall never slumber nor sleep the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade at your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night the lord shall preserve you from all evil [Music] he shall preserve your soul the lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth and even forevermore [Music] you come to a soft blanket spread out for you in the shade the sun will not strike you by day nor the moon by night [Music] jesus invites you to rest right here and you lie dreamily in the valley [Music] the lord is your keeper [Music] he who keeps you will not slumber [Music] he keeps israel safe and he will keep you safe he will neither sleep nor slumber your heart fills with the comfort that god is your keeper your protector your guide his spirit fills your room he shall preserve you from all evil you fall you drift slowly softly asleep your mind is refreshed your arms and back feel light and restored from deep sleep jesus walks again with you through the valley [Music] he continues speaking psalm 121 over you slowly like a command making each word true i lift up my eyes to the hills from where does my help come from as you walk through the beautiful green valley the gentle rolling hills rising up all around you you know where your help comes from he is standing right beside you in glowing robes the risen lord he is so peaceful you are immersed in a sense of stillness and security as you look around at the magnificent landscape you know just by the beauty of creation that god is your creator your provider your help [Music] you also know that the psalmist does not look to nature for help as beautiful as the hills may be the psalmist's help comes from the very one who made the hills the heavens and the earth god [Music] my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth the lord god is with you in the valley god the father calls out to you from the hills your heart rejoices at his voice you call out to him and before a word is even on your tongue he knows it [Music] he is already sending the help you need at just the right time and in just the right way he will not let your foot be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel will neither slumber nor sleep you are amazed by the faithfulness of god the one who does not slumber or sleep he never grows weary of that you can be sure he is a constant presence in your life you feel his presence now your feet are steady on solid ground you have nothing to fear [Music] the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade on your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night the warmth of the sun is shining down on you and you bask in its light and when it becomes too hot god becomes your shade the coolness on your face he is your keeper and guardian you allow yourself to relax fully in his loving arms he is guiding you and the way you should go even in the night watches when the way seems dark and unfamiliar your foot does not stumble his spirit is there to lead you feel him leading you tonight [Music] no matter how dark it seems your footsteps are sure [Music] the lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life [Music] the safety you feel in the fold of the lord's loving arms is the most secure feeling in the world all the cares of life have faded into the night you are able to breathe deeply and know that you are completely safe no evil can touch you for the lord is keeping you from everything that is harmful or contrary to his love for you your very life is held fastly in the palm of his hand [Music] you've never felt so protected [Music] it's as if walls of love have been placed around you so that nothing can reach you [Music] you are surrounded by god's perfect peace the lord will keep your going out and you're coming in from this time forth and forever more as you go through the valley and find pasture your life is locked in and secured in the fold of the great shepherd he watches over your coming and you're going [Music] there is nothing that escapes his sovereignty he is your keeper he keeps watch over you from this time forth now and forevermore [Music] tomorrow god will watch over you he will guide your steps the peace of jesus will guard your heart from this time forth and forevermore you are kept by the love of the lord he is your help in time of need he is your rock your fortress and your deliverer now be still rest deeply and know that god is with you [Music] allow his presence to cover you as you sleep in total peace tonight dream peacefully as i pray gracious god thank you for your provision over your loved one tonight i ask for healing rest and peaceful sleep as they trust in you help them always to remember that their help comes from you alone [Music] in jesus's holy name i pray amen may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you may the lord turn his face toward you and give you peace [Music] now listen to another sleep story and relax upon the pure and calming thoughts of our glorious god you serve a sovereign god who is more powerful than you can imagine he created the roaring seas he made the tall rugged mountains he designed the planets and the stars and the galaxies even the ones billions and billions of light years away even the ones we can barely see with the telescope he's so powerful in fact that he made all of this just by speaking a few words and after he had made all these amazing things he made you the bible says we are the pinnacle of his creation he knows the numbers of hairs on your head he cares for your every need he's a god of grace and mercy he's a god of peace and patience he's a god of truth and goodness he's a god who forgives your sins and prepares a place for you in heaven he's a god who sent his son to stand in your place he's a god who loves you no matter what you've done he's a god who protects you no matter where you are he's also a god who rested and who calls us to rest in his promises he created sleep for your good as david wrote in psalm 4 verse 8 in peace i will lie down and sleep for you alone o lord will keep me safe as you prepare for a peaceful night of sleep get comfortable in your bed and make sure everything around you is the way you want it to be if you fall asleep during the story that's great the abide app will shut off automatically now take a deep relaxing breath inhaling slowly through your nose and exhaling slowly through your mouth the day is finally over that's great news right now you get to relax your body and your mind picture yourself handing all your troubles to god the big ones the small ones and everything in between [Music] he's a mighty all-powerful infinitely loving god he can take care of everything in your life go ahead hand all of it to him let him tend to your earthly matters tonight tonight let's focus on god and who he is let's focus on your blessings now that you've handed all your troubles to him picture him giving you a gift in return it's his presence and his peace rest in his protection as he surrounds you with his loving kindness enjoy the sensation of your head sinking into the pillow savor the feeling of the soft sheet and the warm blanket [Music] gently covering your body stretch out your muscles in your feet your legs your hands and your arms take another deep relaxing breath fill your belly with air as you inhale through your nose [Music] and exhale through your mouth [Music] focus only on god he loves you he is taking care of you the day is over rejoice in your rest let me pray over you dear father you are the god of peace you are the god of grace and mercy you are the god of sleep [Music] you are a sovereign a holy god who has a plan for our lives [Music] you triumph over all of our problems and you are constantly drawing us back to yourself father i thank you for this child of yours i thank you for their love for you their desire to know you more thank you for the many blessings in their life their bed their home their food their friends and family [Music] the very air they breathe father i pray that you will surround this child of yours with your presence bless them with wonderful sleep and health your word says you have overcome the world it says you are the lord of peace who grants us peace at all times in every way right now i ask that you will surround this child of yours [Music] with your marvelous peace [Music] like never before [Music] i ask that tonight they will have sweet dreams about your kingdom i ask that they will wake up refreshed and ready to serve you they are safe in your loving arms it's in christ's name that i pray amen [Music] for tonight's story let's take a journey back in time to the mediterranean sea during biblical times [Music] you'll walk along the shore and let your toes get lost in the sand you'll watch seagulls and eagles maybe even a few dolphins most of all though you'll relish in god's goodness and marvel at his creation while you do this we'll focus on who god is as we read a psalm of david psalm 24 [Music] it is thought that david may have written psalm 24 after the ark of the covenant was recovered and brought back into jerusalem the bible tells us that david was so full of joy that he danced in the streets praising god for protecting and blessing the israelites listen as i read psalm 24. the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the god of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory for tonight's journey in ancient israel [Music] we'll explore the shores of the mediterranean sea it's morning time on your journey and you're walking on the sand-covered beach along israel's western shore it's a perfect day to rest and relax it's not too hot it's not too cool a warm breeze from the mediterranean skips off the surface of the water and races through your hair and across your skin carrying with it the unmistakable aroma of salt water and marine life maybe even the smell of flowers from the adjacent valley you take in a deep breath ah and savor the fragrance [Music] nearby a few seagulls are hovering just above the water apparently in a competition for their next meal they squawk and fuss at one another as they take turns diving into the water as you walk along the shore the unmistakable sensation of sand massages the bottom of your feet and clings to the sides of your toes it's a fine textured lightish brown sand that resembles the color of the towering cliffs to your left you stand firmly in the sand for a moment into light in its warmth you bury your left toe and then your right toe curling your toes up and down and letting the sand go whichever way it wishes the feeling [Music] is exhilarating but your feet don't stay buried very long because the warm waters of the mediterranean soon sweep across the sand and wash it back to sea instantly exposing your feet to the air you stand there for a few more moments to enjoy the scene burying your feet again in the sand and letting the mediterranean waters rush over them again looking down you spot a few small seashells dancing helplessly in the tide an orange one a white one and a brown one these seashells are common clam shells but still they're no less gorgeous than anything else on the beach today you pick one up as a keepsake listen as i read again the first few stanzas of psalm 24 the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths the whole earth belongs to god the beach the sea [Music] the creatures flying above and the one swimming below all of it belongs to god and god is taking care of it this includes you god watches over and cares for his creation just as he cares for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea he is caring for you several minutes have passed since you played in the sand and by now the reddish orange sun directly behind you is about halfway up the sky ready to give much needed light to the people and crops of this bountiful blessed land [Music] just above the sun are three or four small puffy clouds that are sailing across the sea like a carefree group of sailboats gliding across the mediterranean itself in fact as you look down and gaze across the sea you spot a real-life fisherman's sailboat [Music] it's a moderate distance from the shore but close enough that you can discern the voices of the two men on board one of them has a grey beard the other looks a bit younger and has black facial hair it's quite possibly a father and son they're struggling to pull up a large net filled with today's catch you estimate that there are probably 100 or more fish in it hallelujah one of them shouts to the heavens as they pull the net out of the water and into the boat [Music] listen as i read the next group of stanzas from psalm 24 who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior [Music] such people may seek you in worship in your presence oh god of jacob god is good god is holy and through christ you have clean hands and a pure heart when god looks at you he sees the righteousness of his son he doesn't see sin he sees jesus [Music] god loves you rest soundly tonight in this gift of salvation now a number of minutes have passed since the fishermen pulled the net out of the water [Music] high overhead you notice an eagle circling the sky it's fishing too hunting for its next meal eagles in this area often nest in the cliffs along the shore to your left [Music] and you watch this one dive rapidly toward the water and glide just above the surface as it reaches down and secures a small silver colored fish with its large yellow talons it barely slows down as it then races to its nest high in the cliffs to your left more than likely it's feeding its eaglet [Music] moments later you hear a voice at sea there they are look the voice shouts you glance toward the fishermen one of them is motioning toward the water trying to get the others attention he has spotted a group of dolphins playing alongside the boat leaping and splashing no doubt they've been eating the leftovers from the men's morning catch you see one dolphin jump high out of the water and then another and then another it's as if they're dogs at sea [Music] and asking the fisherman for a treat one of the fishermen tosses a fish back out to sea and the dolphins quickly race for it [Music] you can hear the two men laughing listen now as i read the final stanzas of psalm 24 lift up your heads you gates be lifted up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord mighty in battle lift up your heads you gates lift them up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is he this king of glory the lord almighty he is the king of glory god is sovereign god is holy god is also victorious [Music] he is the mighty strong god who protected israel much like he protected and provided for the fishermen and our story he will do the same for you tonight he will grant you peace and a marvelous night's sleep he will guard you and protect you he is the king of glory as we wind down tonight's journey [Music] listen once more as i read psalm 24 in its entirety let this be your song of peaceful worship tonight as you rest in god's goodness the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belonged to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths [Music] who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you in worship in your presence oh god of jacob [Music] open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory [Music] the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory [Music] dear father you are the god of abraham isaac and jacob you are the god of david you are the king of glory [Music] you are the maker of heavens and the earth and you are the creator of rest and sleep father i pray that you will grant this child of yours the perfect peace they need tonight surround them with your presence help them to know in a mighty way that you are watching over and protecting them relax their body and their mind conquer their anxious thoughts bless them with a marvelous night's sleep and help them to wake up refreshed and ready to serve you another day it's in christ's name that i pray amen as aaron told god's people in scripture may the lord bless you and protect you may the lord smile on you and be gracious to you may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace good night let me pray over you dear father you are the god of peace you are the god of grace and mercy you are the god of sleep you are a sovereign a holy god who has a plan for our lives you triumph over all of our problems and you are constantly drawing us back to yourself father i thank you for this child of yours i thank you for their love for you their desire to know you more thank you for the many blessings in their life their bed their home their food their friends and family [Music] the very air they breathe [Music] father i pray that you will surround this child of yours with your presence bless them with wonderful sleep and health your word says you have overcome the world it says you are the lord of peace who grants us peace at all times in every way [Music] right now [Music] i ask that you will surround this child of yours [Music] with your marvelous peace like never before i ask that tonight they will have sweet dreams about your kingdom i ask that they will wake up refreshed and ready to serve you [Music] they are safe in your loving arms it's in christ's name that i pray amen [Music] for tonight's story let's take a journey back in time to the mediterranean sea during biblical times you'll walk along the shore and let your toes get lost in the sand you'll watch seagulls and eagles maybe even a few dolphins most of all though you'll relish in god's goodness and marvel at his creation [Music] while you do this we'll focus on who god is as we read a psalm of david psalm 24 it is thought that david may have written psalm 24 after the ark of the covenant was recovered and brought back into jerusalem the bible tells us that david was so full of joy that he danced in the streets praising god for protecting and blessing the israelites listen as i read psalm 24 [Music] the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior [Music] such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob [Music] open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the god of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter [Music] who is the king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory for tonight's journey in ancient israel will explore the shores of the mediterranean sea it's morning time on your journey and you're walking on the sand-covered beach along israel's western shore it's a perfect day to rest and relax it's not too hot it's not too cool a warm breeze from the mediterranean skips off the surface of the water and races through your hair and across your skin carrying with it the unmistakable aroma of salt water and marine life maybe even the smell of flowers from the adjacent valley [Music] you take in a deep breath ah and savor the fragrance nearby a few seagulls are hovering just above the water apparently in a competition for their next meal they squawk and fuss at one another as they take turns diving into the water [Music] as you walk along the shore the unmistakable sensation of sand massages the bottom of your feet and clings to the sides of your toes it's a fine textured lightish brown sand that resembles the color of the towering cliffs to your left you stand firmly in the sand for a moment and delight in its warmth you bury your left toe and then your right toe curling your toes up and down and letting the sand go whichever way it wishes the feeling is exhilarating [Music] but your feet don't stay buried very long because the warm waters of the mediterranean soon sweep across the sand and wash it back to sea instantly exposing your feet to the air you stand there for a few more moments to enjoy the scene burying your feet again in the sand and letting the mediterranean waters rush over them again looking down you spot a few small seashells dancing helplessly in the tide an orange one a white one and a brown one these seashells are common clam shells but still they're no less gorgeous than anything else on the beach today you pick one up as a keepsake [Music] listen as i read again the first few stanzas of psalm 24 [Music] the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belonged to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths the whole earth belongs to god the beach the sea the creatures flying above and the ones swimming below all of it belongs to god and god is taking care of it this includes you god watches over and cares for his creation just as he cares for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea he is caring for you several minutes have passed since you played in the sand and by now the reddish-orange sun directly behind you is about halfway up the sky ready to give much needed light to the people and crops of this bountiful blessed land just above the sun are three or four small puffy clouds that are sailing across the sea like a carefree group of sailboats gliding across the mediterranean itself in fact as you look down and gaze across the sea you spot a real-life fisherman's sailboat it's a moderate distance from the shore but close enough that you can discern the voices of the two men on board one of them has a gray beard the other looks a bit younger and has black facial hair it's quite possibly a father and son they're struggling to pull up a large net filled with today's catch you estimate that there are probably 100 or more fish in it [Music] hallelujah one of them shouts to the heavens as they pull the net out of the water and into the boat [Music] listen as i read the next group of stanzas from psalm 24 who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob [Music] god is good god is holy and through christ you have clean hands and a pure heart when god looks at you he sees the righteousness of his son he doesn't see sin he sees jesus [Music] god loves you rest soundly tonight in this gift of salvation now a number of minutes have passed since the fishermen pulled the net out of the water high overhead you notice an eagle circling the sky it's fishing too hunting for its next meal eagles in this area often nest in the cliffs along the shore to your left and you watch this one dive rapidly toward the water and glide just above the surface as it reaches down and secures a small silver colored fish with its large yellow talons it barely slows down as it then races to its nest high in the cliffs to your left more than likely it's feeding its eaglet [Music] moments later you hear a voice at sea [Music] there they are look the voice shouts you glance toward the fishermen one of them is motioning toward the water trying to get the others attention he has spotted a group of dolphins playing alongside the boat leaping and splashing no doubt they've been eating the leftovers from the men's morning catch [Music] you see one dolphin jump high out of the water and then another and then another it's as if their dogs at sea and asking the fisherman for a treat one of the fishermen tosses a fish back out to sea and the dolphins quickly race for it you can hear the two men laughing listen now as i read the final stanzas of psalm 24 lift up your heads you gates be lifted up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in [Music] who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord mighty in battle lift up your heads you gates lift them up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is he this king of glory the lord almighty he is the king of glory god is sovereign god is holy [Music] god is also victorious he is the mighty strong god who protected israel much like he protected and provided for the fishermen and our story he will do the same for you tonight he will grant you peace and a marvelous night's sleep he will guard you and protect you he is the king of glory as we wind down tonight's journey listen once more as i read psalm 24 in its entirety let this be your song of peaceful worship tonight as you rest in god's goodness the earth is the lord's and everything in it [Music] the world and all its people belong to him where he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you in worship in your presence oh god of jacob [Music] open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory [Music] dear father you are the god of abraham isaac and jacob you are the god of david you are the king of glory you are the maker of heavens and the earth and you are the creator of rest and sleep father i pray that you will grant this child of yours the perfect peace they need tonight surround them with your presence help them to know in a mighty way that you are watching over and protecting them relax their body and their mind conquer their anxious thoughts bless them with a marvelous night's sleep and help them to wake up refreshed and ready to serve you another day it's in christ's name that i pray amen [Music] as aaron told god's people in scripture may the lord bless you and protect you may the lord smile on you and be gracious to you may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace good night listen now to another sleep story as you rest upon the reality of god's great love for you [Music] do you know how god sees you [Music] you are very precious to him be encouraged and meditate on that as we wind down you are a child of god and like any parent god views you as one of the most precious things he has he loves you so much isaiah 49 16 says behold i have engraved you on the palms of my hands your walls are continually before me you are engraved on god's hands let that thought permeate your body as you settle down to sleep [Music] relax and close your eyes take a deep breath [Music] feel different parts of your body switching off relax your toes and feet focus on your legs let tension dissolve away feel your lower back and abdominal muscles just switching off now your chest and upper back feel all the tension [Music] melt away let your shoulders arms hands and fingers relax and shut down finally your face eyes and mouth relax them and find yourself starting to drift off [Music] father thank you for being our heavenly father we thank you for your love and encouragement lord let this child of yours feel your presence right now jesus there may be times that they don't feel loved or wanted but it's in those times that they need to be reminded about what you say about them you say that they are loved you say that they are precious in your sight you say that they are yours lord teach them to only care about what you say about them and not what other people say about them in your precious name we pray amen now imagine yourself sitting on a very busy downtown street [Music] you're blind so [Music] you can't see what's going on around you but the crowd is overwhelming your voice cannot be heard there are so many people walking on the sidewalk that you're constantly being bumped into the sounds the smells the dust the clamor every day it's the same [Music] you keep asking and begging for someone anyone to give you just a little bit of money so you can eat [Music] you hear no friendly words you feel no friendly touch in fact you can hear some talking about you unkindly maybe thinking because that you can't see [Music] you can't hear all of a sudden you hear someone shout there he is everybody immediately starts to surge toward this individual you have no idea who they're all wanting to see [Music] you try and ask people who is there [Music] but no one answers you then you hear someone say there's jesus [Music] you've heard of this man his amazing teaching his miracles oh his miracles [Music] the thought flits through your mind that maybe jesus could help you oh he's helped so many others but then reality sets in and the hope drains from you you've been tossed aside so many times why would jesus even pay any attention to you you just sit there try to listen to what's going on just then you hear someone call out to you did you hear that right did someone say your name and then then you hear it again softer closer gentler that sense your father spoke to you as a child have you heard your name said in that way so so lovingly all other noise has stopped it's as if you're in a cave no one around you moves or speaks [Music] it's jesus you don't know how you know but you know it's jesus and he has found you [Music] you feel his hand on your forehead you you hear his gentle voice and all of a sudden the darkness that has always enveloped you starts to grow thinner light begins to break through then your eyes begin to focus and you find yourself looking directly into jesus's eyes and jesus is looking directly at you and you feel more love coming from him [Music] than you have ever felt in your entire life imagine being blind your whole life and then miraculously being healed imagine being overlooked ridiculed and then suddenly loved beyond your wildest imagination [Music] out of all the others on the street that day that he could have stopped for jesus chose you [Music] maybe you felt the way that the blind man felt that people ignore you and you feel that you're not worthy of love maybe you've been suffering with an ailment and you feel that god has forgotten you but the truth is this you are worth everything in the eyes of jesus and he wants what is best for you listen to john 3 1 from the amplified bible see what an incredible quality of love the father has shown to us [Music] that we would be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of god [Music] and so we are for this reason the world does not know us because it did not know him god calls us his children so that we can get a glimpse an idea of what our relationship with him should be [Music] truth is there's no way we can totally grasp just how much he loves each of us it's too vast and wide it's immeasurable unchanging never ending did you hear that never ending he will always love you [Music] we are all so precious to him [Music] webster's dictionary defines the word precious as something of great value not to be wasted or treated carelessly that's how god views you you have value you are not to be wasted or treated carelessly [Music] maybe you feel like you've done so many wrong things in your life that god doesn't love you that couldn't be more wrong god loves you so much that he sent his son jesus to die for you perhaps you've seen the verse john 3 16 on a sign in the end zone of a football game along the side of the road on a billboard but let's take a closer look at that verse in the new living translation for this is how god loved the world he gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life god did that for everyone meaning no matter what you've done in your life god still loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you you're precious to him jesus loved telling stories in luke 15 11-32 in the new living translation he tells the story of the prodigal son to demonstrate god's love for us even when you mess up in sin and don't feel worthy of god's love this story explains how god views you listen to this parable [Music] a man had two sons the younger son told his father i want my share of your estate now before you die so his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons a few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land and there he wasted all his money and wild living about the time his money ran out a great famine swept over the land and he began to starve he persuaded the local farmer to hire him and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs the young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him but no one gave him anything when he finally came to his senses he said to himself at home even the hired servants have food enough to spare and here i am dying of hunger i will go home to my father and say father i have sinned against both heaven and you and i'm no longer worthy of being called your son please take me on as a hired servant [Music] so he returned home to his father and while he was still a long way off [Music] his father saw him coming [Music] filled with love and compassion he ran to his son embraced him and kissed him his son said to him father i have sinned against both heaven and you and i am no longer worthy of being called your son [Music] but his father said to his servants quick bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet and kill the calf we have been fattening we must celebrate with a feast for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life he was lost but now he is found so the party began meanwhile the older son was in the fields working when he returned home he heard music and dancing in the house and he asked one of the servants what was going on your brother is back he was told and your father has killed the fattened calf we are celebrating because of his safe return the older brother was angry and wouldn't go in his father came out and begged him but he replied all these years have slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do [Music] and in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes you celebrate by killing the fattened calf his father said to him look dear son you've always stayed with me and everything i have is yours [Music] we had to celebrate this happy day for your brother was dead and has come back to life he was lost but now he is found god is telling you right now that he loves you [Music] you are so precious to him [Music] no matter how much you've sinned god is still waiting for you to come back to him now sleep in confidence knowing that you are loved and are precious to god let's pray oh dear father thank you for loving us thank you for your grace and mercy [Music] i ask now that you would come and comfort your child as they sleep tonight may the lord bless them and protect them may the lord smile on them and be gracious to them may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace amen now rest in his loving arms [Music] my help comes from the lord who made heaven and earth the lord god is with you in the valley god the father calls out to you from the hills your heart rejoices at his voice you call out to him and before a word is even on your tongue he knows it he is already sending the help you need at just the right time and in just the right way he will not let your foot be moved he who keeps you will not slumber behold he who keeps israel will neither slumber nor sleep you are amazed by the faithfulness of god [Music] the one who does not slumber or sleep he never grows weary of that you can be sure he is a constant presence in your life you feel his presence now your feet are steady on solid ground you have nothing to fear the lord is your keeper the lord is your shade on your right hand the sun shall not strike you by day nor the moon by night [Music] the warmth of the sun is shining down on you and you bask in its light and when it becomes too hot god becomes your shade the coolness on your face he is your keeper and guardian you allow yourself to relax fully in his loving arms he is guiding you and the way you should go [Music] even in the night watches when the way seems dark and unfamiliar your foot does not stumble his spirit is there to lead you feel him leading you tonight no matter how dark it seems your footsteps are sure the lord will keep you from all evil he will keep your life the safety you feel [Music] in the fold of the lord's loving arms is the most secure feeling in the world all the cares of life have faded into the night [Music] you are able to breathe deeply and know that you are completely safe no evil can touch you [Music] for the lord is keeping you from everything that is harmful or contrary to his love for you [Music] your very life is held fastly in the palm of his hand you've never felt so protected it's as if walls of love have been placed around you so that nothing can reach you you are surrounded by god's perfect peace the lord will keep your going out and you're coming in from this time forth and forever more as you go through the valley and find pasture [Music] your life is locked in and secured in the fold of the great shepherd he watches over your coming and you're going there is nothing that escapes his sovereignty he is your keeper he keeps watch over you from this time forth now and forevermore tomorrow god will watch over you [Music] he will guide your steps the peace of jesus will guard your heart [Music] from this time forth and forevermore you are kept by the love of the lord he is your help in time of need he is your rock your fortress and your deliverer [Music] now [Music] be still rest deeply and know that god is with you allow his presence to cover you [Music] as you sleep in total peace tonight dream peacefully as i pray gracious god [Music] thank you for your provision over your loved one tonight i ask for healing rest and peaceful sleep as they trust in you [Music] help them always to remember that their help comes from you alone in jesus's holy name i pray amen may the lord bless you and keep you may the lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you may the lord turn his face toward you and give you peace [Music] now listen to another sleep story and relax upon the pure and calming thoughts of our glorious god you serve a sovereign god who is more powerful than you can imagine he created the roaring seas he made the tall rugged mountains he designed the planets and the stars and the galaxies even the ones billions and billions of light years away even the ones we can barely see with the telescope he's so powerful in fact that he made all of this just by speaking a few words and after he had made all these amazing things he made you the bible says we are the pinnacle of his creation he knows the numbers of hairs on your head he cares for your every need he's a god of grace and mercy he's a god of peace and patience music out of truth and goodness he's a god who forgives your sins and prepares a place for you in heaven he's a god who sent his son to stand in your place he's a god who loves you no matter what you've done he's a god who protects you no matter where you are he's also a god who rested and who calls us to rest in his promises he created sleep for your good as david wrote in psalm 4 verse 8. [Music] in peace i will lie down and sleep for you alone o lord [Music] will keep me safe as you prepare for a peaceful night of sleep get comfortable in your bed and make sure everything around you is the way you want it to be if you fall asleep during the story that's great the abide app will shut off automatically [Music] now [Music] take a deep relaxing breath inhaling slowly through your nose [Music] and exhaling slowly through your mouth the day is finally over that's great news right now you get to relax your body and your mind picture yourself handing all your troubles to god the big ones the small ones and everything in between he's a mighty all-powerful infinitely loving god [Music] he can take care of everything in your life go ahead hand all of it to him let him tend to your earthly matters tonight tonight let's focus on god and who he is let's focus on your blessings [Music] now that you've handed all your troubles to him [Music] picture him giving you a gift in return it's his presence and his peace in his protection as he surrounds you with his loving kindness enjoy the sensation of your head sinking into the pillow savor the feeling of the soft sheet and the warm blanket gently covering your body [Music] stretch out your muscles in your feet your legs your hands and your arms take another deep relaxing breath fill your belly with air as you inhale through your nose and exhale through your mouth [Music] focus only on god he loves you he is taking care of you the day is over rejoice in your rest [Music] let me pray over you dear father you are the god of peace you are the god of grace and mercy you are the god of sleep you are a sovereign a holy god who has a plan for our lives you triumph over all of our problems and you are constantly drawing us back to yourself father i thank you for this child of yours i thank you for their love for you their desire to know you more thank you for the many blessings in their life their bed their home their food their friends and family the very air they breathe father i pray that you will surround this child of yours with your presence bless them with wonderful sleep and health your word says you have overcome the world it says you are the lord of peace who grants us peace at all times in every way right now i ask that you will surround this child of yours with your marvelous peace like never before i ask that tonight they will have sweet dreams about your kingdom i ask that they will wake up refreshed and ready to serve you they are safe in your loving arms it's in christ's name that i pray amen for tonight's story let's take a journey back in time to the mediterranean sea during biblical times you'll walk along the shore and let your toes get lost in the sand you'll watch seagulls and eagles maybe even a few dolphins most of all though you'll relish in god's goodness and marvel at his creation [Music] while you do this we'll focus on who god is as we read a psalm of david psalm 24 [Music] it is thought that david may have written psalm 24 after the ark of the covenant was recovered and brought back into jerusalem the bible tells us that david was so full of joy that he danced in the streets praising god for protecting and blessing the israelites [Music] listen as i read psalm 24 the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the god of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory for tonight's journey in ancient israel we'll explore the shores of the mediterranean sea it's morning time on your journey and you're walking on the sand-covered beach along israel's western shore it's a perfect day to rest and relax it's not too hot it's not too cool a warm breeze from the mediterranean skips off the surface of the water and races through your hair and across your skin carrying with it the unmistakable aroma of salt water and marine life [Music] maybe even the smell of flowers from the adjacent valley you take in a deep breath [Music] ah unsavor the fragrance nearby a few seagulls are hovering just above the water apparently in a competition for their next meal they squawk and fuss at one another as they take turns diving into the water as you walk along the shore the unmistakable sensation of sand massages the bottom of your feet and clings to the sides of your toes [Music] it's a fine textured lightish brown sand that resembles the color of the towering cliffs to your left you stand firmly in the sand for a moment and delight in its warmth you bury your left toe and then your right toe curling your toes up and down and letting the sand go whichever way it wishes the feeling is exhilarating but your feet don't stay buried very long because the warm waters of the mediterranean soon sweep across the sand and wash it back to sea instantly exposing your feet to the air you stand there for a few more moments to enjoy the scene burying your feet again in the sand and letting the mediterranean waters rush over them again looking down you spot a few small seashells dancing helplessly in the tide an orange one a white one and a brown one these seashells are common clam shells but still they're no less gorgeous than anything else on the beach today you pick one up as a keepsake listen as i read again the first few stanzas of psalm 24 the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belonged to him for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths [Music] the whole earth belongs to god the beach the sea [Music] the creatures flying above and the ones swimming below [Music] all of it belongs to god and god is taking care of it this includes you [Music] god watches over and cares for his creation just as he cares for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea he is caring for you [Music] several minutes have passed since you played in the sand and by now the reddish orange sun directly behind you is about halfway up the sky ready to give much needed light to the people and crops of this bountiful blessed land just above the sun are three or four small puffy clouds that are sailing across the sea like a carefree group of sailboats gliding across the mediterranean itself in fact as you look down and gaze across the sea you spot a real-life fisherman's sailboat it's a moderate distance from the shore but close enough that you can discern the voices of the two men on board one of them has a gray beard the other looks a bit younger and has black facial hair it's quite possibly a father and son they're struggling to pull up a large net filled with today's catch you estimate that there are probably 100 or more fish in it hallelujah one of them shouts to the heavens as they pull the net out of the water and into the boat listen as i read the next group of stanzas from psalm 24 who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you in worship in your presence oh god of [Music] jacob god is good god is holy and through christ you have clean hands and a pure heart when god looks at you he sees the righteousness of his son he doesn't see sin he sees jesus god loves you rest soundly tonight in this gift of salvation now a number of minutes have passed since the fishermen pulled the net out of the water high overhead [Music] you notice an eagle circling the sky it's fishing too hunting for its next meal eagles in this area often nest in the cliffs along the shore to your left and you watch this one dive rapidly toward the water and glide just above the surface as it reaches down and secures a small silver colored fish with its large yellow talons it barely slows down as it then races to its nest high in the cliffs to your left more than likely it's feeding its eaglet moments later you hear a voice at sea there they are look the voice shouts you glance toward the fishermen one of them is motioning toward the water trying to get the other's attention he has spotted a group of dolphins playing alongside the boat leaping and splashing no doubt they've been eating the leftovers from the men's morning catch [Music] you see one dolphin jump high out of the water and then another and then another it's as if they're dogs at sea [Music] and asking the fisherman for a treat one of the fishermen tosses a fish back out to sea and the dolphins quickly race for it you can hear the two men laughing listen now as i read the final stanzas of psalm 24 lift up your heads you gates be lifted up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in [Music] who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord mighty in battle lift up your heads you gates lift them up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is he this king of glory the lord almighty he is the king of [Music] glory god is sovereign god is holy god is also victorious he is the mighty strong god who protected israel much like he protected and provided for the fishermen and our story he will do the same for you tonight he will grant you peace and a marvelous night's sleep he will guard you and protect you he is the king of glory [Music] as we wind down tonight's journey listen once more as i read psalm 24 in its entirety let this be your song of peaceful worship tonight as you rest in god's goodness [Music] the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him where he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you in worship in your presence oh god of jacob open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory dear father [Music] you are the god of abraham isaac and jacob you are the god of david you are the king of glory you are the maker of heavens and the earth and you are the creator of rest and sleep father i pray that you will grant this child of yours the perfect peace they need tonight surround them with your presence help them to know in a mighty way that you are watching over and protecting them relax their body and their mind conquer their anxious thoughts bless them with a marvelous night's sleep and help them to wake up refreshed and ready to serve you another day it's in christ's name that i pray amen [Music] as aaron told god's people in scripture [Music] may the lord bless you and protect you may the lord smile on you and be gracious to you may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace good night let me pray over you dear father you are the god of peace [Music] you are the god of grace and mercy you are the god of sleep [Music] you are a sovereign a holy god who has a plan for our lives you triumph over all of our problems and you are constantly drawing us back to yourself father i thank you for this child of yours i thank you for their love for you their desire to know you more thank you for the many blessings in their life their bed their home their food their friends and family the very air they breathe father i pray that you will surround this child of yours with your presence bless them with wonderful sleep and health your word says you have overcome the world it says you are the lord of peace who grants us peace at all times in every way right now [Music] i ask that you will surround this child of yours with your marvelous peace like never before i ask that tonight they will have sweet dreams about your kingdom i ask that they will wake up refreshed and ready to serve you they are safe in your loving arms it's in christ's name that i pray amen [Music] for tonight's story let's take a journey back in time to the mediterranean sea during biblical times you'll walk along the shore and let your toes get lost in the sand you'll watch seagulls and eagles maybe even a few dolphins most of all though you'll relish in god's goodness and marvel at his creation while you do this we'll focus on who god is as we read a psalm of david psalm 24 it is thought that david may have written psalm 24 after the ark of the covenant was recovered and brought back into jerusalem the bible tells us that david was so full of joy that he danced in the streets praising god for protecting and blessing the israelites [Music] listen as i read psalm 24 [Music] the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him [Music] for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the god of glory enter [Music] who is the king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is the king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory for tonight's journey in ancient israel we'll explore the shores of the mediterranean sea it's morning time on your journey and you're walking on the sand covered beach along israel's western it's a shore day to rest and relax it's not too hot it's not too cool a warm breeze from the mediterranean skips off the surface of the water and races through your hair and across your skin carrying with it the unmistakable aroma of salt water and marine life maybe even the smell of flowers from the adjacent valley you take in a deep breath [Music] ah and savor the fragrance nearby a few seagulls are hovering just above the water apparently in a competition for their next meal they squawk and fuss at one another as they take turns diving into the water as you walk along the shore the unmistakable sensation of sand massages the bottom of your feet and clings to the sides of your toes it's a fine textured lightish brown sand that resembles the color of the towering cliffs to your left you stand firmly in the sand for a moment and delight in its warmth you bury your left toe and then your right toe [Music] curling your toes up and down and letting the sand go whichever way it wishes the feeling is exhilarating but your feet don't stay buried very long because the warm waters of the mediterranean soon sweep across the sand and wash it back to sea instantly exposing your feet to the air you stand there for a few more moments to enjoy the scene burying your feet again in the sand and letting the mediterranean waters rush over them again [Music] looking down you spot a few small seashells dancing helplessly in the tide an orange one a white one and a brown one these seashells are common clam shells but still they're no less gorgeous than anything else on the beach today you pick one up as a keepsake [Music] listen as i read again the first few stanzas of psalm 24 the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belong to him [Music] for he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths [Music] the whole earth belongs to god the beach the sea the creatures flying above and the ones swimming below all of it belongs to god and god is taking care of it this includes you god watches over and cares for his creation just as he cares for the birds of the air and the fish of the sea he is caring for you several minutes have passed since you played in the sand and by now the reddish orange sun directly behind you is about halfway up the sky ready to give much needed light to the people and crops of this bountiful blessed land just above the sun are three or four small puffy clouds that are sailing across the sea like a carefree group of sailboats gliding across the mediterranean itself in fact as you look down and gaze across the sea you spot a real-life fisherman's sailboat it's a moderate distance from the shore but close enough that you can discern the voices of the two men on board [Music] one of them has a grey beard the other looks a bit younger and has black facial hair it's quite possibly a father and son they're struggling to pull up a large net filled with today's catch you estimate that there are probably 100 or more fish in it hallelujah one of them shouts to the heavens as they pull the net out of the water and into the boat listen as i read the next group of stanzas from psalm 24 who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior such people may seek you and worship in your presence oh god of jacob god is good god is holy and through christ you have clean hands and a pure heart when god looks at you he sees the righteousness of his son he doesn't see sin he sees jesus [Music] god loves you rest soundly tonight and this gift of salvation [Music] now a number of minutes have passed since the fishermen pulled the net out of the water [Music] high overhead you notice an eagle circling the sky it's fishing too hunting for its next meal eagles in this area often nest in the cliffs along the shore to your left and you watch this one dive rapidly toward the water and glide just above the surface as it reaches down and secures a small silver-colored fish with its large yellow talons it barely slows down as it then races to its nest high in the cliffs to your left more than likely it's feeding its eaglet moments later you hear a voice at sea there they are look the voice shouts you glance toward the fisherman one of them is motioning toward the water trying to get the others attention he has spotted a group of dolphins playing alongside the boat leaping and splashing no doubt they've been eating the leftovers from the men's morning catch you see one dolphin jump high out of the water and then another and then another it's as if their dogs at sea and asking the fishermen for a treat one of the fishermen tosses a fish back out to sea and the dolphins quickly race for it you can hear the two men laughing listen now as i read the final stanzas of psalm 24. lift up your heads you gates be lifted up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord mighty in battle lift up your heads you gates lift them up you ancient doors that the king of glory may come in who is he this king of glory the lord almighty he is the king of glory [Music] god is sovereign god is holy god is also victorious he is the mighty strong god who protected israel much like he protected and provided for the fishermen and our story he will do the same for you tonight he will grant you peace [Music] and a marvelous night's sleep he will guard you and protect you he is the king of glory as we wind down tonight's journey listen once more as i read psalm 24 in its entirety let this be your song of peaceful worship tonight as you rest in god's goodness the earth is the lord's and everything in it the world and all its people belonged to him where he laid the earth's foundation on the seas and built it on the ocean depths who may climb the mountain of the lord who may stand in his holy place only those whose hands and hearts are pure who do not worship idols and never tell lies they will receive the lord's blessing and have a right relationship with god their savior [Music] such people may seek you in worship in your presence o god of jacob open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord strong and mighty the lord invincible in battle open up ancient gates open up ancient doors and let the king of glory enter who is this king of glory the lord of heaven's armies he is the king of glory dear father you are the god of abraham isaac and jacob you are the god of david you are the king of glory you are the maker of heavens and the earth and you are the creator of rest and sleep father i pray that you will grant this child of yours the perfect peace they need tonight surround them with your presence help them to know in a mighty way that you are watching over and protecting them relax their body and their mind conquer their anxious thoughts bless them with a marvelous night's sleep and help them to wake up refreshed and ready to serve you another day it's in christ's name that i pray amen as aaron told god's people in scripture may the lord bless you and protect you may the lord smile on you and be gracious to you may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace good night [Music] listen now to another sleep story as you rest upon the reality of god's great love for you [Music] do you know how god sees you [Music] you are very precious to him be encouraged and meditate on that as we wind down you are a child of god and like any parent god views you as one of the most precious things he has he loves you so much isaiah 49 16 says behold i have engraved you on the palms of my hands your walls are continually before me you are engraved on god's hands let that thought permeate your body as you settle down to sleep relax [Music] and close your eyes take a deep breath [Music] feel different parts of your body switching off [Music] relax your toes and feet focus on your legs let tension dissolve away feel your lower back and abdominal muscles just switching off now your chest and upper back feel all the tension melt away [Music] let your shoulders arms hands and fingers relax and shut down [Music] finally your face eyes and mouth relax them and find yourself starting to drift off [Music] father thank you for being our heavenly father we thank you for your love and encouragement lord let this child of yours feel your presence right now jesus there may be times that they don't feel loved or wanted but it's in those times that they need to be reminded about what you say about them you say that they are loved you say that they are precious in your sight you say that they are yours lord teach them to only care about what you say about them and not what other people say about them in your precious name we pray amen now imagine yourself sitting on a very busy downtown street blind so you can't see what's going on around you but the crowd is overwhelming your voice cannot be heard there are so many people walking on the sidewalk that you're constantly being bumped into the sounds the smells the dust the clamour every day it's the same you keep asking and begging for someone anyone to give you just a little bit of money so you can eat you hear no friendly words you feel no friendly touch in fact you can hear some talking about you unkindly maybe thinking because that you can't see you can't hear [Music] all of a sudden you hear someone shout there he is [Music] everybody immediately starts to surge toward this individual you have no idea who they're all wanting to see you try and ask people who is there but no one answers you then you hear someone say there's jesus you've heard of this man his amazing teaching his miracles oh his miracles the thought flits through your mind that maybe jesus could help you he's helped so many others [Music] but then reality sets in and the hope drains from you you've been tossed aside so many times why would jesus even pay any attention to you [Music] you just sit there try to listen to what's going on just then you hear someone call out to you did you hear that right did someone say your name and then then you hear it again softer closer gentler [Music] not since your father spoke to you as a child have you heard your name said in that way [Music] so so lovingly [Music] all other noise has stopped it's as if you're in a cave no one around you moves or speaks it's jesus you don't know how you know but you know it's jesus [Music] and he has found you you feel his hand on your forehead you you hear his gentle voice and all of a sudden the darkness that has always enveloped you starts to grow thinner light begins to break through then your eyes begin to focus [Music] and you find yourself looking directly into jesus's eyes [Music] in jesus [Music] is looking directly at you and you feel more love coming from him [Music] than you have ever felt in your entire life imagine being blind your whole life and then miraculously being healed imagine being overlooked ridiculed [Music] and then suddenly loved beyond your wildest imagination [Music] out of all the others on the street that day that he could have stopped for jesus chose you maybe you felt the way that the blind man felt that people ignore you and you feel that you're not worthy of love maybe you've been suffering with an ailment and you feel that god has forgotten you but the truth is this [Music] you are worth everything in the eyes of jesus [Music] and he wants what is best for you listen to john 3 1 from the amplified bible see what an incredible quality of love the father has shown to us that we would be permitted to be named and called and counted the children of god and so we are for this reason the world does not know us because it did not know him god calls us his children so that we can get a glimpse an idea of what our relationship with him should be truth is there's no way we can totally grasp just how much he loves each of us it's too vast and wide it's immeasurable unchanging never-ending did you hear that never ending he will always love you [Music] we are all so precious to him [Music] webster's dictionary defines the word precious as something of great value not to be wasted or treated carelessly that's how god views you you have value you are not to be wasted or treated carelessly [Music] maybe you feel like you've done so many wrong things in your life that god doesn't love you that couldn't be more wrong god loves you so much that he sent his son jesus to die for you perhaps you've seen the verse john 3 16 on a sign in the end zone of a football game along the side of the road on a billboard but let's take a closer look at that verse in the new living translation for this is how god loved the world he gave his one and only son so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life god did that for everyone meaning no matter what you've done in your life god still loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you you're precious to him jesus loved telling stories in luke 15 11-32 in the new living translation he tells the story of the prodigal son to demonstrate god's love for us even when you mess up in sin and don't feel worthy of god's love this story explains how god views you listen to this parable a man had two sons the younger son told his father i want my share of your estate now before you die so his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons a few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land [Music] and there he wasted all his money in wild living [Music] about the time his money ran out a great famine swept over the land and he began to starve he persuaded the local farmer to hire him and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs the young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him but no one gave him anything [Music] when he finally came to his senses he said to himself at home even the hired servants have food enough to spare and here i am dying of hunger i will go home to my father and say father i have sinned against both heaven and you and i'm no longer worthy of being called your son please take me on as a hired servant so he returned home to his father and while he was still a long way off his father saw him coming filled with love and compassion he ran to his son embraced him and kissed him his son said to him father i have sinned against both heaven and you [Music] and i am no longer worthy of being called your son his father said to his servants quick bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet and kill the calf we have been fattening we must celebrate with a feast for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life he was lost but now he is found so the party began meanwhile the older son was in the fields working when he returned home he heard music and dancing in the house and he asked one of the servants what was going on your brother is back he was told and your father has killed the fattened calf we are celebrating because of his safe return the older brother was angry and wouldn't go in [Music] his father came out and begged him but he replied all these years have slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to do and in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes you celebrate by killing the fattened calf [Music] his father said to him look dear son [Music] you've always stayed with me and everything i have is yours we had to celebrate this happy day for your brother was dead and has come back to life he was lost but now he is found god is telling you right now that he loves you you are so precious to him no matter how much you've sinned god is still waiting for you to come back to him [Music] now sleep in confidence knowing that you are loved and are precious to god let's pray [Music] oh dear father thank you for loving us thank you for your grace and mercy i ask now that you would come and comfort your child as they sleep tonight may the lord bless them and protect them may the lord smile on them and be gracious to them may the lord show you his favor and give you his peace amen now rest in his loving arms [Music] [Music] you

Channel: Abide Meditation App

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Keywords: guided christian meditation, guided meditation for deep sleep, psalms meditation sleep, Fall asleep fast, abide, abide sleep meditation, bible stories, bible verses for sleep, psalm 121, bible stories for sleep, bible meditation for sleep, scriptures for sleeping, abide bible stories for sleep, prayers for sleep, christian meditation, abide sleep meditation bible stories, help me god, help me god abide, jesus help me, god help, where does my help come from

Id: cnFiTUFcoxs

Length: 180min 40sec (10840 seconds)

Published: Fri Dec 03 2021