Hello and welcome to this guided meditation today.
First I'd like to thank you and invite you to thank yourself for choosing to spend time in stillness.
Stillness that will benefit your mind,
Your heart,
And your entire body.
So as you settle into a comfortable position,
I'd like to invite you to breathe in deeply through your nose and on your exhale invite you to give your body permission to relax.
Maybe take a moment to check in with your shoulders,
Your hips,
Your ankles,
Your toes,
Just seeing if you're holding any tension in any of those places.
Then invite you to check in with your cheeks,
Your jaw,
Your forehead,
Places so many of us hold and carry tension.
And then invite you to take three deep breaths,
Just gently in through your nose and exhaling with an open mouth if you'd like.
Again inhale through your nose,
Exhale through your mouth.
One more deep breath in.
In this meditation I'd like to invite you to imagine that you are by the ocean.
Just see if you can visualize yourself,
Maybe you're sitting near it,
Maybe you're laying in the sand,
Maybe you're standing with your feet in the water,
But just see if you can visualize this place,
Even letting yourself breathe in that beautiful moist air.
I invite you to imagine that as you look up you notice a bird that's flying into the wind.
You see it's flapping frantically but staying in the same place.
But then you notice another bird higher up and this bird catches an updraft and is floating easily in the air,
Unburdened by the wind.
I'd like to invite you to consider that this is the difference between life with Jesus and life without Jesus.
Doing life by ourselves often feels like flying against the wind,
Flapping frantically but staying in the same place,
While turning to the Savior allows him to lift us with healing in his wings.
So see if for a moment you can bring to mind your favorite image of Jesus.
Maybe it's an artist's rendering that you've loved for a long time,
Or maybe it's a piece of art that you've come upon recently,
Or maybe just use your imagination,
But just see if you can bring into your mind's eye an image of Jesus,
And then see if you can imagine him smiling brightly with joy at you.
Maybe even think of something that you've done that would make him proud,
It could be something small like giving a smile or a compliment to someone,
Or it could be something larger like an act of service that you've given.
See if you can bring that to mind and then imagine him smiling brightly with joy at you,
Almost like he's thanking you for the service and the love that you've shared in his behalf.
Next I'd like to invite you to think of one thing you've done that you wish you wouldn't have.
Maybe it's something you regret,
Again it could be something super small or something big,
But then I'd like to invite you to imagine him again smiling brightly with joy at you,
Remembering that our worth is not tied to what we do or don't do.
Anytime we turn to him,
He is willing to lift us,
To help us overcome,
To help us move through and come out better than we were before.
So to end this meditation,
I'd like to invite you to choose one of these affirmations to practice with your breath,
To remind you of how much Jesus loves you,
No matter what you do,
No matter what.
See which one of these affirmations resonates with your heart right now.
I am worthy.
I am loved.
I am supported.
I am enough.
And then go ahead and practice that affirmation with your breath.
When you inhale thinking I am,
And on your exhale,
Filling in that word that you need most right now.
Again,
Choosing from I am worthy.
I am loved.
I am supported.
I am enough.
Or another word of your choice.
Just try that three times with your breath.
Remember you are worthy.
You are loved.
You are supported.
You are enough because he lifts you up.
Go ahead and seal your practice with one last deep breath in.
If you'd like to place one or two hands on your heart,
Go ahead.
Thank you for joining me in this meditation today.
Sending you love and gratitude.
Namaste.
