Connie Minnell

Strength and Comfort | Guided Meditation

If you reached the point of exhaustion and can’t sleep, you need today’s show. We’ll look closely at the old saying, “The Lord helps those who help themselves.”  Because if that’s true, then how much do we need to rely on our own strength and how much should we turn over to God?

Life is busy, you love it that way and so do I! It keeps us on our toes. But sometimes things just get TOO busy. Sometimes the old brain just won’t shut off, and sleep seems like it will never. Ever. Come. It’s time to look outside of yourself for a source of strength. In 1 Chronicles we are told to “Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his face continually.” (1 Chronicles 16:11 King James Version (KJV)) But no matter how many times we tell ourselves that, we still think we have to do it all ourselves. Just like in that old saying “The Lord helps them who helps themselves”? I’ve heard that all my life, and even used it a few time myself in the past, but I won’t be saying it anymore….

I assumed it was from the Bible; it sounds like something out of Proverbs, doesn’t it?   In fact, the Bible says just the opposite. Proverbs says, “Those who trust in themselves are fools, but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.” (Proverbs 28:26, New International Version, NIV)

God wants us to trust in him, to rely on Him, and on His wisdom; He wants to carry all of our burdens, all we have to do is ask Him to come into our lives and give our troubles over to Him.

In Psalms 46 God tells us to listen to him in the stillness but it’s easy to let our egos think that maybe this time God wants us to handle it on our own. That’s like trying to replace the infinite peace of the universe on a starlit night with the white noise of a sound machine on your bedroom nightstand. With that white-noise machine there’s no communication going either way: the noise just cancels out our thought. To listen to what God wants to say to us, we have to hear His words in the stillness, and that’s when we know that

He is God; we are not.

So next time you hear that saying “God helps those who help themselves,” you can remember that you know the truth: God helps those who cannot help themselves, and that includes all of us.

Scriptures of Comfort and Strength:

1Peter 5:6-7 King James Version, KJV;Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV);

More comforting scriptures read in today’s meditation are following, from the King James Version: Psalm 18:1-3 ; Isaiah 12:1-2; 40:28-31; and 41: 9-10 

In 2 Samuel 22:31-33 New International Version (NIV) we learn about the perfect strength and love and the ways of God…

Returning to Psalms we hear verses that give us strength and courage throughout whatever disaster or calamity that comes to our lives: Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord. Psalm 27:14 (KJV) and more can be found here; Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11 (KJV).

You can be comforted from the words of the 23 Psalm, KJV; The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake….

Finally, Jesus gives us words that give encouragement, comfort, and peace in the following verses; John 14:1-3, 16-18, 26-27 (KJV)

Copyright Information(Licensing agreements available upon request by appropriate entity)All words, including words on graphic art (excludes Bible verses,) are my own and may not be used in any part written or spoken without my permission. 

Music Used by Permission: Across The Waters © 2017 Jewelbeat Music Library Guardian Angels Uplifted  © 2017 Rebecca Reads Recordings 

Scripture Used by Permission:The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016 Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. King James Version (KJV) Public Domain 

Listening For The Truth

If you’re reading this, then you may be having trouble sleeping too. I’m sorry. I know how exhausted you feel right now. I’m on this journey to find a good night’s sleep right along with you. As I said in the post, “Introduction,” I struggled with sleep issues.  I tried everything, but nothing helped long term. I was only getting about three or four hours of sleep a night. I blamed it my job, the chronic pain, headaches, lousy diet, little exercise; you name it. 

I know I’m not alone, and that’s why I started this website with a guided meditation in scripture that blesses your spirit as it blesses your sleep.

Today we focus on learning to listen to the truth. But the truth is not always easy to find, or easy to accept. God has placed the scripture in our lives to help us find the truth. It may not always be the truth that our spirits want to hear, but it’s the truth that God wants to reveal to us so that we can allow His healing to begin in our lives. Whatever struggles you have experienced today, ask God to show you His truth in the matter. Like this next story, about a little first-grade student:

A few years ago there was an energetic little 6-year-old girl at the school where I taught. When she became feverish and tired, here parents thought she just had a bad case of the flu. But as her symptoms were worsening, even after weeks of doctor visits, the doctor ran more specific tests.
It was only after that that the parents found out the sweet child with the big smile was suffering from a form of childhood cancer. That truth was devastating for the parents to hear. Of course, even if that truth is something the patient doesn’t want to hear, it’s a truth that doctors must find before being able to cure or relieve the condition. And that adorable little six-year-old? She is now a healthy, cancer-free, teenager.
Sometimes the truth that’s hardest to hear can be that which saves us.

I’m on this journey to find a good night’s sleep right along with you. As I said in episode 1, “Introduction,” I struggle with sleep issues. I’ve tried everything, but nothing helped long term. I’ve been grappling with this problem for over four years. Back then, I was much sicker than I thought and was only getting about three or four hours of sleep a night. I blamed it on stress, chronic pain, and headaches, lousy diet, little exercise; you name it. Now even though the stress, headaches, and health were somewhat improved after I retired from teaching, I was still struggling to get a good night’s sleep.
I tried listening to audiobooks, music, anything to take my mind off trying to sleep. Nothing helped. Where was the peace I was looking for? What I needed to hear was scripture. Something that blessed my spirit as I drifted into sleep.
And that’s what this new podcast is about, blessing your spirit as it blesses your sleep.

Here at Resting in the Word, I’ll always have complete information on each verse right here on my website. This is also the place where you can email me if you want to get in touch.
Please feel free to listen to the short podcast by clicking on the “play” button above. And get ready to be blessed with the soothing words of scripture set to soft, meditation music. In this crazy world, we can all use a few more blessings in our lives, so I pray the following restful moments will bless you as much as they have me!

Sometimes the truth that’s hardest to hear can be that which saves us.

Resting in the Word

SCRIPTURE AS READ ON PODCAST, Listed in order:   Jeremiah 29:11-12 New International Version (NIV); Jeremiah 29:13 King James Version  (KJV); Proverbs 30:5  English Standard Version (ESV); Proverbs 30:5 ESV; Psalm 25:4-5 NIV; Psalm 26:1-3 KJV; Ps. 33:2-5 KJV; Ps. 40:11 KJV; Ps. 57:1-3 KJV; Ps. 86:10-12  KJV; Ps. 100 KJV; Numbers 6:24-27 KJV.

Copyright Information
(Licensing agreements available upon request by appropriate entity)

Music Used by Permission:
Across The Waters © 2017 Jewelbeat Music Library
Cherry Blossom Lullabye © 2017 Rebecca Reads Recordings

Scripture Used by Permission:
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016.
Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.      King James Version  (KJV)
Public Domain

Introduction to Meditating in the Word

Welcome to Episode 1 of Resting in the Word, a scripture meditation podcast created to refresh the spirit and relax the mind. This show is designed for anyone who struggles to find a restful night’s sleep but is also looking for more than just healing the body. Here you’re given a choice to meditate upon the inspirational words that can and will change your life. Resting in the Word is created to help you enjoy all the mental, physical and spiritual health benefits that come with finally getting the rest your body so desperately needs.

As you listen, you begin with the soothing sounds of music, along with your host, Connie Minnell, who will guide you through a personal time of spiritual reflection. Then, as you gently move into the relaxing meditation, you allow all the benefits of the divinely inspired word of God, words  of peace and grace, to come to rest in your spirit. 

As the weeks go by, you will find that this is as much a journey of faith for me as it may become for you, so I humbly ask for your words or prayers of encouragement for Resting in the Word. In return, I will also be praying for you.
If you like what you hear, please tell someone else. You never know how you can bless another person’s life just by sharing what you know. If they don’t know what a podcast is or how to access one, just send them to my website at restingintheword.org, and they can listen there.

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Note: This podcast is created to help you relax and sleep, please do not listen to while driving or other activities that require your full attention.