So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

NEW SERIES: Do Not Be Afraid This guided Christian meditation on John 14 reminds us that Jesus leaves us peace, so we do not need to be afraid. If your heart feels troubled, this meditation will help you find peace. Get your FREE Do Not Be Afraid Guided Meditation Journal here. Some say there are 365 verses of Scripture that tell us not to be afraid, one for each day. I'm not sure that's entirely accurate, but here's what I do know: Scripture speaks about fear A LOT. There is no shortage of things that make us feel fear.  However, we actually have very little control over much of what causes us to feel fear, which means the feeling of fear isn't doing us any favors.  Fear preoccupies our hearts and minds, causes us to lose sleep, and causes our bodies to experience an overload of stress. Unnecessary fear is simply a tool the enemy uses to render us ineffective.  And that's why the Bible speaks to fear over and over again. God doesn't want us to fear because he wants us to thrive, live in trust and peace, and remember that he has good plans for us. Jesus knew this would be our struggle, so he stated: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Find a quiet space, take a few deep breaths, and allow Jesus' words to lead you to his peace. You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation, as well as the entire Do Not Be Afraid series here.   Here are some additional helpful links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The entire meditation text is as follows: John 14:1, 25-27, NIV Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. "All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Isaiah leads you to reflect on how we can know and experience peace, no matter our circumstances.   In this meditation, you will: Consider one area where you are wrestling to maintain peace in your life Reflect on how to find God’s unfailing peace Invite the Spirit to help us take a step toward knowing more peace in our lives   Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here.   This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links:   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT 3 You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! 4 Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Exodus encourages you to reflect on God's love for you and his desire to help you.   In this meditation, you will: Reflect on the truth that God sees you, hears you, and is concerned about you Reflect on God as a rescuer Reflect on God’s graciousness toward us Invite the Spirit to guide you into how you need God to act on your behalf Invite God to help you rest in his character   Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here.   This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links:   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: Exodus 3:7–8, NIV 7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Acts leads you to reflect on how you can find abundant and lasting joy. In this meditation, you will be invited to: Reflect on the difference between joy and pleasure Reflect on the early church and how they experienced joy Invite the Spirit to guide you into how he is inviting you to know more joy in your life   Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here.   This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links:   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: Acts 2:44-47, NLT 44 And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. 45 They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. 46 They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—47 all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Galatians will help you reflect on and embrace the freedom Christ gives us.   In this meditation, you will be invited to: Consider what freedom is and isn’t Ask God to help you identify any places where you aren’t experiencing freedom Allow the Spirit to guide you toward freedom in this area of your life   Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here.   This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links:   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: Galatians 5:1, 13-14 - NLT So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. 13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love. 14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 100 will help you experience and praise God for his unending love for you. In this meditation, you will be invited to: Become aware of God’s presence with you Praise God for how he made you Praise God that you belong to him, and he cares for you tenderly and completely Praise God for his loyal and enduring love from the beginning of time and into the future   Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here.   This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links:   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here.   The whole meditation text is as follows: Psalm 100, NET Bible A thanksgiving psalm. 1Shout out praises to the Lord, all the earth! 2 Worship the Lord with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing! 3 Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. 4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name! 5 For the Lord is good. His loyal love endures, and he is faithful through all generations.   Psalm 100, The Message On your feet now—applaud God!                         Bring a gift of laughter,                         sing yourselves into his presence. 3        Know this: God is God, and God, God.                         He made us; we didn’t make him.                         We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. 4        Enter with the password: “Thank you!”                         Make yourselves at home, talking praise.                         Thank him. Worship him. 5        For God is sheer beauty,                         all-generous in love,                         loyal always and ever. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Solomon’s prayer from 1 Kings 8 will remind you: God hasn’t given up on you. God hasn’t walked out on you. God is a faithful promise keeper with a perfect track record. Our souls need this reminder. This meditation will help you remember God’s perfect faithfulness in the past as you seek his good and wise path for the future. Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here. This Sacred Summer guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   Here are some additional helpful links: Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: 1 Kings 8:56-58. The Message Translation Blessed be God, who has given peace to his people Israel just as he said he’d do. Not one of all those good and wonderful words that he spoke through Moses has misfired. May God, our very own God, continue to be with us just as he was with our ancestors—may he never give up and walk out on us. May he keep us centered and devoted to him, following the life path he has cleared, watching the signposts, walking at the pace and rhythms he laid down for our ancestors.   For reference, this is the NIV translation of 1 Kings 8:56-58 Praise be to the Lord, who has given rest to his people Israel just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave through his servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us. May he turn our hearts to him, to walk in obedience to him and keep the commands, decrees and laws he gave our ancestors. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in Psalm 19 reminds us that God is our Creator and worthy of praise. Get your FREE Sacred Summer Guided Meditation Journal here. Summer is often a season of joy but also a season of distraction. This guided meditation series is designed to help you stay connected to God wherever your summer takes you. It’s a few moments to unplug, take some deep breaths, and hear God’s Word to help you pause and reset.   In this meditation, you will be guided toward awe and worship as you focus on our Creator and the world he designed for us.   Follow along with a FREE printed guide of this meditation along with the entire Sacred Summer series here.   Here are some additional helpful links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.   Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: First reading from Psalm 19:1-6, NLT  The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun. It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race. The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in John 11 reminds us that Jesus is with us in our pain and grief. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here.   Often life just doesn’t make sense. Pain, death, disease, evil. We believe God is bigger than all of these things, so why do they still happen. I identify with Mary when she runs out to meet Jesus after her brother, Lazarus, died. She said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Mary is asking why. This is normal—but getting stuck there is detrimental. Becoming fixated on why can breed fear and anxiety as they lead to wondering when something else bad will happen, or if this pain will ever end. We rarely receive answers to our why questions. What we do receive is exactly what Jesus offered Mary—his presence, his compassion, and his empathy. Jesus grieved with Mary’s family and community. Just as he grieves with us when we are in pain. If you’ve been wrestling with why Jesus allowed something in your life, I’m praying he will use this meditation to comfort you with the reminder that he is with you and he loves you.   Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here.   Here are some additional helpful links: Listen to last week's meditation here You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The whole meditation text is as follows: John 11:32–37, NIV 32 When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in Luke 10 reminds us that we can turn away from distraction and worry to embrace Jesus’s better way. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here.   You are worried and upset about many things. Jesus said this to Martha over 2000 years ago. Yet these words are also for us today. Martha was distracted with preparing to host her loved ones. It caused her to be upset and worried—and perhaps a little disgruntled since she was the only one doing the work. Jesus helped her reframe her anxiety with these words, “few things are needed—or indeed only one.” He then reminded Martha that there was a better choice than the one she was making. If you’re feeling pulled apart by all that demands your attention, then this meditation is for you. There is a better way. Jesus invites us to walk and work with him at his pace. A pace that trusts God to help us accomplish what truly needs to be done and let the rest go.   Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here.   Here are some additional helpful links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com. Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The entire meditation text is as follows: Luke 10:38-42, NIV As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.