So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

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So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

Welcome to So Much More where we're creating space to be with God. This podcast, hosted by Jodie Niznik, introduces you to two types of bible scripture meditation experiences, Lectio Divina and Imaginative Prayer, and gives you space to practice them. It also creates space to hear what others have experienced in their time with God.

Topics Covered:

📖 What Is Lectio Divina and Why Is It a Helpful Christian Practice
📖 What Is Christian Meditation and How Do We Use Scripture to Practice It
📖 Special Church Seasonal Series Including Lent, Easter, and Advent

If you are a Christian looking for ways to pray more or meditate more on Scripture, be sure to visit Jodie's website, https://www.jodieniznik.com/ for more information!

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When Bravery Crumbles | Guided Lent Scripture Meditation Luke 22:54-62

March 25, 2024 - 24 min

Get your free Lent guide here. Peter gets a bad rap for denying Jesus. And perhaps he should. But if we focus on the denial, we miss Peter’s bravery. When Jesus was arrested, Peter followed Jesus to his trial. He went straight into the enemy camp. He witnessed Jesus being mistreated as the trial unfolded. And then, when he was asked if he knew Jesus, he faltered. At that moment, it seemed easier to deny association than to get thrown into the fray with Jesus. Three times he made the choice to preserve his life instead of risk the association. And on that third time, something breathtaking happened: Jesus and Peter locked eyes. I can hardly imagine the moment. Jesus was not only Peter’s closest friend but also his Rabbi. His respected and beloved teacher. What was in Jesus’s look? As you listen to this meditation, you will be guided to consider this question. And I’ll help you reframe what you might think was in Jesus’s eyes to see his love for Peter and us. You’ll also have space to see where the Spirit leads you as we engage with the Scripture in an imaginative prayer experience. Here are some additional links to help you learn more about me and to help you create space for God in your life: Get your free Lent guide here. If you missed last week’s meditation on Jesus and Peter praying in the garden, you can find it here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The passage meditated on in this episode is: Luke 22:54-62, NLT Peter Denies Jesus 54 So they arrested him and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. 55 The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. 56 A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” 57 But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!” 58 After a while someone else looked at him and said, “You must be one of them!” “No, man, I’m not!” Peter retorted. 59 About an hour later someone else insisted, “This must be one of them, because he is a Galilean, too.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I don’t know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord’s words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” 62 And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Lord, Help Us Pray | Guided Prayer for Lent

March 20, 2024 - 8 min

Discovering Strength Through Prayer | Guided Lent Scripture Meditation Luke 22:40-46

March 18, 2024 - 19 min

Get your free Lent guide here. When Jesus faced his deepest need, he turned to God in prayer. And in prayer, Jesus found strength. Jesus also invited the disciples to pray because temptation was barreling toward them. Jesus knew the disciples would also be strengthened through prayer. Unfortunately, they fell asleep. They didn’t understand the urgency of Jesus’s exhortation to pray. Prayer can be hard for all of us. And yet, we know it is an essential practice that connects us to God. As you listen to this meditation, you will be guided to reflect on how God is inviting you to pray and how it can help you stay strong in the face of your temptations. This is our sixth Lent meditation. You can find out more about Lent, where it originated, and how Christians traditionally practice it through my free Lent Guide here. Here are some additional links to help you learn more about me and to help you create space for God in your life: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The passage meditated on in this episode is: Luke 22:40–46, CSV 40 When he reached the place, he told them, “Pray that you may not fall into temptation.” 41 Then he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and began to pray, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me—nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. 44 Being in anguish, he prayed more fervently, and his sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground. 45 When he got up from prayer and came to the disciples, he found them sleeping, exhausted from their grief. 46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray, so that you won’t fall into temptation.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Lord, Embolden Us to Love | Guided Prayer for Lent

March 13, 2024 - 8 min

Start with Love | Guided Lent Scripture Meditation Mark 12:28–31

March 11, 2024 - 18 min

Lord, Make Us Great in You | Guided Prayer for Lent

March 6, 2024 - 7 min

How to Cultivate True Greatness | Guided Lent Scripture Meditation Matthew 20:20-28

March 4, 2024 - 22 min

This guided Scripture meditation for Lent leads us to consider where true greatness is found. So, what does makes someone great? Power. Influence. Authority. Wealth. Accomplishments. We know these things don’t really make us great, yet we still desire them. We still strive after them. And we even convince ourselves we will use all this greatness for the good of the Kingdom. And then, Jesus flips greatness upside down. The way up is really down. To be great is to serve. To lower ourselves. To open our hands. To be great is to be like Jesus, the King and the Creator. The One who really did have it all and was truly great. And he laid it all down to serve us, you and me. This is the measure of greatness. And it isn’t easy. As you listen to this week’s meditation, know that I’m praying for you to embrace God’s definition of greatness for your life. His way is not our way, but His way is always the better way. This is our fourth Lent meditation. You can find out more about Lent, where it originated, and how Christians traditionally practice it through my free Lent Guide here. Here’s some additional links to help you learn more about me and to help you create space for God in your life: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The passage meditated on in this episode is: Matthew 20:20-28, CSB 20 Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons approached JESUS with her sons. She knelt down to ask him for something. 21 “What do you want?” he asked her. “Promise,” she said to him, “that these two sons of mine may sit, one on your right and the other on your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you’re asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?”, “We are able,” they said to him. 23 He told them, “You will indeed drink my cup, but to sit at my right and left is not mine to give; instead, it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 When the ten disciples heard this, they became indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called them over and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions act as tyrants over them. 26 It must not be like that among you. On the contrary, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave; 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Lord, Give Us Your Perspective | Guided Prayer for Lent

February 28, 2024 - 6 min

Embracing God’s Perspective | Guided Lent Scripture Meditation Matthew 16:21-26

February 26, 2024 - 25 min

Peter thought he was protecting Jesus, his friend and his Rabbi. He had no idea that his good intentions would play into the hands of the enemy and thwart the plans of eternity. We often have good intentions as we try to make something happen. It seems reasonable – even good from our perspective. Yet God sees and knows infinitely more than we do. And his ways are not our ways. If Peter’s plan had succeeded, he would have rescued Jesus from a moment of pain but created a lifetime of loss for everyone else. As you listen to this week’s meditation, I’m praying you find a little God perspective to help you endure whatever you are facing. This is our third Lent meditation. You can find out more about Lent, where it originated, and how Christians traditionally practice it through my free Lent Guide here. Here are some additional links to help you learn more about me and to help you create space for God in your life: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. The passage meditated on in this episode is: Matthew 16:21–26, NLT From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. 22 But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” 23 Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Guided Prayer for Lent | Choosing Faith Over Fear

February 21, 2024 - 7 min

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Meet Your Host

Jodie Niznik is a seminary-trained lover of God’s Word who has served in vocational ministry for over twelve years. She helps people create space for God in their lives through her Scripture meditation podcast and equips them to take another step with Jesus through her Real People, Real Faith Bible studies and teaching. You can connect with her at jodieniznik.com.