So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

The third week of Advent invites us to reflect on love—real love—and what it looks like in our lives. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here. This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love. What is love?The world often says love is a feeling—but feelings change. God tells us that love is so much more. God is love. And his love is eternal, unchanging, and steadfast. He demonstrated this love by sending his Son, Jesus, to take away our sins. There is no greater love than the love of God. But God’s love isn’t something we receive for ourselves alone. Part of knowing God’s love is the call to give it away—to love one another as he has loved us. Yet, this can feel especially hard during the holidays, when we might face the challenge of loving difficult people in our families and communities. This meditation will guide you to contemplate love: God’s love for you and his invitation to love others. May you know and experience real love this Advent season. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here. Here are some additional helpful links: Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik 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: 1 John 4:7-10, NLT 7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This second week of Advent invites us to reflect on the theme of peace—a peace that became possible through the arrival of Jesus. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love. Jesus brought peace. Peace in our relationship with God, peace into our lives, and peace into the world. The peace He offers isn’t a distant, someday-when-life-is-perfect kind of peace. It’s a peace we can experience right now—in the middle of the mess. I love how Alan Fadling, from Unhurried Living and one of the contributors to the Unhurried Advent Guide, puts it:“Anything we can do in anxiety, we can do better in peace.” This doesn’t ignore the fact that real life is often messy and difficult. But imagine if there were an undercurrent of peace flowing through your life instead of anxiety. How would that change the way you live, love, and respond to your circumstances? Today, we’re meditating on the announcement of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds. In this extraordinary moment, God gives them (and us) the profound gift of peace. As you listen to this meditation, I invite you to step into the shepherds’ shoes and wonder: What would it have been like to witness this moment? More importantly, how might Jesus be inviting you to embrace His peace this Advent season? I’m praying that this meditation helps you pause, reflect, and receive the peace Jesus offers. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here. Here are some additional helpful links: Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik 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 2:8–14, NLT 8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This first week of Advent focuses on the theme of hope—a hope made tangible through the arrival of Jesus. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here. This 25-day guide is full of Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, an amazing ministry I’m confident you’ll love. Why do we have hope? As believers, our hope isn’t anchored in fleeting desires or wishful thinking. Instead, it is rooted in God’s faithfulness. Did you know Jesus fulfilled more than 300 prophecies with His first coming—prophecies that were written centuries before His birth? These fulfilled prophecies assure us that God faithfully keeps his promises. And that means, just as Jesus came once, He will come again. This is our sure hope. This week’s meditation is one of the prophecies that Jesus fulfilled. It is from the book of Isaiah and was written hundreds of years before Jesus’s birth. It speaks clearly of Jesus as the Light who shines in our darkness. Just like us, the people in Isaiah’s times struggled. While our struggles may differ, we know the weight of darkness in our lives and world. We, too, need the light of hope to break through. And Jesus is that light. No matter what you’re facing this season, let this passage remind you of your sure hope in Christ—the One who entered into our darkness to bring His glorious light. I’m praying this meditation helps you rest in His unshakable hope today. Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here. Here are some additional helpful links: Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat. You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik 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: Isaiah 9:2, 6, NIV 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided meditation and prayer from Psalm 103 guides us to pause and praise God for his unwavering faithfulness. Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here. Psalm 103 is often called a “salvation-history” Psalm. It beautifully recounts God’s faithfulness through the ages, telling the story of how he saved and redeemed his people over and over. At its core, this Psalm reminds us: if God did it before, he will do it again. He is trustworthy, he is good, and he is worthy of our praise. In this season of thanksgiving, take a few moments to be guided into gratitude. You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms series here. Advent is coming. Get your free Advent guide here. This guide was made in partnership with Unhurried Living and contains weekly Scripture meditations, daily devotionals, reflection questions, and more. All to guide you through the Advent season at an unhurried and gracious pace. Get your Advent guide here: https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024 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: Psalm 103:1-5, NIV 1 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits— 3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided meditation and prayer from Psalm 86 will help you stand strong by remembering and relying on God’s character and strength.   Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here.   Psalm 86 is a heartfelt prayer from David, who cried out to God while facing unjust attacks from his enemies. Though David confronted ruthless foes who sought to take his life, this prayer serves as a reminder that we all have enemies—whether external challenges, difficult people, or internal struggles such as sin patterns or negative thought cycles.   The Psalm encourages us to remember that God is greater than any enemy we could face.   Whatever "enemy" you may be confronting today, be encouraged that God is bigger and stronger. As you meditate on Psalm 86, allow these truths to deepen your trust in Him and strengthen your heart to walk faithfully in His ways.   You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms series here.   Advent is coming. Get your free Advent guide here. This guide was made in partnership with Unhurried Living and contains weekly Scripture meditations, daily devotionals, reflection questions, and more. All to guide you through the Advent season at an unhurried and gracious pace. Get your Advent guide here: https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024   Here are some additional helpful links: You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik 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: Psalm 86:11-15, NIV 11 Teach me your way, Lord, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. 12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. 13 For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths, from the realm of the dead. 14 Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God; ruthless people are trying to kill me— they have no regard for you. 15 But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided meditation and prayer from Psalm 46 will remind you that God is not shaken, and we can rest in him, even when our circumstances feel turbulent.   Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here.   In a world that feels increasingly turbulent—whether it’s the US elections, ongoing wars, social unrest, or other distressing events—it’s easy to feel like the ground is shifting beneath our feet. This uncertainty can weigh heavily on our hearts.   But Psalm 46 brings a powerful reminder: no matter how unstable things seem, God is our refuge and strength. He is a present help in times of trouble, and He has not lost control.   During this meditation, you’ll be invited to recognize what’s troubling you right now and bring it before God. We'll reflect on how God longs to help and sustain us, even in the midst of chaos. Then we will turn to God’s own words from Psalm 46:10—“Be still, and know that I am God”—allowing these words to bring comfort and remind us that God is good and sovereign.   We can rest in our Good Father’s care.   Take a moment to pause and remember who God is in the midst of your troubles. This meditation is here to help you know His peace and find rest in Him, even when the world feels out of control.   You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms 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 @jodieniznik 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: Psalm 46:1-3, 10-11, NLT 1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. 2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. 3 Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!   10 (God says,) “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” 11 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress.   Psalm 46:10, NET (God) says, “Stop your striving and recognize that I am God! I will be exalted over the nations! I will be exalted over the earth!” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided meditation and prayer from Psalm 130 reminds us that God is worth waiting on, especially when life feels chaotic and out of control.   Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here.   Psalm 130 begins: “Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord.” The Psalmist's distress is palpable, reflecting a situation that feels overwhelming—whether for himself or his entire community. It’s a cry that resonates with us today as we navigate personal struggles and the brokenness in our world.   In these moments, where do we turn?   The Psalmist invites us to turn to God, seeking His mercy and resting in His unfailing love. He points us to the gift of forgiveness, reminding us that God is not just a refuge but our true hope.   We all have areas of longing where we need God to move. This meditation will guide you to remember that in your waiting, God is the best place to turn. We’ll reflect on God’s forgiveness and how it leads us to deeper trust in His goodness. And we’ll seek His help as we continue to wait with hope.   You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms 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 https://www.instagram.com/jodieniznik/ 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: Psalm 130:1-6, NIV 1 Out of the depths I cry to you, Lord; 2 Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. 3 If you, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 4 But with you there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 5 I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 6 I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 141 creates space to pray and seek God’s help, especially regarding our words.   Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here.   Ever wish you could hit rewind and take back something you said? Maybe it was a harsh tone, biting sarcasm, or a juicy piece of gossip. It’s easy to let words slip out—and once they do, it’s just as easy to wish we could take them back.   The truth is, those words that slip out might feel satisfying in the moment, but they often leave a bitter taste behind. As this Psalmist puts it, they’re like delicacies—tempting but not truly good or nourishing.   And in today’s divisive world, our words are more important than ever. How can we, as followers of Jesus, be people who use our words to extend God’s love and peace, even when we don’t agree with something?   That’s why I’ve prayed this Psalm for years. I want to be someone who uses her words well—someone whose words are trustworthy, kind, and full of love.   So I pray, “Lord, set a guard over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”   And God is faithful. He gives those gentle nudges to stop talking or to tread more carefully.   Heeding his nudge is still up to me, though, as it always is.   This meditation offers space to ask God for His help and protection as we seek to be people who speak words filled with love.   You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms 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 @jodieniznik 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: Psalm 141:1-4, NIV 1 I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you. 2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. 3 Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips. 4 Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation from Psalm 139 reminds us that God created us—and everyone around us—with beautiful intention and purpose.   Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here.   Ever wish God had made you differently? Or what about that person who seems to get under your skin... Do you ever think, If only they were a little different, life would be easier, right? But Psalm 139:13-16 reminds us that God was incredibly deliberate when he created you and everyone around you. He thought through detail—from the texture of your toenails to the timber of your laugh. And God calls his creation remarkable and wondrous. Even the details you aren’t particularly fond of. When we shift our focus from critiquing ourselves and others to thanking God for His handiwork, it transforms our perspective. This meditation will give you space to reflect on and recognize God’s beautiful design in your life, in the people you love, and even those you find hard to love.   You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms 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 @jodieniznik 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: Psalm 139:13-16, CSB 13 For it was you who created my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise you because I have been remarkably and wondrously made., Your works are wondrous, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from you when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in your book and planned before a single one of them began.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This Christian meditation and prayer on Psalm 71 reminds us of God’s power to restore and renew. Get your FREE Praying with The Psalms Journal here. Will God redeem the mess? Will He restore what’s been broken? Scripture gives a resounding “yes”—but restoration doesn’t always mean returning to how things were. God’s work is often about transformation, making something new from the broken pieces. If you’re feeling unsure about what God can do with your challenges, take heart. Your God is a God of restoration. This meditation reassures us that He is good, He is at work, and we can trust Him. You can follow along with a FREE printed guide for this meditation and the entire Praying with the Psalms 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 @jodieniznik 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: Psalm 71:19-21, NLT 19 Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens. You have done such wonderful things. Who can compare with you, O God? 20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth. 21 You will restore me to even greater honor and comfort me once again. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.