So Much More: Creating Space for God (Lectio Divina and Scripture Meditation)

This guided Christian meditation on Psalm 136 will help you stop ruminating on lies and instead dwell on God's faithful and enduring love. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here. Unhelpful thoughts easily get stuck in our minds, like a broken record that plays over and over again. This kind of thinking wakes us up at night, distracts us during the day, and makes us physically sick. It does us no favors! And the worst part is, it’s not even real. They’re lies. Lies aimed to keep us bound and stuck. It’s not easy to break the pattern of ruminating in destructive thinking. It takes consistent and steady effort to identify the lies and replace them with the truth. Psalm 136 is a great place to start. Over and over again, the truth His faithful love endures forever is repeated. When you discover yourself stuck in a lie, try repeating this phrase instead. I pray this meditation will help you know more of God’s faithful and enduring love for you and that it will alleviate some of the fear and anxiety that’s been rolling around in your mind.   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 whole meditation text is as follows: Psalm 136:1-16, CSB 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His faithful love endures forever. 2 Give thanks to the God of gods. His faithful love endures forever. 3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords. His faithful love endures forever. 4 He alone does great wonders. His faithful love endures forever. 5 He made the heavens skillfully. His faithful love endures forever. 6 He spread the land on the waters. His faithful love endures forever. 7 He made the great lights: His faithful love endures forever. 8 the sun to rule by day, His faithful love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to rule by night. His faithful love endures forever. 10 He struck the firstborn of the Egyptians His faithful love endures forever. 11 and brought Israel out from among them His faithful love endures forever. 12 with a strong hand and outstretched arm. His faithful love endures forever. 13 He divided the Red Sea His faithful love endures forever. 14 and led Israel through, His faithful love endures forever. 15 but hurled Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. His faithful love endures forever. 16 He led his people in the wilderness. His faithful love endures forever. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in Matthew 6 will give you peace as you embrace the truth that you are valued and cared for as a friend of God. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here. Many of us have been tricked into believing we are valued for what we do, not who we are. And this creates deep anxiety. And in some of Jesus’s final words, Jesus made sure we knew that we are valued because we are God’s friends. And as friends of God, we have been chosen by Him. We are loved by Him. We matter to Him. That’s the foundation of our lives. As you listen to this meditation, I pray that you will be reminded that you are loved because you are a friend of God. And even when you fall short, because we all will, you will not let the enemy use that to create fear and anxiety in your life, but you will release this shortcoming and turn back to God in love. Because, as a true friend, you have nothing to worry about.   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 whole meditation text is as follows: John 15:14–17 NLT You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in Matthew 6 will remind you that you matter to God and he will take care of you. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here. It’s easy to let worry consume our thoughts and energy. So easy. It can be difficult to trust that God will help us through what we’re facing. But today, for this moment, I want to invite you to take a lesson from the birds. Breath deep. See how God takes care of them. They’re going to be ok. So will you. As you listen to this meditation, I’m praying the Lord helps you lay aside whatever you’re carrying and rest in his capable care today. 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 out 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: Matthew 6:25–27, NIV 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation in Mark 4:35-42 will help you exchange fear and anxiety for the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. Get your FREE Peace, Be Still Guided Meditation Journal here. Jesus fell asleep in the middle of a raging storm. The disciples saw the waves crashing in, and as the water filled the boat, they became fearful, even accusatory. They woke Jesus and demanded an answer. Jesus, don’t you care if we drown? Jesus calmed the storm with these power-packed words. Peace. Be Still. Words spoken over nature, but also spoken over our hearts. As you listen to this guided meditation, you will be given space to talk to God about what is bringing you fear and allow him space to calm your fears with his peace and stillness. Here are some 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 out 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 passage we meditated on in this episode is: Mark 4:35-42, NLT 35 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” 36 So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). 37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. 38 Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” 39 When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40 Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 The disciples were absolutely terrified. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “Even the wind and waves obey him!” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

He has risen! He has risen, indeed. Prepare your heart for the glory of Easter as you meditate on the resurrection of Jesus. You can download your Lent Guide here. It has the meditation passage and reflection questions printed out for you. Here are a few additional helpful links: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here, where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is a guided meditation for Holy Saturday to help you prepare your heart for Easter as you meditate on this silent day of waiting and wondering. We are meditating on Luke 23:50-56. You can find the passage and reflection questions in the free lent guide. You can download your Lent Guide here. Here are a few additional helpful links: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here, where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Scripture meditation for Good Friday will help you prepare your heart for Easter as you meditate on the somber and hard day of Jesus’s journey, his crucifixion. We are meditating on Matthew 27:27-56. You can find the entire passage in the Free Guided Lent Journal.  You can download your Lent Guide here. Here are a few additional helpful links: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here, where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is a guided Scripture meditation for Maundy Thursday. Prepare your heart for Easter as you meditate on Jesus’s actions and words from the Thursday before his crucifixion. You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. This passage is printed in its entirety in the Lent Guide.  Here are a few other helpful links: You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here, where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is a guided prayer for the seventh week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here.   Our meditation passage (released on 3.25.24) was from Luke 22:54-62. In this account, Peter denied his association with Jesus three times. And then he was slammed with realizing what he had done and leaves the scene weeping bitterly. In this guided prayer, we begin by recognizing that Jesus is currently interceding for us (Romans 8:34), and so we ask Jesus to pray for our faith to be strengthened as he prayed for Peter. We then take a moment to sit in sadness over our sin and confess the areas we are tempted to sin. We then ask God to grant us the strength to resist temptation. And finally, we end with a moment to receive God’s great love for us.   Here are some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.

This is a guided prayer for the sixth week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here.   Our meditation passage (released on 3.18.24) was from Luke 22:40–46. In this account, Jesus prayed in the garden before his arrest. It was a dark moment full of anguish for Jesus. In it, we discover some of the reasons why we need to pray and learn the brave prayer of surrendering to God’s will ahead of our own.   In this guided prayer we begin by confessing why prayer can be difficult for us. Then we boldly go before our Good Father with the requests on our hearts and take a moment to be surrendered to God’s will ahead of our own. Finally, we ask God to help us know his loving presence with us no matter the outcome of our request.   Here are some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.

This is a guided prayer for the fourth week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here.   Our meditation passage (released on 3.11.24) was Matthew Mark 12:28-31. In this account, Jesus reminds us that love is the most important command.   In this guided prayer, we begin by thanking God for his love and asking him to help us receive his love. Then we ask God to help us notice how he may be inviting us to love him differently. And finally, we ask God to help us know how he is inviting us to love someone practically today or this week.   May God grant you the courage to love well today, this week, and moving forward.   Here are some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out 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.   Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Scripture meditation for Lent leads us to consider how we love God and love others. Download your free guided Lent journal here. The Old Testament Law was complex. There were 613 laws that Jews were required to follow. Religious leaders in Jesus’ day liked to debate which of these laws were more important than the others. When Jesus received this question, he summed up the entire law simply. In fact, he used just one word: love. Love God and love others.   This guided meditation will give you space to consider how God may be inviting you to love him and others in new ways.   This is our fifth 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: Mark 12:28–31, NIV 28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” 29 “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ n There is no commandment greater than these.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This is a guided prayer for the fourth week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here. Our meditation passage (released on 3.4.24) was Matthew 20:20-28. In this account, Jesus flips greatness on its head and unpacks the kingdom principle that the way up is really down. In this guided prayer we will take a moment to identify some of the desires we have – and realize not all our desires are bad. We will then ask the Lord to help us notice where we are tempted to try to control the outcome and force things to happen in our way and according to our will. Finally, we will ask the Lord to help us reorder our desires according to his kingdom principles.   Here are some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.

This is a guided prayer for the first week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here. Our meditation passage (released on 2.26.24) was Matthew 16:21-26. In this account, Peter thought he was protecting Jesus when he tried to stand in the way of his coming death. Peter had no idea that his good intentions would thwart the plans of eternity. In this guided prayer we will take a moment to identify situations we desire to control, remember how God has been faithful in the past, and finally seek to receive God’s love and perspective about the situations we’re facing. Here are some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out 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. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

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.

This is a guided prayer for the first week of Lent. Get your FREE lent guide here. This week our meditation passage (released on 2.19.24) was Matthew 14:22-33. In this account, Peter walked on water. He was brave and bold when he stepped out of the boat. But the wind kicked up and distracted him from Jesus. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, Peter let fear consume him and started to sink. In this guided prayer we will take a moment to identify what situations are making us fearful, confess our fears to God, and then receive God’s love and courage to help us choose to have faith over fear. Here’s some helpful links: You can find out more about Lent through my free Lent Guide here. You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/ Instagram @creatingspaceforgod Facebook @JodieGNiznik Learn more about Scripture meditation and download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here. Join my Monday email here where I send out links to the newest meditation every Monday morning. Find out more about my parter Life Audio at lifeaudio.com. Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Scripture meditation is for Lent. You can get your FREE lent guide here In Matthew 14:22-33, Peter walked on water. He was brave and bold when he stepped out of the boat. But the wind kicked up and distracted him from Jesus. When Peter took his eyes off Jesus, fear consumed him and he started to sink. What changed? Peter changed. Jesus remained the same. He did not move. And he was present and ready to help Peter as soon as Peter cried out to him. As you move through this guided meditation you will be invited to let the Holy Spirit lead you to what he has for you and to reflect on areas where God is inviting you to trust him more. What is Lent? Lent is the roughly 40-day period before Easter in the Christian calendar. Traditionally, Lent is a season set aside for repentance and renewal. I like to think of it as a spring cleaning for my soul - a time to reflect on how much I need Jesus in my life and imagine what life would be like without him. 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 14:22-33, CSB 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Jesus came toward them walking on the sea very early in the morning. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear. 27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.