<p>Welcome to So Much More, where we're creating space to be with God. This podcast, hosted by Jodie Niznik, guides you into the peaceful meditation of God's word. Take a few deep breaths as you allow the Spirit to guide you into what he has for you.</p> <p>Topics Covered:</p> <p>📖 What Is Lectio Divina and Why Is It a Helpful Christian Practice<br>📖 What Is Christian Meditation and How Do We Use Scripture to Practice It<br>📖 Special Church Seasonal Series Including Lent, Easter, and Advent</p> <p>If you are a Christian looking for ways to pray more or meditate more on Scripture, be sure to visit Jodie's website, <a href="https://www.jodieniznik.com/">https://www.jodieniznik.com/</a>, for more information! </p>
This midweek prayer is an invitation to pause and return to Jesus’s words in John 10, where He says, “I am the gate.”
In this short prayer, we create space to trust Jesus as the One who stands guard over our lives—protecting us and leading us toward the life He promises.
Jesus tells us that while there are voices and forces that seek to steal, kill, and destroy, He is the Gate who keeps watch over His sheep. He is present with us, surrounding us with His care, and inviting us to live from a place of trust rather than fear.
This prayer also turns our attention to Jesus’s promise of life—life that is full, abundant, and rooted in His presence. As we pray, we surrender what feels threatening or overwhelming and ask Him to renew our hope in the life He offers.
Take a few quiet minutes to refocus your heart on Jesus as the Gate and pray along as we continue this Lenten journey together.
Today’s Scripture
John 10:7–10 (NIV)
7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Download your FREE Lent Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
If you are helped by these meditations, consider sharing them with a friend or leaving a review. Simple acts like these help create space for more people to slow down and listen.
Thank you for joining me on So Much More.
We really do believe Jesus has so much more to say to us—and this is one way we are creating space to listen.
Today’s meditation music was generously provided by Simon Wester. If you enjoyed the music, make sure to listen to and follow him on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qUycRIHExBVUPIoq6RUkO?si=vQranvhdRW6NNoMNG7Q9dQ
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Lent continues by inviting us to consider not only where we are going, but who we can trust along the way.
In this third meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus, we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 10:7–10:
“I am the gate.”
Jesus offers this image in response to growing confusion and distrust among the people. Many had been poorly cared for by religious leaders and were unsure who to listen to or where to turn. Speaking into this uncertainty, Jesus uses a picture His listeners would have immediately understood—the shepherd and the sheep.
At night, sheep were gathered into a sheepfold with a single opening. The shepherd didn’t simply stand guard nearby. He laid his own body across the entrance. In doing so, he didn’t just protect the gate—he became the gate.
When Jesus says, “I am the gate,” He is revealing Himself as the One who guards, protects, and gives safe passage. He is not a barrier meant to confine us, but a presence that allows us to come in and go out freely—to live securely and find pasture.
This guided Scripture meditation invites you to imagine yourself within this scene and reflect on where you may be longing for safety, clarity, or care. Through several slow readings of John 10:7–10, you will be guided to listen, reflect, respond, and rest—allowing Jesus’s promise of protection and abundant life to settle into your heart.
Lent reminds us that we don’t have to determine what is safe or life-giving on our own. Jesus invites us to trust Him as the gate—the One who leads us into real and lasting life.
Download your FREE Lent Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
Today’s Scripture
John 10:7–10 (NIV)
7 Jesus said,
“Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.
8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.
10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
If you are helped by these meditations, consider sharing them with a friend or leaving a review. Simple acts like these help create space for more people to slow down and listen.
Thank you for joining me on So Much More.
We really do believe Jesus has so much more to say to us—and this is one way we are creating space to listen.
Today’s meditation music was generously provided by Simon Wester. If you enjoyed the music, make sure to listen to and follow him on Spotify. https://open.spotify.com/artist/2qUycRIHExBVUPIoq6RUkO?si=vQranvhdRW6NNoMNG7Q9dQ
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This midweek prayer is an invitation to pause and return to Jesus, the Light of the World.
This short midweek prayer invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and refocus your heart and mind on Jesus, who says, “I am the light of the world.” Drawing from John 8:12, this prayer creates space to name the places that feel dark, confusing, or hidden—both in the world around us and in our own lives.
In Scripture, light is a sign of God’s goodness, presence, and life. Jesus tells us that when we follow Him, we do not have to walk in darkness, because His light leads to life.
This prayer invites you to ask Jesus to be light in the places you’re carrying—and to listen for how He may be inviting you to reflect His light through the way you love and live.
Take a few quiet minutes to refocus your heart on Jesus and pray along as you seek His light in and through your life.
Download your FREE Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
Today’s Scripture
John 8:12 (NLT)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,
“I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness,
because you will have the light that leads to life.”
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this second meditation in our Lent series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus, we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 8:12:
“I am the light of the world.”
Jesus makes this declaration during the Feast of Tabernacles, a celebration that remembered how God guided His people through the wilderness with a pillar of fire—a visible light in the darkness. When Jesus speaks these words, He is doing more than offering comfort or guidance. He is revealing who He is: the very presence of God, now shining with and among His people.
Light is something we often don’t notice until it’s missing. When life feels confusing, when the path ahead is unclear, or when the weight of the world feels heavy, darkness can feel overwhelming. Jesus’s words meet us right here—not as a distant light shining from above, but as a light who walks with us and leads us toward life.
This guided Scripture meditation invites you to reflect on Jesus’s words in two ways. First, you’ll be guided to notice areas in your own life that may feel hidden, uncertain, or shadowed. Then, you’ll turn your attention outward, holding the places in our world where it feels like darkness is winning and listening for the hope Jesus offers there as well.
Through several slow readings of John 8:12, you will be guided to listen, reflect, respond, and rest—allowing the truth of Jesus as the Light of the World to shape how you see your life and the world around you.
Lent reminds us that we do not have to figure everything out on our own. We are invited to follow the Light, one faithful step at a time.
Download your FREE Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
Today’s Scripture
John 8:12 (NLT)
Jesus spoke to the people once more and said,
“I am the light of the world.
If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness,
because you will have the light that leads to life.”
If you are helped by these meditations, consider sharing them with a friend or leaving a review. Simple acts like these help create space for more people to slow down and listen.
Thank you for joining me on So Much More.
We really do believe Jesus has so much more to say to us—and this is one way we are creating space to listen.
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In the middle of the week, it’s easy to become aware of our emotionally, spiritually, physically, and feel unsure where to bring it.
This short midweek prayer invites you to pause, breathe deeply, and return your attention to Jesus, who calls Himself the Bread of Life. Drawing from John 6:32–36, this prayer creates space to name the places where you feel hungry, weary, or longing and
In Scripture, God provided daily bread for His people in the wilderness just enough for each day. In the same way, Jesus offers Himself to us now. Not always for tomorrow. Not always all at once. But faithfully, for today.
This prayer is a gentle reminder that Jesus is enough for your real, present needs.
Take a few quiet minutes to refocus your heart and mind on Him, and to rest in the truth that you are held, seen, and cared for.
Download your FREE Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
Today’s Scripture
John 6:32–35 (NLT)
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.
33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
If you are helped by these meditations, consider sharing them with a friend or leaving a review. Simple acts like these help create space for more people to slow down and listen.
Thank you for joining me on So Much More.
We really do believe Jesus has so much more to say to us—and this is one way we are creating space to listen.
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Lent begins not with strength, but with need.
In this first meditation of our Lenten series, I Am: A Lenten Journey with Jesus, we slow down with Jesus’s first I AM statement: “I am the bread of life.” These words come just after Jesus feeds the five thousand—a miracle that meets a very real physical hunger. But as the story unfolds, Jesus gently reveals something deeper: the people were satisfied in their bodies, yet still hungry in their souls.
In John 6, Jesus exposes the difference between temporary provision and true sustenance. The crowd wants more bread, more proof, another sign. But Jesus invites them—and us—to look beneath our surface needs and notice where our hearts are truly hungry.
This guided Scripture meditation invites you to begin Lent honestly, naming places of physical, emotional, or spiritual need. Through several slow readings of John 6:32–35, you will be guided to listen, reflect, respond, and rest—opening your hands to receive Jesus as your true provision.
Lent does not begin with having it all together. It begins with coming to Jesus in our hunger and allowing Him to meet us there.
Download your FREE Companion Journal Here
I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus
This journal includes:
• Each week’s Scripture passage
• Reflection prompts from the meditations
• Space to journal, pray, and notice what God is revealing
Here are some additional helpful links:
Learn more about Jodie:
http://www.jodieniznik.com
Follow on Instagram:
@jodieniznik
Follow on Facebook:
@JodieGNiznik
Join the Monday email newsletter for new meditations, HERE
Explore other faith-centered podcasts from LifeAudio:
https://www.lifeaudio.com
Throughout Lent, a brief guided prayer will be released each Wednesday to help you pause midweek and prayerfully reset your focus on Jesus.
Today’s Scripture
John 6:32–35 (NLT)
32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.
33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
If you are helped by these meditations, consider sharing them with a friend or leaving a review. Simple acts like these help create space for more people to slow down and listen.
Thank you for joining me on So Much More.
We really do believe Jesus has so much more to say to us—and this is one way we are creating space to listen.
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
Psalm 91 reminds us that God is our ultimate protector. No matter what challenges we face or circumstances we find ourselves in, we can rest assured that God is with us, guiding and leading us toward life.
If you need a shot of hope for your day or week, listen in to this guided Lectio Divina meditation to be reminded that God is with you, and you can find refuge in him.
You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Instagram @jodieniznik
Facebook @JodieGNiznik
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
Download your free Lectio Divina / Scripture Meditation Journal here.
The full meditation text is:
Psalm 91:1-4, NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Learn more about Every Woman’s Bible today by visiting:
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
In this episode, Jodie Niznik, host of So Much More, leads you in a guided meditation to help you find renewed strength and hope using Isaiah 40:28-31. The passage was originally meant to encourage God’s people who were weary and wayward, and it also offers timeless truths and promises for us today.
Here are 3 takeaways from this Meditation:
You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Instagram @jodieniznik
Facebook @JodieGNiznik
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
Download your free Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here.
The full meditation text is as follows:
Isaiah 40:28-31, NIV
28 Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
29 He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This is a guided meditation and reflection on all of Psalm 32.
Psalm 32 starts with the reminder of the joy we should know because of the fresh start and a clean slate we’ve been given through Jesus. Have we forgotten how amazing and miraculous his work is in our lives?
This Psalm also reminds us that hiding sin in secret places will eat us up from the inside out. The amazing news is – when we bring anything hiden into the light, God renews and receives us. Did you catch that? Every single time you turn back to God, he receives you. Every. Single. Time. He does not tire of our returns, he celebrates them.
In this meditation, we will listen to Psalm 32 from the Message Translation and I will give you prompts to reflect on with the Lord. Each reflection space in 1 minute long. Feel free to pause or rewind if you need more time.
May the Lord guide you to what he has for you through his Word today.
Here are the reflection prompts:
Here’s some links I discussed in the podcast:
The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here.
You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Instagram @jodieniznik
Facebook @JodieGNiznik
Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here.
And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
The passages we meditated on is as follows:
Psalm 32, The Message
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be—
you get a fresh start,
your slate’s wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky—
God holds nothing against you
and you’re holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside,
my bones turned to powder,
my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up;
all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out;
I said, “I’ll make a clean breast of my failures to God.”
Suddenly the pressure was gone—
my guilt dissolved,
my sin disappeared.
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we’ll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God’s my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
I’m looking you in the eye
and giving it to you straight:
9 “Don’t be ornery like a horse or mule
that needs bit and bridle
to stay on track.”
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.
11 Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
This guided Scripture meditation in Isaiah 55 uses Lectio Divina.
God is doing work that we can’t even begin to imagine. In Isaiah God declares,
“my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.”
I have to confess… from my limited perspective it can be hard to understand what God is doing. This passage reminds me that God is doing things beyond our knowing. (see Job 36:26)
As I refocus on the truth that God is God and I am not.
And that God is good – always good.
Then I start to rest in him and his work.
Listen in to this guided meditation and allow the Holy Spirit to remind you that God is working. And that he uses his good Word to accomplish his good purposes.
Here’s some helpful links I discussed in the podcast:
The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here.
You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Instagram @jodienzinik
Facebook @JodieGNiznik
Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here.
And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
The passages we meditated on is as follows:
Isaiah 55:8-11, CSB
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
and your ways are not my ways.”
This is the Lord’s declaration.
9 “For as heaven is higher than earth,
so my ways are higher than your ways,
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven
and do not return there
without saturating the earth
and making it germinate and sprout,
and providing seed to sow
and food to eat,
11 so my word that comes from my mouth
will not return to me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please
and will prosper in what I send it to do.”
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.
A Scripture Meditation on Psalm 27 using Lectio Divina.
Do not be afraid.
Easier said than done. Fear is a common emotion when we feel scared, concerned, or even ashamed.
In this Psalm, David was being pursued by his very real enemies who wanted to do very real hard to him. In the face of this uncertainty, David chose courageous trust when he declared that God was greater than his enemies and therefore, he would not be afraid.
David placed his confidence in the Lord. May we do the same.
Listen in to this guided meditation and allow the Holy Spirit to direct you to what he has for you.
Here’s some helpful links I discussed in the podcast:
The guided retreat to help you move into this new year with intention is here.
You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/
Instagram @jodieniznik
Facebook @JodieGNiznik
Learn more about Lectio Divina and download your free Lectio Divina Journal here.
And if you’re ready to make Scripture Meditation a part of your new year, I encourage you to join my Monday email newsletter here. I’ll send out link to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.
The passages we meditated on is as follows:
Psalm 27:1-3, 13-14, NIV
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.
Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.