So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

In this Scripture meditation on John 15:1–5 and 9–17, you’re invited to slow down and reflect on what it truly means to live a fruitful life. We often measure fruitfulness by productivity—what we accomplish, how much we produce, or how many people we reach. But in this passage, Jesus gently redefines fruitfulness. He invites us not to strive, but to abide. Not to measure, b...

In this Scripture meditation on Psalm 37:1–7, you’re invited to slow down and reflect on what it means to trust God when life feels unfair. When others seem to prosper through wrongdoing… when injustice touches your life or the world around you… it’s easy to feel anxious, frustrated, or even envious. But Psalm 37 gently redirects our hearts—away from fretting...

In this final meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we turn to a question Jesus asks His disciples in Matthew 16:13–17: “Who do you say that I am?” Throughout this series, we have listened to Jesus declare who He is. He is the Bread of Life. He is the Light of the World. He is the Gate. He is the Good Shepherd. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life...

In this meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we reflect on one of Jesus’s most powerful declarations in John 11:21–27: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Jesus speaks these words to Martha in the middle of grief. Her brother Lazarus has died. The loss is real. The disappointment is honest. She tells Jesus what many of us have felt: “...

In this Easter Sunday meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with John 20:11–18 and the first resurrection encounter: “I have seen the Lord.” Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the day death was defeated and hope was restored. John’s Gospel brings us into a tender and personal moment. Mary Magdalene stands ou...

In this Holy Saturday meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Psalm 130: “I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.” Holy Saturday—sometimes called Silent Saturday—is the day between the crucifixion and the resurrection. Scripture tells us very little about this day. Jesus’s body lay in the...

In this Good Friday meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Jesus’s final words in John 19:28–30: “It is finished.” Good Friday is the most somber day on the Christian calendar. It is the day we remember that Jesus was crucified—that He endured rejection, humiliation, suffering, and death. It would be easier to skip ahead...

In this Maundy Thursday meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 18:1–8: “I AM He.” This moment takes place in the garden, just hours before the cross. The Passover meal has been shared. Jesus has washed His disciples’ feet. He has given them a new command—to love one another as He has loved the...

In this Holy Week prayer, we pause to reflect on one of Jesus’s clearest and most powerful declarations about who He is. In John 8:56–59, Jesus says, “Before Abraham was even born, I AM.” With these words, He reveals what has been true from the beginning—that He is God. Eternal. Uncreated. The One who existed before time and entered into it for us. This short midweek...

As we enter Holy Week, we pause with one of the most direct and striking declarations Jesus ever made. In this seventh meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we reflect on Jesus’s words in John 8:56–59: “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Throughout this series, we have considered the familiar “I am” statements—images and metaphors th...

Fruitfulness doesn’t begin with striving. It begins with remaining. In this short midweek prayer, we return to Jesus’s words in John 15, where He says, “I am the true vine… you are the branches.” This guided Christian prayer invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reflect on what it means to abide in Christ. Jesus reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothi...

As Lent continues, Jesus invites us to consider where true life and growth actually come from. In this sixth meditation of our Lenten series, I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 15: “I am the true vine.” Spoken on the night before His arrest, this image comes from the conversation in the upper room where Jesus is preparing His disciples for...

When our hearts feel troubled, Jesus invites us to trust Him again. This short midweek prayer creates space to pause, breathe deeply, and return to Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6, where He says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In this guided prayer, we acknowledge the places where worry, uncertainty, or longing have unsettled our hearts and bring them honestly before...

In this fifth meditation of our Lenten series,  I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 14:1–6: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Jesus speaks these words on the night before His arrest. The disciples are gathered in an upper room, sensing that something is wrong but not fully understanding what is coming. Fear, confusion, and...

This midweek prayer is an invitation to pause and return to Jesus’s words in John 10, where He says, “I am the good shepherd.” In this short prayer, we take time to remember who Jesus is for us—a Shepherd who knows His sheep, stays with them, and lays down His life for their sake. We reflect on the ways He has already cared for us and ask Him to help us know Him more, so we...

In this fourth meditation of our Lenten series,  I AM: A Lenten Journey with Jesus , we slow down with Jesus’s words in John 10:11–15: “I am the good shepherd.” These words come right after last week’s meditation. Jesus is still addressing people who were confused about who they could trust—people who had felt overlooked, misled, or poorly cared for by spir...

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 G...

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 b...

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...

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 the...

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&...

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:...

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...

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: Remember God's Everlasting Presence: Isaiah...

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 –...