1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,480 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, Hey there, friends, I'm Jody Nisnik and 2 00:00:09,680 --> 00:00:13,320 Speaker 1: welcome to our lent series. LYND is a season that 3 00:00:13,440 --> 00:00:17,320 Speaker 1: helps us prepare our hearts for Easter. This year, we're 4 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: reflecting on the I Am statements of Jesus. When Jesus 5 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: uses this phrase, he is hearkening back to Exodus, where 6 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:31,200 Speaker 1: God reveals himself as the I Am, And when Jesus 7 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,559 Speaker 1: uses this phrase, he is declaring he is God and 8 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:40,040 Speaker 1: revealing something about his character. My prayer is that these 9 00:00:40,159 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: moments of reflection and prayer will help you slow down 10 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 1: and draw closer to the heart of Jesus. Will get 11 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:55,480 Speaker 1: started after a brief word from our sponsors. Before we 12 00:00:55,520 --> 00:00:58,480 Speaker 1: begin our meditation, I want to invite you to head 13 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,800 Speaker 1: into the show notes, where you you will find a 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:05,520 Speaker 1: link to download the free I Am Companion journal that 15 00:01:05,600 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: I've made for this series. It has each scripture that 16 00:01:08,920 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: we are meditating on, all of the reflection prompts, and 17 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,759 Speaker 1: it gives you space to take notes on your prayers 18 00:01:14,840 --> 00:01:18,760 Speaker 1: and meditation time. I do hope you'll take advantage of 19 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:22,840 Speaker 1: this free resource. Also, for the season of LYND, I 20 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:27,240 Speaker 1: will release a brief guided prayer every Wednesday to help 21 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:31,959 Speaker 1: us prayer, flee, reset our focus on Jesus. You'll find 22 00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: that right here in this feed each Wednesday. Well with that, 23 00:01:35,959 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: let's get started. The first thing I want to invite 24 00:01:43,200 --> 00:01:46,960 Speaker 1: you to do is settle in with some deep breathing. 25 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:58,400 Speaker 1: So take a deep and slow breath in and now exhale. 26 00:01:58,880 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 1: Let's do that again. As you breathe in, just notice 27 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:11,680 Speaker 1: God is present with you right now, and as you exhale, 28 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,040 Speaker 1: do a quick scan of your body. If there is 29 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 1: anything tight, just consciously release it. And as you take 30 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 1: another deep breath in and out, also notice is there 31 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:35,280 Speaker 1: anything that is weighing on you today a place where 32 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: you need Jesus to show up? Ask Him to be 33 00:02:41,200 --> 00:02:46,120 Speaker 1: present there and to be present with you in this meditation. 34 00:02:48,200 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: Continue with that deep breathing and let me pray over 35 00:02:52,520 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: our time. Gracious Lord, Thank you, Thank you that you 36 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: are here, that you are present with us, and that 37 00:03:06,680 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: you want us to be fully present with you. So 38 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: we ask that you would help us. We pray that 39 00:03:15,520 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: all the distractions that are going to want to take 40 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:22,280 Speaker 1: us away from this time would just fade into the background, 41 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,400 Speaker 1: and if something comes up, that you would just help 42 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: us notice it and turn back to you quickly. Lord, 43 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:37,360 Speaker 1: we ask that you would help us hear exactly what 44 00:03:37,400 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: you have for us. In your word today, you tell 45 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: us that you are the bread of life, a bread 46 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:51,880 Speaker 1: that sustains us, far beyond any meal that would satisfy. 47 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,320 Speaker 1: So Lord, we ask that you would be this bread 48 00:03:56,320 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: for us, and that we would taste a little bit 49 00:03:59,680 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: of that in this time with you. We asked this 50 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:16,359 Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus. Amen. There are seven I 51 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:20,599 Speaker 1: Am statements that Jesus makes in the Gospels, and each 52 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: time he says I Am, it's a nod back to 53 00:04:24,920 --> 00:04:29,599 Speaker 1: Exodus three, when God declared to Moses that he wanted 54 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:36,040 Speaker 1: to be known as I am who I am. God 55 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,760 Speaker 1: is the great I Am. And here Jesus is saying 56 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:47,160 Speaker 1: he is also the I Am. Jesus isn't using these 57 00:04:47,200 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 1: words as some poetic turn of phrase. He is making 58 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:57,840 Speaker 1: a bold declaration about who he is. He is revealing 59 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: his divine identity. He is telling us he is God 60 00:05:03,440 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: with us. Today we're looking at the first I Am statement, 61 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:13,919 Speaker 1: where Jesus declares I Am the bread of life. He 62 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:18,920 Speaker 1: says this after he had fed five thousand people by 63 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:24,080 Speaker 1: multiplying one small lunch, and that miracle left people amazed, 64 00:05:24,520 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: and it also left them physically satisfied because they had 65 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 1: just had a full meal. Their immediate need had been 66 00:05:32,680 --> 00:05:38,480 Speaker 1: met by Jesus. And the next day they sought Jesus out, 67 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: and Jesus saw through their motivation and he said, you're 68 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: looking for me not because you saw the sign, but 69 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:51,360 Speaker 1: because you ate the loaves and you were filled. So 70 00:05:51,520 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: Jesus is lovingly and gently exposing their motivation. He's essentially saying, hey, 71 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: you're chasing the needs of your bad boy, but you're 72 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: ignoring the deeper need of your soul. The people, though, 73 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,480 Speaker 1: they want more proof, and they want another miracle, and 74 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:14,400 Speaker 1: so they asked Jesus to give them another miraculous sign. 75 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: They say, Moses gave us bread in the wilderness, what 76 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:23,719 Speaker 1: can you do? And this prompts Jesus to respond with 77 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: these words. So the first time I read the passage 78 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: for you, just listen to these words of Jesus so 79 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:36,080 Speaker 1: that you know where the passage is headed. Our reading 80 00:06:36,240 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: is from John chapter six, verses thirty two through thirty six. 81 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:47,679 Speaker 1: Today I'm reading from the New Living Translation. Jesus said, 82 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 1: I tell you the truth. Moses didn't give you bread 83 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: from heaven. My father did, and now he offers you 84 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:04,200 Speaker 1: the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God 85 00:07:05,040 --> 00:07:08,599 Speaker 1: is the one who comes down from heaven and gives 86 00:07:08,680 --> 00:07:15,280 Speaker 1: life to the world. Sir, they said, give us that 87 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 1: bread every day. Jesus replied, I am the bread of life. 88 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:31,400 Speaker 1: Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever 89 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 1: believes and me will never be thirsty. But you haven't 90 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: believed in me, even though you have seen me. Take 91 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: a moment to ask God to help you notice how 92 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: you are entering this Linton season hungry or in need. 93 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: And if you have the journal, you can write down 94 00:08:09,960 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: anything that comes to mind, or just hold it in 95 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 1: your mind. Now as I read a second time, holding 96 00:08:37,520 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: what the Lord brought to mine, ask God to help 97 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: you notice what He has for you in this passage. 98 00:08:44,720 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: As always, I want to encourage you not to overthink 99 00:08:48,480 --> 00:08:52,840 Speaker 1: this process. Just notice, is there a word or a phrase, 100 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: perhaps it's even an idea that stands out to you 101 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 1: When it does, hold onto that or write it down 102 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 1: and I'll give you space to reflect on it. After 103 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:14,360 Speaker 1: the reading. Jesus said, I tell you the truth. Moses 104 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: didn't give you bread from heaven. My father did. And 105 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:26,319 Speaker 1: now he offers you the true bread from heaven. The 106 00:09:26,320 --> 00:09:31,120 Speaker 1: true bread of God is the one who comes down 107 00:09:31,160 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 1: from heaven and gives life to the world. Sir, they said, 108 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: give us that bread every day. Jesus replied, I am 109 00:09:48,960 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never 110 00:09:54,280 --> 00:10:03,320 Speaker 1: be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 111 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: But you haven't believed in me, even though you have 112 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:15,319 Speaker 1: seen me. Take a moment to reflect on the word 113 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,400 Speaker 1: or phrase that you noticed, and ask God, how does 114 00:10:19,400 --> 00:10:23,559 Speaker 1: this apply to my life right now, especially the areas 115 00:10:24,120 --> 00:11:29,160 Speaker 1: I identified where I am in need. As I read 116 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,880 Speaker 1: a third time, notice again what you noticed in the 117 00:11:31,920 --> 00:11:35,680 Speaker 1: second reading, and ask God to help you know how 118 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: He is inviting you to take a step forward with him. 119 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:44,120 Speaker 1: There may be a sin to confess, a truth to remember, 120 00:11:45,080 --> 00:11:52,319 Speaker 1: a step of trust to take, or something else. Jesus said, 121 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: I tell you the truth. Moses didn't give you bread 122 00:11:58,520 --> 00:12:04,280 Speaker 1: from heaven. My Father did, and now he offers you 123 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:10,080 Speaker 1: the true bread from heaven. The true bread of God 124 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:14,560 Speaker 1: is the one who comes down from heaven and gives 125 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: life to the world. Sir, they said, give us that 126 00:12:22,040 --> 00:12:33,040 Speaker 1: bread every day. Jesus replied, I am the bread of life. 127 00:12:33,280 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever 128 00:12:38,880 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: believes in me will never be thirsty. But you haven't 129 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:55,360 Speaker 1: believed in me even though you have seen me. Take 130 00:12:55,440 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: some time to talk with God. Acknowledge where it has 131 00:13:00,360 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: been hard for you to trust him to meet your needs. 132 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:09,240 Speaker 1: Then be open and honest about any fears, hesitations, or 133 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: resistance you feel, and finally allow God to speak back 134 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:16,160 Speaker 1: to you in love. 135 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 2: Bud bust b b ba ba ba basta basta bata bobo. 136 00:14:56,600 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: B As you hear the passage once more, rest in 137 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:27,400 Speaker 1: the truth that Jesus is your deepest and truest provision. 138 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,880 Speaker 1: Ask Jesus to help you know him as the true 139 00:15:32,080 --> 00:15:37,240 Speaker 1: bread of life for you, and allow his presence and 140 00:15:37,400 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: love to surround you with peace. Jesus said, I tell 141 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 1: you the truth. Moses didn't give you bread from heaven. 142 00:15:52,560 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: My Father did, and now he offers you the true 143 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:02,560 Speaker 1: bread from heaven. The true bread of God is the 144 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:07,360 Speaker 1: one who comes down from heaven and gives life to 145 00:16:07,480 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: the world. Sir, they said, give us that bread every day. 146 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:24,280 Speaker 1: Jesus replied, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes 147 00:16:24,400 --> 00:16:29,520 Speaker 1: to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes and 148 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:34,960 Speaker 1: me will never be thirsty. But you haven't believed in 149 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: me even though you have seen me. Lord, thank you 150 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,960 Speaker 1: for your word. Thank you that you are the bread 151 00:16:54,160 --> 00:17:00,600 Speaker 1: of life, and that you have come to give us life, 152 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: and that when we come to you you meet our needs. 153 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:11,800 Speaker 1: You say, we will never be hungry again or thirsty again. 154 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,000 Speaker 1: And we know that you are talking about something so 155 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:21,920 Speaker 1: much deeper. So we ask Lord, help us to know 156 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:29,960 Speaker 1: how to rest in you as you meet our deepest needs. Lord, 157 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,359 Speaker 1: help us to open our heart to what you have 158 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,880 Speaker 1: for us, and we ask that you would meet us there. 159 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:44,520 Speaker 1: We have so many deep needs and longings and sometimes 160 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,520 Speaker 1: it's hard to know how to really trust you in 161 00:17:48,600 --> 00:17:52,440 Speaker 1: those spaces. So we ask that, by the power of 162 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:58,040 Speaker 1: your spirit right now, you would comfort us and you 163 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:05,720 Speaker 1: would tell us you have it under control. Thank you, Lord, 164 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 1: that you are God, that you are the bread of life. 165 00:18:14,160 --> 00:18:17,040 Speaker 1: May you help us know how to walk in that 166 00:18:17,200 --> 00:18:24,080 Speaker 1: truth today. We asked this in the name of Jesus. Amen. 167 00:18:55,480 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: Well friends. If you are new to the So Much 168 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:02,160 Speaker 1: More podcast or if you're new to the season of LNT, 169 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:05,680 Speaker 1: I want to invite you head into the show notes 170 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:11,639 Speaker 1: and grab the free I am Meditation Journal, I unpack 171 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:15,640 Speaker 1: a little bit more about what lint is and why 172 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,920 Speaker 1: Christians have been practicing it for a very long time. 173 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 1: You'll also see in the notes my partner Life Audio, 174 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:27,680 Speaker 1: and I encourage you to check them out at lifeaudio 175 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:33,520 Speaker 1: dot com. Finally, if you are enjoying these meditations, one 176 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: of the greatest things you can do for me is 177 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:40,879 Speaker 1: either share these with a friend or follow on Apple 178 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:45,199 Speaker 1: Podcasts and Spotify, and if you're able, leave a review 179 00:19:45,960 --> 00:19:48,880 Speaker 1: all of those things. They just go a really long 180 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: way and spreading the word and helping get these meditations 181 00:19:53,400 --> 00:19:58,560 Speaker 1: into the hands of those who might need them. As always, 182 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: my friend, thanks for joining me me on so much 183 00:20:01,119 --> 00:20:05,360 Speaker 1: more because we really do believe Jesus has so much 184 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: more to say to us, and this is one way 185 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:10,919 Speaker 1: we are creating space to listen.