1 00:00:23,934 --> 00:00:26,253 Speaker 1: Well, hey, they're friends. Just a quick heads up that 2 00:00:26,414 --> 00:00:29,654 Speaker 1: I am taking a tiny little break and I'm also 3 00:00:29,734 --> 00:00:32,494 Speaker 1: getting ready for our lint series which begins in the 4 00:00:32,534 --> 00:00:36,254 Speaker 1: middle of February. So this is a replay of one 5 00:00:36,293 --> 00:00:39,814 Speaker 1: of my favorite scriptures. I do hope that you'll settle 6 00:00:39,854 --> 00:00:43,214 Speaker 1: in and enjoy it. God has something new for us 7 00:00:43,293 --> 00:00:46,774 Speaker 1: every time we hear his word. So here you go, 8 00:00:50,293 --> 00:00:57,534 Speaker 1: life audio. Well, hey they're friends. I'm Jodi Niznik, and 9 00:00:57,574 --> 00:01:01,254 Speaker 1: you're listening to so much more. And today we are 10 00:01:01,294 --> 00:01:07,054 Speaker 1: continuing in our series of scripture meditations focused on hope 11 00:01:07,574 --> 00:01:12,134 Speaker 1: and where we can find our true hope. So after 12 00:01:12,214 --> 00:01:15,893 Speaker 1: a quick word from our sponsors, we'll be back with 13 00:01:16,294 --> 00:01:23,334 Speaker 1: our meditation. Well, before we get started, I do want 14 00:01:23,334 --> 00:01:26,054 Speaker 1: to invite you to pause here and go into the 15 00:01:26,134 --> 00:01:30,654 Speaker 1: show notes where you can download the free Lectio Divina 16 00:01:30,814 --> 00:01:34,734 Speaker 1: journal that I have created for you. It outlines exactly 17 00:01:34,814 --> 00:01:38,334 Speaker 1: what Lectio Divina is and what you can expect from 18 00:01:38,414 --> 00:01:42,533 Speaker 1: this scripture meditation process. It also gives you some space 19 00:01:42,574 --> 00:01:46,334 Speaker 1: to capture your notes as you move through our reflections. 20 00:01:47,054 --> 00:01:49,574 Speaker 1: As always, you can listen to this as an audio 21 00:01:49,574 --> 00:01:51,934 Speaker 1: only experience, but if you want to go a little 22 00:01:52,014 --> 00:01:57,414 Speaker 1: deeper that's available for you. Today's meditation isn't a strict 23 00:01:57,534 --> 00:02:01,174 Speaker 1: lectio divina. It's more of a guided meditation. But I 24 00:02:01,214 --> 00:02:03,454 Speaker 1: still think the journal will be helpful for you because 25 00:02:03,494 --> 00:02:06,654 Speaker 1: you can capture notes there. Well, let's go ahead and 26 00:02:06,694 --> 00:02:10,214 Speaker 1: get started. So the first thing that we want to 27 00:02:10,254 --> 00:02:13,494 Speaker 1: do is start with some deep in and out breaths. 28 00:02:14,214 --> 00:02:17,454 Speaker 1: This is simply a way to help us settle in, 29 00:02:18,054 --> 00:02:21,494 Speaker 1: to signal to our heart, our mind, and our body 30 00:02:21,534 --> 00:02:26,133 Speaker 1: that we want to be present right here and right now. 31 00:02:26,934 --> 00:02:31,053 Speaker 1: So as you breathe and just say a quick prayer 32 00:02:31,214 --> 00:02:35,614 Speaker 1: asking the Lord to help you be aware of his presence. 33 00:02:36,854 --> 00:02:41,694 Speaker 1: And as you exhale, notice if there's anything that feels 34 00:02:41,734 --> 00:02:45,934 Speaker 1: like it is weighing on you today, and just ask 35 00:02:45,974 --> 00:02:50,654 Speaker 1: the Lord to hold that for you. Continue taking these 36 00:02:50,734 --> 00:02:54,934 Speaker 1: deep in and out breaths, and as you do, let 37 00:02:54,934 --> 00:03:00,334 Speaker 1: me pray for us. Lord, thank you for this time 38 00:03:00,534 --> 00:03:04,174 Speaker 1: set aside to be in your word and to hear truth. 39 00:03:05,214 --> 00:03:09,654 Speaker 1: We pray that your spirit would lead and guide us. Lord, 40 00:03:09,734 --> 00:03:16,174 Speaker 1: help us to identify what is feeling weighty for us 41 00:03:16,254 --> 00:03:20,094 Speaker 1: right now, what is making us feel weary, and then 42 00:03:20,134 --> 00:03:23,294 Speaker 1: would you help us to renew our hope about that 43 00:03:24,614 --> 00:03:28,574 Speaker 1: Lord guide and lead us, so that as a result 44 00:03:28,614 --> 00:03:35,174 Speaker 1: of this time we leave refreshed, renewed, and our hope 45 00:03:35,534 --> 00:03:41,094 Speaker 1: in You just strengthened or even restored. We asked this 46 00:03:41,214 --> 00:03:47,854 Speaker 1: in Jesus' name. Amen, well today our meditation is taken 47 00:03:47,934 --> 00:03:52,894 Speaker 1: from the Book of Isaiah, chapter forty. Isaiah is an 48 00:03:52,934 --> 00:03:58,094 Speaker 1: Old Testament book written by the prophet Isaiah, and it 49 00:03:58,214 --> 00:04:01,214 Speaker 1: is a long book, and so just a quick background 50 00:04:01,334 --> 00:04:05,134 Speaker 1: on the book is that it is sometimes broken into 51 00:04:05,214 --> 00:04:08,774 Speaker 1: two parts, with the first part being even called the 52 00:04:08,814 --> 00:04:13,934 Speaker 1: Book of Judgment, and this is telling about God's judgment 53 00:04:14,054 --> 00:04:17,174 Speaker 1: that will come on his people, which at this time 54 00:04:17,294 --> 00:04:21,414 Speaker 1: was the nation of Israel, because they were consistently rebellious 55 00:04:21,974 --> 00:04:25,694 Speaker 1: and their hearts were hard. The second part of the 56 00:04:25,734 --> 00:04:29,974 Speaker 1: book is sometimes called the Book of Comfort, and it 57 00:04:30,053 --> 00:04:34,694 Speaker 1: tells how God will ultimately be gracious and compassionate toward 58 00:04:34,774 --> 00:04:39,654 Speaker 1: his people, that he will comfort them as the wayward 59 00:04:39,693 --> 00:04:43,574 Speaker 1: people that are going to return. So our passage today 60 00:04:43,694 --> 00:04:49,054 Speaker 1: is taken from the beginning of the second part of Isaiah, 61 00:04:49,534 --> 00:04:52,574 Speaker 1: and it is meant to encourage the weary and the 62 00:04:52,613 --> 00:04:55,453 Speaker 1: wayward exiles as they make their way back to God. 63 00:04:56,053 --> 00:04:59,373 Speaker 1: So while it was written to this very specific people. 64 00:05:00,214 --> 00:05:04,814 Speaker 1: There are still so many timeless truths and promises that 65 00:05:04,854 --> 00:05:08,734 Speaker 1: are in it for us today. The passage tells us 66 00:05:08,734 --> 00:05:12,813 Speaker 1: about God's good character, tells us about his great care 67 00:05:12,934 --> 00:05:16,974 Speaker 1: for us, and it reminds us that when we place 68 00:05:17,094 --> 00:05:22,334 Speaker 1: our hope in him, he will renew our strength so 69 00:05:22,374 --> 00:05:25,934 Speaker 1: that we can face whatever it is that we are 70 00:05:25,974 --> 00:05:31,534 Speaker 1: going through. Today's meditation is really a guided reflection. I'll 71 00:05:31,574 --> 00:05:34,933 Speaker 1: give you prompts all along the way, and i will 72 00:05:34,974 --> 00:05:40,174 Speaker 1: also give you thirty second reflection pauses after each prompt. 73 00:05:40,734 --> 00:05:41,894 Speaker 2: So I'm letting you know that. 74 00:05:41,974 --> 00:05:43,974 Speaker 1: So if you need extra time, you can just hit 75 00:05:44,014 --> 00:05:46,414 Speaker 1: the back button on your podcast. You'll still have the 76 00:05:46,494 --> 00:05:50,934 Speaker 1: music and that'll be how you can pay yourself. So 77 00:05:51,014 --> 00:05:55,174 Speaker 1: this first reading of Isaiah forty verses twenty eight through 78 00:05:55,254 --> 00:05:59,214 Speaker 1: thirty one. There's no agenda. It's just to help you 79 00:05:59,414 --> 00:06:01,893 Speaker 1: get grounded in the text to know where it's going. 80 00:06:02,974 --> 00:06:08,254 Speaker 2: So this is our first reading. Do you not know? 81 00:06:09,934 --> 00:06:11,854 Speaker 2: Have you not heard? 82 00:06:12,854 --> 00:06:18,053 Speaker 1: The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the 83 00:06:18,254 --> 00:06:24,214 Speaker 1: ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, 84 00:06:24,854 --> 00:06:31,373 Speaker 1: and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength 85 00:06:31,654 --> 00:06:35,854 Speaker 1: to the weary and increases the power of the week. 86 00:06:37,374 --> 00:06:42,053 Speaker 1: Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble 87 00:06:42,294 --> 00:06:47,933 Speaker 1: and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will 88 00:06:48,134 --> 00:06:54,334 Speaker 1: renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. 89 00:06:55,294 --> 00:06:59,693 Speaker 1: They will run and not grow weary. They will walk 90 00:07:00,654 --> 00:07:24,494 Speaker 1: and not be faint. Now, as I read through the 91 00:07:24,534 --> 00:07:27,374 Speaker 1: passage a second time, I'm going to stop a couple 92 00:07:27,454 --> 00:07:32,294 Speaker 1: different places and give us some space to reflect. So 93 00:07:32,414 --> 00:07:37,814 Speaker 1: this is our second reading of Isaiah forty verses twenty 94 00:07:37,854 --> 00:07:42,374 Speaker 1: eight through thirty one. 95 00:07:42,654 --> 00:07:46,614 Speaker 2: Do you not know? Have you not heard? 96 00:07:47,934 --> 00:07:53,294 Speaker 1: The Lord is the ever lasting God, the creator of 97 00:07:53,374 --> 00:07:57,334 Speaker 1: the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired 98 00:07:58,174 --> 00:08:06,014 Speaker 1: or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He 99 00:08:06,054 --> 00:08:11,214 Speaker 1: gives strength to the weary and increases the power of 100 00:08:11,334 --> 00:08:16,894 Speaker 1: the week. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young 101 00:08:16,974 --> 00:08:25,814 Speaker 1: men stumble and fall. I imagine that there are multiple 102 00:08:25,814 --> 00:08:32,614 Speaker 1: places in our lives where we could characterize being tired, weary, 103 00:08:33,014 --> 00:08:37,254 Speaker 1: or weak. Right now, but take a moment and ask 104 00:08:37,294 --> 00:08:41,534 Speaker 1: the Lord to help you name one place where you 105 00:08:41,774 --> 00:08:45,894 Speaker 1: feel weary or weak, and then hold on to that. 106 00:08:46,014 --> 00:08:47,294 Speaker 1: I'll give you some time to do that. 107 00:08:47,374 --> 00:09:04,174 Speaker 3: Now. 108 00:09:18,294 --> 00:09:21,854 Speaker 1: The passage says that the Lord gives strength to the weary, 109 00:09:22,214 --> 00:09:25,694 Speaker 1: and he increases the power of the week. So ask 110 00:09:25,734 --> 00:09:29,054 Speaker 1: the Lord now to give you a vision for what 111 00:09:29,214 --> 00:09:33,134 Speaker 1: it could look like to have renewed strength and endurance 112 00:09:34,174 --> 00:10:07,814 Speaker 1: for the thing that you identified with him. The passage 113 00:10:07,894 --> 00:10:12,774 Speaker 1: continues on and it says this, but those who hope 114 00:10:13,014 --> 00:10:18,694 Speaker 1: in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar 115 00:10:18,894 --> 00:10:23,694 Speaker 1: on wings like eagles. They will run and knock ru 116 00:10:23,774 --> 00:10:31,694 Speaker 1: it's weary. They will walk and not be faint. So 117 00:10:31,814 --> 00:10:34,094 Speaker 1: take a moment now to ask the Lord to help 118 00:10:34,214 --> 00:10:39,814 Speaker 1: you identify how you can renew your hope in Him 119 00:10:40,934 --> 00:11:16,853 Speaker 1: for this situation that you've identified. And finally ask the Lord, 120 00:11:17,894 --> 00:11:21,853 Speaker 1: is there anything you are inviting me to do differently 121 00:11:22,694 --> 00:11:58,174 Speaker 1: with this situation? And have a conversation with him about this. Now, 122 00:11:58,214 --> 00:12:01,134 Speaker 1: as I read the passage for you again, I want 123 00:12:01,174 --> 00:12:06,054 Speaker 1: to encourage you to rest in God's understanding of exactly 124 00:12:06,094 --> 00:12:09,414 Speaker 1: what you are going through. In fact, he understands it 125 00:12:09,534 --> 00:12:14,054 Speaker 1: even better than we do. The passage reminds us that 126 00:12:14,494 --> 00:12:18,174 Speaker 1: God is the creator of the earth to the ends 127 00:12:18,254 --> 00:12:21,294 Speaker 1: of the earth, and which means he is our creator, 128 00:12:21,894 --> 00:12:25,174 Speaker 1: and that he has understanding that no one can fathom. 129 00:12:25,934 --> 00:12:30,294 Speaker 1: He sees and knows all the things that we don't 130 00:12:30,333 --> 00:12:33,974 Speaker 1: even see and know. So as you hear these words, 131 00:12:34,214 --> 00:12:41,534 Speaker 1: just rest and knowing. God understands your weariness. He understands 132 00:12:41,574 --> 00:12:46,494 Speaker 1: why you feel weak. He knows why you are tired. 133 00:12:47,774 --> 00:12:52,734 Speaker 1: So allow the Lord to comfort you with his knowing 134 00:12:53,014 --> 00:12:59,814 Speaker 1: and loving presence. So this again is a reading of 135 00:12:59,894 --> 00:13:08,014 Speaker 1: Isaiah forty verse twenty eight through thirty one. 136 00:13:08,254 --> 00:13:11,774 Speaker 2: Do you not know? Have you not heard? 137 00:13:13,014 --> 00:13:18,574 Speaker 1: The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the 138 00:13:18,734 --> 00:13:25,254 Speaker 1: ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, 139 00:13:26,854 --> 00:13:34,174 Speaker 1: and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength 140 00:13:34,294 --> 00:13:39,054 Speaker 1: to the weary and increases the power of the week. 141 00:13:40,774 --> 00:13:45,894 Speaker 1: Even youths grow tired and weary. In young men stumble 142 00:13:46,214 --> 00:13:52,574 Speaker 1: and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will 143 00:13:52,614 --> 00:13:58,214 Speaker 1: renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. 144 00:13:59,614 --> 00:14:04,774 Speaker 1: They will run and not grow weary. They will walk 145 00:14:05,814 --> 00:14:12,454 Speaker 1: and not be faint. Take a moment right now to 146 00:14:12,574 --> 00:14:18,494 Speaker 1: thank God for his understanding of your situation and ask 147 00:14:18,614 --> 00:14:54,254 Speaker 1: him to renew your hope in him. Oh Lord, thank 148 00:14:54,294 --> 00:15:00,814 Speaker 1: you for this reminder. You are the everlasting God. You 149 00:15:01,054 --> 00:15:06,934 Speaker 1: are our creator, and you do not grow tired or weary, 150 00:15:08,134 --> 00:15:13,694 Speaker 1: especially of us. You understand us. You understand our situation, 151 00:15:14,814 --> 00:15:19,654 Speaker 1: You understand how all the pieces fit together so much 152 00:15:19,694 --> 00:15:23,974 Speaker 1: better than we do. So Lord, we ask that the 153 00:15:24,054 --> 00:15:29,774 Speaker 1: space where we feel weary or weak, where we feel tired, Lord, 154 00:15:29,814 --> 00:15:35,214 Speaker 1: would you strengthen us. Would you help us to renew 155 00:15:35,534 --> 00:15:38,894 Speaker 1: our hope in You, so that our strength will be 156 00:15:38,934 --> 00:15:42,614 Speaker 1: renewed and that we will do as the passage says, 157 00:15:43,414 --> 00:15:49,694 Speaker 1: soar on wings like eagles. There's great power and freedom 158 00:15:50,014 --> 00:15:53,614 Speaker 1: in these words. So help us Lord to trust you, 159 00:15:54,574 --> 00:15:59,974 Speaker 1: help us to hope in you. We love you, and 160 00:16:00,094 --> 00:16:08,294 Speaker 1: we pray this in the name of Jesus Amen. I 161 00:16:08,334 --> 00:16:11,054 Speaker 1: also want to just say two quick things before you leave, 162 00:16:11,134 --> 00:16:13,014 Speaker 1: and the first is if you are looking to go 163 00:16:13,094 --> 00:16:15,974 Speaker 1: deeper in the study of God's Word, I have written 164 00:16:15,974 --> 00:16:18,414 Speaker 1: several Bible studies that I would love. 165 00:16:18,254 --> 00:16:19,774 Speaker 2: To recommend to you. 166 00:16:19,774 --> 00:16:23,494 Speaker 1: You can find sample chapters and there are links in 167 00:16:23,534 --> 00:16:26,974 Speaker 1: the sh show notes for those free chapters. Secondly, if 168 00:16:27,014 --> 00:16:31,574 Speaker 1: you are finding this podcast useful, would you subscribe, share 169 00:16:31,574 --> 00:16:34,334 Speaker 1: it with a friend, rate review. All of those things 170 00:16:34,894 --> 00:16:38,774 Speaker 1: deeply encourage me, but they help others find this podcast, 171 00:16:38,774 --> 00:16:41,574 Speaker 1: so thanks for doing that. I also want to give 172 00:16:41,614 --> 00:16:43,774 Speaker 1: a quick shout out to the team at Life Audio 173 00:16:43,814 --> 00:16:45,774 Speaker 1: for their partnership, and if you go to life audio 174 00:16:45,894 --> 00:16:49,494 Speaker 1: dot com you will see all the other Christian faith 175 00:16:49,574 --> 00:16:52,054 Speaker 1: centered podcasts that they have in their network, so check 176 00:16:52,094 --> 00:16:57,254 Speaker 1: those out and as always, thank you again for joining me. 177 00:16:57,694 --> 00:17:01,734 Speaker 1: I want so much more because we really do believe 178 00:17:01,894 --> 00:17:05,813 Speaker 1: Jesus has so much more to say to us, and 179 00:17:05,934 --> 00:17:07,974 Speaker 1: we are creating space to listen.