1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,240 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, hey there, friends, I'm Jody Nisnik and 2 00:00:09,440 --> 00:00:12,720 Speaker 1: I'm so glad that you pressed play on this scripture meditation. 3 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to be a little more personal than I 4 00:00:15,680 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 1: usually am in this meditation and the next, letting you 5 00:00:19,640 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: in on some of the work that God's been doing 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: in my life and how that's leading me to press 7 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,480 Speaker 1: pause on the podcast. So let's take a quick break 8 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 1: for a word from our sponsors. Then I'll be back 9 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:34,400 Speaker 1: to share a little bit more and we'll dive into 10 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:41,680 Speaker 1: today's meditation. Well, as I said before the break, the 11 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:45,480 Speaker 1: Lord is inviting me to press pause on recording these 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,400 Speaker 1: meditations for now. I don't know if he's going to 13 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,160 Speaker 1: call me back to this or not. And I'll share 14 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:55,560 Speaker 1: more of my personal journey next week, how the Lord 15 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:57,800 Speaker 1: has been moving in my life and how I got 16 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:01,600 Speaker 1: to this place. But today I really just wanted to 17 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: let you know what's coming. It's bittersweet, and if I'm honest, 18 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: a little scary. I've loved writing, recording, and producing these 19 00:01:12,600 --> 00:01:16,160 Speaker 1: meditations for you each week. It's been a joy to 20 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: come alongside you and help you know more of the 21 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 1: peace of Christ in your life. And to be honest, 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,200 Speaker 1: I don't know what is ahead. I'm just following the 23 00:01:25,200 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: breadcrumbs and trying to walk faithfully with Jesus. Today, I 24 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: want to record one of my favorite passages for you. 25 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,840 Speaker 1: When I began this podcast, it was a passage I 26 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,520 Speaker 1: couldn't stop reading. I had just gone through a really 27 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:45,399 Speaker 1: difficult season and the actions of others felt terribly unjust, 28 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: and God led me to Psalm thirty seven. Each morning 29 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,320 Speaker 1: I would open my Bible and it was as if 30 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:57,240 Speaker 1: the Spirit placed his hands on my shoulders, sat me 31 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: down and said, read it again, Jody. As these words 32 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: settled into my soul, they reminded me that God saw 33 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 1: the injustice and he was the one who would vindicate me, 34 00:02:14,440 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: but it would be in his time and in his way. Slowly, 35 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 1: he was inviting me to trust him, rest in him, 36 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,200 Speaker 1: and wait on him. I'm still learning how to do that, 37 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: and I think I'll learn this lesson and tell my 38 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:36,960 Speaker 1: last breath. I imagine that you will also keep learning 39 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: these lessons with me. So today it feels fitting to 40 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 1: share the passage that was forming me when I began 41 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:50,240 Speaker 1: this podcast, And today it feels like there is a 42 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:55,639 Speaker 1: lot of unjust things happening around us. When I say that, 43 00:02:55,760 --> 00:03:00,160 Speaker 1: your heart may immediately go to the injustices you're seeing 44 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:04,480 Speaker 1: in our world, or maybe it goes to an injustice 45 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:07,799 Speaker 1: you are feeling in your own life, or perhaps you're 46 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: holding a little of both. Today, as you listen to 47 00:03:12,160 --> 00:03:16,720 Speaker 1: these words, let them remind you God has not turned 48 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,160 Speaker 1: a blind eye towards you, your loved ones, or anyone 49 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: in our world. So let's begin as we usually do 50 00:03:27,639 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: and take a few deep breaths to settle and inviting 51 00:03:31,440 --> 00:03:35,920 Speaker 1: God into this space and asking him to speak to us. 52 00:03:38,440 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: I want to invite you to start by taking a 53 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: deep breath in and slowly exhale. Let's do that again 54 00:03:57,240 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: and exhale. Keep taking those slow, deep breaths. Let me 55 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:11,320 Speaker 1: pray over you, Lord, Jesus, thank you, Thank you for 56 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: this space to hear your word, to be present with you. 57 00:04:17,760 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 1: We ask that you would move through these words, and 58 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: that you would speak directly to us through your word. Lord, 59 00:04:28,480 --> 00:04:31,600 Speaker 1: that you would remind us that you see us, and 60 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:35,000 Speaker 1: you love us, and you have not let go of us, 61 00:04:35,720 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: and you have not let go of our communities or 62 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: our world. You hold all of it, and you are 63 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:50,119 Speaker 1: capable and you are good. So Lord, in these next 64 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:54,720 Speaker 1: few minutes, be present with us, guide and lead us, 65 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,960 Speaker 1: and grow us closer to you when we ask this 66 00:04:58,080 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus Amen. Our passage today is 67 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:12,520 Speaker 1: Psalm thirty seven, verses one through seven. I'm reading in 68 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:17,720 Speaker 1: the New International version for our first reading. Just listen 69 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:23,960 Speaker 1: so that you know where the passage is headed. Do 70 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:28,760 Speaker 1: not fret because of those who are evil, or be 71 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: envious of those who do wrong. For like the grass, 72 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: they will soon wither. Like green plants, they will soon 73 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:47,440 Speaker 1: die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell 74 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in 75 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 1: the Lord, and he will give you the desires of 76 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:03,880 Speaker 1: your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, 77 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: and he will do this. He will make your righteous 78 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:16,000 Speaker 1: reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 79 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 80 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,560 Speaker 1: The passage begins with these words, do not fret because 81 00:06:42,600 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: of those who are evil, or be envious of those 82 00:06:45,880 --> 00:06:51,400 Speaker 1: who do wrong. To fret means we become worried or 83 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: agitated or angered, and to be envious of those who 84 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: do wrong. Well, that can happen when we believe those 85 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 1: who are doing wrong, are getting away with it, or 86 00:07:02,960 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: they're profiting from their actions, and we're being left behind 87 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:12,320 Speaker 1: in some way, so envy springs up in our heart. 88 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 1: This passage is asking us to notice where we are 89 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: being stirred up because something feels unjust or unfair. So 90 00:07:23,760 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 1: take a moment. Now, ask the Lord, where am I 91 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:31,920 Speaker 1: fretting because of those who are evil or being envious 92 00:07:32,480 --> 00:08:04,640 Speaker 1: of those who do wrong? Now, as I read a 93 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: second time, holding with the Lord brought to mind, ask 94 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: him to help you notice what he has for you 95 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:21,200 Speaker 1: in the passage. Do not fret because of those who 96 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: are evil or be envious of those who do wrong, 97 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: For like the grass, they will soon wither. Like green plants, 98 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:39,880 Speaker 1: they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and 99 00:08:40,000 --> 00:08:45,320 Speaker 1: do good. Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 100 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you 101 00:08:51,360 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 1: the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. 102 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: Trust in him and he will do this. He will 103 00:09:02,720 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication 104 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:14,960 Speaker 1: like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and 105 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:22,880 Speaker 1: wait patiently for him. Take a moment to reflect on 106 00:09:22,960 --> 00:09:27,079 Speaker 1: what you noticed, and ask God, how does this apply 107 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: to my life right now, especially in the area you 108 00:09:30,920 --> 00:10:34,160 Speaker 1: helped me identify earlier. As I read a third time, 109 00:10:34,240 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: notice again what you noticed in the second reading, and 110 00:10:37,559 --> 00:10:40,240 Speaker 1: ask God to help you know how He's inviting you 111 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:44,440 Speaker 1: to move forward with him. There may be a sin 112 00:10:44,559 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 1: to confess, a truth to remember, a step of trust 113 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: you need to take, or something else. Do not fret 114 00:10:57,120 --> 00:11:01,960 Speaker 1: because of those who are evil, or be envious of 115 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: those who do wrong, For like the grass, they will 116 00:11:07,320 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: soon wither. Like green plants, they will soon die away. 117 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:19,520 Speaker 1: Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the 118 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 1: land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, 119 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:30,679 Speaker 1: and he will give you the desires of your heart. 120 00:11:32,120 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: Commit your way to the Lord. Trust in him, and 121 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:41,360 Speaker 1: he will do this. He will make your righteous reward 122 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 1: shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 123 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him. 124 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:00,920 Speaker 1: Take some time to have a converse station with God 125 00:12:00,960 --> 00:12:04,520 Speaker 1: about what you are noticing, and allow Him to comfort 126 00:12:04,640 --> 00:14:20,520 Speaker 1: you and speak back to you and Loveday, as you 127 00:14:20,600 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: hear the passage one final time, rest in the truth 128 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:27,200 Speaker 1: of God's goodness and his love for you. Rest in 129 00:14:27,240 --> 00:14:31,760 Speaker 1: the invitation from this passage to trust God, Delight in him. 130 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:38,520 Speaker 1: Be still and wait on him. Rest in remembering God 131 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: is good, He loves you, and he is moving on 132 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: your behalf. Do not fret because of those who are evil, 133 00:14:52,760 --> 00:14:57,400 Speaker 1: or be envious of those who do wrong, For like 134 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:02,960 Speaker 1: the grass, they will soon wither. Like green plants, they 135 00:15:03,000 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. 136 00:15:10,680 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight 137 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: in the Lord, and he will give you the desires 138 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord. Trust 139 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: in him, and he will do this. He will make 140 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like 141 00:15:39,680 --> 00:15:45,440 Speaker 1: the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord, and wait 142 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: patiently for him. Lord, thank you for this passage. Thank 143 00:15:56,640 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: you for the truth in it. Thank you, thank you 144 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,520 Speaker 1: for how it exposes our heart to what it is 145 00:16:04,560 --> 00:16:09,440 Speaker 1: that makes us fret and feel anxious when we see 146 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 1: all of this injustice in our world and in the 147 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:18,560 Speaker 1: things that are happening, perhaps directly to us. So we 148 00:16:18,680 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: pray that these words would speak deeply into our heart, 149 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:27,160 Speaker 1: that we would carry them with us to let you 150 00:16:27,600 --> 00:16:33,080 Speaker 1: handle the things that we can't control anyway, and to 151 00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,520 Speaker 1: do what we can do, which is to trust in you, 152 00:16:37,760 --> 00:16:42,640 Speaker 1: to dwell in your presence, to take delight in you, 153 00:16:43,760 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: to commit our way to you, to be still before you, 154 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:56,160 Speaker 1: and to wait on you. Renew our trust in you today, Lord, 155 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:02,920 Speaker 1: remind us right now that your plan is good, your 156 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: timing is good, and you are working in ways that 157 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: we may not understand, but we can trust because you 158 00:17:14,320 --> 00:17:18,919 Speaker 1: are a good and loving father. We pray this in 159 00:17:18,960 --> 00:17:44,080 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus. Amen. Well friends, I'll see you 160 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: next week. I'm excited to share a little bit more 161 00:17:46,840 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: of my story with you. Then. As always, if you're 162 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:53,560 Speaker 1: new around here, well head into the show notes because 163 00:17:53,560 --> 00:17:56,439 Speaker 1: you're going to find a lot of information there about 164 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,080 Speaker 1: me and some helpful links. And Plus, even though I 165 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: won't be releasing new meditations for the foreseeable future, there 166 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:08,959 Speaker 1: are over two hundred meditations in this feed and they 167 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: are always there for you. You just need to press 168 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:15,960 Speaker 1: play and settle in. And if you haven't done so before, 169 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:20,120 Speaker 1: now check out my partner, Life Audio at lifeaudio dot com. 170 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: They have loads of other great Christian content on their network, 171 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,880 Speaker 1: and this podcast well, it wouldn't have been possible without them, 172 00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:33,160 Speaker 1: and I am so grateful for their team. Well friends, 173 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: Thanks again for joining me on so much more where 174 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: we really do believe Jesus has so much more to 175 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,119 Speaker 1: say to us, and this is one way we create 176 00:18:43,200 --> 00:18:44,679 Speaker 1: space to listen.