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 --> 00:00:57,454 Speaker 1: life audio. Well, hey they're friends. I'm Jody Nisnick, and 9 00:00:57,614 --> 00:01:01,294 Speaker 1: welcome to our new year's series. It's just a little 10 00:01:01,374 --> 00:01:05,534 Speaker 1: space to reflect on the goodness of God and how 11 00:01:05,574 --> 00:01:08,813 Speaker 1: He is leading us as we enter into this new 12 00:01:08,894 --> 00:01:12,414 Speaker 1: season together. We're going to take a quick break for 13 00:01:12,494 --> 00:01:15,334 Speaker 1: a word from our sponsors, and then we'll be right 14 00:01:15,374 --> 00:01:22,773 Speaker 1: back for our meditation. Today we are doing our meditation 15 00:01:23,294 --> 00:01:27,974 Speaker 1: using the Electio Divina method of scripture meditation. And if 16 00:01:28,014 --> 00:01:31,654 Speaker 1: that's new for you, well, first of all, welcome, and secondly, 17 00:01:31,734 --> 00:01:34,694 Speaker 1: I want to invite you to head into the show 18 00:01:34,734 --> 00:01:39,813 Speaker 1: notes and download the free Electio Divina guided journal that 19 00:01:39,854 --> 00:01:43,533 Speaker 1: I have made for you. It outlines what Lectio Divina is, 20 00:01:44,254 --> 00:01:48,014 Speaker 1: where it originated, and what you can expect from the process. 21 00:01:48,654 --> 00:01:50,454 Speaker 1: Plus it gives you a little space to take some 22 00:01:50,534 --> 00:01:54,854 Speaker 1: notes on your meditations. I will also guide you each 23 00:01:54,934 --> 00:01:57,774 Speaker 1: step of the way through this time with the Lord. 24 00:01:58,574 --> 00:02:03,014 Speaker 1: So with that, let's go ahead and get started. The 25 00:02:03,014 --> 00:02:05,974 Speaker 1: first thing that we always want to do is just 26 00:02:06,614 --> 00:02:10,694 Speaker 1: settle in to prepare our heart, our mind, and our 27 00:02:10,733 --> 00:02:15,414 Speaker 1: body so that we can be fully present here right now. 28 00:02:16,293 --> 00:02:19,054 Speaker 1: So to do that, I just encourage you to start 29 00:02:19,094 --> 00:02:23,214 Speaker 1: with just some deep in and out breaths. These deep 30 00:02:23,254 --> 00:02:27,814 Speaker 1: breaths really are a signal to help us just pause 31 00:02:28,014 --> 00:02:33,094 Speaker 1: and be present. And so as you're breathing in, ask 32 00:02:33,134 --> 00:02:37,293 Speaker 1: the Lord to help you be mindful of his presence 33 00:02:37,854 --> 00:02:44,294 Speaker 1: with you. And as you exhale, just do a quick 34 00:02:44,334 --> 00:02:49,214 Speaker 1: assessment of anything that feels tight in your body and 35 00:02:49,254 --> 00:02:54,334 Speaker 1: relax that and do a quick mental assessment and ask 36 00:02:54,374 --> 00:02:57,534 Speaker 1: the Lord if there's anything that feels heavy or burdensome 37 00:02:57,574 --> 00:03:03,014 Speaker 1: to you, and ask him to hold it. So continue 38 00:03:03,054 --> 00:03:06,413 Speaker 1: taking these deep in and out breaths, and as you do, 39 00:03:07,134 --> 00:03:13,734 Speaker 1: let me pray for us. Gracious Lord, thank you for 40 00:03:13,854 --> 00:03:18,894 Speaker 1: this time set aside to hear your word. We pray, 41 00:03:18,974 --> 00:03:21,654 Speaker 1: by the power of your spirit that you would help 42 00:03:21,774 --> 00:03:26,934 Speaker 1: us to just hear your word undistracted, and that you 43 00:03:26,974 --> 00:03:29,414 Speaker 1: would guide and lead us to what it is that 44 00:03:29,454 --> 00:03:33,854 Speaker 1: you want us to notice in it, and Lord, then 45 00:03:33,934 --> 00:03:37,974 Speaker 1: take that truth and help us know how you want 46 00:03:38,054 --> 00:03:42,454 Speaker 1: us to move forward with it. Lord, we ultimately ask 47 00:03:42,574 --> 00:03:44,334 Speaker 1: that you would do all of this so that we 48 00:03:44,374 --> 00:03:48,934 Speaker 1: can grow closer to You, so we can become more 49 00:03:49,134 --> 00:03:53,134 Speaker 1: like Jesus. We pray that you would do this and 50 00:03:53,494 --> 00:03:59,734 Speaker 1: so much more for our good and for your glory. 51 00:04:00,814 --> 00:04:12,334 Speaker 1: We ask this in the name of Jesus our Savior. Amen. Well, 52 00:04:12,414 --> 00:04:17,854 Speaker 1: today our passage comes from Isaiah chapter fifty five, and 53 00:04:18,053 --> 00:04:21,294 Speaker 1: I think the passage is pretty self explanatory, so I 54 00:04:21,334 --> 00:04:24,934 Speaker 1: won't go into a whole lot of context. In this 55 00:04:24,974 --> 00:04:29,933 Speaker 1: particular passage, Isaiah is reminding us that God's ways and 56 00:04:30,053 --> 00:04:34,534 Speaker 1: thoughts are not like ours. And He's also reminding us 57 00:04:34,574 --> 00:04:42,214 Speaker 1: that God's word has power to accomplish God's purposes. So 58 00:04:42,334 --> 00:04:46,054 Speaker 1: when we read his word and meditate on his word, 59 00:04:46,174 --> 00:04:50,334 Speaker 1: God will use it in our lives. And hopefully you 60 00:04:50,454 --> 00:04:52,933 Speaker 1: experience that when you read your Bible on your own 61 00:04:53,613 --> 00:04:57,414 Speaker 1: or when you do meditations like these. So with that 62 00:04:57,534 --> 00:05:00,493 Speaker 1: brief context, the first time I read this passage for you, 63 00:05:01,334 --> 00:05:03,574 Speaker 1: the intention is just for you to hear where the 64 00:05:03,613 --> 00:05:07,934 Speaker 1: passage is going and familiarize yourself with it. So this 65 00:05:08,014 --> 00:05:12,573 Speaker 1: is our first reading of Isaiah fifty five, verses eight 66 00:05:12,694 --> 00:05:19,334 Speaker 1: through eleven, and today we're reading from the CSB translation. 67 00:05:23,053 --> 00:05:27,054 Speaker 1: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways 68 00:05:27,694 --> 00:05:34,294 Speaker 1: are not my ways. This is the Lord's declaration. For 69 00:05:34,414 --> 00:05:39,774 Speaker 1: as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are 70 00:05:39,854 --> 00:05:46,414 Speaker 1: higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 71 00:05:47,734 --> 00:05:51,734 Speaker 1: For just as rain and snow fall from heaven, and 72 00:05:51,814 --> 00:05:57,373 Speaker 1: do not return there without saturating the earth and making 73 00:05:57,414 --> 00:06:03,054 Speaker 1: it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and 74 00:06:03,094 --> 00:06:07,894 Speaker 1: food to eat, so my word that comes from my 75 00:06:08,134 --> 00:06:13,094 Speaker 1: mouth will not return to me empty, but it will 76 00:06:13,134 --> 00:06:17,813 Speaker 1: accomplish what I please, and will prosper in what I 77 00:06:18,374 --> 00:06:36,693 Speaker 1: send it to do. And now, as I read the 78 00:06:36,734 --> 00:06:39,854 Speaker 1: passage for you a second time, we want to ask 79 00:06:39,894 --> 00:06:43,734 Speaker 1: the Lord to help us notice something in the passage 80 00:06:44,814 --> 00:06:49,053 Speaker 1: a word, a phrase, maybe an idea. And I want 81 00:06:49,094 --> 00:06:52,933 Speaker 1: to encourage you in this process to just see what 82 00:06:53,134 --> 00:06:58,053 Speaker 1: it is that stands out in some way as I'm 83 00:06:58,094 --> 00:07:02,933 Speaker 1: reading this, and then to not overthink that process, but 84 00:07:03,053 --> 00:07:08,294 Speaker 1: to just go with that word or idea. You can 85 00:07:08,334 --> 00:07:11,214 Speaker 1: write it down, or you can just hold onto it 86 00:07:11,334 --> 00:07:14,374 Speaker 1: until the end of the reading, and then after the reading, 87 00:07:14,414 --> 00:07:18,174 Speaker 1: we're going to trust the Holy Spirit to guide us 88 00:07:18,494 --> 00:07:25,214 Speaker 1: with that word, thought, or phrase. So this now is 89 00:07:25,294 --> 00:07:31,574 Speaker 1: our second reading of Isaiah fifty five, verses eight through eleven. 90 00:07:35,374 --> 00:07:41,414 Speaker 1: For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways 91 00:07:42,454 --> 00:07:50,174 Speaker 1: are not my ways. This is the Lord's declaration. For 92 00:07:50,294 --> 00:07:56,494 Speaker 1: as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are 93 00:07:56,614 --> 00:08:03,814 Speaker 1: higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 94 00:08:05,454 --> 00:08:09,654 Speaker 1: For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and 95 00:08:09,774 --> 00:08:14,694 Speaker 1: do not return there without saturating the earth and making 96 00:08:14,734 --> 00:08:19,334 Speaker 1: it germinate and sprout, and providing seed to sow and 97 00:08:19,454 --> 00:08:25,814 Speaker 1: food to eat, so my word that comes from my 98 00:08:26,094 --> 00:08:31,974 Speaker 1: mouth will not return to me empty, but it will 99 00:08:32,174 --> 00:08:37,654 Speaker 1: accomplish what I please, and will prosper and what I 100 00:08:37,814 --> 00:08:46,974 Speaker 1: send it to do. So take a moment now to 101 00:08:47,014 --> 00:08:50,374 Speaker 1: ask the Lord, how does what stood out to me 102 00:08:51,334 --> 00:09:55,334 Speaker 1: connect to my life? Right now now for our third reading, 103 00:09:55,453 --> 00:09:58,134 Speaker 1: I want to invite you to notice again whatever you 104 00:09:58,254 --> 00:10:02,534 Speaker 1: noticed in the second reading, and then we're going to 105 00:10:02,814 --> 00:10:07,654 Speaker 1: take another step with the Lord and respond to him. However, 106 00:10:08,014 --> 00:10:12,014 Speaker 1: we feel like he's inviting us to respond, So some 107 00:10:12,094 --> 00:10:15,453 Speaker 1: potential ways that he might be inviting us to respond 108 00:10:15,534 --> 00:10:18,774 Speaker 1: is that maybe a sin has come to mind and 109 00:10:18,814 --> 00:10:21,494 Speaker 1: we need to repent of it and turn back to God. 110 00:10:22,614 --> 00:10:25,974 Speaker 1: Maybe there's a the truth that we needed reminding of, 111 00:10:26,734 --> 00:10:28,614 Speaker 1: or a step of trust that we need to take 112 00:10:29,694 --> 00:10:32,134 Speaker 1: a time to worship Him for who he is and 113 00:10:32,174 --> 00:10:36,774 Speaker 1: what he's done, or something else. Entirely, I want to 114 00:10:36,854 --> 00:10:39,694 Speaker 1: encourage you to just try and stay open to what 115 00:10:39,734 --> 00:10:42,134 Speaker 1: the Lord might be doing, and I'll give you some 116 00:10:42,214 --> 00:10:50,894 Speaker 1: space after the reading to have that conversation with him. 117 00:10:51,174 --> 00:10:54,454 Speaker 1: So this is our third reading of Isaiah fifty five, 118 00:10:55,134 --> 00:11:03,614 Speaker 1: verses eight through eleven. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 119 00:11:04,814 --> 00:11:10,534 Speaker 1: and your ways are not my ways. This is the 120 00:11:10,614 --> 00:11:17,614 Speaker 1: Lord's declaration. For as heaven is higher than earth, so 121 00:11:17,734 --> 00:11:25,574 Speaker 1: my ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts than 122 00:11:25,974 --> 00:11:31,453 Speaker 1: your thoughts. For just as rain and snow fall from 123 00:11:31,534 --> 00:11:36,974 Speaker 1: heaven and do not return there without saturating the earth 124 00:11:38,134 --> 00:11:43,254 Speaker 1: and making it germinate and sprout, providing seed to sow 125 00:11:43,294 --> 00:11:49,334 Speaker 1: and food to eat, so my word that comes from 126 00:11:49,534 --> 00:11:55,334 Speaker 1: my mouth will not return to me empty, but it 127 00:11:55,374 --> 00:12:01,134 Speaker 1: will accomplish what I please, and will prosper and what 128 00:12:01,254 --> 00:12:09,574 Speaker 1: I send it to do. So go ahead and respond 129 00:12:09,614 --> 00:13:06,213 Speaker 1: to God now, Blue B b B B B B. 130 00:14:13,494 --> 00:14:15,614 Speaker 1: And now for our final reading, I want to invite 131 00:14:15,654 --> 00:14:18,694 Speaker 1: you just to receive it in a posture of rest, 132 00:14:19,654 --> 00:14:24,934 Speaker 1: resting in God's goodness and his love for you, resting 133 00:14:25,134 --> 00:14:30,654 Speaker 1: in the truth that while God's ways are not our ways, 134 00:14:31,814 --> 00:14:36,454 Speaker 1: they are better than our ways because He is God. 135 00:14:37,294 --> 00:14:41,614 Speaker 1: So even when we don't understand it, his ways are better. 136 00:14:42,814 --> 00:14:48,254 Speaker 1: So rest in this truth. This is our final reading 137 00:14:48,334 --> 00:14:55,294 Speaker 1: of Isaiah fifty five eight through eleven. For my thoughts 138 00:14:55,654 --> 00:15:00,054 Speaker 1: are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways. 139 00:15:01,774 --> 00:15:07,214 Speaker 1: This is the Lord's declaration. For as Heaven is higher 140 00:15:07,294 --> 00:15:12,814 Speaker 1: than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, 141 00:15:14,094 --> 00:15:19,094 Speaker 1: and my thoughts than your thoughts. For just as rain 142 00:15:19,294 --> 00:15:22,694 Speaker 1: and snow fall from heaven and do not return there 143 00:15:23,454 --> 00:15:28,254 Speaker 1: without it's saturating the earth and making it germinate and sprout, 144 00:15:29,254 --> 00:15:33,854 Speaker 1: and providing seed to sew and food to eat, so 145 00:15:34,174 --> 00:15:39,974 Speaker 1: my word that comes from my mouth will not return 146 00:15:40,094 --> 00:15:44,654 Speaker 1: to me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, 147 00:15:46,174 --> 00:15:56,134 Speaker 1: and will prosper and what I send it to do. Lord, 148 00:15:56,174 --> 00:16:00,774 Speaker 1: we thank you for the truths in this passage, the 149 00:16:00,934 --> 00:16:05,934 Speaker 1: reminder that you do things differently than us, and that 150 00:16:06,054 --> 00:16:09,294 Speaker 1: we should expect that because You are God and we 151 00:16:10,374 --> 00:16:14,254 Speaker 1: are not. But Lord, we confess to you now that 152 00:16:14,534 --> 00:16:19,254 Speaker 1: sometimes it is really hard to understand what you are 153 00:16:19,374 --> 00:16:22,254 Speaker 1: doing or why you are doing it, or you're timing. 154 00:16:24,214 --> 00:16:26,854 Speaker 1: And so Lord, I pray that you would help each 155 00:16:26,934 --> 00:16:30,094 Speaker 1: of us to renew our trust in you right now, 156 00:16:32,054 --> 00:16:36,094 Speaker 1: and that you would undergird our faith with this knowledge 157 00:16:36,254 --> 00:16:40,654 Speaker 1: that you are good and that while we may not 158 00:16:40,894 --> 00:16:47,214 Speaker 1: understand everything you are doing, you are good and therefore 159 00:16:47,294 --> 00:16:51,894 Speaker 1: what you are doing is good, even if it doesn't 160 00:16:52,014 --> 00:16:55,814 Speaker 1: feel that way to us right now. So Lord, would 161 00:16:55,814 --> 00:16:58,774 Speaker 1: you help us? And Lord, we thank you for the 162 00:16:58,894 --> 00:17:05,334 Speaker 1: truth that your word will accomplish deep work in our life, 163 00:17:06,374 --> 00:17:08,894 Speaker 1: and so we pray that you would continue to do that. 164 00:17:09,214 --> 00:17:13,974 Speaker 1: May your word not return void, We believe it won't, 165 00:17:15,214 --> 00:17:17,333 Speaker 1: and we ask that you would just use it to 166 00:17:18,574 --> 00:17:23,094 Speaker 1: deepen our understanding of you, deepen our understanding of ourselves 167 00:17:23,174 --> 00:17:27,654 Speaker 1: and our calling, and help us to rest in and 168 00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:33,013 Speaker 1: remember that you are a good father. So, Lord, whatever 169 00:17:33,054 --> 00:17:35,014 Speaker 1: it is that you revealed to us, we asked that 170 00:17:35,134 --> 00:17:38,533 Speaker 1: you would help us hold that truth as we move 171 00:17:38,614 --> 00:17:42,374 Speaker 1: through this day in this week, help it to take 172 00:17:42,534 --> 00:17:47,014 Speaker 1: root in our heart and to do what this passage 173 00:17:47,054 --> 00:17:53,053 Speaker 1: says that it will germinate and sprout and ultimately produce fruit. 174 00:17:54,174 --> 00:17:56,454 Speaker 1: That is what we deeply desire, so we ask that 175 00:17:56,494 --> 00:18:00,534 Speaker 1: you would do it. We pray all of this in 176 00:18:00,654 --> 00:18:10,573 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus. Amen. Well, friends, just a few 177 00:18:10,694 --> 00:18:13,573 Speaker 1: quick things before we close. I just want to remind 178 00:18:13,614 --> 00:18:17,214 Speaker 1: you that we've created a special series of guided reflections 179 00:18:17,254 --> 00:18:21,094 Speaker 1: to help you enter into this new year with intention. 180 00:18:21,813 --> 00:18:23,534 Speaker 1: I know we're a few weeks in, but I just 181 00:18:23,893 --> 00:18:27,573 Speaker 1: to encourage you it is not too late to spend 182 00:18:27,654 --> 00:18:31,534 Speaker 1: some time looking back over the last year and assessing 183 00:18:31,574 --> 00:18:34,453 Speaker 1: where you are in the present and asking God how 184 00:18:34,534 --> 00:18:39,054 Speaker 1: he wants you to move forward. So this series of reflections, 185 00:18:39,134 --> 00:18:42,014 Speaker 1: we're calling it a guided retreat, but you can do 186 00:18:42,134 --> 00:18:44,134 Speaker 1: it over a few mornings, you can do it over 187 00:18:44,853 --> 00:18:47,134 Speaker 1: a long afternoon, or you can do it over a 188 00:18:47,214 --> 00:18:50,694 Speaker 1: full day. However it works in your schedule. You'll find 189 00:18:50,734 --> 00:18:55,094 Speaker 1: a link to the retreat information in the notes. I 190 00:18:55,214 --> 00:18:57,334 Speaker 1: do want to remind you that there is a small 191 00:18:57,454 --> 00:19:00,413 Speaker 1: cost for this, but if for some reason that's prohibitive, 192 00:19:00,813 --> 00:19:02,854 Speaker 1: just let me know. I'll make sure you get one. 193 00:19:03,734 --> 00:19:05,853 Speaker 1: I also want to give a quick shout out to 194 00:19:06,094 --> 00:19:09,533 Speaker 1: our partner Life Audio. If you go to lifeaudio dot 195 00:19:09,614 --> 00:19:14,494 Speaker 1: com you'll see all their other Christian podcasts. And I 196 00:19:14,574 --> 00:19:16,654 Speaker 1: also want to say thank you to those who have 197 00:19:16,773 --> 00:19:20,614 Speaker 1: left reviews recently. I read every single one of them 198 00:19:20,734 --> 00:19:23,654 Speaker 1: and they are so deeply encouraging to me, so thank you, 199 00:19:24,014 --> 00:19:31,174 Speaker 1: and please keep reviewing and sharing the podcast. Finally, thank 200 00:19:31,293 --> 00:19:35,534 Speaker 1: you for joining me on so much more because we 201 00:19:35,853 --> 00:19:39,854 Speaker 1: really do believe Jesus has so much more to say 202 00:19:39,893 --> 00:19:43,774 Speaker 1: to us, and we are creating space to listen