1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,920 Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, hey there, friends, I'm Jody Nisnick and 2 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 1: welcome to these special Holy Week meditations for LINT. My 3 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:19,840 Speaker 1: prayer is that these quiet moments will help you slow 4 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:23,599 Speaker 1: down to contemplate the Cross and what it means for 5 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: your life. Will begin our meditation after a brief word 6 00:00:28,840 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: from our sponsors. Before we begin our meditation, I want 7 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,160 Speaker 1: to invite you to head into the show notes, where 8 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 1: you will find a link to download the free I 9 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,919 Speaker 1: Am Companion journal that I've made for this series. It 10 00:00:47,960 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: has each scripture that we are meditating on, all of 11 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: the reflection prompts, and it gives you space to take 12 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:57,880 Speaker 1: notes on your prayers and meditation time. I do hope 13 00:00:57,920 --> 00:01:01,840 Speaker 1: you'll take advantage of this free RecA source. Well, with that, 14 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:09,760 Speaker 1: let's get started. I want to invite you to begin 15 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:14,760 Speaker 1: by noticing how you're doing. And to do that, I 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: want to invite you to take a few deep in 17 00:01:16,880 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: and out breath. So go ahead and take a deep 18 00:01:20,840 --> 00:01:29,520 Speaker 1: breath in and now as you slowly exhale, notice how 19 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:34,800 Speaker 1: you're doing right now? Is there anything in your body 20 00:01:34,840 --> 00:01:42,759 Speaker 1: that is tight? If so, loosen it up. Take another 21 00:01:42,800 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: deep breath in and out, and as you are exhaling. 22 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: Notice your heart. Is there anything heavy on your heart today? 23 00:01:57,920 --> 00:02:03,960 Speaker 1: Ask God to hold it. Go ahead and keep taking 24 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,560 Speaker 1: those deep in and out breaths, and let me pray 25 00:02:07,600 --> 00:02:14,840 Speaker 1: for our time. Lord, thank you that you are here 26 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:22,280 Speaker 1: with us. Lord, even in this day of waiting and silence, 27 00:02:23,760 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: You are present because you never leave us, you never 28 00:02:29,160 --> 00:02:35,200 Speaker 1: forsake us. So as we contemplate your word today, would 29 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: you guide and lead us? Would your spirit speak to 30 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:44,000 Speaker 1: us in these quiet moments, that we may know you 31 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:50,040 Speaker 1: are near, and we may know you are working, and 32 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: that you would renew our hope. Lord, would you help 33 00:02:55,600 --> 00:03:00,840 Speaker 1: us to hear from you and your word today? Would 34 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:06,160 Speaker 1: your spirit be loud, guide and lead? We ask this 35 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:18,359 Speaker 1: in the name of Jesus. Amen. Well. Today is Holy Saturday, 36 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:23,320 Speaker 1: and sometimes it's called Silent Saturday because it's the day 37 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: between Jesus's crucifixion and his resurrection, and it's a day 38 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: marked by silence and waiting and wondering and grief. Scripture 39 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: doesn't tell us very much about this day. We do 40 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: know that Jesus's body lay in the tomb. It was 41 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:50,120 Speaker 1: guarded by Roman soldiers. We know his followers were scattered, 42 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: mourning and likely filled with confusion and doubt because the 43 00:03:56,280 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: one they had followed, the one they believed to be 44 00:04:00,520 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: the Messiah, was gone, and it must have felt like 45 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,240 Speaker 1: all hope had been lost. But of course we know 46 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,680 Speaker 1: all hope is not lost. Jesus's victory over sin and 47 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:19,480 Speaker 1: death is certain, but it just hasn't been revealed to 48 00:04:19,600 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: his followers quite yet. Only Saturday reminds us that God's 49 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:29,920 Speaker 1: timeline is not always ours, and sometimes we must sit 50 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:37,159 Speaker 1: in the waiting, trusting that resurrection is coming. Just like 51 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: Jesus's followers, we know what it feels like to wonder 52 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: why things are unfolding as they are, to be in 53 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: the middle space of waiting where healing, resolution, or restoration 54 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: hasn't quite happened yet. Today's passage invites us to wait 55 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: on God, to sit in our own silent Saturday with 56 00:05:02,640 --> 00:05:06,839 Speaker 1: honesty and trust, and as we do, to remember that 57 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:10,279 Speaker 1: God was not finished with the story on that first 58 00:05:10,320 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: silent Saturday, just like He is not finished with yours. 59 00:05:19,000 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 1: As you listen the first time, just hear the words 60 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:27,120 Speaker 1: so that you know where the passage is headed. I'm 61 00:05:27,160 --> 00:05:31,360 Speaker 1: reading from Psalm one hundred and thirty, verses one through 62 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 1: six in the new international version. Out of the depths, 63 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: I cry to you, Lord, Lord, hear my voice. Let 64 00:05:46,080 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. If 65 00:05:51,160 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: you Lord kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? 66 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: But with you there is forgiveiveness, so that we can 67 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: with reverence serve you. I wait for the Lord. My 68 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:16,400 Speaker 1: whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope. 69 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:21,279 Speaker 1: I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for 70 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:41,960 Speaker 1: the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. This 71 00:06:42,000 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: psalm has three movements. The first is asking God to 72 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:51,000 Speaker 1: hear our petition, the second is acknowledging our need for 73 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:56,599 Speaker 1: forgiveness and gratitude for receiving it, and the third is 74 00:06:56,640 --> 00:07:01,279 Speaker 1: a reminder to our souls to wait faithfully on God. 75 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 1: As I read the second time, I will pause after 76 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:10,720 Speaker 1: each movement to give you space to echo the prayer 77 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:20,840 Speaker 1: of this psalm in your own words. Out of the depths, 78 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 1: I cry to you, Lord, Lord, hear my voice. Let 79 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy. Take 80 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:40,239 Speaker 1: a moment to lay your deep longings and needs before God. 81 00:08:40,040 --> 00:08:45,679 Speaker 1: If you Lord kept a record of sins, Lord, who 82 00:08:45,720 --> 00:08:52,760 Speaker 1: could stand, But with you there is forgiveness. So that 83 00:08:52,800 --> 00:09:02,760 Speaker 1: we can with reverence serve you. And now recognize your 84 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: sinfulness before God and thank him for his forgiveness. I 85 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:45,319 Speaker 1: wait for the Lord, My whole being waits, and in 86 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:49,679 Speaker 1: his word I put my hope. I wait for the 87 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:55,400 Speaker 1: Lord more than watchman wait for the morning, more than 88 00:09:55,480 --> 00:10:03,480 Speaker 1: watchmen wait for the morning. And now, as the Psalmist did, 89 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: remind your soul to wait on God and ask God 90 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:43,120 Speaker 1: for his help. Before I read a third time, take 91 00:10:43,160 --> 00:10:46,920 Speaker 1: a moment to reflect on the first Holy Saturday that Jesus' 92 00:10:47,120 --> 00:11:08,320 Speaker 1: followers experienced. Imagine their confusion and grief, and now remind 93 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:14,120 Speaker 1: yourself of what was true. On that first Saturday. God 94 00:11:14,240 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: was working in ways they could not imagine, ways that 95 00:11:20,160 --> 00:11:25,679 Speaker 1: went beyond their expectation. Allow this to remind you that 96 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:41,240 Speaker 1: God is good, loving and trustworthy. And now, as I 97 00:11:41,320 --> 00:11:45,319 Speaker 1: read the verses again, rest in God's goodness and his 98 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,440 Speaker 1: love for you. Rest in the truth that He is 99 00:11:49,559 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: working even when we don't see it or understand it. 100 00:11:55,679 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: Rest in knowing that He is worth hoping in and 101 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:11,640 Speaker 1: waiting on. Out of the depths. I cry to you, Lord, Lord, 102 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:16,480 Speaker 1: hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my 103 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: cry for mercy. If you, Lord, kept a record of sends. Lord, 104 00:12:25,520 --> 00:12:33,000 Speaker 1: who could stand but with you there is forgiveness, so 105 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: that we can with reverence serve you. I wait for 106 00:12:40,240 --> 00:12:46,439 Speaker 1: the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word 107 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:54,600 Speaker 1: I put my hope. I wait for the Lord more 108 00:12:54,679 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 1: than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait 109 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:08,199 Speaker 1: for the morning. Take a deep breath in and out, 110 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: and in this quiet moment rest in God and renew 111 00:13:15,920 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 1: your hope to keep waiting on him. Lord Jesus, thank 112 00:13:42,920 --> 00:13:48,080 Speaker 1: you that you are worth waiting on. Thank you for 113 00:13:48,120 --> 00:13:50,640 Speaker 1: the ways that you have shown up in the past, 114 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: and how you have been faithful to us. Help us 115 00:13:56,360 --> 00:14:00,839 Speaker 1: draw from that faithfulness so that we can trust you. 116 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: In the middle of this season of waiting. Lord, we 117 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 1: do cry out to you, and we ask that you 118 00:14:10,360 --> 00:14:15,560 Speaker 1: would be attentive to us and to our cry for mercy. 119 00:14:15,600 --> 00:14:19,200 Speaker 1: And we do thank you that you have forgiven us 120 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:25,000 Speaker 1: lavishly and fully that we can come to you with 121 00:14:25,080 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: these deep cries of our hearts because our relationship with 122 00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: you has been restored. So Lord, we renew our trust 123 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:39,200 Speaker 1: in you, and we remind ourselves you are worth waiting 124 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: on your way. Your time is always the best way 125 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:53,680 Speaker 1: and the best time. So Lord, in this moment, as 126 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: we move forward in this day, help us to remember 127 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: that just like you are doing something amazing behind the scenes, 128 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: redeeming something that felt so terrible in the death of Jesus, 129 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:17,720 Speaker 1: you are doing the same thing in our lives. You 130 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:20,880 Speaker 1: are working in ways that we don't know, but you 131 00:15:21,000 --> 00:15:26,080 Speaker 1: are working. Help us rest in that today we asked 132 00:15:26,120 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 1: this in the name of Jesus. Amen. Well friends. If 133 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,280 Speaker 1: you are new to the So Much More podcast or 134 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:10,880 Speaker 1: if you're new to the season of LNT, I want 135 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: to invite you head into the show notes and grab 136 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: the free I am Meditation journal. I unpack a little 137 00:16:19,800 --> 00:16:24,080 Speaker 1: bit more about what LINT is and why Christians have 138 00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 1: been practicing it for a very long time. You'll also 139 00:16:29,280 --> 00:16:32,880 Speaker 1: see in the notes my partner Life Audio, and I 140 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:38,000 Speaker 1: encourage you to check them out at lifeaudio dot com. Finally, 141 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: if you are enjoying these meditations, one of the greatest 142 00:16:42,000 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: things you can do for me is either share these 143 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: with a friend or follow on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, 144 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:54,320 Speaker 1: and if you're able, leave a review. All of those 145 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:57,640 Speaker 1: things they just go a really long way and spreading 146 00:16:57,680 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: the word and helping get these metas into the hands 147 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: of those who might need them. As always, my friend, 148 00:17:07,320 --> 00:17:10,199 Speaker 1: thanks for joining me on so much more because we 149 00:17:10,320 --> 00:17:14,160 Speaker 1: really do believe Jesus has so much more to say 150 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,520 Speaker 1: to us, and this is one way we are creating 151 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:19,119 Speaker 1: space to listen.