1
00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:09,720
Speaker 1: Life Audio. Well, hey there, friends, I'm Jody Nisnick and

2
00:00:10,000 --> 00:00:14,360
Speaker 1: this is our Lent series helping us prepare our hearts

3
00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,000
Speaker 1: for Easter. This year, we are reflecting on the I

4
00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:23,680
Speaker 1: Am statements of Jesus and this is a midweek prayer

5
00:00:24,480 --> 00:00:28,960
Speaker 1: to help us refocus our heart and our mind back

6
00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:32,320
Speaker 1: on Jesus. And we'll do that after we take a

7
00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:43,839
Speaker 1: quick break for a word from our sponsors. As we

8
00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:46,519
Speaker 1: begin our prayer, I want to invite you to settle

9
00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:50,479
Speaker 1: in by taking a few deep in and out breaths.

10
00:00:52,000 --> 00:01:01,960
Speaker 1: Go ahead and breathe slowly in and exhale. Do that again,

11
00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:05,039
Speaker 1: and as you do, let me read our scripture for

12
00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,640
Speaker 1: us so that we remember what we were meditating on.

13
00:01:11,319 --> 00:01:14,920
Speaker 1: This is John eight, verses fifty six through fifty nine

14
00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:22,440
Speaker 1: in the New Living Translation. Your father Abraham rejoiced as

15
00:01:22,520 --> 00:01:27,160
Speaker 1: he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and

16
00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:34,279
Speaker 1: was glad. The people said, you aren't even fifty years old.

17
00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:40,600
Speaker 1: How can you say you have seen Abraham? Jesus answered,

18
00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:46,919
Speaker 1: I tell you the truth, before Abraham was even born.

19
00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:53,080
Speaker 1: I Am. At that point they picked up stones to

20
00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:58,240
Speaker 1: throw at him, but Jesus was hidden from them and

21
00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:07,880
Speaker 1: left the temple. Lord thank you that this passage was

22
00:02:07,920 --> 00:02:14,640
Speaker 1: recorded in scripture, your clear declaration that you are God,

23
00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:21,560
Speaker 1: that you existed outside of time before Abraham was even born,

24
00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:27,960
Speaker 1: generations before Jesus set foot on Earth in his earthly body.

25
00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:34,880
Speaker 1: So thank you Lord that this is clear. So in

26
00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,919
Speaker 1: this quiet moment, we just want to reflect on and

27
00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:45,480
Speaker 1: praise you for being God. That you existed before time began,

28
00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:53,280
Speaker 1: that you are a creator, redeemer, that you entered into

29
00:02:53,400 --> 00:03:00,000
Speaker 1: our world as a man being fully God and only man.

30
00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:34,680
Speaker 1: Pause to reflect and praise now. And Lord, we are

31
00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:39,680
Speaker 1: also mindful that just like these people were confused, that

32
00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,320
Speaker 1: they believed you were lying, that they believed you were crazy,

33
00:03:44,280 --> 00:03:48,520
Speaker 1: and that they felt threatened by you, as evidenced by

34
00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,480
Speaker 1: how they picked up stones to try and actually kill you.

35
00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:58,800
Speaker 1: So Lord, we know that they are not alone. There

36
00:03:58,840 --> 00:04:01,800
Speaker 1: are so many in our world that do not believe

37
00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,040
Speaker 1: in who you are, and they want to justify it

38
00:04:06,120 --> 00:04:10,000
Speaker 1: in so many different ways. So we want to just

39
00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:13,720
Speaker 1: pause and pray in this quiet moment for those that

40
00:04:13,800 --> 00:04:18,640
Speaker 1: we love who do not recognize you as God yet.

41
00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:51,680
Speaker 1: And Lord, we are also mindful that this is holy

42
00:04:51,760 --> 00:04:56,000
Speaker 1: weak so we pray that you would help us, help

43
00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:01,040
Speaker 1: us contemplate the cross and all that it means. Help

44
00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:05,640
Speaker 1: us prepare our hearts for Easter. So in this quiet

45
00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:40,479
Speaker 1: moment we ask you for help. Thank you Lord, you

46
00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:45,839
Speaker 1: are God. John says, in the beginning was the Word,

47
00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:51,680
Speaker 1: and the word was with God, and the word was God.

48
00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:58,640
Speaker 1: And you, Jesus, are the word. You were in the beginning,

49
00:05:59,560 --> 00:06:05,520
Speaker 1: You our God, Lord, Help us just carry that truth forward.

50
00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:14,039
Speaker 1: Today we worship you, our God, our Savior, and we

51
00:06:14,120 --> 00:06:18,159
Speaker 1: thank you for who you are. We pray this in

52
00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:46,440
Speaker 1: the name of Jesus. I am well, friends, Thank you

53
00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,479
Speaker 1: for praying with me throughout this Litton season. I will

54
00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:56,120
Speaker 1: see you tomorrow for our Mandy Thursday meditation. Until then,

55
00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:02,240
Speaker 1: may God be with you. You