*** Download your free Sacred Summer Journal here. ****



Let nothing be wasted. - Jesus



After Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 with one small lunch, there was an abundance of leftovers. He told the disciples to collect everything. Nothing would be wasted.



The scraps scattered on the hillside. The less desirable pieces. The too much.

All collected. All useful. Nothing wasted.



And all because one small boy agreed to give up his lunch, trusting that God would provide for him.



So many lessons in this amazing account.

Are we willing to trust God with the little that we have?

Do we believe he wastes nothing?



Listen in to this week’s meditation and see what God is inviting you to notice. I promise he has something just for you.



You can find Jodie at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Instagram @creatingspaceforgod

Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

Download your free Sacred Summer Journal here.

*** Download your free Sacred Summer Journal <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/648cadd46b9860d13a0fde13">here.</a> ****
 
Let nothing be wasted. - Jesus
 
After Jesus miraculously fed the 5000 with one small lunch, there was an abundance of leftovers. He told the disciples to collect everything. Nothing would be wasted.
 
The scraps scattered on the hillside. The less desirable pieces. The too much.
All collected. All useful. Nothing wasted.
 
And all because one small boy agreed to give up his lunch, trusting that God would provide for him.
 
So many lessons in this amazing account.
Are we willing to trust God with the little that we have?
Do we believe he wastes nothing?
 
Listen in to this week’s meditation and see what God is inviting you to notice. I promise he has something just for you.
 
You can find Jodie at <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/">http://www.jodieniznik.com/</a>
Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/creatingspaceforgod/">@creatingspaceforgod</a>
Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JodieGNiznik">@JodieGNiznik</a>
Download free sample chapters from my Bible studies <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/studies">here</a>.
Download your free Sacred Summer Journal <a href="https://view.flodesk.com/pages/648cadd46b9860d13a0fde13">here.</a>

Welcome to So Much More where we're creating space to be with God. This podcast, hosted by Jodie Niznik, introduces you to two types of bible scripture meditation experiences, Lectio Divina and Imaginative Prayer, and gives you space to practice them. It also creates space to hear what others have experienced in their time with God.

Topics Covered:

📖 What Is Lectio Divina and Why Is It a Helpful Christian Practice
📖 What Is Christian Meditation and How Do We Use Scripture to Practice It
📖 Special Church Seasonal Series Including Lent, Easter, and Advent

If you are a Christian looking for ways to pray more or meditate more on Scripture, be sure to visit Jodie's website, https://www.jodieniznik.com/ for more information! 

Welcome to So Much More where we're creating space to be with God. This podcast, hosted by Jodie Niznik, introduces you to two types of bible scripture meditation experiences, Lectio Divina and Imaginative Prayer, and gives you space to practice them. It also creates space to hear what others have experienced in their time with God.
Topics Covered:
📖 What Is Lectio Divina and Why Is It a Helpful Christian Practice 📖 What Is Christian Meditation and How Do We Use Scripture to Practice It 📖 Special Church Seasonal Series Including Lent, Easter, and Advent
If you are a Christian looking for ways to pray more or meditate more on Scripture, be sure to visit Jodie's website, <a href="https://www.jodieniznik.com/">https://www.jodieniznik.com/</a> for more information!

So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

Abundance with God | Meditation on John 6:1-13

The fourth week of Advent invites us to reflect on joy—true joy—and how we experience it.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.

This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.

Joy is the focus of this final week of Advent.
What I love about joy is that it weaves through all the themes of Advent:
We have joy because Jesus is our sure hope.
We have joy because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.
We have joy because God is love, and Jesus reveals this to us.

At the heart of it all, we have joy because of Jesus—our Savior, who came to us that first Christmas morning.

In this meditation, we’ll explore how we can know more joy.
John 15:9-12 ties joy to a somewhat surprising source—obedience and love. Jesus tells us that true, overflowing joy comes when we follow his command to love one another as he has loved us.

As you meditate on this passage, may you rest in God’s love for you and discover the deep, overflowing joy that comes from loving as Jesus loves.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.

Here are some additional helpful links:

Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.

You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik

Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here.

Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.

Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com.

Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

The entire meditation text is as follows:

John 15:9-12, NLT

9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

The fourth week of Advent invites us to reflect on joy—true joy—and how we experience it.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>.
This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.
Joy is the focus of this final week of Advent. What I love about joy is that it weaves through all the themes of Advent:
<ul>
<li>We have joy because Jesus is our sure hope.</li>
<li>We have joy because Jesus is the Prince of Peace.</li>
<li>We have joy because God is love, and Jesus reveals this to us.</li>
</ul>
At the heart of it all, we have joy because of Jesus—our Savior, who came to us that first Christmas morning.
In this meditation, we’ll explore how we can know more joy. John 15:9-12 ties joy to a somewhat surprising source—obedience and love. Jesus tells us that true, overflowing joy comes when we follow his command to love one another as he has loved us.
As you meditate on this passage, may you rest in God’s love for you and discover the deep, overflowing joy that comes from loving as Jesus loves.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>.
Here are some additional helpful links:
Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head <a href="https://simonwester.com/">here</a> to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.
You can find out more about me, Jodie, at <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/">http://www.jodieniznik.com/</a>
Follow me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jodieniznik/">@jodieniznik</a>
Follow me on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JodieGNiznik">@JodieGNiznik</a>
Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/qonerec7np">here</a>.
Join my Monday email newsletter <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/enrpjoz0aa">here</a>, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">lifeaudio.com.</a>
Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/studies">here</a>.
The entire meditation text is as follows:
John 15:9-12, NLT
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you.

Overflowing Joy | John 15:9-12 (Advent Week 4)

The third week of Advent invites us to reflect on love—real love—and what it looks like in our lives.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.

This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.

What is love?
The world often says love is a feeling—but feelings change.

God tells us that love is so much more. God is love.

And his love is eternal, unchanging, and steadfast.

He demonstrated this love by sending his Son, Jesus, to take away our sins.

There is no greater love than the love of God.

But God’s love isn’t something we receive for ourselves alone. Part of knowing God’s love is the call to give it away—to love one another as he has loved us.

Yet, this can feel especially hard during the holidays, when we might face the challenge of loving difficult people in our families and communities.

This meditation will guide you to contemplate love: God’s love for you and his invitation to love others.

May you know and experience real love this Advent season.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.

Here are some additional helpful links:

Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.

You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik

Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here.

Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.

Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com.

Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

The entire meditation text is as follows:

1 John 4:7-10, NLT

7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

The third week of Advent invites us to reflect on love—real love—and what it looks like in our lives.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>.
This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.
What is love? The world often says love is a feeling—but feelings change.
God tells us that love is so much more. God is love.
And his love is eternal, unchanging, and steadfast.
He demonstrated this love by sending his Son, Jesus, to take away our sins.
There is no greater love than the love of God.
But God’s love isn’t something we receive for ourselves alone. Part of knowing God’s love is the call to give it away—to love one another as he has loved us.
Yet, this can feel especially hard during the holidays, when we might face the challenge of loving difficult people in our families and communities.
This meditation will guide you to contemplate love: God’s love for you and his invitation to love others.
May you know and experience real love this Advent season.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>.
Here are some additional helpful links:
Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head <a href="https://simonwester.com/">here</a> to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.
You can find out more about me, Jodie, at <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/">http://www.jodieniznik.com/</a>
Follow me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jodieniznik/">@jodieniznik</a>
Follow me on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JodieGNiznik">@JodieGNiznik</a>
Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/qonerec7np">here</a>.
Join my Monday email newsletter <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/enrpjoz0aa">here</a>, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">lifeaudio.com.</a>
Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/studies">here</a>.
The entire meditation text is as follows:
1 John 4:7-10, NLT
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

What Is Real Love? | 1 John 4:7-10 (Advent Week 3)

This second week of Advent invites us to reflect on the theme of peace—a peace that became possible through the arrival of Jesus.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.
This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.

Jesus brought peace. Peace in our relationship with God, peace into our lives, and peace into the world.

The peace He offers isn’t a distant, someday-when-life-is-perfect kind of peace. It’s a peace we can experience right now—in the middle of the mess.

I love how Alan Fadling, from Unhurried Living and one of the contributors to the Unhurried Advent Guide, puts it:
“Anything we can do in anxiety, we can do better in peace.”

This doesn’t ignore the fact that real life is often messy and difficult. But imagine if there were an undercurrent of peace flowing through your life instead of anxiety. How would that change the way you live, love, and respond to your circumstances?

Today, we’re meditating on the announcement of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds. In this extraordinary moment, God gives them (and us) the profound gift of peace.

As you listen to this meditation, I invite you to step into the shepherds’ shoes and wonder: What would it have been like to witness this moment?

More importantly, how might Jesus be inviting you to embrace His peace this Advent season?

I’m praying that this meditation helps you pause, reflect, and receive the peace Jesus offers.

Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide here.

Here are some additional helpful links:

Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head here to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.

You can find out more about me, Jodie, at http://www.jodieniznik.com/

Follow me on Instagram @jodieniznik

Follow me on Facebook @JodieGNiznik

Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal here.

Join my Monday email newsletter here, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.

Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at lifeaudio.com.

Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies here.

The entire meditation text is as follows:

Luke 2:8–14, NLT

8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

This second week of Advent invites us to reflect on the theme of peace—a peace that became possible through the arrival of Jesus.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>. This 25-day guide is filled with Scripture meditations, devotional readings with reflective questions, and contemplative imagery—all designed to help you slow down and savor the Advent season. Created in collaboration with Unhurried Living, a ministry I’m confident you’ll love.
<hr>
Jesus brought peace. Peace in our relationship with God, peace into our lives, and peace into the world.
The peace He offers isn’t a distant, someday-when-life-is-perfect kind of peace. It’s a peace we can experience right now—in the middle of the mess.
I love how Alan Fadling, from Unhurried Living and one of the contributors to the Unhurried Advent Guide, puts it: “Anything we can do in anxiety, we can do better in peace.”
This doesn’t ignore the fact that real life is often messy and difficult. But imagine if there were an undercurrent of peace flowing through your life instead of anxiety. How would that change the way you live, love, and respond to your circumstances?
<hr>
Today, we’re meditating on the announcement of Jesus’s birth to the shepherds. In this extraordinary moment, God gives them (and us) the profound gift of peace.
As you listen to this meditation, I invite you to step into the shepherds’ shoes and wonder: What would it have been like to witness this moment?
More importantly, how might Jesus be inviting you to embrace His peace this Advent season?
I’m praying that this meditation helps you pause, reflect, and receive the peace Jesus offers.
Get your FREE Unhurried Advent Guide <a href="https://www.unhurriedliving.com/advent2024">here</a>.
Here are some additional helpful links:
Did you love today’s calming music by Simon Wester? If so, head <a href="https://simonwester.com/">here</a> to find links to his music. I have his Spotify playlist on repeat.
You can find out more about me, Jodie, at <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/">http://www.jodieniznik.com/</a>
Follow me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jodieniznik/">@jodieniznik</a>
Follow me on Facebook <a href="https://www.facebook.com/JodieGNiznik">@JodieGNiznik</a>
Learn more about Scripture meditation and download a FREE Lectio Divina Scripture Meditation Journal <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/qonerec7np">here</a>.
Join my Monday email newsletter <a href="https://idyllic-fashion-59593.myflodesk.com/enrpjoz0aa">here</a>, where I send links to the newest meditation every Monday morning.
Find out more about my partner, Life Audio, at <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">lifeaudio.com.</a>
Download FREE sample chapters from my Bible studies <a href="http://www.jodieniznik.com/studies">here</a>.
The entire meditation text is as follows:
Luke 2:8–14, NLT
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”

Abundance with God | Meditation on John 6:1-13

In 1 playlist(s)

So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina)

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips