318: Jodie Niznik and Creating Space for God

Jodie Niznik served in vocational ministry for over twelve years. Her calling and passion is to equip people to create space for God in their lives and take another step in their journey with Jesus. She does this through writing, teaching, and her Scripture meditation podcast. Today, Jodie shares about how finding Christ at church camp, the first time she learned about lectio divina, and how she helps others engage the practice. Jodie’s story reminds us that there are many ways engage the Lord if we just take a little time.

Listen to Jodie’s story in your favorite podcast app now!

Stories Jodie shared:

The process of lectio divina and the guardrails we need
Growing up in Atlanta with a good family.
Finding Christ at church camp at 13
Having a very performative view of her faith
Deciding to do things on her own and the distress that resulted
Discovering Christian community at the University of Boulder
Getting married and moving to Texas
Hearing God tell her to go to seminary
Her experience with God through school
Starting to work at her church at the end of her schoolwork “on fumes”
Experiencing lectio divina for the first time
Leading her first lectio experience
Meditating on Psalm 37
The process of practicing lectio
Why she started a podcast about lectio, So Much More: Creating Space for God
Deciding to move away from working at the church
Experiencing God through a painful experience

Great quotes from Jodie:

I had to slow down or I wasn’t going to do any kind of work God called me to (24:16)

There’s not a return but there is a new space.

God wants to speak to you through His Word.

Resources we mentioned:

Jodie’s website
Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership: Seeking God in the Crucible of Ministry by Ruth Haley Barton

Related episodes:

The post Jodie Niznik and Creating Space for God appeared first on Eric Nevins.