Prompted by Compassion | Luke 6:31–36, Step 9 Meditation

This Christian meditation on Luke 6:31–36 invites you into a guided Scripture reading using the Lectio Divina model. You’ll have space to pause, reflect, and listen for how God is inviting you to love others with compassion — even when it’s difficult. Step Nine of the 12 Steps says: We made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Making amends goes beyond saying “I’m sorry.” It’s about seeking restoration with love and wisdom, while also trusting God to guide us in situations where direct amends aren’t possible. In this meditation, we’ll reflect on Jesus’ words in Luke 6 and open our hearts to the Spirit’s invitation toward compassion, humility, and courage. Take a few deep breaths, settle in, and let’s step into this time of Scripture meditation together. Helpful Links:Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Additional links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Passage: Luke 6:31–36 (NLT) Do to others as you would like them to do to you.If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation is an imaginative prayer on Luke 19:1–10. Together, we’ll pause for Scripture meditation and reflection, entering the story of Zacchaeus and experiencing the transforming love of Jesus. Step Eight of the 12 Steps says: We made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all. It’s not easy to admit the ways we’ve caused harm — especially when it feels easier to remember how others have hurt us. But this step invites us to own what’s ours, and to ask God for the willingness to make things right. In this meditation, we’ll reflect on the story of Zacchaeus, a corrupt tax collector. We’ll enter the scene through imaginative prayer — first as one of the townspeople and then as Zacchaeus himself. As you listen, you’ll be invited to ask God to guide you toward the next gentle step He is inviting you to take. Take a deep breath and join me in this amazing grace-filled story. Helpful Links:Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Additional links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Passage: Luke 19:1–10 (NLT) Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was the chief tax collector in the region, and he had become very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way. When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. “Zacchaeus!” he said. “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled. Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Jesus responded, “Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation on James 4:6–8, 10 invites you to pause, breathe, and make space for God to meet you with His generous grace. Step Seven of the 12 Steps says: “We humbly asked God to remove our shortcomings.” Once we are ready for God to change us (Step Six), the natural next step is to come before Him in humility. Not with promises we can’t keep, but with open hands, asking Him to do what we cannot do for ourselves. That’s the heart of this meditation. James reminds us that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” As you listen, you’ll be invited to notice where your loyalties are divided between God and the world, and to bring those shortcomings humbly before God.  Humility doesn’t press us down or leave us in shame — it draws us close to God. And as James promises, when we come close to Him, He comes close to us. He doesn’t push us away but lifts us up in His love and honor. Take a deep breath and let this meditation guide you into a posture of humility, honesty, and hope. God’s grace is generous, and He is ready to meet you right where you are.   Helpful Links:Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Additional links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Passage:  James 4:6-8, 10, NLT And (God) gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say,  “God opposes the proud  but gives grace to the humble.”  So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world…. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This guided Christian meditation on Ezekiel 36:25–27 invites you to pause, breathe, and open your heart to God’s transforming work. Through Scripture meditation, reflection, and guided prayer, you’ll be reminded that God promises to remove our stony, stubborn hearts and give us tender, responsive ones. This meditation connects with Step Six of the 12 Steps, which says: “We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.” Step Six is all about willingness — being ready for God to do what only He can do. Transformation doesn’t come from trying harder or following a self-improvement plan. It comes from opening ourselves to the Spirit and allowing God to change us from the inside out. Even though God does the transforming, we still have a part to play. We participate by showing up, making space for Scripture meditation, confessing to someone trustworthy, and surrounding ourselves with people who point us to Jesus. But the heavy lifting belongs to God. He is the One who changes hearts. Take a deep breath, and let this meditation on Ezekiel 36 remind you: God is bigger than your sin. Jesus is better than every substitute we chase. And the Spirit is stronger than anything that pulls us away.  God is ready to transform even the most hardened parts of your heart into something new and tender.   Helpful Links: Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you 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 Guided 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.   Meditation Scripture: Ezekiel 36:25–27 (NLT) “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Step Five of the 12 Steps invites us to admit to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. This may be one of the hardest invitations of the journey. It’s tempting to think: Can’t I just admit my sins to God? Isn’t that enough? But Scripture reminds us that healing happens in community. James 5:16 says: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” And Proverbs 28:13 tells us: “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Confession isn’t about punishment — it’s about grace. And there is something deeply healing that happens when we bring our hidden struggles into the light with the witness of another person who can remind us of God’s mercy. In today’s meditation, we’ll step into the story of the prodigal son from Luke 15:17–24. We’ll imagine what it feels like to come home after making a wreck of our lives, and to be embraced by a Father who runs toward us with compassion and joy. This meditation is an invitation to pause with God and ask: What am I keeping hidden? What holds me back from confession? Who might be a trustworthy person I can talk with? Most of all, it’s a reminder that God already knows the whole story — and He is eager to meet us with mercy. When we finally come home, we discover grace waiting for us. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s step into this meditation together. Helpful Links:Download your FREE Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey companion journal here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Scripture: Luke 15:17–24 (NLT) 17 “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! 18 I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, 19 and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’ 20 “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do you do with the parts of yourself you’d rather hide? This Christian meditation podcast offers space for Bible meditation, scripture reflection, and guided prayer shaped by the 12 steps. Step Four says: “We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of our lives.” That can sound intimidating. But this meditation isn’t about doing a deep dive into every detail of your past or present. Instead, it’s an invitation to rest in the truth that God already knows everything about you — and He still loves you. Hebrews 4 reminds us: “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” But it also shows us the good news: Jesus is our great high priest. He knows what it is to be human. He empathizes with our weakness. And because of Him, we can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” In today’s meditation, you’ll pause with Hebrews 4:13–16 and be reminded that there is nothing in you that surprises God — and nothing He cannot redeem. You’ll be invited to come honestly and boldly into His presence, and to receive the mercy and grace He longs to give. Take a deep breath, settle in, and let’s meditate on these truths together. Helpful Resources Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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. Today’s Scripture: Hebrews 4:13–16 (NIV) Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Turning our will and our lives over to God is never easy. But it’s always good. This Christian meditation podcast offers space for Bible meditation, scripture reflection, and guided prayer rooted in the wisdom of the 12 steps. Step Three says: “We made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.” Step One reminded us: I can’t.Step Two gave us hope: God can.And Step Three invites us to surrender: I think I’ll let Him. Today’s meditation is from Jeremiah 17:5–8. This poetic passage paints a vivid picture of what happens when we rely on our own strength versus when we place our hope and confidence in the Lord. One life ends up like a stunted shrub in the desert. The other is like a flourishing tree with roots reaching deep into the river. Through guided reflection, you’ll be invited to notice where you’re relying on yourself, and where God is asking you to trust Him more fully. Then you’ll rest in the truth that God wants you to be like that tree — deeply rooted, resilient through hard seasons, and bearing fruit that blesses others. Take a few deep breaths, settle in, and let’s meditate together. Helpful Resources Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Scripture: Jeremiah 17:5–8 (NLT) 5 This is what the LORD says:“Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans,who rely on human strengthand turn their hearts away from the LORD.6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert,with no hope for the future.They will live in the barren wilderness,in an uninhabited salty land.7 “But blessed are those who trust in the LORDand have made the LORD their hope and confidence.8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank,with roots that reach deep into the water.Such trees are not bothered by the heator worried by long months of drought.Their leaves stay green,and they never stop producing fruit.” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Have you ever believed and doubted at the same time? You’re not alone. This Christian meditation podcast offers space for Bible meditation, scripture reflection, and guided prayer shaped by the 12 steps. Step Two says: “We came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.” If Step One was I can’t, Step Two is the hopeful turn toward God can. In this imaginative prayer, you’ll enter the story of a desperate father who brings his son to Jesus for healing. He longs to believe God can help him, yet struggles with doubt. His words echo the tension so many of us feel: “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” This meditation invites you to step into the scene and experience Jesus’s compassion in the very places where faith and doubt live side by side. Where do you need God’s help today? He knows exactly what you are facing — and He wants to help. Take a deep breath and let this meditation remind you that while we can’t, God can. Helpful Links:Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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. Today’s Scripture: Mark 9:20–24 (NLT) So they brought the boy. But when the evil spirit saw Jesus, it threw the child into a violent convulsion, and he fell to the ground, writhing and foaming at the mouth.“How long has this been happening?” Jesus asked the boy’s father.He replied, “Since he was a little boy. The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in patterns you can’t seem to break, you aren’t alone. This Christian meditation podcast offers space for Bible meditation, scripture reflection, and faith‑based guided prayer. This series is shaped by the twelve steps—a time‑tested path to spiritual healing and transformation—because we all have hurts, habits, or hangups that hold us back. Whether or not you consider yourself an addict, these meditations are for you. We all long for lives characterized by freedom—lives rooted and grounded in God and His goodness. But the truth is, we all struggle. Step One helps us admit what we feel but don’t want to name: we are powerless over our deepest problems and our lives can become unmanageable. That honest admission isn’t despair; it’s the threshold of grace—the place we discover that while we can’t, God can. And He wants to. In today’s meditation, we sit with Romans 7:21–25, where Paul wrestles with the push and pull we all know—the desire to follow God and the struggle with sin. You’ll be guided to listen, reflect, respond, and rest, opening your heart to the healing and wholeness God wants to bring. Download your FREE companion journal for Rooted and Grounded: Scripture Meditations for Every Step of the Journey here.This journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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.   Here's todays meditation Scripture: Romans 7:21–25 (NLT) I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me.Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

In this final meditation of the Fully Known, Fully Loved series, we return to the very heart of the gospel: God’s love. Through the familiar but powerful words of John 3:16–18—read from The Message—we’re reminded that God didn’t send Jesus to accuse or condemn, but to rescue. To restore. To love. Whether you’ve known Jesus for decades or are still exploring what faith means, this meditation invites you to slow down and let the truth of God’s extravagant love settle deeply into your soul. In this guided Christian meditation, you’ll be invited to:• Reflect on how you first came to know Jesus• Thank God for the people who led you to Him• Lift up someone you’re praying for who doesn’t yet know Christ• Rest in the truth that you are fully known and still fully loved Let the words of this passage remind you:God loves you deeply, completely, and eternally. Helpful Links:Download your FREE companion journal for the Fully Known, Fully Loved series hereThis journal includes:• All the Scriptures for this series• Weekly reflection prompts• Space to record what God is revealing to you Here are some additional helpful links: 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 Guided 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. Meditation Passage: John 3:16–18, The Message TranslationThis is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.