So Much More: Scripture Meditation (Lectio Divina) - I Am the Gate | Midweek Prayer (John 10:7–10)

0:00I'm Christi Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse, and I recently interviewed one of our pilots whose plane was hijacked in Africa. I encouraged myself with that reality. That at some point, this is going to end in two hours. It'll end good if I'm on the ground somewhere walking around with the testimony. It'll end great if he pulls the trigger for me. It will end great. That day, Jim, experienced the power of prayer and witnessed just how mighty the name of Jesus is. If you want to hear this full story, tune in at Samaritan's Purse.org-flashlisten. Life Audio My dear friends, I'm Jody Niznik, and this is our Lent series, helping us prepare our hearts for Easter. This year, we are reflecting on the I AM statements of Jesus. And this is a midweek prayer to help us refocus our heart and our mind back on Jesus. And we'll do that after we take a quick break for a word from our sponsors.

1:07I'm Christi Graham, host of On the Ground with Samaritan's Purse, and I recently interviewed one of our pilots whose plane was hijacked in Africa. I encouraged myself with that reality. That at some point, this is going to end in two hours. It'll end good if I'm on the ground somewhere walking around with the testimony. It'll end great if he pulls the trigger for me. It will end great. That day, Jim, experienced the power of prayer and witnessed just how mighty the name of Jesus is. If you want to hear this full story, tune in at Samaritan's Purse.org-flashlisten. It started with a knock at the door of a small clinic. A grandmother stood there holding her grandson. He was burning with fever. The nearest hospital was hours away and she had no way to get there. Through this moment matters, a ministry of global ministries and umcor. That clinic had medicine. It had trained staff. It had hope. The boy received treatment that day. The grandmother left with tears in her eyes and relief in her heart. This is what happens when the church refuses to look

2:12away. When we decide that every life carries sacred work, your gift today helps strengthen health systems, support migrants, fight hunger and build peace and communities under strain. Visit www.givetumcmission.org-flash-future and be part of the story God is still writing because this moment matters. Well friends, let's begin in prayer. I do want to invite you just take a few deep in and out breaths to help you settle in. And as you're doing that, let me read our verse over us so that we remember what we're meditating on this week. Jesus is the gate. He says this in John 10 verses 7 through 10

3:15in the new international version. Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep, all who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. Gracious Lord, thank you that you are the gate, that you are the one who protects us with your very presence and no one can get through you without your say so.

4:24Lord Jesus, help us trust you as the one who protects us today. In this moment, we surrender to you all of the things that are making us feel fearful and anxious. And we ask, would you be the gate for those things? Lord, we also recognize that there is a thief who wants to steal and kill and destroy.

5:29In this moment, we pray against this thief, our enemy. Thank you that you are the gate and that you protect us with your very presence. May we walk in that truth today. Lord, thank you that you are the life giver and we can trust you to have more and abundant better life than we ever dreamed of. Lord, we ask that you give us that

6:33today, that you would renew our hope for this abundant life that you have created us for. Help us turn to you and trust you. We ask that you would do this and so much more. In the name of Jesus, our gate, amen. Well, friends, I will see you next week for our next meditation.

7:50I spend just a few minutes taking an application look at one or two verses of scripture before coming to the Lord in prayer. If you would like to make a habit of spending more time meditating on the truth of God's word, you can listen to daily devotions with Pastor John at lifeaudio.com or on your favorite podcasting app.