“And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).

The way of the cross, following Jesus is not easy.  It is war.  This world is in rebellion against our God who created it.  He has come to reconcile those who will lay down their arms and cease the rebellion, bringing all who believe to be with the Father.  But the war in this world rages on.  Jesus was killed by and for the sin of this world.  We are united with Him in order to be resurrected with Him.

Lord, I know the story and I see the rebellion all around me.  Lead all those who call upon Your name so that we live in the truth that You have come to reconcile all who believe in You in order to be with You for eternity in the love relationship out of which flows all goodness.  Guide all who turn to You out of the rebellion of this age and into the love You have for all.  Lead the faithful to see that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Raise us with You to live according to the Father’s will.

Lord Jesus, You have called me to die to sin, death, and the devil.  In You alone do I have hope and a future.  Guide me dear Jesus to do what is right in the Father’s sight and live the life You have given me to live.  Help me to stand firm in the truth amidst the rebellion of this age.  Teach me all I need to know in order that I may remain faithful to You, my Lord and Savior.  Help me always hear You voice.  Amen.

“And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.”  And He warned them to tell no one about Him” (Mark 8:29-30).

Who is Jesus?  That is the most important question anyone can ask.  He is either who He says He is or else a lunatic or a liar.  No one treated Him as if He were crazy, so He either is the Son of God or else a deceiver.  Everyone must make their choice.  If You hear His voice and know that He is the Christ, then fall at His feet and worship Him.  He will lift You up and send you to work in His kingdom.

Lord, this simple question must be answered by each of us.  Some will ignore the question, which is its own answer.  Some will spend a lifetime trying to deny the answer and even be fanatical about it.  Help me to realize that You are the Son of God, the Messiah or Christ, the anointed One of God, God in the flesh.  All who hear His voice know He is our Shepherd.  Hear, follow, and obey.

Lord Jesus, You have said that the sheep know Your voice.  Help me to hear and obey all that You command.  Lead me far from the doubts of this age to live in the truth that You are the One who has come to save all who believe.  Lead me through the doubts of this age to humbly submit to the trust what You have revealed for all ages.  Guide me in faith to live according to Your word and live into the Father’s will.  Amen.

“Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?”  They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets” (Mark 8:27-28).

Who do people say that Jesus is?  A great . . . but not . . .?  Sinners want to define God.  God created us, we did not create Him.  The world guesses, but Jesus has told us the truth.  The real question is whether or not you will believe that Jesus is who He says He is.  Either He’s telling the truth or He is lying.  If He is lying, then go your way.  If He is telling the truth, then fall at His feet and call Him Lord, Master, and God.

Lord, You are the One who created all things and they exist because of You.  We guess and fumble over definitions as if we had the power to decide how things ought to be.  Lead me away from such arrogance so that I live in the truth of Your word.  Help me to understand that in You alone will I find the answers to life’s questions.  Define me so that I do not lie to myself and think I can define You.

Lord Jesus, You have shown Your light to the world.  Guide me in my faith so that I act in belief and live according to the truth that You have revealed.  Help me now and always to humbly look to You as the One who will answer all of my questions.  Teach me and help me to apply the lessons You teach me so that I may grow in Your likeness and share with others the truth that You are the Word made flesh.  Amen.

“And he looked up and said, “I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.”  Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly.  And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village” (Mark 8:24-26).

How apt a description of the truth of this age, “Men walking like trees.”  We cannot see the forest for the tree.  The Lord restores sight to the blind.  This is not just physically seeing, but seeing things as they are.  When we see that our Lord is leading us, we all do well to listen to His specific instructions.  The Lord saves us and must lead us from where we are to where we need to be.

Lord, I hear clearly in Scripture that there are those who listen to You and obey and those who hear your word and do not obey.  You have a reason for everything.  Help me to not get lost in this world because I do not heed Your word.  Lead me from where I am to where I need to be and help me to hear the words You speak and put them into practice.  Guide me Lord now and always.

Lord Jesus, I know I need Your saving grace.  Where I am not seeing clearly, clear my vision.  When You give me a command, help me to obey that command without commentary, wavering, or by taking another path.  Restore my heart so that I live in the truth for which You have saved me.  Guide me along right paths for Your name’s sake and take me from where I am to where I need to be.  Amen.

“And they came to Bethsaida. And they brought a blind man to Jesus and implored Him to touch him.  Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” (Mark 8:22-23)

There are times when we do not trust Jesus for the everyday and ordinary things.  We want Him to touch us with the extraordinary things.  Why would Jesus ask if this man sees?  Why does Jesus do anything that He does?  Jesus often prayed out loud and then thanked the Father saying that He knew the Father hears.  He told us this was done for the sake of those who hear.  Jesus will bring all who believe to the place of trusting the Father in and through all things.

Lord, You are purposeful.  You have said that there is purpose for everything You do and that You will bring it all together for good for those who love You.  Help me so that I no longer try to figure all things out before believing, but trust Your leading at all times.  Although You may not do things in a way that I understand, I know that You are God and that all things are in Your hands.

Lead me Lord Jesus so that I do not stop at my ability to understand, but move through all of the things that would otherwise hinder me in this life.  You have called me to follow You now and forever.  Guide me in Your goodness and grace to look to You and no matter how You bring things to fruition, help me to have faith such that I trust You.  You are my Lord and Savior and it must be done in the way You know that fulfills the Father’s will.  Help me to trust the truth You have spoken.  Amen.  

“When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.”  And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?” (Mark 8:20-21)

Do you not yet understand?  Jesus has come to make us perfect even as the Heavenly Father is perfect.  What He is doing is completing us as He prepares us to be with Him forever.  The sin of the world is being taken away so that we may live with Him forever.  Do not be led by the things of this world, but by the One who created all worlds.  Jesus will accomplish your salvation and bring you to be with Him where He is.

Lord, I do not fully understand all that You are doing.  Help me to obey the First Commandment and love and trust You above all things.  Help me to trust that You are good and merciful and will accomplish all that You have promised.  You alone are able to save me and I do not understand all that is needed.  Through You I can know that You will do what You say.  Help me to always trust this simple and profound truth.

Jesus, You daily pour into me what is needed for the day.  You are growing in me Your likeness.  Help me to move beyond my limited understand to trust that You will accomplish all that is needed for the sake of those who believe.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy.  May Your grace grow in me what the Father desires.  Through all things, bring me to the place of understanding.  Amen.

“Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember,  when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve” (Mark 8:18-19).

The Lord is telling us to connect the dots that He shows us.  How often do we go around saying we do not understand when He has placed before us all that we need to know so that we may understand.  The Holy Spirit grants wisdom to those who are willing to see and hear.  You do not have because you do not ask.  Ask the Lord and He will open your hearts and minds to see and understand.

Lord, You know where I am ignorant.  You know where I am naive.  You know where I have need.  Take away any pride that stands in the way of my humbly coming to You and asking for all that I need.  Guide me to learn how to faithfully trust You for all things.  In Your goodness and mercy, teach me so that I may see what You show me, hear what You say, and understand that You are the One who saves me.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the words of eternal life.  Often, I act as if I have not heard nor seen all that You have done for those who believe.  Mature me in faith so that I may humbly walk in Your ways all the days of my life.  Guide me to live according to the word You have given and not settle for the grumbling of my sinful body.  Lead me Lord to learn how to live from You and for You.  Amen.

“They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.  And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart?” (Mark 8:16-17)

Too often, we live by the pattern in which we have been conditioned.  Being conditional, we do not trust that the Lord has already provided for all of our needs.  But we have the incessant wants that are driving us and seek to satisfy only our physical desires.  The Lord has come to break bad habits, lead us, and prepare us for eternal life.  We are called from being circumstantial into the reality that all things have always been in the Lord’s hands.

Lord, help me.  You know where I get off track and listen to my belly rather than listening to You.  You have called me out of myself in order to discover the true life which is found only in You.  You know that I need food, but You know where food takes over and I live for food rather than for You.  Break all bad habits so that in all things I may be conformed to what You are creating in me as You prepare me for eternity.

Thank You my Lord and Savior for saving me.  I need to be rescued from the bondage which sin has placed upon my life.  I need to be guided by Your goodness and mercy.  Actually, I do not know all that I need, but You do.  Teach me to learn when I pray, “give us this day our daily bread.”  Guide me to understand more fully the truth of the promise that You have given me in faith.  Amen.

“And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them.  And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:14-15).

Man does not live by bread alone, but by the very word of God.  He spoke all things into existence in the beginning.  Beware, lest you fall for the traps of this age which, like leaven, cause doubts and fears to grow inside you.  It is not blind faith, but faith that trust that the One who created all things will lead you forward toward the goal of being with Him forever.  All things are possible with the One who made all things.

Lord, help me to see those places where the poison of this age infects my mind.  Keep me from going deep into legalism, but also keep me from going the other way toward being skeptical.  The signs I need have been shown.  I see the fruit of living according to Your word.  Help me so that I remain on the narrow path and walk according to the word You have given me.  Guide me to live by faith.

Lord Jesus, You have come to lead the way of living the new life that You give.  You know the places where there is leaven that has infected me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see that only in You is there hope and a future.  Teach me what it means to walk on the narrow path.  Help me through the obstacles that will come, for You know where the leaven is that would infect my soul.  Lead me Lord Jesus, my Savior.  Amen.

“The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.  Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”  Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side” (Mark 8:11-13).

No sign from heaven, only from earth.  The cross is lifted up and is the answer, but many do not want that answer.  Yes, Jesus conquers death, but we all must go through death.  The world thinks the death of the body is the final answer.  Jesus tells us otherwise.  Through, yes!  Through the cross we are given a new life and we have the promise that as He was raised from the dead, we too shall also be raised.

Almighty and merciful Lord, I have been hung up in wishful thinking.  People around me want proof.  Proof, which You have already given.  Ultimately, it boils down to whether or not I am going to trust You.  Help me learn the truth that You are the only One who is trustworthy.  All things are in Your hands and either I will trust the simple truth of this, or else continue in this generation’s wishful thinking.

Help me Holy Spirit to overcome the incessant desire to have proofs for my continued walk in faith.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Help me to dwell in faith, trusting in what I do not yet see, but know that You have promised.  Guide me to live by the truth You have revealed and walk each day toward the prize of becoming like Christ and living forever in eternity with You.  Amen.