“Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her” (Mark 6:25-26).

The scheming and plotting of this world is constant.  It never stops.  We fall into the traps of our own making and we are remorseful.  Avoid the remorse and learn how not to fall into the trap.  No matter our position, we too can fall for the traps that are set by the wicked one.  Pride goes before the fall.  If that happens, repent, confess, come before the Lord, and learn the lesson.  Be led by the Lord alone.

Lord, You know what is in store for me.  You know what will happen.  I pray that You will help me learn the lessons You teach me without my falling into the pits of temptation that are around me.  Kill my pride and help me to learn how to humbly live with You as the One who guides me.  Through all things, may I learn from You how to live a life filled with righteousness.

Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me.  Through all the dangers and tribulations that will come in this world, be the One who leads me.  Guide me according to Your goodness and mercy so that I am quick to learn, slow to anger, and living out the love You are giving me.  Guide me into the depth of the faith You have given me so that I may become more like You each day.  Amen.

“And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to half of my kingdom.”  And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist” (Mark 6:23-24).

Do not make a prideful oath.  It is not that we cannot swear allegiance or pledge the truth, but that we ought not promise when we do not know what the outcome will be.  You know this story.  You know what is going to happen.  Do not make a pledge that will trap you into sinning proudly and harming your ability to do what is right.  Be led by the Lord alone and be on the guard lest pride cause you to act with unrighteousness.

Lord God, You know how many times I have made an oath that led me down the wrong path.  I know that I am saved by grace. But keep me from making the same mistakes over and over again.  Open my eyes to see more clearly so that I may begin to understand the path that is before me. Help me see the pits that are alongside the trail which may tempt me.  Teach me how to be in constant prayer, seeking Your counsel.

Lord Jesus, You were in constant communion with the Father.  You have told me to pray without ceasing.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, so that I too learn how to constantly be in prayer.  You are my Savior and I need to be saved.  Help me this day to follow closely where You lead.  Show me the temptations that come my way so that I do not fall for them.  Through all things, aid me learn what it means to be righteous.  Amen.

“A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his lords and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee; and when the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you” (Mark 6:21-22).

Never make a bargain with the devil.  In our sinfulness, we may be tempted to be charitable but if it is done with pride, it may well become a devil’s bargain.  Herod placed himself in the position of having to be generous because of all the guests.  Showing off is never a good idea.  Learn from folly, yours and others, and seek to do what is best in every situation.  Be guided by the Holy Spirit and not by your pride, for “pride goes before destruction.”

Lord, there are times when I do things I think are good, and they are not.  There are times when pride rules me.  Be the One who guides me in how I live my life and direct the things I do.  Where there is pride, slay it.  Where there is false generosity, humble me.  Help me to see myself as I am and not fall prey to the plotting and scheming that happens in this world.  Be the One who guides my heart.

Lord Jesus, how many times have You seen this kind of thing play out?  Regardless of the times I do anything like this, help me to follow Your example and seek at all times and in all ways to please the Father.  Be the One who is leading my life.  Guard my mouth and mind so that I may learn humility and hear clearly when Your Holy Spirit speaks.  Guide me, dear Savior, into the way of righteousness.  Amen.

“Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so; for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him” (Mark 6:19-20).

If the sin confronting you is spoken of by another, kill the other.  That does not get rid of the sin, but it does keep the reminder away.  Or does it?  Whether small or large, our sinfulness does not like being confronted.  The righteous and holy will remind us that the Lord is calling us to righteousness and holiness.  Some are perplexed by the truth, but others hear the truth and rejoice.

Lord, help me to hear Your word and rejoice in the truth You have spoken.  Guide me in Your goodness to always abide by what You have spoken.  You have given me truth and called me to walk in that truth all the days of my life.  Help all the faithful to live into the life for which You sacrificed Your own.  Lead the church according to Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, there are those in this world who would silence my voice.  Whether You allow me to speak or have my voice silenced, which is Your judgement, help me to always be faithful.  While it is day, help me to speak the truth You have revealed.  Guide me to seek righteousness and live into the call to become like You.  Help me by Your grace and mercy to be forthright, honest and faithful.  Amen.

“For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.  For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife” (Mark 6:17-18).

Guilty is guilty.  It does not matter what the world says.  The truth of God’s law pierces the heart, and the sinner works hard to not hear the voice of truth.  We each have that in ourselves.  Let the truth pierce your heart.  It is the truth which sets you free.  We often become hostile to the ones who remind us of the battle which is deep within us.  We want to be rid of those who confront us and we sometimes fear them.

Lord, help me to see that it is You who confronts me in my sin.  You have placed all things on their course, and Your law is inviolable.  Throughout the struggles that confront me in this world, help me to hear clearly Your voice and apply the message You are giving me.  Let me not be carried away by my own reasoning but listen and obey as You direct me in the way of life as You created it to be lived.

Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the way You have set before me.  Knowing that other voices will come and the temptation will arise to go another way, help me to understand the truth You speak knowing that You alone have set all things on their course.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to go and help me to hear Your voice above my own so that I may walk in the way of truth.  Amen.

“But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!” (Mark 6:15-16)

Speculation, speculation, speculation!  Have things really changed?  We speculate and then proceed as if we know what the truth is.  Come to know the truth.  The truth is not a proposition, a speculation, a feeling, but the reality that Jesus is God in the flesh.  He has come to lead as many as hear His voice into truth.  He is the truth.  Do not live by the speculations of this world, but in the Truth who is Jesus.

Lord, I am often carried away by the thoughts of those around me.  There is constant speculation and then positions are held and there is great hostility.  Help me to live according to Your purpose.  You created me and continue to guide me in the truth You have revealed.  Lead me into all truth.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy to see that only in You will I find what is right and true.

Lord Jesus, through all the confusion of this world, lead me to see that in You alone is there hope and a future.  Regardless of the cacophony of noise which surrounds me, help me to hear Your clear, gentle voice, and follow You.  Be the One who is leading me.  Let me hear Your voice clearly, listen, and obey to all that You command.  Help me to walk through the noise of this world and listen to You above all the distractions of this world. Amen.

“And King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him” (Mark 6:14).

People pay just enough attention to make assumptions, but so little as to not even come close to the truth.  Rumors have often ruled our thoughts.  To answer the question of who Jesus is, is one of the most important questions you can ever ask.  Listening to rumors is one of the most dangerous things you can do.  Jesus said, “you shall know the truth and the truth will make you free.”

Jesus, Your name is still well known, and many are still speculating about who You are.  Help me to not be amongst the speculators but be one who seeks You knowing that You are God in the flesh who has come to lead the way for all who believe.  You guide the faithful into eternal salvation.  It is not just miraculous powers, but all power which You have.  You do raise the dead and are risen from the dead, but You are also the One through and for whom all things have been created.

Lord Jesus, Author and Finisher of my faith, lead me to deeper understanding of who You are.  Through Your revelation and by the power of the Holy Spirit, guide me to see more clearly that it is You alone who has come to show the way of everlasting life.  Help me to have wisdom and understanding, and live in the freedom You grant me by grace and through faith now and forevermore.  Amen.

“They went out and preached that men should repent.  And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them” (Mark 6:12-13).

It begins with repentance.  More than being sorry for things done that you know are wrong, repentance is about turning from the ways of this world and seeking the way of the Lord.  In this age, many continue the rebellion and do not see that the way of rebellion is death, of the soul and, eventually, of the body.  We are called into new life, and repentance is the entrance that begins the journey.

Lord, help me to see that only in You is there hope.  This world, as it does things in rebellion, is hopeless.  Guide me to see the evil of this age, repent where I have participated and live the way You lead me to live.  Let me not give permission where there is no permission for sin and learn how to cast out the demons of this age who promote continued rebellion.  Teach me what I need to know so that I may learn faithfulness.

Come, Holy Spirit, and convict me of my sins so that I may repent and move in the right direction.  Lead me in the upward call of my Savior Jesus.  Help me to walk by the sight You give me, doing what I am given by You to do.  Grant that I be bold to cast out demons and pray for the sick.  You are the One who does these things, but where it is in the Father’s will, do these things through me.  Amen.

“And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town.  Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them” (Mark 6:10-11).

The Lord sends us to engage where we are to engage.  If we are not received, we are to shake the dust off our feet and leave.  The Lord does not coerce or force anyone to abide in faith.  The wickedness of this world does.  The Lord offers true life and those who believe and submit to Him will find that the new life He gives provides springs of living water.  Walk in the Lord’s counsel.

Lord, I need to be taught.  I know very little, especially when I think of the worlds that You have made.  Who am I that I would counsel You?  Guide me to have a right, contrite and humble heart in order that I may receive all that You would give me.  Lead me to know that only in You is there true life.  Whether I go or stay, help me to listen to You and learn faithfulness to Your word.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for trusting me with Your authority.  Help me to be trustworthy.  Thank You for Your grace.  Aid me to be gracious.  Thank You for Your mercy.  Show me how to be merciful.  Thank You for faith.  Teach me to be faithful.  In and through all things, be the One who leads me each step of the way so that I may grow in the righteousness You grant me by Your Holy Spirit.  Amen.

“And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff – no bread, no bag, no money in their belt – but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics” (Mark 6:7-9).

Jesus gave them authority.  You and I can do nothing on our own.  When we pray for others, it is by the authority of Jesus.  When we lead, it is under the authority of Jesus.  It seems many in our day act as if they were their own authority.  One cannot prepare for what Jesus will ask you to do.  One can only prepare to serve the Lord at all times and in all places.  Seek the Lord while He may be found and go where He sends you.

Lord, there are so many conflicting ideas in this world.  So many act on their own authority.  Teach me that no matter what I do or who I face, if it is under Your authority that anything You grant will be accomplished.  Teach me that anything I do under my own authority will come to nothing.  Guide me in the way of living so that I become ever more like You.  Teach me what it means to be a disciple.

Lord Jesus, lead me this day and help me to submit to the ministry of the Holy Spirit.  You alone know all that needs to be done.  You alone accomplish what needs to be done.  In and through You, even demons can be set aside.  Not by my power or by any pretense of any authority other than that which You grant, lead me to be faithful and obey all that You command.  Amen.