“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.

“And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.  And He wondered at their unbelief.  And He was going around the villages teaching” (Mark 6:5-6).

This passage makes us think that the Lord will not force Himself upon anyone.  He can do things, but in the face of unbelief, He seems to do nothing.  He has come to grow in us faith and trust in Him.  What good would more provision do to cause a heart to have faith when all that has already been done has been rejected?  The Lord has come to grow in us faith, trusting in Him.  Trust cannot be forced.

Lord, I know that all things are possible with You, but there are times when nothing happens in my life, even though I am asking.  Am I that weak in faith that You will not act until I learn to trust You?  Rather than seeking from my own mind’s eye, help me come to the place of faith where I learn to trust that with You all things are possible.  Guide me in Your grace to see the truth You have revealed.

Lord Jesus, You have sent me into the world with a testimony of the truth You have revealed through grace.  I often encounter unbelief.  Lead me to see and believe all that You have shown me.  Despite those around me trying to lead me astray, help me to be faithful to You above all things.  Guide me in this faith You have given me knowing that all things have always been in Your hands.  You alone are the Savior of all who will believe.  Amen.

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.  Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household” (Mark 6:3-4).

In this world, we qualify and quantify.  We think we know when we do not.  Jesus is God in the flesh, and He appeared in a certain time and place according to the Father’s will.  People have been taking offense because of Him ever since.  People are offended by God.  Pride has torn down goodness and evil has taken root.  God is God and this is His creation.  But people will dishonor Him because of pride.

Lord, Help me to see others through Your eyes.  Pride causes others to dishonor You because of their evil ways.  Help me to accept others as I would want to be accepted.  Lead me according to Your goodness and mercy to accept that You are Who You are and that You have created me to be who I am.  Let me take no offense other than where there is true offense.  Help me to see things as they are and not through the cloud of my own imagination.

Lord Jesus, You have come to save as many as believe.  Lead me in the salvation You have given no matter how many times those around me react with incredulous attitudes.  You are our Lord and Savior.  Lead me along the narrow path to do what is right in the Father’s sight.  Guide me into all righteousness for Your name’s sake knowing that in You I have hope and a future.  Amen.

“Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him.  When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?” (Mark 6:1-2)

The closer one is to a group of folks, the more there seems to be an attitude of criticism.  “You cannot do that.”  The Lord grants what He grants, and what seems to us to be ordinary people do extraordinary things.  Where did Jesus get these things?  He is the One through whom they came to be.  God becoming flesh.  This has always been hard for humans to fathom because of pride.  God can do anything.

Lord, help me see that all things are possible with You.  You, who created the heavens, can show up as an ordinary person.  You have shown up before me.  Lead me away from the foolish doubts and questions to understand that in You I have hope and a future.  Guide me to live into the life of faith which You have granted me knowing that You, who created all things, are more than able to accomplish all that You have spoken.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have come into the world to complete in all who believe what the Father has purposed.  Lead me according to the goodness of Your grace and mercy to live into the life which You have placed before me.  Aid me to better understand You and not react with prideful indignation at what You are doing.  If You tell me to say to a mountain, “Be moved,” it will be moved.  Help me understand that all things are possible through You.  Amen.

“And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:43).

The witness of one who has come back from the dead is not believed.  Those who will not believe will make every kind of excuse not to believe.  When the Lord tells us to remain silent, it is always best to listen to the Lord.  Raising the dead is what Jesus shall do.  Even raised, there are those who still will not believe.  Such is the condition of a corrupt heart.  But you, will you believe?

Lord, help my unbelief and guide me so that I am faithful, even when You command me to remain silent.  No matter what comes, help me to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, so that I obediently walk in Your righteous way which You have set before me.  Help me to see the right from the wrong and to be led by Your Holy Spirit to do all that You set before me.

Lord Jesus, without You, Your grace and mercy, and the way of righteousness which You have opened for all who believe, this would be impossible.  All things are possible with You.  Help me, Lord, in this day You have given me to trust in You above all that I will encounter.  Lead me to see that in You I do have hope and a future.  No matter what this world brings, show me how to walk with You, guiding my every footstep.  Amen.

“Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded” (Mark 5:41-42).

The day will come when the Lord returns and says to us all, “Get up.”  From every grave, the dead shall rise.  Many will act amazed, but You have been told these things before they come to pass.  The One who spoke everything into existence has come showing us the eternal way of things.  Marvel more at the unbelief than at the things the Lord has shown He can and will do.

Lord, You know that I become comfortable with the way things are.  I live my life in such a way that I do things by routine.  When the routine changes, I am startled.  Help me to live in the expectation that each day You will do whatever You will do.  Guide me to live into this life of faith which You have given me knowing that You, who spoke all things into existence, are more than able to do what You say.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken the words of eternal life into my heart.  You tell me to get up.  You tell me to go into all the world and share the hope of the promise You give.  Lead me to be a person of action, doing what You give me to do each day.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I live according to the promise You have given me in the hope which is mine through You.  Amen.