“And then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ’; or, ‘Behold, He is there’; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect” (Mark 13:21-22).

Wickedness wants what is best for the self.  “Why is this happening to me?”  We wallow in self-pity and do not understand that the Lord loves everyone equally.  Things happen because of wickedness, and we all have it in us.  Do not be led by the false hopes of this world, but by the One who has come, redeemed you, and given you an eternal hope which promises salvation leading to eternal life; even while wickedness continues around you.

Lord, You are doing what You are doing, and I am often tempted by a temporary and false hope which is not from You.  I want to be comfortable.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see through the false hope which is offered so that I will not follow the charlatans who pretend to be You.  You have already given the abiding words of hope.

Lord Jesus, my hope is in You and what You have done.  Despite my circumstances, help me to look to You alone as the source of my hope.  Even though I wind up in dire circumstances, I know that You are with me.  You have come to save me in order that I may be with You for all eternity.  Help me so that I never settle for what is passing and temporary.  Guide me to live a life that is righteous in Your sight.  Amen.

“For those days will be a time of tribulation such as has not occurred since the beginning of the creation which God created until now, and never will.  Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days” (Mark 13:19-20).

Humanity is on a self-destruct path.  If not for the grace of the Lord, they would have destroyed themselves already. Those whose ears have been opened and whose eyes have seen begin to understand the destruction of evil and the salvation which comes from the Lord.  The tribulation has been shortened for their sake, but destruction is still on its way.  The wicked cry out, “why,” but the righteous cry out to the “Who;” the Lord who eternally saves us from the condemnation brought on by wickedness.

Lord, I may not understand why You allow these things, but I am here because You have allowed the age to move forward so that I am included.  Guide me away from selfish thinking to come to the place where I trust You despite the things which are happening around me.  Lead me out of myself and into You.  No matter what happens around me, help me to trust You above all things in this world.

Lord Jesus, You know what it is to suffer.  You know our inner thoughts and the things that go through our minds. Help me to live the life You have given me that I may humbly follow You no matter the circumstances.  The infection of evil is in me.  Let Your grace and mercy slay all that is evil in me, knowing that the evil continues around me.  Save me in every time of trial so that I look to You above all things.  Amen.

“But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  But pray that it may not happen in the winter” (Mark 13:17-18). 

Jesus’ compassion goes out to those who will suffer during times of tribulation.  God does not stop the evil of the world but allows it to play out.  We may not understand this, but in a small way we do.  God does not stop us from the evil choices we make.  We do have the free will to act, but we are called to give up our self-will and live for God’s will.  The ultimate woe is for those who will not look to the Lord but instead live out their free will.

Lord, there are times of tribulation, and the final day will come after a time such as not been heretofore experienced. Help me to look to You no matter what happens.  Guide me to understand that all things truly are in Your hands and that You will lead me through all the tribulations I experience.  Keep me in Your goodness and grace so that I live into the life for which You created me.

Lord Jesus, all things are in the Father’s hands.  There is wickedness in this world.  You have taught me to have compassion for others in each of their situations.  Guide me to be humble and compassionate.  Lead me to have a heart like Yours which cares for all others.  You know the way of true living.  Teach me to live in the way You know I need to live, trusting You above every circumstance.  Amen.

“The one who is on the housetop must not go down, or go in to get anything out of his house;  and the one who is in the field must not turn back to get his coat” (Mark 13:15-16). 

Do not cling to the things of this world.  We become so attached to our things that we may forget about the Creator of all things.  Do not be focused upon Your circumstances, but upon the One who is Lord of every circumstance.  Be led by our Savior.  God is our Savior.  He has given us promises and the words of eternal life.  We have life in the One who created, and sustains all life.  

Lord, in You alone do I have my being.  Let this simple truth keep me from the foolishness of this world so that I live according to Your promises.  Guide me so that I enjoy what You give but also would flee from it if that is Your call.  In You alone is there hope.  Lead me in the hope You give so that I may learn to live life as You intend it to be lived.  Guide me in the upward call of faith. 

Lord Jesus, You know the things that get in the way of my humbly walking in the faith You have given me.  Lead me according to Your goodness to submit to the truth You have revealed once for all.  If You ask me to go, grant me faith to believe and go, even if it means leaving behind the things You have given me in this life.  Be the One who leads me all the days of my life, dear Lord and Savior.  Amen.

“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be (let the reader understand), then those who are in Judea must flee to the mountains” (Mark 13:14).

Evil tries to sneak in wherever it can.  In this age, we struggle against the evil that rules in this world.  What is the abomination of desolation?  In one sense, it is wherever evil stands in the place of God.  In another sense, Jesus is pointing at something that those who experience it will know.  Though we may not fully understand it yet, the call to walk humbly with Jesus remains.

Lord, the church has been wrestling with all kinds of things that causes her to be divided, yet You remain One.  Help me to hold fast and flee when I need to, but to never give into the pressures to live in any other way than following You.  Grant me eyes to see and ears to hear Your voice above the noise of this world in order that I may remain faithful to the call to eternal life which You have given to all who believe.

Lord Jesus, I cannot do this on my own, but by the power of Your Holy Spirit I can remain faithful to the call You have given me.  Guide me to bear the fruit of Your Holy Spirit and humbly submit to Your leading.  Lead me to love all others enough to hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  You are the One who gives the words of eternal life.  Help me to live in hope.  Amen

“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death.  You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Mark 13:12-13).

The name of Jesus evokes many different responses.  Some react with vitriol and hatred, others with mockery and derision.  There are even times when those who say they are Christian will tell you to tone it down and not take things so seriously.  Jesus has warned us of these things in order that we would not be led away from the salvation He gives.  We are encouraged to endure steadfastly to the end.

Lord, it is not about being right about all things nor can it be about some special insight.  It is about simply holding to the truth that You have come and are our salvation.  Let me not be carried away by the antipathy of this world nor become indifferent but simply hold fast to the truth that You are the One through whom all things have their being and that You alone are our salvation.

Lord Jesus, Word made flesh, You have come to us to guide as many as hear Your voice into truth.  Help me to let Your word hold me to be true to You.  No matter what happens around me, guide me in Your goodness and mercy to not let other things get in the way.  You have called me to walk with You in faith.  Guide me today to humbly walk with You and hold fast to the truth You have given me.  Amen.

“When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit” (Mark 13:11). 

Do not fret over what to say.  Study to show yourself approved and when the time comes, the Holy Spirit will bring to remembrance the things you are to say.  It is the Lord who speaks the words of everlasting life.  He is the One who leads, and He knows all that is before You.  He will prepare you for every time of trial.  Always begin by saying what is true.  Trust in the Lord above all things.

Lord, You know how things will unfold.  We fight not against flesh and blood, but against powers, principalities and spiritual foes.  Prepare me to be ready in season and out of season to give an account of the hope that is within me.  Lead me in the upward call You have given me to learn what You would teach me, and be ready to give an account each time an opportunity arises.  Prepare me to be like Christ.

Christ, my Lord and Savior, dear Jesus, You gave an account of the Father each step You took in Your ministry.  You and He are One.  With One voice, You give hope.  You have called me into that hope.  Teach me to live as You gave the example of living so that I am willing and able to speak what You would have me speak whenever the opportunity arises.  Prepare me to always be ready to witness my faith.  Amen. 

“But be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them.  The gospel must first be preached to all the nations” (Mark 13:9-10). 

You may think that we do not flog anymore, and if you’re thinking of a whip on the back in public, you may be right.  But consider what happens if you dare to say anything that is deemed unacceptable by the public?  Believers are constantly castigated for their words of faith.  The point is that the world hates God, and you have been called by Him to be a witness.  Will your life witness His presence and purpose?

Lord, it may not carry the price of physical pain, but social media and public discourse has greatly limited what it considers acceptable.  Help me to be bold in humility, simply stand the ground You have given me and speak the truth.  The world may hate You, but You have called me into the truth.  Let me life become a proclamation of the Gospel at work through me.

Lord Jesus, You humbly went from village to village proclaiming salvation.  You were sent to the cross after having been flogged.  By Your example, teach me that the truth is always better than the lies of this age.  Guide me into all truth and lead me by Your example to humbly walk where You lead me, sharing the Good News that You have come, and as many as believe need not perish, but have true life.  Amen.

“When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; those things must take place; but that is not yet the end.  For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs” (Mark 13:7-8).

All of history must unfold as the Lord has determined.  We cry out about the increased wickedness we see around us, but the Lord has promised that there is purpose in all things He allows to happen.  For those who love Him, it will work for good.  Meanwhile, the most unreasonable thing would be to reject the hope of salvation because you do not understand why God allows certain things.

Lord, even in my thinking I am dependent upon my own thoughts rather than the revelation You have given me by Your grace.  Bring me to humbleness to trust all that You promise even while the world screams that You do not exist because You have allowed us all to exercise our wills and produce evil.  Help me to trust Your promise that You will bring me through all these things to be with You forever.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving us the warnings we need.  Help me to make no more or less of them than I should. Guide me each day that You give me to humbly walk with You, trusting in each day’s provision.  The birth pangs of eternity are happening before our eyes.  There is great pain, but also, You have given great promise for the eternal joy which is ours in You.  Aid me to abide in You today.  Amen.

“And Jesus began to say to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.  Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He!’ and will mislead many” (Mark 13:5-6).

There is only One who is our Lord and Savior.  Many have come along and led people astray.  We are anxious because there is much evil in the world.  We want paradise, but that will not happen until after Jesus returns.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  We do well to live each day as the Lord gives it to us to live.  Be guided not by the anxieties of this world, but by the promises our Lord has given us.

Lord Jesus, You have given us the words of eternal life.  They are founded upon the grace and mercy You have purchased from the cross.  Lead me in living today as You give me today to live.  You have a purpose in allowing the wickedness to continue and I know, in part, this is to give the opportunity for others to come into Your kingdom.  Grant me my portion and help me to learn not to be anxious over these things.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to my mind and soul.  There are so many around me and I often do not know who to listen to.  You alone are the One who can lead me through all the mess.  Help me to know Your voice so that when a pretender speaks, I may know that it is not Your voice.  Guide me so that I clearly hear Your voice calling my name, and to respond with faithfulness.  Amen.