“And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”  And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;  and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it” (Mark 9:16-18).

Without the Lord, it is not possible.  If we rely on our own ability, or think that we have all that we need without Him, it is not possible.  It is a relationship and you and I need to rely upon the Lord for all things.  It is not a co-dependency, but a relationship.  With the Lord, all things are possible.  The optimum word is “with.”  Without the Lord, it is just us.  Keep this in mind as you walk with the Lord.

Lord, like a small child, I sometimes push Your hand away and say, “I can do it.”  I cannot.  Only with You can I do what You give me to de.  Lead me so that I do what You give me to do as You guide and help me do it.  Lead me in the way You know I need to go and help me so that I do not push Your hand away, but with delight accept all of the help that You will give me in order that I may learn faithfulness.

Lord Jesus, You are the author of my faith.  You know all that will come my way and what is needed in order for me to accomplish what You intend.  Guide me knowing that only with You will my journey of faith be made complete.  Help me to trust You above all things as You guide me this day.  Lead me and help me to do what I will do this day.  May my hand always be in Yours.  Amen.

“When they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.  Immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed and began running up to greet Him” (Mark 9:14-15).

Crowds love the idea of Jesus, but we are called into love itself.  Is it self-interest that drives us or the call to learn how to truly and eternally love?  Many often begins with where the self is and what the self thinks it needs.  We are called to deny ourselves and move out of our selves in order to live as we were created to live.  God is amazing.  Look at creation.  We must be moved beyond our selves so that God may teach us how to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Lord, guide me ever deeper in this call of faith which You have given me.  Yes, I have wants and needs, but You have come so that I may have life and have it abundantly.  Teach me what it means to live in an outward way.  Teach me the patterns I have that take me into myself.  Lead me so that I may become what You are making of me.  Guide me along right paths for Your Name’s sake.

Come Holy Spirit and lead me through my inward self to understand where I am seeking for myself versus seeking for what You know needs to happen within me.  Guide me in the way of righteousness and whether I am in a crowd or all alone, help me to be true and consistent with all that I do.  You know all that is needed.  Help me to overcome all resistance so that I become like Jesus.  Amen.

“They asked Him, saying, “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”  And He said to them, “Elijah does first come and restore all things. And yet how is it written of the Son of Man that He will suffer many things and be treated with contempt?  But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wished, just as it is written of him” (Mark 9:11-13).

We look for the literal, human, and explainable things.  John the Baptist was Elijah who came.  He was the one who prepared the way for our Savior.  They beheaded him.  The devil seeks to behead the church.  Heaven and earth shall pass away, but the word of the Lord is forever.  The gates of hell will not prevail.  We have been told these things.  Believe them, for the Lord has given us words of truth.

Lord, I hear these things and I doubt.  Help me to receive the word You have given me and believe.  You have purposed all things and they will come to pass as You have purposed them.  Lead me in living the life You have given me so that I do not live in fear, but in the confidence You give that all things truly are in Your hands.  It shall come to pass just as You have said.

Lord Jesus, help me to receive these words.  You did suffer and we shall drink from the same cup.  The world hates You and because I am in Your love, the world hates me.  There will be suffering.  Remove the doubts that come so that I may see Your hand upon my life no matter what the circumstances are.  You are my Savior and You are leading the way.  Help me today to trust that You truly are with me.  Amen.

“As they were coming down from the mountain, He gave them orders not to relate to anyone what they had seen, until the Son of Man rose from the dead.  They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant” (Mark 9:9-10).

Do we obey the order of Jesus?  The three who witnessed these things did not speak of it until Christ was raised from the dead.  To obey is better than sacrifice.  Of course, at the time Jesus said this, they did not comprehend.  Perhaps this is a part of understanding how Peter could move from being timid, afraid, and a man standing by the fire denying the Lord to become one who was bold in proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

Lord, I do not know the road before me, but You do.  I do not understand all things, even the things I witness.  Help me to look to You and trust and believe that You truly are the loving Savior who will lead me all the days of my life.  Guide me in the way You know I need to go and help me to obey the orders that You give.  I can do nothing without You, but with You, the road before me will be made clear.

Lord Jesus, You know what You are doing.  You look to the Father and do all that He tells You to do.  Help me to look to You and do all that You say to me.  Guide me in the goodness of Your grace and mercy.  Help me to live according to Your never-failing word as You form me into Your image.  Lead me along the paths of righteousness for Your sake and teach me what it means to obey all that You have commanded.  Amen.

“For he did not know what to answer; for they became terrified.  Then a cloud formed, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is My beloved Son, listen to Him!”  All at once they looked around and saw no one with them anymore, except Jesus alone” (Mark 9:6-8).

When overwhelmed, we often do not know how to respond.  We become afraid of the unknown and unfamiliar.  In the midst of doubts and uncertainties, the Lord speaks.  The words spoken are both a comfort and direction.  Jesus is the Son of God.  He is loved and we are loved.  From and through that love we are reconciled to the Lord.  Jesus is the Son, listen to Him, for you and I are to be in Him and He in us.

Lord, I sometimes make simple things complex and complex things too simple.  Help me to understand that I need to listen to Your word and be guided in the steps I take.  Open my ears to hear so that my feet may walk with You.  When I come to the end of this age, it will be You who is with me.  What more could I want or ask than for to be with You forever?

Lord Jesus, I am tossed about by this age.  You have given me the words of eternal life.  Help me to hear You as You speak.  Help me to listen and learn.  You are the author of my salvation.  You alone know the journey I need to take.  Be the One who leads me amidst all of the voices that are shouting around me.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life, heeding the Word You have given me.  Amen.

“Elijah appeared to them along with Moses; and they were talking with Jesus.  Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three tabernacles, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mark 9:4-5).

In good Jewish tradition, Peter thinks in terms of the feast of booths, or tabernacles, which leads us to ponder the vastness of eternity.  Peter wants to build a stone of remembrance.  What a great sight to see Jesus, Moses, and Elijah.  The Lord wanted them to see.  The Lord wants us to see.  He will build His tabernacle in us.  Yes, what we do here is important, but never lose sight that it is what we shall be that is the goal of where we are heading.

Lord, help me to live the life You have given me.  It is good to remember the traditions that remind me of Your goodness and grace, but help me to keep moving along the path You have set before me and not rest at the place of a monument.  So many seem to stop and rest, but the vineyard is ready for the harvest.  Help me to do the work You give me to do while it is day knowing that the day will come when I too shall stand in Your glorified presence.

Lord Jesus, it seems that too few earnestly walk the path of faith You have set before us.  But then, what is that to me when You have asked me to do what You have asked me to do.  Grant me the encouragement I need in Your grace so that I may humbly move where You lead me.  Grant me the ability to learn how to be faithful in and through all things.  Lead me and grant me the motivation to always follow You.  Amen.

“Six days later, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John, and brought them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His garments became radiant and exceedingly white, as no launderer on earth can whiten them” (Mark 9:2-3).

These three saw Jesus as He is.  The unreality of this age stripped off and the power of the Eternal One shining.  They described it the best they could.  Three witnesses and a direct and literal fulfillment of what Jesus said.  They saw Jesus in His glory.  We have been told who Jesus is and we know that He calls us to follow Him.  He who made You is still making You through grace into what You will be.

Lord, amidst the mystery of this life, I know that I am not yet where I will be.  You have called me out of the pit of condemnation to live by grace following You as You make of me what You intend.  I am puzzled along the way.  Guide me Lord so that I learn to trust You above all things.  I see who You are and I see You on the cross and I do not understand suffering.  I see it, but I do not understand it.

Lord Jesus, author of my salvation, what great love You have shown, abandoning the glory of eternity to walk with us so that we may be a part of Your reign forever.  Help me to emulate Your love through all I do.  Guide me to see that only in You is there hope and a future.  Guide me through my lack of understanding to trust in Your leading and walk with You all the days of my life.  Amen.

“And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” (Mark 9:1).

Perhaps Pilate momentarily considered an invasion by Jesus’ army when Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  The power that Jesus has unleashed is the power of the cross.  That power is here and saves all who believe.  John would see the vision which we call Revelation.  We shall all taste death.  We must die to sin, death, and the devil.  Jesus will raise us from the dead.

Lord, I try to pin everything down into terms I can understand.  You are God, Creator of all things.  There is no way I can consider all the worlds You have made, nor comprehend that no bird falls from the sky that You do not know about.  What I can comprehend is the simple command to follow Jesus.  Bring me in the power of the cross to where You will take me.

Lord Jesus, You have told us plainly the things we are able to understand.  Help me to learn how to trust You above all things, realizing that the weakness which conquered death on the cross is the power of the resurrection.  How much more, the strength?  Lead me Lord, for all things are in Your hands and You are my Savior.  You know what I need.  Help me to listen to You and always follow Your lead.  Amen.

“For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38-39).

This world hates Jesus.  It even hates the name of Jesus.  This world despises love, loyalty, and the very things that make us truly human.  We are driven, like sheep to the slaughter, to the place of self-destruction.  Clinging to the salvation in, by, and through Jesus is hard because this world tugs at the ones who hear and follow the voice of the Master.  Yet, Jesus has given us the words of eternal life.  There is no other place to go, except destruction.

Lord, I read these words and they are plain and simple.  I see the struggle, but living amidst the struggle is so hard.  Help me to take the steps that are needed in order to enter the journey.  Help me to see that what I am giving up is nothing and that what You are giving me through grace is everything.  Empower each step I take to move forward on the journey of salvation.  Be the One who leads me.

Lord Jesus, with just a few words You have revealed the truth of the journey before me.  This world shouts that if it does not feel good it cannot be good.  You tell me otherwise.  Help me to hear Your voice and let it break through to my soul so that the eternal life words that You have spoken would reside in me.  Lord, I ask that the truth reside in my heart and be unshakable through the storms of this world.  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.