“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.

“As He was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter and James and John and Andrew were questioning Him privately, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?” (Mark 13:3-4)

We look for signs and want to know when things will happen.  Curiosity is both good and bad.  Speculation is often dangerous and causes anxiety.  Many churches have built their hope upon times and events.  But we are reminded that Christ is the solid rock and that any other ground is trouble.  Yes, it may be nice to know, but the truth is founded upon our relationship with the Lord through His salvation.

Lord, inquiring minds want to know.  But I do not need to know in order to have faith.  Help me so that I do not make my faith dependent upon my ideas and what I do or do not know.  If You show me something, thank You.  If You keep times from me, thank You.  In all things, help me to trust You above everything else, for You are the One who is bringing all things into subjection.

Lord Jesus, You have told us of signs to watch for, but You have also reminded us that all things are in the Father’s hands.  Guide my thinking such that even if I knew tomorrow were the last day, I would do what You ask of me today.  I have one foot in this world and one in Your kingdom.  It is as You have appointed it to be.  Lead me in the way of living today according to the Father’s will.  Amen.

“As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, “Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!”  And Jesus said to him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another which will not be torn down” (Mark 13:1-2)

Jesus, knowing what was coming, directed the thoughts of the disciples away from earthly hope.  This world has been on a collision course with destruction since Adam and Eve left the garden.  Do not place your hope on the things of this world, but upon the One who created all worlds.  He Who is faithful will lead us to be with Him in eternity.  Place your trust in Jesus, the One who was, is, and will be forever.

Lord God, I do place my trust in created things even as I long for that which is permanent.  Only You are the solid foundation which shall never change.  Guide me away from looking at the marvelous things in this world as if they were a source of hope in order to live looking to You alone, who is my hope and permanent foundation.  You are the solid rock upon which eternal life is built.  Help me to trust in You above all things.

Lord Jesus, You have shown us these things for our own good.  I am tempted by many things  around me and think that they will bring the happiness I seek.  Help me to see that only in You is there true hope.  Guide me this day to keep this in remembrance, rejoicing in all that You will bring my way.  Lead me to see things as they are, knowing that all of this shall pass away, but that Your word abides forever.  Amen.

“A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent.  Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on” (Mark 12:42).

In whom do you trust?  One of the gods of this world is money (Mammon).  Those who have more than enough still seek to have even more.  Money gives the illusion of power.  But all power belongs to God, so this is just one of the illusions of this age.  The Lord grants us an abundance so that we can share with others.  The sharing is for the sake of bringing all to the Father’s house.  Be generous as our Lord is generous to you.

Creator of all worlds, You have blessed me with so many things.  I live in a time of extreme blessings, but I often take these for granted.  Help me to live knowing that all things are from You, for You created them and they are Yours.  Help me to see that even a cup of water for one who is thirsty ministers to those in Your kingdom.  Help me to share what I have with others so that they too may have the opportunity to be with You forever.

Lord Jesus, You have pointed out these things for our sake.  I do not have to do certain things to gain Your approval.  You have gone to the cross to gain my approval before the Father.  Help me to live into the life You have given me knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Where I withhold where I should freely give, convict me.  Where I would give, but You would have me withhold, grant me strength to be faithful and discerning.  Amen.

“And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums” (Mark 12:41).

Jesus knows all that we do.  Some give out of their abundance.  Others cannot give out of abundance, but give none-the-less.  We are called to seek to have enough to give to others.  We are blessed to be a blessing.  In our world, which seeks to accumulate wealth, we forget that the Lord blesses us not just for our sake, but for the sake of others as well.  Charity is not just giving to one in need, but also a reflection of what is in the heart.

Lord God Almighty, You tell me to abide in faith, hope, and charity (or love).  Love and charity are often interchangeable.  You gave Your life so that we who have no abundant life might have a new life in You.  Help me to comprehend that You are creating a new heart in me.  Let it be done to me according to Your will.  Teach me to be a generous giver and to express my love for You by being charitable to others in thought, word, and deed.

Lord Jesus, You point out to me the things I need to know.  Help me to live into the new life which You give up in order for me to gain such knowledge.  Remove from me the greed and avarice in me because of sin so that I may more fully live the life of faith which You have given me.  Teach me what I need to learn this day and help me focus upon those things which will faithfully lead me to become like You.  Amen.

“In His teaching He was saying: “Beware of the scribes who like to walk around in long robes, and like respectful greetings in the market places, and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets, who devour widows’ houses, and for appearance’s sake offer long prayers; these will receive greater condemnation” (Mark 12:38-40).

Sinners settle, each in their own place of pride.  We love to look down upon others and not see that we all have been made in God’s image.  From those who accumulate vast wealth to those who lord it over others from their small positions, it is the same.  It ought not be so with those who believe.  Jesus is Lord and we are called, each from our place, to where the Lord will grow us in His image.

Lord, I begin to see that Your Kingdom is nothing like how this world establishes governments.  We are each different, yet all the same in Your love.  You do not Lord it over us, as those in the world do, but love each of us and give us the opportunity to grow into Your image, not with power built upon pride, but as You lift us up to do the Father’s will.  Guide me in this upward journey.

Lord Jesus, I am polluted by the ways of this world which tries to do it all without You.  Pride raises up those whom we call great and puts down the humble.  Help me to have a different way of thinking about things so that I live in the way You are preparing me to live.  Place a heavenly mind in me that seeks for what is good here, now, and forever.  Lead me in the call You have given me to become what You are making of me.  Amen.

“David himself calls Him ‘Lord’; so in what sense is He his son?” And the large crowd enjoyed listening to Him” (Mark 12:37).

We can be guilty of torturing a text, but perhaps more often, we do not see what it is actually saying.  David’s Son is called Lord.  We have heard and believe that Jesus is God in the flesh, born in time and space, yet also the Alpha and Omega.  He told us before it came to pass.  So also, there are many things He teaches us along the way, as we are able to hear, but the most important You already know: Jesus is Lord.

Lord, help me to understand what You would have me know with the words You have given me through Scripture.  Help me also to not worry about what I do not understand.  You have already given me the words of everlasting life.  Help me move beyond just listening to You, to applying what You have said, for if these are the words of everlasting life, then I need to receive them and be prepared to spend eternity with You.

Lord Jesus, You have shown the way and set me upon it.  Your word also tells me that I am to be conformed to Your image.  Guide me today and every day You give me, to walk in the way You would have me walk, doing those things which will shape my character, and lead me in the way You know I need to go.  I know You are my ever-present help; teach me to abide