Mercy!

Mark 10:32-52, Jeremiah 52

Mark 10:47 – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.”

Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.  I am helpless in so many ways.  I am helpless in the face of your judgment because your judgment is right and I am a sinner.  I am helpless in the life that live because even though I think I have control over my health, my wallet, or any other part of my life, I really have no control; control is but an illusion.  I am helpless in every part of my life.  Lord Jesus, have mercy me.  I am but a beggar. I am thoroughly a sinner. Have mercy, Lord Jesus, and save me from my sin. Have mercy, Lord Jesus, and forgive me. Have mercy, Lord, and give me health, and strength, and pleasures and joy. Have mercy, Lord, and guide me in the path that leads to eternal life.  Have mercy Lord Jesus, have mercy.  Amen.

Delighted

Proverbs 25, Psalm 119:121-160

Psalm 119:143 – Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments give me delight.

Lord God, as I live out my life trouble and anguish are never far away. I can never get far from trouble and anguish in my life.  It is always right there, right around the corner.  Lord, help me to endure these troubles patiently and joyfully.  And more than, Lord God, give me joy to hear your Word, give me delight in following your commandments.  When trouble and hardship would steal my joy and break my spirit, restore my spirit in me and grant me joy in my salvation.  Help me to delight in the good words that flow from your pen.  As I draw near to your house to worship tomorrow, help me to delight in your Word as the banquet from you that it really is.  Amen.

Rewards of Grace

Mark 10:1-31, Jeremiah 50-51

Mark 10:29-30 – Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will receive a hundred fold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Lord Jesus, it really is a difficult thing to follow you.  It means to leave behind everything that matters to me and to consider it a small thing next to holding on to you.  It means to consider my family to be a small thing because you are a big thing.  It means to consider my property a small thing because you are my all in all.  It means to risk my life, limb and safety for your sake because you are one and only God and Savior.  But this is hard because my heart gets attached to  all these things.  It is hard for my heart to truly hold you as my number one when I grow attracted and attached to all these things.  But Lord Jesus, I see where you’re going with this.  When I value you as my number one, then I am really free to enjoy all these other gifts.  When I have you, then I really find joy in these gifts of grace from you.  Lord Jesus, help me to break my love affair with the things of this world and people in my life so that you are my everything.  Then, help me to enjoy these people and these things as the gifts from you that they are.  Help me also to endure whatever persecution and hardship comes because of my devotion to you alone.  Amen.

Last Not First

Mark 9:14-50, Jeremiah 48-49

Mark 9:35 – And he sat down and called the Twelve.  And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”

Lord Jesus, I find myself walking with the disciples and debating about who is really great in your sight.  The whole time I want the answer to be me.  I think so often about greatness in terms of a position, power, prominence, importance, even success and accolades. And that’s why these words are so important for me to understand.  My greatness comes from your grace that elevates me to be your son.  My greatness comes from your grace that justifies me.  Grace calls me to my vocation. Grace calls me to a place in life where I can serve other people and be of benefit to them. Teach me, Savior, Jesus, to rejoice in my calling and to serve people from that calling.  It is a great thing for me to be redeemed by you, to be called by you, to be kept by you. Help me to find joy in serving other people.  Amen.

A Sight for Sore Eyes

Mark 8:22-38, Mark 9:1-13, Jeremiah 45-47

Mark 9:2 – After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.  And he was transfigured before him.

Lord Jesus, this is a sight for my eyes that I wish I could have seen.  There is so much evil and hate in the world. Terrorist attacks.  Racial tensions.  There is so much hardship and hurt in the world, even in my own life. It’s easy to forget that you’re in charge and that you’re ruling all things for my good. But here it is for your disciples to see.  And though I wasn’t there with them to witness this divine glory of yours, you made sure that I would see it by placing it on the pages of Scripture for me to witness through their testimony.  This really is a site for my sore eyes.  I see you fully glorified, brighter than the light of the sun.  I hear God, our Father, declare his pleasure with you and all your work.  I see Moses and Elijah encouraging you one last time before you take your final steps toward Jerusalem and toward winning our salvation.  Lord God, let this sight of your glory go with me as I walk out into this world.  Help me to remember your glory, your power, your might and most of all your love.  It was your love that led you to walk down from this mountain and up to another mountain, Calvary.  Let this sight of your glory go with me as I come down from this sight.  Let it comfort and assure me.  Let it inspire and compel me.  Amen.

Standing Word

Mark 8:1-21, Jeremiah 40-44

Jeremiah 44:28 – [They] shall know whose word will stand, mine or theirs.

O Lord, throughout the ages you have proven yourself to be trustworthy and faithful.  You have kept your Word.  Time after time we see it happen.  You promise to punish and discipline your people and you do.  You promise to come to the rescue of your people and you do.  You promise watch over to protect and you do.  You promised to send your Son and you did.  You promised to send out your Holy Spirit and you did.  You promised to send out your Word and your gospel into all the world and I’ve heard of it.  Lord, your Word and your promises are standing and true.  They were true and trustworthy the moment you spoke them.  They remain true.  Your Word and your promise stands.  Help me to take you at your Word and to trust you whole heartedly.  Amen.

He does all things well.

Mark 7, Jeremiah 37-39

Mark 7:37 – And they were astonished beyond measure saying, “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Lord Jesus, they don’t even know. This crowd couldn’t even begin to know what they were saying. I can’t even begin to know how right this crowd really well. They were just talking about what they could see. And what they saw was amazing all on its own.  You took a man who was deaf and mute and you loosed his tongue and opened his ears.  Astounding.  Just that was enough for them to say, “He has done all things well.”  But Jesus, there is so much more truth in this statement than that you did a good job healing this man.  Everything you put your hand to is done perfectly well.  Your gifts and abilities, Lord Jesus, are limitless.  Your skill and your personality and boundless.  Jesus, if you took a strength finder’s test they wouldn’t know what to do because you are strong in every area.  You have no weak spots.  Your wisdom and your understanding overflows for every situation, for every individual in every situation, even for the eternal good of every individual in every situation.  You know what needs to be done and you get it done.  It is good.  And Jesus, my heart overflows with joy and astonishment, because you have me in your sights, to do good for me and not to harm me, to give me hope and a future.  Lord Jesus, my heart is in awe because you certainly do all things well.  Amen.

Honey for the Soul

Proverbs 24:8-34, Psalm 119:81-120

Proverbs 24:13-14 – My son, eat honey for it is good, and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

Lord God, I love sweet stuff. You’ve given me taste buds that crave candy and cakes and all things sweet. Give me such a craving for the wisdom of your Word. Give me such a longing to study, understand, meditate on, and apply the good things that your Word has to say. When I understand your word, help me to stick in my heart, to remember it’s truth and to take it with me onto my days paths. When I don’t quite understand what your word is saying, give me a desire to dig in, to work on it, and search your Word so that I can begin to understand it. Pour out your Holy Spirit on me so that I see the wonderful things of your Word.  Open my mind and heart to hear, understand, meditate on and rejoice in your wisdom. Make worship the same for me.  Make the word that you give me in worship – my pastor, through the readings, through the hymns, songs, and spiritual songs – make it all honey to my soul. Give me a craving for wisdom from you that I might hope and a future from you and in your Word. Amen.

Rest

Mark 6:30-56, Jeremiah 34-36

Mark 6:31 – “Come away with me by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.”

Lord God, Father in heaven, I have every reason to rest right now even as I set my mind to go to work today.  I have every reason to set my heart at rest today as I go about my daily work.  Lord God, your power and might is truly amazing.  You created this world in six days and rested on the seventh. You knit me together in my mother’s wombs.  You created me, little ole me, and you are concerned for me.  You care about me and watch over my coming and my going now and forever.  And that’s not all.  My eternity is not in doubt, not even a little bit.  You died on the cross for me and there paid the price for all my sins, that I might be forgiven, that I might be justified and be declared righteous in your sight.  You have done all this for me and still you do more.  You have given me so many gifts and treasures on earth.  Oh God, I can rest and set my heart at ease.  There is no reason for me to worry, to be afraid, to be stressed.  There is no reason for me to fret at all because you are my Father, because you are my God, because you are my Lord. Grant rest to me today while I work. Grant rest to me this weekend as I worship you with my fellow believers. Grant rest to me today and every day. Amen.

Nothing is too hard.

Mark 6:1-29, Jeremiah 32-33

Jeremiah 32:17 – Ah, Lord God! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and your outstretched arm!  Nothing is too hard for you.

Lord God, you often ask me to believe things that seem impossible from my perspective.  You were asking Jeremiah to step out in faith and trust you to do something that seemed highly unlikely and even impossible. And yet, in this his prayer, he confesses clearly who you are and what you can do. Nothing is too hard for you!  Help me to take you at your word, to trust your promises and your Word. Teach me to step out in faith knowing that you will set my feet on solid ground and you will keep me from falling.  Teach me to trust you with every decision I make and every step I take. Help me to remember that you made it all, that you brought all that exists into being with your powerful world.  Help me to remember that nothing is too hard for you, nothing at all. Grant me faith to trust you even when all that I see seems to be impossible.  Amen.

Tell your Friends.

Mark 5, Jeremiah 29-31

Mark 5:19 – And he…said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

Lord Jesus, this man was set on fire for you.  He had just experienced one of your greatest miracles.  You had cast a legion of demons out of him.  It’s no wonder that he wanted to come with you when you left that area. But your instructions were simple and clear: Go home and tell the people in your life how much God has done for you.  Jesus, I forget this simple instruction so often.  I want to do great things.  I want to sparkle and shine for you.  But your instructions to me are just as simple and clear.  Just go home and tell the people in your life about what I’ve done for you. Go home and tell them about how good I am. Go back and tell your friends and family, your neighbors and relatives about my mercy and grace.  Help me to keep these words in mind as I live my life. Instead of looking beyond my present company to some greater thing, help me see each interaction in this day as an opportunity to talk about your goodness and grace. Give me words and boldness to talk about your goodness with my family, to pray with them and to pray for them, to tell them about how good you are.  Give me words and boldness to talk to strangers, acquaintances, and people I know extremely well.   Fill my heart to overflowing because of your goodness, mercy and grace that I can’t help talking about how much you’ve done for me.  Amen.

Growing

Mark 4, Jeremiah 26-28

Mark 4:26-27 – And he said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground.  He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how.”

Lord God, I need to read this parable often.  I need to remember it’s truth.  I need to remember this parable because I often get discouraged about your kingdom and your church on earth.  It doesn’t seem to be doing well.  The gospel doesn’t seem to be working.  Christians pour out the gospel often but it often doesn’t seem to be making a difference.  But this parable tells me differently and reminds me of the truth about your kingdom that often remains hidden.  Your kingdom grows all on its own, whether I’m sleeping or working, whether I’m working or resting.  That’s what your kingdom does because that’s how you work.  Your work and the ways of your kingdom are like the wind.  It blows wherever it wishes; I don’t know where it comes from or where it’s going.  And that’s how your Spirit does his work in the kingdom.  That’s what your Word does.  It doesn’t return to you without accomplishing whatever you desire.  And when it bears fruit and grows up, it is an astounding and glorious thing.  Something completely other grows up.  Where once death reigned, now life reigns.  Where once unbelieved lived, now faith dwells.  This is what your Word does.  This is what you do God. Plant this parable on my heart and help to remember it’s truth.  Amen.

Hammer

Mark 3:20-35, Jeremiah 23-25

Jeremiah 23:28-29 – Let the prophet who has a dream, tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak it faithfully.  What has straw to do with wheat? Declares the Lord.  Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Lord God, there is nothing at all that is like your Word.  There is nothing more powerful, nothing more transforming, nothing more informing for my mind, my life, my soul.  There is nothing at all in all the world like your Word.  Give me a hunger for it.  Give me a thirst for him.  Keep me from tiring of its timeless message and timely truth.  It’s so easy to grow weary of it, as if I’ve heard it all before and couldn’t learn anything more.  It’s so easy to think that there is something more and something better out there that will really be destiny changing and life altering.  But God, your Word is it.  There is no dream that can compare.  There is no earthly wisdom from the world’s wisest man that can compete.  Your Word is your power and might.  Nothing in heaven or on earth can compare on it. Teach me to treasure.  Teach me to share it. Amen. 

Trials

Proverbs 23:17 – 24:7, Psalm 119:41-80

Psalm 119:54 – Your statutes have been my song in the house of sojourning.

Lord God, I often chafe under discipline.  I chafe under your rebuke. I don’t like it at all, not one little bit.  But Lord God, I see your work in this when I take the time to step back and ponder.  It is during those times of discipline and trouble that I find myself back in your Word.  It is during those times to trial that I cling to your promises more tightly and they become more dear to me.  Lord I am beginning to see, more clearly than ever before, that in trial and discipline you strip away everything from me except your Word so that your Word and your promises is all that I have.  And that’s a good thing.  Your Word filled with your promises is the one thing that will never disappear or disappoint.  You, God, are the one I cling to with all my heart.  Teach me to love trials and to rejoice in them.  They teach me wonderful things.  They teach me to sing of your unchanging and unchangeable promises.  Amen.

Trials

Proverbs 23:17 – 24:7, Psalm 119:41-80

Psalm 119:50 – This is my comfort in my affliction, for your word has given me life.

Lord God, I often chafe under discipline.  I chafe under your rebuke. I don’t like it at all, not one little bit.  But Lord God, I see your work in this when I take the time to step back and ponder.  It is during those times of discipline and trouble that I find myself back in your Word.  It is during those times to trial that I cling to your promises more tightly and they become more dear to me.  Lord I am beginning to see, more clearly than ever before, that in trial and discipline you strip away everything from me except your Word so that your Word and your promises is all that I have.  And that’s a good thing.  Your Word filled with your promises is the one thing that will never disappear or disappoint.  You, God, are the one I cling to with all my heart.  Teach me to love trials and to rejoice in them.  They teach me wonderful things.  They teach me to sing of your unchanging and unchangeable promises.  Amen.

Sabbath Rest

Mark 2:18 – 3:19, Jeremiah 20-22

Mark 2:27 – The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

Lord Jesus, the weekend is coming.  Worship is coming and that’s a good thing because I’m tired.  I tired from the rat race.  I’m tired from chasing kids around.  I’m tried from the tasks of my callings.  I’m tired; my body is exhausted.  I’m tired in my spirit too.  My spirit needs to be refreshed.  Lord Jesus, that’s why you give us Sabbath rest.  You give it to me every day.  Every day when I wake up and when I lay down, Lord Jesus, I have rest because you remind me that all things are under your power and control; you are, in fact, working all things together for my good.  I have rest because you do good things and you promise to do good things for me and in my life.  As Sunday comes, I can’t wait to hear your Word and to rest in more of your promises.  I can’t wait to eat the food of your Word.  I can’t wait to sing the songs of saints past and present.  I can’t to gather with my fellow believers.  I can’t wait, most of all, dear Lord, to hear you speak about your love, forgiveness and grace to me. These are your gifts to me to give me rest for my body, and, especially for my soul.  Amen.

Sick

Mark 2:1-17, Jeremiah 16-19

Mark 2:17 – And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician but those who are sick.  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Lord Jesus, it’s easy for me to forget how sick I really am.  It’s easy to look around and see people who sinners more or differently than I do.  It’s easy to stand around and look at how I’m going to church while they’re not.  It’s easy to stand around and compare myself with everyone else.  And when I take that perspective I forget how sick I am. But Jesus that’s a dangerous perspective to take and to have.  Lord Jesus, if I don’t know that I’m sick, why would I ever bother to see the doctor.  And worse, Jesus, if I’m not sick, then you’re not for me.  But the truth is Jesus, I am sick. More than I even know. More than I can ever understand.  My pride and my comparison with other people reveals my sickness of pride.  Lord Jesus, show me my pride, my hypocrisy, my sin and my soul sickness. And then, Jesus, heal me.  Heal me with your forgiveness.  Heal me with your righteousness – now there is something to boast about!!  Heal me with your power and your might.  Lord Jesus, you are for me.  I am sick and I need you every day.  Heal me.  Amen.

The Good Stuff

Mark 1, Jeremiah 13-15

Jeremiah 15:16 – Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.

Lord God, there is one thing and one thing alone that gives lasting and true joy and delight to my soul.  Just one thing: your Word.  The longer I live the more I realize and experience how true this is. Lord God, there are so many things in this life that seem to give joy and pleasure.  But it never lasts and never really satisfies.  As quickly as the high of the moment or the high the experience is past, I want more.  And it’s not just that, the high of the moment and the high of the experience passes.  All that seems to give pleasure never really does, not fully anyway, and it never lasts for longer than a moment. Add to the passing nature of pleasures is the reality that there is much pain and suffering in this world, especially as a Christ-follower.  I’m living against the grain and going against the flow in which the rest of the world lives.  This means that much of my life will be struggle against my sinful-self and this sinful world.  And it may even mean hardship and suffering in this sinful world.  Lord God, your word is the one thing that gives true and lasting joy.  Your Word is the one thing that can and will delight my soul.  Your Word satisfies my soul in a way that nothing else can.  It tells me of your love that doesn’t run out and won’t ever fade away.  It tells me of an endless flow of Jesus’ blood that alone can cleanse me of my sin.  Your Word, Father, tells me of you rule in my life to work all things out for my good. Your Word tells me of your purpose and plan for my life, that you let me declare and even live out my life praising you.  Your Word tells me that I am yours and will be yours for all eternity.  Lord, satisfy my soul and give me delight in your Word this morning and all day long.  It alone is my joy and my delight.  Amen.

Refreshed.

Philemon 1, Jeremiah 10-12

Philemon 7 – For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Lord Jesus, there is so much joy and comfort that I get from the body of believers.  There is so much rest and refreshment that comes to my eyes and my heart as I ponder their love for me and their love for each other.  Thank you, Lord, for the Christian friends who reach out to call, message, text and even to visit me warm my heart because they made the effort to care about me.  The notes they send give lightness to my heart and lift the frown of stress from my forehead.  The encouragement that the saints offer to each comforts and lightens my heart too.  It gives me so much joy to see the body of believers at work, doing what a body does.  They’re taking care of each other.  Lord Jesus, help me to notice, appreciate and find joy, comfort and even refreshment because of the love that is shown to me and to others within the family of faith.  Amen.

Devoted

Titus 2-3, Jeremiah 7-9

Titus 3:8 – This saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Lord God, my mind doesn’t naturally or normally think this way. I am always reverting back to the old, selfish way.  But, Lord, you have redeemed me from this way of thinking and this way of living.  You have renewed, regenerated and even resurrected me from this spiritual death.  Help me to hold this wondrous truth and live by it. Turn my mind to the good of my neighbor, to the good of those whose path I cross.  Guide me to walk in the good works which you have prepared in advance that I might live in them.  You have set me apart for this, that I might live for you and for others.  Amen.

God does not need our good works, but our neighbor does. – Martin Luther.