Category: Uncategorized

Mark 5:41
   We’re not exactly sure what language Jesus spoke regularly. However there is great likelihood that this Aramaic, or Syriac, that he uses to speak to the little girl here was his chosen tongue. In any case, many in that region would have spoken Greek. So Jesus would have spoken Aramaic and Greek.
   It is quite likely that this language with which he speaks to the young child was a language familiar to her and her family. Though this would seem normal, Jesus is somewhat unique in this way. Among men, those who would claim to have power to do what Jesus did, might say some kind of an unintelligible thing in order to make themselves and sound special. Jesus says nothing special. He needs no show, but only the real fact of his mighty power over death.

Judges 2:1-4:24

1 John 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

Heavenly Father, as you know we often ask you to make us happy. We want more joy, more contentment. But, we often think that these things will only come to us if you give us more of what we find in this life. To be sure, you do give us great material blessings. However, we are heirs of eternal life, and there is a treasure out there that gives us a joy and contentment no material blessings here on earth could ever match. May we rest forever in your abundant supply! You know what we need and not we ourselves. Your provision goes a step further than we would go. It enables us to serve you as your trusted friends. It gives us a place in your kingdom. We think of our earthly needs, you supply for our eternal tasks. We just look for bread for the next meal, while you supply day by day the food we need for an eternity as your royal ambassadors. Your glory is your focus, and rightly so. You alone can give what we don’t even know we need. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who is sick. Pray for a woman who is having trouble with her stomach.

Journal 15175

Mark 5:40
   There is a great contrast between Christ and a false prophet. Those who would make a show of healing, or doing some great miracle, might try to make a big deal out of it. But the Lord Jesus does the opposite. This is because he truly was going to do a miracle. Something was really going to happen. This was not a show. This was the real deal.
   Sometimes, Jesus did his miracles to be seen very publicly. But, most of the time he kept them in private. And why is this? It’s because that’s where they belonged. They were private things done for private people. They were meeting the needs of those that he ministered to. Other times, there was reason to make a very public show of what had been done.

Joshua 23:1-Judges 1:36

1 John 5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your leading in our lives. It is great to have your Word right here before us, but having your Spirit within s is so wonderful as well. To only have a book that tells us the truth, and not to have the Spirit to help us live it, would not be as good. By your Holy Spirit, we can understand your Word. Thank you for your care for us, in giving us of your Spirit. Show us the way in which we should go, that we may serve you with our entire heart. May our lives honor you in every way! You are worthy! Thank you for helping us to see your truth, and help us to be witnesses for you each and every day. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a man who is not feeling well. Pray for a man going out of town.

Journal 15174

Mark 5:39
   Though some have tried to argue the point, the girl was indeed dead. However, this is not the only time that Jesus refers to the dead as sleeping.
   To understand this, we need to consider two things. For one thing, we know that the early Christian church adopted the same kind of language to refer to those who had died in faith, knowing they would live again. Jesus seems to be doing the same thing here. But also, consider the state this girl was in. Though her body was in every sense dead, the Master of life was on his way to revive her. Thus, we cannot speak particularly about the state of her decomposition, for the Lord may already have suspended that. To understand this one need only remember the story of Lazarus. He was dead long enough to be quite disfigured by his experience, but evidently, he was not. So, the power of the Christ extends beyond simply raising the dead, he has power over death itself. This is the point Jesus is making here.

Joshua 20:1-22:34

1 John 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

Heavenly Father, if you wanted us to be sidetracked by our worries and cares, you wouldn’t have told us to cast them upon you. It is amazing to think that you even take the time to consider our worries and cares. It is not as if, once you take them from us, that you toss the list in a trash can and forget about it. No, you remember our problems and concerns. You know what is important to us. You care, just like any other friend, only so much better! Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for two women recovering from cancer. Pray for a man with congestive heart failure.

Journal 15173

Mark 5:38
   Our ideas of mourning and grieving here in America are much different from what one might find many other places in the world. Indeed, heathen lands have quite strange practices in connection with death. In the case of the Jews under Roman rule, an influential man such as Jairus would have certain expectations laid upon him.
   The wailing here described may well have been performed by professional mourners hired for the purpose. Though to a certain extent this may be speculation, it seems likely that at least some musicians were hired for the event. Thus, the funeral began the moment the life ended.

Joshua 16:1-19:51

1 John 5:16 “If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.”

Heavenly Father, many times the circumstances of this life tend to get the better of us. We are easily swept away in their flood. And yet we find in your Word the possibility of contentment in turmoil. We see held forth the reality of peace in the storm. We find an otherworldly outlook. We are told to see the facts in a different light, one that encompasses all that there is not just our little corner. We become part of a grander scheme, that is yet quite individualistic because it is based on you as an individual in your relationship to us. Thank you for the security of your eternality! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman with cancer. Pray for a woman who is not feeling well.

Journal 15172

Mark 5:37
   This was his inner circle. Among his disciples, they were the ones he trusted the most.

Joshua 13:1-15:63

1 John 5:15 “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day to serve you. You give us so many blessings! We love you, Father. Thank you for salvation in Christ! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a family that just lost a loved one.

Journal 15171

Mark 5:36
   Notice if you will the contrast of fear and belief. Usually it would not be fear, but sorrow that would overtake a father at this point, having just heard of his daughter’s death. But Jesus tells him not to fear.
   Why? Because he was preempting the feelings of sorrow by highlighting thier source. Sorrow is rooted in loss. Loss occurs when something takes something from us. We lose something to a power we are unable to resist. Thus, a fear of this unknown power leads to sorrow. Jesus is telling the man that he need not fear loss. Instead, he wanted the man to trust that he was more powerful than the unknown of death.

Joshua 10:1-12:24

1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:”

Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us to understand our feelings better. We are so often overwhelmed by them. We fear everything. Thank you for helping us to understand our sorrow, fear, and pain. May we always rely on you to manage our feelings, rather than trying to handle it all by ourselves. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man’s unspoken request.

Journal 15170

Mark 5:35
   Those who do not understand Christ will always try to limit his ability to help them. As far as these people were concerned, death was a barrier Jesus could not cross. This reveals that they misunderstood how Jesus was able to do all that he did.

Joshua 7:1-9:27

1 John 5:13 “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for your compassion! You care for us all and love us so much. You have given your children the job of getting the gospel to the whole world because you love the world. You care for every last person. Thank you for your  care for us! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman’s unspoken requests.

Journal 15169

Mark 5:34
   This admonition he wanted to give to her. Though the healing had taken place, he wanted her to understand why and how. Isn’t this just like the Lord? He has saved our souls, yet he still works to help us understand what has happened.

Joshua 3:1-6:27

1 John 5:12 “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for your long-suffering kindness to us! You keep teaching us each and every day. We are constantly learning more about you, and drawing closer to you. This is your desire, not just our goal. You give us the tools we need to do it. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman with cancer.

Journal 15168

Mark 5:33
   She was in a very vulnerable state. Being a woman in that society was already a shameful position. She could not expect to be allowed to address the master. Beyond this, her condition was shameful and was not ‘safe’ for the public.This is why she responds with trepidation.
   But, as was so often the effect, the presence of Christ melted that away, and she addressed him as more than man, but as he is truly, the Lord of life.

Deuteronomy 33:1-Joshua 2:24

1 John 5:11 “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

Heavenly Father, we are so glad to know that you hear our prayers no matter who we are. You do not discriminate but by one standard, do we hear your voice? Do we respond to your truth? By that alone do you discriminate between one and the next. Thank you for hearing us and working in our lives! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man who is not feeling well.

Journal 15167

Mark 5:32
   Jesus took time with people. He was not rushed when it came to helping, but wanted to speak to people and talks to them about their situation.

Deuteronomy 30:1-32:52

1 John 5:10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this father’s day! It is such a blessing to have the family that I do. Your blessings are more wonderful than I could ever expect. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman with cancer.

Journal 15166