Category: Uncategorized

Mark 6:14
   Herod the Tetrarch, like many other people in his day, was superstitious. Obviously he still felt a tinge of guilt concerning John and had had a premonition of revenge. Unfortunately, this kind of superstitious ignorance rarely leads to any real repentance.

1 Samuel 25:1-27:12

James 1:14 “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.”

Heavenly Father, may the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be always focused upon You. You are worthy of our loyalty, worship, and service. Thank You for making life such a joy! Thank you for family and friends. Thank You for the encouragement that they bring into our lives. Thank you for Christ and all that we have in him. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a woman being cared for by hospice.

Journal 15191

Mark 6:13
   The anointing with oil carried no significance in and of itself.It did not bring healing. But, it served as a help to those healed. They could look back at the time when they were healed. This is especially helpful in the case of those who had intermittent diseases.

1 Samuel 22:1-24:22

James 1:13 “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

Heavenly Father, thank you for your patience with our unbelief. We often fail to remember your great power. How can we ever fully understand the extent of your might? You hold our whole world together. We will praise you forever and ever. You are worthy! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man in a nursing home.

Journal 15190

Mark 6:12
   Repentance is once again the message. It is amazing today how many try separate the message of the gospel form the call to repentance. But, it is just not possible. Preaching salvation without repentance is like offering a life preserver to an Olympic swimmer.

1 Samuel 19:1-21:15

James 1:12 “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.”

Heavenly Father, remind us that your wisdom is perfect. We don’t always have to understand everything. Yes, your truth does make sense, it’s genuine. But, we may not see the reasons right away, we may not understand in our limited minds. We know that we can trust you. May we look to your wisdom for our repentance. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man who is elderly and very sick.

Journal 15189

Mark 6:11
   This was a way to let those who rejected the truth know that there is a day of judgment coming. The message of the Christ is not an option. It is meant to be heard and accepted. It is the spirit of the antichrist that would work to deny the truth of the Christ. And it is at work in this world every day.

1 Samuel 17:1-18:30

James 1:11 “For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.”

Heavenly Father, it is amazing to think that you speak to us. Yet, so often we fail to hear you. We get so busy doing our own thing, talking to you about what we think is important. All the time you are waiting to give us great truth for our lives. You are not silent, but we are often deaf. Lord open our spiritual ears, and we will listen for your words are like the drops of honey from the honeycomb, sweet to our souls! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for an elderly woman who is not feeling well.

Journal 15188

Mark 6:10
   The paradigm for hospitality in those days was much different than today. Back in those days, good house-guests were very welcomed and valued. The staying of the disciples in a house wold bring great blessing to it, and those who recognized the truth would not see their stay as an imposition. Though many traditions of the past are good to have rid of, this one has more merit than some might think.

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23 

James 1:10 “But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.”

Heavenly Father, so often we see your will for us as a winding path with many twists and turns. But, you instead tend to reveal it as one very direct, very narrow, and very difficult way which you then lead us through a few steps at a time with relative ease if we keep our gaze upon you. We act as if your plans are changing every minute. But, truly, it is we who change. May we praise you in the great way which you would have us to go! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who was in an accident.

Journal 15187

Mark 6:9
   They would not be going far, but also they should expect to be helped along the way by their countrymen. This was a ministry to those who should know better than to turn a cold shoulder to the ministers of God.

Deuteronomy 1:1-2:37

James 1:9 “Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:”

Heavenly Father, your love for us is great in that you are conforming us to the image of your Son. To be made like Chris is the dream of the Christian life. Thank you for your work in us to transform us into his likeness. You are so gracious. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man who is not feeling well.

Journal 15186

Mark 6:8
   This instruction was not just about the disciples being dependent upon God for his provisions. It was about the places where they were going. In Jewish culture, those who were travelling such as these men carrying truth for the hearers, could expect to be taken care of in places where their message was accepted.

1 Samuel 9:1-12:25

 James 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Heavenly Father, you make our lives so valuable. Without your touch, we just don’t do what we could, nor can we. You are able to give us the strength to do so much more than what we can on our own. May we never fail to recognize your awesome grace, which gets us through the day. How could we ever overestimate what you have changed within us? You are gracious. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a young man travelling. Pray for a man with a cold.

Journal 15185

Mark 6:7
   Notice how he sends them out. He puts them together in teams of two and gives them the authority to carry out the mission he gives them.

1 Samuel 5:1-8:22

James 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

Heavenly Father, thank you for taking care of us. You always know what to do, and how to help us in every situation. Thank you for loving us so much! Give us daily reminders of your greatness, for we must never forget. We can trust you, and we should serve you always. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who is not feeling well.

Journal 15184

Mark 6:6
   The unbelief of these people was remarkable to him. Does this mean Jesus was surprised? No, he knew this would happen. But, it is a remarkable circumstance. Jesus was easily identifiable as a prophet, at the very least. Even ungodly Pilate could see that. So, it is remarkable that these people would see him only as a carpenter, a never more, no matter what truth his teaching contained.

1 Samuel 2:1-4:22

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Heavenly Father, thank you for the power of your Word. It can change our thinking like nothing else. It heals where other things destroy. It is more beneficial to mediate on your Word than it is to do anything else. May we live in your way constantly by keeping your thoughts in our minds. Thank you for the great influence of your truth! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who just lost her husband. Pray for a woman’s unspoken request. Pray for a man with a bad tick bite.

Journal 15183

Mark 6:5
   Jesus made it clear on other occasions that he healed in response to faith. This does not mean that Jesus was unable to do anything unless someone believed. Obviously, on several occasions he did things that his disciples never expected him to do. For example, walking on water.
   So, here in this verse Christ’s inability was not based on a lack of power on his part. Instead, there were not many who believed he was able to do anything for them. Jesus never turned someone away because of a lack of faith. If they came to him they had at least some faith. And, a few in this region did indeed come to him and he healed them. But they were very few.

Ruth 2:1-1 Samuel 1:28

James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your limitless supply! Though we tend to focus on the things that you’ve given us that have a limit to them, there is so much that you will give us that is unlimited. Your peace, your grace, your love, are all ours in Christ. These things have no limit. They are ours at all times, regardless of the circumstances. Lord, when circumstances seem to be against us, we need only to remember that your faithfulness and character are always the same. Your blessings are truly limitless! Protect our lives dear Father, as we praise you for your wonderful works. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a young man who is lost. Pray for a man who is having trouble with his stomach. Pray for a man that is making progress in rehabilitation.

Journal 15182