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.

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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.

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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.

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Mark 6:4
   Jesus is here giving voice to an idea that has been repeated in various ways throughout history. Many great men have found that they are not nearly as great when they are at home. Familiarity, and a sense of knowing one’s origins, tends to cause people to think less of a person, and not more.
   This was, it seems, very true in Jesus case. His own family failed to believe in him early on. His brothers and sisters failed to see who he really was. And the town that knew him the best, understood him the least. Indeed, we often fail to see what we have until it is gone.

Judges 20:1-Ruth 1:22

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your freshness. The quality of being fresh, or new, is not something we would normally think of to apply to you. But it is indeed true. We are so often stale, dried up, withered. You on the other hand, are always fresh, always new, always faithful. Any day of the week when we come to you we find new life, new hope, new truth, new rest. You are the cure for apathy. You are the cure for boredom. You are the cure for disappointment, and discouragement.

Pray for a family that just lost a loved one. Pray for a young woman who will be traveling soon. Pray for a woman who is not feeling well at all.

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Mark 6:3
   One of the most interesting things that we find in this verse is that Jesus was apparently a carpenter just like Joseph before he began his ministry. The people here in Nazareth still thought of him as the carpenter, and knew his siblings.

Judges 17:1-19:30

James 1:3 “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for always telling us the truth. Though we do not always like the truth about ourselves, it is always a blessing to know truth. We see our sin as a result, but we also see your love and forgiveness. Truth has a freeing effect upon us. It gives us the ability to face reality as it is, rather than trying to deal with the world as it isn’t. Thank you! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who has many health issues. Pray for a man recovering from a long illness.

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Mark 6:2
   The people of Jesus’ home town couldn’t understand how he knew all that he did. They were trying to understand it with their conventional wisdom. They couldn’t figure where he had gotten it all from. They couldn’t deny his teaching, for it was very convincing, but they wouldn’t accept it because they couldn’t figure it out. This is the reason that many miss the truth of the Christ. They try to figure it out without God’s Word as a guide.

Judges 13:1-16:31

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;

Heavenly Father, forgive us for so often failing to pray for our nation! We must care for our countrymen, loving them as we love ourselves. My prayer is that people will come to understand the truth of the Christ. If we can but grasp that concept, we will then begin to see how to approach every day of our lives. Thank you, dear Father, for your life for this fallen world. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for our nation.

Journal 15179

Mark 6:1
   Jesus returns to Nazareth. Imagine what it would be like to live in the same city with him! Yet there were many there who did not believe him.

Judges 10:1-12:15

James 1:1 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving to us the grace we need for each day. You are our supply. Only you can handle everything in our lives. We are totally dependent upon you whether we act like it or not. Thank you for your faithfulness! In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a man who needs to be in church.

Journal 15178

Mark 5:43
   Jesus didn’t want people to believe in him only because of his miracles. He wanted them to understand the truth as well.
   He commands that she be fed because she likely had not had a square meal in a while.

Judges 8:1-9:57

1 John 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Heavenly Father, thank you for you grace! You make your goodness available to all through Christ. You give us access to so much. May we never cease to praise you for all that you have done. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise you, Amen.

Pray for a woman who is not feeling well.

Journal 15177

Mark 5:42
   Being 12 years old, this girl was ready to get back to living. Older persons might sit and reflect upon the events of the day a little bit longer. But not her, she was ready to get back to moving and living and loving her parents and doing things. Indeed, as a girl of the age of 12, her childhood was likely almost over. She would surely be married within the next couple of years.
   It seems quite interesting to me to contrast those who are brought back to life by the Lord Jesus, and those who claim to come back from the dead these days. Because of the technology we have for resuscitation, many now claim to have been dead and come back to life. This of course is always a relative event. Not breathing or, having little brain activity, doesn’t necessarily make you dead. In any case, people do seem to have a very different reaction to these experiences than did this girl. She just kind of pops up and gets back to life. Whereas, many today will wake up and tell all kinds of stories of what happened to them while they were supposedly dead.

Judges 5:1-7:25

1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.

Heavenly Father, it is so amazing to think that you give us of your own spirit when we are saved. It’s much like how you brought this girl back to life. When we were dead in our trespasses and sins, you gave us new life in every way. The Holy Spirit is our surety of all of that grand and glorious future that you have promised to us. Because we have your Spirit living in us, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are on our side. We can depend upon you forever. We can listen to you, hear from you, learn from you. You are interested in helping us understand what you want from us. You are interested in helping us understand that what we need and want is exactly what you provide. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I pray and praise You, Amen.

Pray for a man under the care of hospice. Pray for a young boy recovering from several surgeries.

Journal 15176