THE WORDS OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL OF MARK

Introduction

We are so glad you are joining us for these daily prayer devotionals as together we seek the heart of our God. Over the coming weeks, we will focus on some of the most meaningful words of our savior Jesus Christ from the book of Mark, as we follow his journey with his disciples on the path toward the cross. Our journey of prayer and fasting will culminate on Easter Sunday as we celebrate His resurrection, declaring victory over sin, death and shame.

Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.

  1. We will Engage the Word – looking at some of Jesus’ words in their biblical context.
  2. We will Connect the Heart – considering a truth that is applicable to our lives.
  3. We will Reflect on the Truth, asking a number of questions each day that invite us to look and listen with intent.
  4. And we will Depend on the Spirit – We will pray, for it is in praying that we learn to pray. And it is in praying that the Spirit changes our hearts.

We want to encourage you to grab a journal or a notebook – something to write on as you walk through each prayer guide. Yes, it will add a few minutes to the time it takes to do the devotion, and it will also deepen your experience and shape your walk with God for years to come. This journal or notebook will be a keepsake to remind you of God’s faithfulness during this challenging season for all of us.

Engage the Word

Mark 1:16-18

       16     Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.

       17     And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

       18     And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

Connect the Heart

We’ve been in a teaching series for a number of months – Following Jesus: How His Life Redefines Ours – largely based on Jesus’ words in this verse in the book of Mark. Jesus’ call to action for his disciples is simple: “Follow me.” But what exactly does Jesus mean? Following Jesus means aligning our hearts with his heart, our words with his words, our actions with his actions. It means the motivations of our heart align with the motivations of his.

Reflect on the Truth

1. How is your heart – your words, your actions, your motivations – aligning with his?

2. The disciples dropped their nets to follow him. What might be a “net” you need to drop, in order to follow Jesus?

3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that those thoughts are pointing to. (for example: you may write down, “There are some things that I’m not ready to let go of. I can’t do this in my own strength, so I need your help, Lord.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His word, His Spirit, His people.

4. “I will make you…” How do Jesus’ words in this passage give us hope that it is HIS work in us, not our work – that accomplishes His purposes?

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to bring to mind those areas of your life that might be out of alignment with Jesus’. And then pray, asking Him specifically to guide you in re-aligning with His ways, His words, His works and His purposes.

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