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 4:2-8

 

 

        2      And he was teaching them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them:

        3     “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow.

        4     And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it.

        5     Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil.

        6     And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away.

        7     Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.

        8     And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”

Connect the Heart

Jesus’ parable calls us as followers to sow the word of faith, but also to tend the soil (and be good soil) for those around us. Praying about your circle of community, consider ways to improve the possibility for seeds of faith to grow up and increase yield.

 

Reflect on the Truth

  1. What daily practices might fertilize seeds of faith and what practices might choke or be in opposition to faith? What could be some of the “thorns” you can see around you that Jesus might’ve been referring to in this parable?

2. What might we do to protect faith from “birds” that could devour? Think about how you might protect your family or children or your own heart from the cultural influences that may snuff out faith or offer false desires?

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, “It seems like the cultural influences continue to press harder against the ways of God than ever before. I need your help, Lord.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His word, His Spirit, His people.

4. What habits might deepen the roots of faith for you and for others?

Depend on the Spirit

Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in putting Jesus’ parable into practice to improve the soil for all around you. 

 

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