Friday - The Gospel According To Mark

This week is the opening week of our journey through Mark’s Gospel. Today we are reflecting on the wilderness temptation of Jesus. Tomorrow is our weekly heart check. As we begin our prayer now, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD. 

Lord, as we reflect on your temptation in the wilderness, I acknowledge my struggle and my need for your faithfulness. The wilderness is a place of loneliness and struggle. I need you LORD. I lay down all my cares and troubles. You are my refuge and strength. 

 I ask you to uphold me. I give everyone and everything to you. 

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise. 

A Scripture reading from Mark 1:12-13

At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

A Prayer of Adoration: 

Lord Jesus, you are the Overcomer! In this passage I see that after your baptism you were immediately sent by the Spirit into the wilderness. This is like a repeat of the Israelites in the desert except you trusted the Father and never gave in. Lord, you did what Israel was unable to do and what we are unable to do without you. You resisted. You fought the good fight. I see this as a fulfillment of Psalm 91. Jesus, I adore you for making the Father your refuge. You were completely dependent on the Word and Spirit. You give us a perfect picture of faithfulness. 

The angels came and ministered to you. As Psalm 91 says, “If you make the Most High your dwelling…you will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” Jesus, you overcame all the attacks and temptations of satan without sinning and for that, I adore you. 

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord, I confess that I often do not take my refuge in you during trials and testing. I try to do it on my own. Or I try to hide from my problems but I don’t hide in you. Forgive me Lord. I forget that I am in a battle and that the enemy is opposing your kingdom and your people. 

A Prayer of Trust:

Lord, I trust that you have fully paid for all my sins and all my debts. With your faithful life and sacrificial death, you have set me free and showed me the way. I trust that you send your ministering angels to all who take refuge in you. You are an ever present help in trouble. 

A Prayer of Intercession:

Lord Jesus, you know what it is like to be in the wilderness. You know what it’s like to be tempted and attacked by evil. I pray for those who are in seasons of temptation. Sustain them with your Word and Spirit. May we, as your people, give support and help. Thank you that your sinless life covers our faithless failings. Thank you that your Spirit empowers us to overcome. Lord, I especially pray for your help for those who are in a wilderness season. Speak to them Lord. Uphold them. Be a refuge for them. 

A Moment of Reflection:

Lord, is there any way that I am being tempted and not realizing that it is a temptation from the enemy?

Read Again:

As we hear the Scripture again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Lord may want to highlight from todays passage.

And now Our Weekly Passage to Memorize and Consider:

Mark 1:14-15

Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe in the gospel.”  

Lord, thank you for your Word

Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer together as we close:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

Hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come

Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread

Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us

Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever...amen