Thursday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is week 9 of an 11-week journey through Mark’s account of the gospel of Jesus Christ. As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 10:17-31

17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to

enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

A Prayer of Adoration

Jesus, we adore You as the One who sees us fully and still loves us deeply. You looked at the rich young man and loved him, even as You called him to something costly. You are not content with surface-level devotion—you invite us into wholehearted surrender. We praise You as the One who offers eternal life, not as something to earn, but as something to receive through following You. You are good, perfectly good, and everything You ask of us flows from that goodness. We worship You as the treasure above all treasures, the One worth leaving everything behind to follow.

A Prayer of Confession

Jesus, we confess how often we want to follow You without letting go of what we love most. Like the rich young man, we come eager and sincere, but there are places in our hearts we hold back. We cling to comfort, to security, to possessions, to control, to reputation—things that compete with our trust in You. We confess that we want eternal life, but not always the cost of surrender. We walk away quietly from the very things You are inviting us to release. Forgive us for divided hearts. Forgive us for valuing temporary things over eternal ones. Show us what we are unwilling to surrender, and give us the courage to be honest about it.

A Prayer of Trust

Jesus, we choose to trust that whatever You ask us to release is never greater than what You offer in return. You said that what is impossible with man is possible with God, and so we trust You even in the places where surrender feels too hard. We trust that You are not trying to take from us, but to free us. We trust that following You, though costly, leads to true life. Help us believe that You are better than what we hold onto. Help us trust that no sacrifice made for Your sake is wasted. Teach us to follow You with open hands, confident that You are enough.

A Prayer of Intercession

Jesus, we lift up those who feel the tension of following You but are struggling to let go of what holds them back. We pray for those who sense Your call but feel trapped by fear, by wealth, by comfort, or by expectations. Give them clarity to see what is at stake and courage to respond. We pray for those who have already sacrificed much to follow You—those who have left behind relationships, security, or opportunities for Your sake. Strengthen them. Remind them of Your promise that they will receive far more in return, both now and in eternity. Build a community around them that reflects Your provision and care. Help us all become people who follow You wholeheartedly, no matter the cost.

Read Again

As we read some of the passage again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.

23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

A Moment of Reflection

Jesus, I pause and consider what I may be holding onto more tightly than I am holding onto You. What is the one thing You are putting Your finger on in my life right now? What would be hardest for me to surrender? I bring that before You honestly. I don’t want to walk away from You holding onto something lesser. Give me the courage to trust You with it. Help me believe that following You fully is worth whatever it costs.

A Weekly Verse to Memorize:

Mark 10:15 

“Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

Closing Prayer

During these last few moments, ask Jesus, “What is one thing You’re asking me to surrender?” Sit quietly with Him—and be honest about what He shows you.