Tuesday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to daily prayer and our journey together through Mark’s account of the Gospel of Jesus. Today we are looking at another parable Jesus used in Mark 4 to give us greater insight into His Kingdom and what it looks like for a harvest of His word to e demonstrated in the lives of His followers. As we begin our time together, let’s be still and declare that He is God. We are not. Let’s surrender, breathe, and invite His Kingdom to fully come in us and through us.

A Scripture reading from Mark 4:21-25

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

A Prayer of Adoration

Father, you are a gracious and giving God. Holy Spirit, you are the wellspring of life flowing within us. Jesus, you are the Light of the World, the One who is life and light, and who gives abundant life to those who believe in you. We worship you as the one true God, who gives life without measure. We honor you as the Light who conquers and dispels our darkness. You alone are worthy of our absolute surrender, and we offer ourselves to you, as the One from whom we never need to hide.

A Prayer of Confession

Lord, we acknowledge the many ways we have failed to demonstrate your love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – the fulness of life given to us. How often your followers use the measure of judgment rather than mercy. We are more than willing to receive the abundance of your grace, but entrap others with expectation. We get lost in your boundless love while placing conditions on others. We repent of the ways we withhold our time and resources out of fear that there may not be enough remaining for our pleasure. We acknowledge believing the lie that we are not acceptable, therefore we hide, pretend, or perform. Forgive us Jesus, when you shed innocent blood to make us acceptable. We come out of hiding today, allowing your pure light to expose any remaining areas of darkness that need to be transformed, especially the things that keep us from hearing clearly.

A Prayer of Trust

Lord, you are a God who gives purpose, redeeming people by the work of the cross so every believer would uniquely demonstrate your glory. We trust that your death proved sufficient to set us free! In every way that the enemy attempts to have us cower in shame, guilt or condemnation, we choose to step out into the light and to watch every power of darkness be destroyed in Jesus’ name. You promised that the wellspring of life supplied to us would never run empty. We pause, receiving anew your overflow of life. We believe the truth of Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” As you have freely given to us, may we pour forth generously into the lives of others.

A Prayer of Intercession

We lift up those in our midst who struggle with shame and condemnation, asking you to reveal the depth of your love and acceptance to each one so that they may live out your purposes. Empower us to be a Body who walks in the light of repentance and leads others to the safety of your pure light. We intercede for the nations of the world where there is no Gospel representation and where spiritual darkness abounds, naming specifically the Muslim nations celebrating Ramadan in this season. Give them dreams and visions of Jesus that will result in the salvation of entire households. And anoint our mission teams going forth this spring to Turkey and Honduras to carry your light and life to every person they encounter.

Scripture reading

As the Scripture is read again, let’s ask the Lord to shine His light on a particular word or phrase He wants us to hear. And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.”

Now let’s take a moment to meditate on our weekly Scripture memory verse from Mark 4:20 & 23

“But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold… If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Closing Prayer

I give myself to you Lord, that this little light of mine may SHINE, SHINE, SHINE for your glory!

In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.