Thursday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is week 2 of an 11-week journey through Mark’s account of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are going to follow Jesus all the way from the wilderness to the cross and empty tomb. May our hearts burn within us as we travel along the way.

As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord.

A Scripture Reading from Mark 1:35-39

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

A Prayer of Adoration

Jesus, we worship You as the Son who lived in perfect communion with the Father.

Before the crowds gathered and before the work continued, You withdrew to pray. Your authority did not come from popularity, pressure, or performance, but from abiding in the presence of God.

We praise You as the King who listened before He spoke, who prayed before He acted, and who remained anchored in the Father’s will. Your power flowed from intimacy, and Your mission flowed from obedience. We honor You as Lord, whose authority is steady, rooted, and unshakable.

A Prayer of Confession

Jesus, we confess that we often try to live with authority without first living in prayer. We admit that we rush into activity, decisions, and ministry without pausing to seek the Father’s presence. We confess the times we let busyness replace intimacy.

Forgive us for relying on our own strength instead of Your guidance. Forgive us for treating prayer as optional rather than essential. Reorder our hearts so that prayer is not our last resort but our first response. Draw us back into quiet places where we can hear You clearly.

A Prayer of Trust

Jesus, we trust You to lead us as we follow Your example.

You did not allow urgency to override obedience, and You did not allow success to distract You from Your calling. We trust that when we seek the Father first, You will guide our steps and clarify our purpose.

Teach us to trust that prayer is not wasted time but the source of true power. Help us believe that time spent with God shapes our decisions, strengthens our faith, and aligns us with Your mission. We trust You to lead us forward, just as the Father led You.

A Prayer of Intercession

Jesus, we pray for Your church and for a restless world. We ask that Your people would be marked by prayer — listening, dependent, and attentive to the Father’s voice. Raise up leaders, families, and communities who seek God before they speak or act.

We pray for those searching for direction, purpose, and clarity. Meet them in quiet places. Call them forward into Your mission, just as You said, “Let us go on.” May Your authority flow through lives rooted in prayer, bringing truth, healing, and hope to the world You came to save.

Read Again

As we read 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.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

A Moment of Reflection

Lord, quiet my anxious heart and steady my busy mind. I want to find rest and renewal in You. I want our time together to be the most important part of my day. May everything I say and do flow out of the intimacy I share with you. Thank you for loving me and for spending time with me today.

A Weekly Verse to Memorize:

Mark 1:17

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

Closing Prayer

Over the next few moments, allow condemnation, worry, and anxiety to melt away as you sit in His presence. This is one of the sweetest moments you will have today. Soak up the Father’s love. All He asks of you right now is to let go of the heaviness you have been carrying. He is more than a giver of life - He is Life. There is no better place to be than alone with the God who created you, defines you, straightens your path, carries your burdens, and even empowers you to expand His Kingdom. Simply enjoy time with your Eternal Father before re-entering the busy world today.