Wednesday - The Gospel According To Mark

Welcome to Daily Prayer. This is week 6 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 5:25-34

A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

A Prayer of Adoration

Jesus, we adore You as the Healer whose power flows from compassion. You are not just strong — You are kind. You are not distant — You are attentive. We praise You that even in a crowd, You notice the one. Even when many touch You, You discern the touch of faith. You are not overwhelmed by need. You are not irritated by desperation. Power flows from You, yet Your heart leans toward the broken. You do not only heal bodies — You restore dignity, identity, and belonging. We worship You as the One whose presence carries healing, and whose voice brings peace to wounded hearts.

A Prayer of Confession

Jesus, we confess that we often want healing without being seen. We reach for You quietly, hoping to be changed without being known. We hide our pain in the crowd. We pretend we’re fine. We carry shame about the places we need You most. We confess the fear that if others knew our struggle, we would be judged, dismissed, or pushed aside. So we stay silent. We suffer quietly. We bleed internally while smiling externally. Forgive us for believing our wounds disqualify us from Your care. Forgive us for hiding when You are inviting us into wholeness. Teach us that Your healing includes being seen and restored, not just being relieved of pain.

A Prayer of Trust

Jesus, we trust that even small, trembling faith matters to You. The woman did not come with bold words — she came with a quiet reach. And You honored her faith. We trust You with the places we are afraid to name. We trust You with prayers that feel hesitant and unsure. We trust You when we don’t know how to ask for healing out loud. We believe that when we reach for You, You are not offended by our weakness. You are not measuring the strength of our faith — You are responding to its sincerity. We trust that Your power is real, and Your compassion is personal. Teach us to reach for You, even when we are struggling with hope.

A Prayer of Intercession

Jesus, we lift up those who have been suffering for a long time. Those who are weary of unanswered prayers. Those who feel unseen in the crowd. Those who have tried many solutions and are still hurting. We pray for healing in bodies, healing in hearts, healing in minds, and healing in places where shame has lingered too long. We ask that You would meet people in quiet moments of faith — in hospital rooms, in lonely bedrooms, in hidden tears, in prayers whispered when no one else is around. Call people out of hiding into restoration.

Replace shame with dignity. Replace fear with peace. Let many experience not only relief, but the deep assurance of being known and loved by You.

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. A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

A Moment of Reflection

Jesus, today I see myself in this woman. I carry wounds that others cannot see. I have places in my life that have been hurting for a long time. I confess that sometimes I try to reach for You quietly, hoping to be healed without having to be vulnerable. But right now, I choose to come into Your light. I am reaching for You with the faith I have — even if it’s small & fragile. I believe that You notice my touch. I believe that Your power is enough for my need. Speak Your peace over me. Restore not just my strength, but my sense of belonging.

A Weekly Verse to Memorize:

Closing Prayer

During these last few moments, let’s bring to God our most shameful wounds. Most of us have things we prefer to keep hidden. The shame causes us to keep wearing a mask, not wanting anyone to see us as we really are. This woman finally reached the point that she was so desperate, it was worth the risk to reach for Jesus. Let that be us today. Bring your most shameful hurts into prayer today. I know you will encounter the loving embrace of a Savior Who only has love for you.