Tuesday - The Gospel According To Mark
Welcome to daily prayer. This is the opening week of an 11 week journey through Mark’s account of the gospel of Jesus Christ. This week we are looking at the introduction. The prologue. We are getting a picture of the big ideas of the gospel together. This is the time of the fulfillment of God’s promises. As we begin our time together, let’s quiet our hearts and minds before the LORD.
Lord, I choose the posture of a disciple. I’m listening, learning, ready to respond.
Lead me Lord. I trust in you.
Lord, I set aside anything that would hinder me from drawing close to you. I give everyone and everything to you.
O Lord, open my ears to hear and open my lips and my mouth will declare you praise.
A Scripture Reading from Mark 1:2-3
“As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’”
A Prayer of Adoration:
Father, this passage reveals that you spoke to Isaiah beforehand about what you were going to do. The voice says, “prepare the way of Yahweh.” Isaiah 40 tells me that when you came through the desert, the glory of the Lord would be revealed. This is like a royal procession. You are a king coming into your country to redeem. John the Baptist and Jesus are the fulfillment of what was prophesied. John was the messenger and Jesus was the glory revealed. You tell us you do nothing without first revealing what you are going to do through the prophets. Your Word tells us what you are like and what you are going to do. Your Word stands forever. You sent a messenger to prepare your people. Jesus, I worship you as the Coming One whose arrival changes everything.
A Prayer of Confession:
Holy God,
You call us to prepare the way for your coming. I confess that just as Israel needed to remove the obstacles for your coming, we often resist your rule. I have allowed pride to stand like a mountain before you. Fear and despair have been like unfilled valleys. Tear them down Lord. Fill us up. Lord, forgive us for shaping our lives in ways that hide your glory rather than reveal it.
A Prayer of Trust:
Lord, I trust that you will always do what you say you are going to do. It may not be the expected way or the expected time but you will always keep your Word. Lord, you promise that when the way is prepared, your glory is revealed. I trust that the way was prepared and your Son was glorified. You always make a way.
A Prayer of Intercession:
Lord, I pray for our community. That we would fix our gaze on you. Make a way Lord. Just as the rough places need to be smoothed out and the valleys need to be raised up, we need you to do a work among us. Do your work among us! We want to be prepared for whatever you want to do in us in this season Lord. Lord, would you move among us.
A Moment of Reflection:
Lord, your Word says, “Every valley shall be lifted up, every mountain made low, and your glory will be revealed.” What in my life, and in our life together, needs to be leveled or removed so that your reign and glory are seen?
Do your work Lord.
As we listen to the passage again, lets listen for a word or phrase that the HS may want to say to us from todays’s verses. You may want to circle it in your Scripture journal.
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
Lord, the Old Testament prophecies your coming. Creation has been longing for your coming.