Jesus told His disciples to … “Place your hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  [Mark 16:18:19]

This simple act of obedience on our part gives Jesus the opportunity to still perform signs in the world.  Your hands and His name are a powerful combination that work together to allow Him to work with us, thereby confirming His Word by the signs that accompany it.

He’s ready!  Are you?

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, as we lay hands on the sick, demonstrate Your mighty power by healing them.  The glory goes to YOU!

DAILY READING:  Mark 14-16

Mark also quoted Jesus in describing for His disciples the events of the last days.  He instructed them to not be alarmed, but watchful, on guard, alert!

We don’t know exactly what the future holds, but we know Who holds the future.  Keeping our eyes upon the Lord, and trusting in Him to keep us until the end is the faith-filled posture He desires for us to live in.

If you watch more news than you read His Word, despair will increase.  Despair will be displaced by faith when you abide in His Word.  “Be of good cheer … I have overcome the world.”  [Jn. 16:33]

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we abide in You and Your love.  Let us walk in Your peace today regardless of what happens in the world around us.

DAILY READING:  Mark 11-14

Peter was not Satan, but he was clearly doing Satan’s work by obstructing God’s plan for Jesus when he challenged the thought of Christ suffering and dying.  [Mk. 8:31-3]

How often do we also allow our enemy’s influence to distort our thinking by seeing things from human perspective alone rather than from God’s perspective.  We need the mind of Christ.  We are moving in the right direction when we are filled with His Spirit, His Word, and keep in constant communication with Him through prayer.

Try it!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, I want to be filled with Your plan and will rather than my own.  Today, I will put You first in all my decisions, as You empower me by Your grace..

DAILY READING:  Mark 8-10

Jairus, a leader in the the Jewish synagogue, came to Jesus to ask Him to heal his daughter.  Jesus was coming with him.  However, news reached Jairus that his daughter had already passed, and he was discouraged from bringing Jesus to his home.

When Jesus heard this advice, He said, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

We can apply this principle to our daily lives.  When we need Him and become discouraged with the way things appear, He wants us to put our trust in Him and watch Him work.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord Jesus, You rule the elements, You command demons, You walk on water.  I believe You to perform miracles in my life today.

DAILY READING:  Mark 5-7

NOTE:  On Thursday, I visited the Explorations in Antiquity Center in LaGrange, Georgia.  www.explorationsinantiquity.net

This outstanding site really helps the Bible come alive, enhancing your scripture reading experience. It helps you more accurately visualize the conditions as they existed when these holy words were written

For instance, in today’s reading we find the occasion where men opened a hole in the roof through which they could drop their crippled friend for Jesus to pray for.  At the center, we were shown an accurate replica of a typical roof that would have existed in the time of the writing.  It helped me.

Consider a visit there.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, thank You for Dr. Fleming and others who help Your saints to more clearly understand Your Word through their efforts.  Provide for their needs.

DAILY READING:  Mark 1-4

” … To the very end of the age.”   [Matt. 28:20]

What a promise!  I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather have to survive the challenges of life.  Couple that with the Lord’s commitment that, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.  So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” [Heb. 13:5,6]

When challenges come … health, financial, mental, relational, job, future, career … you name it, the Lord is with you and has already overcome for you.

There is no god like our GOD!

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, You have been our help in ages past, our hope for years to come; our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

DAILY READING:  Matt. 27-8

” … so you don’t enter into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  [Matt. 26:41]  As Jesus and His disciples were in the garden to pray and wait for His accuser, Judas, to come and betray Him precipitating His sacrificial death, Jesus gave this key insight to us.

I believe He meant that a person who prays often and stays sensitive to the Lord’s interests in this life will be fit spiritually, strong enough to overpower the pull toward satisfying the interests and desires that are not Godly.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father in Heaven, as we devote ourselves to increased prayer, deliver us from evil and temptation.

DAILY READING:  Matt. 25-6

As Jesus instructed His disciples concerning the end times, He described the peril of the days as being labor pains like a woman ready to give birth.  He encouraged a greater focus on looking forward to His return and praying than He did on dealing with the distress.  We then should apply Paul’s admonition, “Be anxious about nothing, but in everything by prayer …”  [Phil. 4:6]

A life of prayer is a life of readiness.  Our focus is drawn away from our abilities and placed upon the Lord and His provision.  Remember, Jesus said, “Be of good cheer.  I have already overcome the world.” [Jn. 16:33],

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, forgive us for our fear and distrust.  We trust in You and keep looking up in anticipation of the coming of Christ to receive His Bride.

DAILY READING:  Matt. 23-4

When challenged about paying taxes, Jesus replied, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

What belongs to God?  Well, … everything!

Exactly right!  We are thereby stewards of all that we have.  It’s only entrusted to us to live here in this life.  God has given to us the means to navigate this life.  What do we give back to Him?

We can give Him ourselves and our offspring for His service.  When He sets up His Kingdom here on earth, we will be glad we were faithful to Him in our stewardship.

DAILY PRAYER:  Father, help me to see with spiritual eyes the meaning to life, and focus on those things that are of eternal value.

DAILY READING:  Matt. 20-2

The multitude who had followed Jesus to hear the Words of Life became hungry.  They were hungry for the right reasons.  It could be said they hungered and thirsted for the sake of righteousness.  The need and circumstance provided Jesus a marvelous opportunity to demonstrate His ability to miraculously supply their needs.  They all ate and were satisfied.

God’s miraculous provision is a benefit of following Jesus.  We should never worry.  He is a compassionate provider.

DAILY PRAYER:  Lord, we are grateful to know that You can provide for our needs.  We trust You.

DAILY READING:  Matt. 15-19