If one theme jumped out at me yesterday in chapter one, today the opposite was true as several different things grabbed my attention. So I did what I often do – I prayed through the chapter by taking a moment to stop and pray about what I was sensing the Holy Spirit saying to me at each of those points in the chapter. Here are some of the things I thought and prayed about:
• My wife and mom. Jesus’ first miracle was at a wedding and his mom was there. Naturally my mind wandered to my mother and my wife, Monieca. So I thanked God and prayed for each of them.
• The more I see God at work in my life, the stronger my faith becomes. In verse 11 we’re told that Jesus’ disciples “believed in Him” as He “manifested His glory.” I reflected on the truth that acting on what faith I have leads to growth in my faith. In the same way, when I notice what God is already doing I am encouraged spiritually and my faith grows. I prayed that God would help me pay attention and recognize Him as He works in my life and in our church. I want to see His glory.
• I need to be excited to part of God’s family and for the opportunity to “go to church” every Sunday. In verse 17 we’re told that the disciples were impressed with Jesus’ zeal for the temple, His Father’s house. Often it seems that many of us, me included, take for granted the privilege of gathering with God’s people on Sunday for worship. We show up with the wrong attitude or we just stay home. I prayed that the Father would give me greater passion for his church and that He would do the same for our members.
• While we usually focus on the present, Jesus often does things in the present to prepare us for the future. In verses 18-22 Jesus tells the Jews that He would raise “this temple” in three days if they “destroy” it. They thought he was talking about the actual temple in Jerusalem. He was actually talking about “the temple of His body” (v.21). It was three years later when He did actually rise from the dead that the disciples remembered what He had said that day in Jerusalem and it made sense to them (v.22). The result was that three years later their belief in Jesus and God’s word became stronger. God sees the future and we need to trust that what He is doing right now is not only about right now – it is also about the future. I prayed that God would help me worry less about today and trust Him more for both today and tomorrow.
• Jesus knows everything about me – and everyone else. In verses 24-25 we’re told that Jesus knows what is inside each human being. So I can’t hide anything from Him. It is also means that when I witness to someone who is lost, Jesus knows what is going on inside them and will speak to them at the very point they need to hear His voice. So I confessed those sins in my life He already knew about but I had not confessed. I also prayed that He would help me trust Him more when I witness and not worry about what I don’t know.
In recent years praying the scripture has been a great blessing my life. I encourage you to try it. As you read the scriptures, whenever you sense the Lord speaking to you – slow down and think about it. Then pray about what God is saying to your heart and soul. It really is that simple.
Pastor Steve Hogg
Will Beaty says
Mark 2:5 – “Seeing their faith…” – Jesus heals a man based not on the man’s desire to be healed but on account of the faith of his friends! I am very thankful for the Godly friends that I have in my life that continually point me to Jesus.