Today I offer a prayer for rest. I’m not sure about you, but I find the older I get, the more important it is to rest. Rest is a gift from God; exhaustion is part of this broken world’s curse. Let’s praise the Lord, our provider and sustainer, and seek His rest out of obedience…
Author: Conqueror in Training
Mark 12
This chapter contains several more teachings and parables of Jesus. Some of the included accounts are the parable of the tenants, the greatest commandment, teaching on resurrection, warnings about scribes and self-righteousness, and teachings on money / possession. “…some of the Pharisees and some of the Herodians… came and said to him, ‘…Is it lawful…
Mark 11
This chapter begins the final week of Jesus’ ministry. It includes the triumphant entry into Jerusalem, the cursing of a fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and another account of Jesus being challenged by religious leaders. “And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,…
Mark 10
This chapter contains several more accounts of Jesus including a teaching on divorce, a commentary on receiving the Kingdom of God like children, teaching a rich young man about priorities, another foretelling of the death and resurrection, a request by James and John to sit at Jesus’ side in eternity, and the healing of a…
A Prayer for Bitterness / Forgiveness
Today I offer a prayer for bitterness – or rather a prayer for forgiveness, the antidote of bitterness. Bitterness, that deep-rooted disdain we harbor against someone, colors our perspective and encourages us to see them through a distorted lens. If we’re not careful, unresolved bitterness can become full-blown hatred for someone, and that is not…
Mark 9
This chapter is so packed with Jesus’ works / teachings we can’t cover it all in detail. Events include “the transfiguration”, healing a demon-possessed boy, another foretelling of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the disciples arguing about who is the greatest among them, a commentary on those who perform work in Jesus’ name, and a warning…
Mark 8
This chapter continues the ministry of Jesus with more healing, another miraculous feeding of a crowd, and the first time Jesus foretells His death / resurrection. “And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and…
Mark 7
In this chapter we learn Jesus’ definition of cleanliness (in contrast to the Pharisaical definition), and there are more instances of healing. “And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?’ And he said, ‘What comes out of…
Mark 6
This dense chapter contains so much insight into Jesus and God, we cannot cover it all. The included narratives are Jesus being rejected in His hometown, sending the disciples on ministry journeys, feeding 5000 men, walking on the water, and healing several people. There’s also a section about the execution of John the Baptist. “And…
A Prayer for Consistency
Today I offer a prayer for consistency. I’m not sure about you, but I sometimes struggle with consistency. For example, there are days where I miss spending time with God, or perhaps I act / speak in a way that is not consistent with how Jesus would act / speak. I have good moments of…