Short prayers based on the book of Mark
<aside> 🙏🏻 “After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” (Mark 1:14-15)
We praise you our God for the good news of the gospel. The good news that the King has come to bring salvation from sin, to reconcile sinners to God by being that perfect sacrifice. We praise you that you have led us by your Spirit to repent of our sin and to trust in Jesus as our Saviour and Lord of our lives. Help us to share the good news that salvation is available to everyone who calls on the name of the Lord. Deliver us from fear and anything which would make us reluctant to speak of this wonderful rescue. And God, we pray for those in our number each Sunday who have not yet turned to Jesus, cause them today to repent and believe in the gospel. Open their eyes and hearts to respond in faith. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.” (Mark 1:35)
Father, help us to prioritise prayer. We are so busy and often find ourselves distracted by all that is going on around us. We need your help to be disciplined in spending time with you alone, where we pour out our hearts to you, and cast all our burdens upon you. We praise you that we can do this only because Jesus has made a way for us to draw near to you and find help at your throne of grace. And Father, we pray that as we spend time with you, you would remind us of our identity as those who are dearly loved by you, redeemed by a sufficient Saviour, and filled with your Spirit who gives us the strength we need to do all that you call us to. Fill us by your Spirit with the power we need to live each day in ways that bring glory to you. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “When Jesus heard this, he told them, “It is not those who are well who need a doctor, but those who are sick. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17)
Thank you Lord Jesus that you came for sinners like us. We confess that we are spiritually sick because of our sin and in need of you to be our doctor for none of us righteous in God’s sight and we all have fallen short of the glory of God. Thank you that by your wounds, the wounds of your death on the cross, we have been healed. And though a complete healing is coming on that day we see you face to face and become like you, we confess that there are many areas of our lives where your healing touch is needed because sin is still a reality in our lives. We pray that you would by your Spirit shine a light where we have gone astray and heals us by forgiving our sins and by helping us to change. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29)
Father, we are alarmed to know that there is a sin so bad that Jesus says it cannot be forgiven. That sin which the Pharisees committed, when they blasphemed against the Holy Spirit by knowingly choosing to reject Jesus, after seeing all the evidence necessary to believe in Him with eyes fully enlightened to the truth. Father, though we worry that we might have committed this sin, we thank you that we can know for sure that we haven’t, if we have come to you, trusting in your Son and asking for forgiveness. So, we pray that we would not live in fear about accidentally blaspheming the Spirit. For those we know who are undecided about Jesus, help them to recognise that if they are not with Him they are against Him. And for those who have yet to repent and believe in Jesus, may they see that all sin is unforgivable if Christ has not rescued them, but also that if they come to Him, forgiveness is available for every sin and blasphemy. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Others are like seed sown among thorns; these are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19)
Lord, we pray against the work of our adversary, the devil, who wants to use the worries of this age, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things to keep the seed of the gospel from taking root in people’s hearts. We pray that by your power you would help them to hear the Word and welcome it, so that it become fruitful. But Lord, we confess that the cares of the world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desire for other things can stop your Word bearing more fruit in our lives. As we read your Word and hear it preached, may we not be distracted. Help us to receive it and respond to it. May your Word bear fruit in our lives for your glory and praise. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Then he took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum” (which is translated, “Little girl, I say to you, get up”). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk. (She was twelve years old.) At this they were utterly astounded.” (Mark 5:41-42)
Lord Jesus, we praise you that you are the resurrection and the life. You alone have the power to bring people who are dead back to life. You alone are able to give people a life free from death and mourning, crying and pain; a life free from sin’s penalty, power, and presence; a life in a new creation exploding with God’s blessing in a way not seen since Eden; and a life in the perfect, holy, pure presence of God. We praise you that you have shown that you can by raising people from the dead, and ultimately by your own resurrection. Strengthen our hope, we pray, that on the last day we will hear you call our name and bring us out of the grave to live with you in a new heavens and new earth forever. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honour except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” (Mark 6:4)
Our Father in heaven, you sent your Son into the Word to be the great prophet that was promised. We thank you that through Him you have made yourself known to us, otherwise we would be ignorant of who you are and how you feel about us. We thank you that He has spoken your Word to us so that we can know you personally and live a life that pleases you. Father, it grieves us, that just like the people of Nazareth did, people today do not recognise who Jesus is and reject Him and the words of eternal life that He speaks. In your mercy and by your Spirit, where there is doubt and unbelief give to them the gift of faith, and repentance where there is rejection of Him. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “They were extremely astonished and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mark 7:37)
We praise you, God of salvation, for you have done everything well. By your grace you have opened our ears and our hearts to hear and understand the good news about Christ. By your grace you have loosened our tongues so we called on the name of Jesus and confessed Him as Lord. We are truly amazed that you would do this for us. We are so unworthy of the love you’ve shown to us because we have sinned against you. Thank you for saving us. We give you the glory Father, for planning our salvation. We give you the glory Jesus, for achieving our salvation. And we give you the glory Holy Spirit, for applying th salvation to us. Amen.
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<aside> 🙏🏻 “Then he gave them strict orders: “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” (Mark 8:15)
Lord, we pray that you would protect us from being led astray by teaching that is false and contrary to your Word. Lord, we don’t want to be duped into believing what is not true or what will cause us to drift away from what you have said. Keep us, we pray, from believing that our acceptance by you depends on our obedience to your law or the good works that we do. May we not get drawn into thinking that the Christian life is all about health and wealth and prosperity now. We know there are plenty of teachers who will say these kinds of things, so help us to examine what we hear by what Scriptures and to stay away from those whose words would cause us harm. Amen.
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