“Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him.  When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and the many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to Him, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?” (Mark 6:1-2)

The closer one is to a group of folks, the more there seems to be an attitude of criticism.  “You cannot do that.”  The Lord grants what He grants, and what seems to us to be ordinary people do extraordinary things.  Where did Jesus get these things?  He is the One through whom they came to be.  God becoming flesh.  This has always been hard for humans to fathom because of pride.  God can do anything.

Lord, help me see that all things are possible with You.  You, who created the heavens, can show up as an ordinary person.  You have shown up before me.  Lead me away from the foolish doubts and questions to understand that in You I have hope and a future.  Guide me to live into the life of faith which You have granted me knowing that You, who created all things, are more than able to accomplish all that You have spoken.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, that You have come into the world to complete in all who believe what the Father has purposed.  Lead me according to the goodness of Your grace and mercy to live into the life which You have placed before me.  Aid me to better understand You and not react with prideful indignation at what You are doing.  If You tell me to say to a mountain, “Be moved,” it will be moved.  Help me understand that all things are possible through You.  Amen.

“And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat” (Mark 5:43).

The witness of one who has come back from the dead is not believed.  Those who will not believe will make every kind of excuse not to believe.  When the Lord tells us to remain silent, it is always best to listen to the Lord.  Raising the dead is what Jesus shall do.  Even raised, there are those who still will not believe.  Such is the condition of a corrupt heart.  But you, will you believe?

Lord, help my unbelief and guide me so that I am faithful, even when You command me to remain silent.  No matter what comes, help me to look to You, the author and finisher of my faith, so that I obediently walk in Your righteous way which You have set before me.  Help me to see the right from the wrong and to be led by Your Holy Spirit to do all that You set before me.

Lord Jesus, without You, Your grace and mercy, and the way of righteousness which You have opened for all who believe, this would be impossible.  All things are possible with You.  Help me, Lord, in this day You have given me to trust in You above all that I will encounter.  Lead me to see that in You I do have hope and a future.  No matter what this world brings, show me how to walk with You, guiding my every footstep.  Amen.

“Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, “Talitha kum!” (which translated means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).  Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded” (Mark 5:41-42).

The day will come when the Lord returns and says to us all, “Get up.”  From every grave, the dead shall rise.  Many will act amazed, but You have been told these things before they come to pass.  The One who spoke everything into existence has come showing us the eternal way of things.  Marvel more at the unbelief than at the things the Lord has shown He can and will do.

Lord, You know that I become comfortable with the way things are.  I live my life in such a way that I do things by routine.  When the routine changes, I am startled.  Help me to live in the expectation that each day You will do whatever You will do.  Guide me to live into this life of faith which You have given me knowing that You, who spoke all things into existence, are more than able to do what You say.

Lord Jesus, You have spoken the words of eternal life into my heart.  You tell me to get up.  You tell me to go into all the world and share the hope of the promise You give.  Lead me to be a person of action, doing what You give me to do each day.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I live according to the promise You have given me in the hope which is mine through You.  Amen.

“And entering in, He said to them, “Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep.”  They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was” (Mark 5:39-40).

Do we not do the same at every funeral?  If the preacher said this, we too might laugh.  The Lord has promised to return, and the dead shall be raised.  If the dead are not raised, then we who believe are to be pitied; but if they are raised, then we live in the promise that the Lord shall raise us on the last day.  Jesus is the Lord of life.  We are called to trust Him and not live like the world which does not trust.

Lord, if I were there that day, would I have been one who laughed in unbelief?  How many times do I laugh now in unbelief?  Help me to move beyond my unbelief to realize that all things have always been in Your hands.  You can raise the dead, here and now, as You will on the last day.  Help me to not act as the unbelieving do and live as if death were the final answer.  You are the final answer.

Lord Jesus, You have come so that we may have life here and now in preparation to live with You forever.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You know I need to live.  Where I doubt and do not believe, lead me through all things so that I may humbly trust You, knowing that everything has always been in Your hands.  Lord, come into my heart and do what You will to transform me into being a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.

“And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James.  They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing” (Mark 5:37-38).

Jesus allows whom He chooses to see what they see Him doing.  Our faith has been built by accepting or rejecting the witness of others.  He has appointed to each of us our portion in this life which He created.  There are commotions all around us.  Do not pay attention to them, but rather to the Lord who will lead each of us in the way we need to go.  He will do what is right and fitting for each circumstance.

Lord, the anxiety of this world is often overwhelming, but You are greater still.  Through all things You have promised to be there and lead me.  Whether I am one of the chosen few, or merely receive the witness of another, help me to rejoice in all that You do.  Guide me now and always to live into a life of faith knowing that You have paid the price so that I may be with You now and forever.

Lord Jesus, whether You call me to be a witness or hear the report of a witness, help me to receive what You will give me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to be thankful for all that You do knowing that all things are in Your hands.  Help me to walk through every commotion in this world keeping my eyes upon You.  Be the One who leads me Lord and teach me to trust You in every circumstance.  Amen.

“While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore?”  But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe” (Mark 5:35-36).

Death happens every day.  We love those whom we love.  We do not want them to die.  Especially a young one.  But the Lord of life knows all these things.  “Do not trouble the teacher?”  Why not?  Come to the Lord for all things.  Jesus tells us, when facing any circumstance, “Do not be afraid, only believe.”  It is not always your circumstances that may change, but your heart will.

Lord, I am wrapped up in the anxiety of this age.  I am tossed about by the blowing winds that are pushing me in various directions.  People around me tell me all kinds of things.  Help me to move beyond these things to not fear.  Help me to believe that You are the One who has all things in Your hands.  Guide me now and always to live the faith You have given me knowing that You have given me many great promises and a hope that endures forever.

Lord Jesus, let me hear Your words of comfort.  Let me not step ahead of You.  While You heal or you do not heal, You are still the Lord of my life.  If I live or I die, You are still my Lord.  In and through all things, help me to see that it is You alone whom I am to trust.  You have given me hope, and in that hope, there is nothing in this world that is able to separate me from You.  Guide me, Lord Jesus, in the hope You have given me.  Amen.

“But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.  And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction” (Mark 5:33-34).

There is great fear in this age.  We react with fear to many things, even when approaching the Lord, but look at what Jesus does.  He is not asking “who touched me” with anger, but with love.  “Trusting me has made you well.”  Is this not the truth of the Gospel?  If we trust the Lord, we find that He makes us well.  Be truthful before the Lord, trust Him, and He will make you well in mind and spirit.

Lord, You know that I hide behind things that are not true.  You know that I am not forthright with You.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life so that I do confess to You and receive healing in every circumstance and trust in all that You give.  You have given me grace and mercy, and through faith, trust in You above all things, I am able to go through this life not being concerned with outcomes, for they are assured in You.

Lord Jesus, the anxieties of this age cause me to be frightened.  I am frightened by the world and where it is heading.  I am frightened by my circumstances and thinking about what might be.  Yet, I know that at the end of this life I will die and face Your judgment.  Grant me the peace which surpasses all understanding so that I live each day coming to You, confessing, and rejoicing in the promise which is mine through grace.  Amen.

“And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”  And He looked around to see the woman who had done this” (Mark 5:31-32).

We are often perplexed by the simple notion that the Lord God knows all things.  All things mean all.  A sparrow falls to the ground, and the Lord knows it.  Of course, He knows our aches and pains.  Of course, He knows all that is needed to make us into His image.  He will stop at nothing to accomplish what He intends.  The Father’s will be done, we pray.  Learn to trust the Father’s will.

Lord God, all things are in Your hands.  I understand this, but I often act as though I have a will of my own.  What is my will that I should listen to it?  You are the One who has created all things.  Guide me to trust You above all things, most especially my will.  Lead me in the way of everlasting life and help me each step of the way to be conformed to the image of Christ.

Lord Jesus, God in the flesh, You who still a rough sea, who knows when one is healed by Your power, guide me to trust Your leading no matter what comes.  Rather than being shocked by Your power, whether in good circumstances or bad, help me to understand that all I am or ever will be is in Your hands.  Teach me what it means to live by faith, trusting in You above everything else.  Amen.

“For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.”  Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.  Immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” (Mark 5:28-30)

Sometimes our thinking takes us in the right direction.  Often, stepping out in faith comes only as an act of desperation.  Learn how to step out in faith without being desperate.  This does not mean that the Lord will always give you what you are asking, but it will move you in the direction our Lord intends.  No matter what happens in this life, the Lord will grow in you the image of Christ.

Lord, You know the places where I hesitate and seek worldly answers to the questions that face me.  Guide me into a place where I come to You first.  Help me to understand first that I am in Your hands.  Teach me all that I need to know and be the One who leads me in my moment by moment living.  Lord, all things are in Your hands, and You know what I need.  Keep me in the right frame of mind to accept Your guidance.

Lord Jesus, My Savior, You have asked me to follow You.  Help me learn what this means.  Keep me from floundering about with this world’s constant barrage of noise to hear Your voice.  Then, grant that I would heed Your call and live the life You have given me to live.  Be the One who leads my footsteps and by the power of Your Holy Spirit, keep me always close to You.  Amen.

“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse – after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak” (Mark 5:25-27).

She endured much at the hands of the professionals.  Things do not change.  Whom do you trust?  Yes, there are professional services you can trust, but whom do you ultimately and truly trust?  We go through this world and often do not think about the Author of all things.  Our growth in faith is about learning to trust the Lord God above all things.  All things means absolutely everything.  Do you trust the Lord?

Lord, this is simple, but it is so hard to do.  I will believe the opinions of others and take advice from complete strangers, but I do not fully trust what Your word says.  I buy into the nonsense that it is all about interpretation, but I know that Your Spirit is constantly pointing me in the right direction.  Help me learn how to listen to You, love You, and obey all that You command.

Lord Jesus, You know the grace I need.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way You know I need to go and then help me reach out, if only to touch the fringe of Your presence, to move beyond trusting only the people or things of this world.  Guide me now and always to trust in You above everything else.  You have already given me the eternal healing of my soul through the grace You have purchased for me.  Thank You, Jesus, for my healing.  Amen.