“Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.  And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him” (Mark 1:12-13).

We all go through temptations, but Jesus alone was able to resist all the temptation of the wicked one, avoiding the sin of not walking in the Father’s will.  Is this not the source of all the misery on this earth?  We have the ten commandments which we cannot keep, but obeying the Lord is the source of all joy.  Learn how to be ministered to by the angels and learn to seek the Lord’s will in all things.

Lord, You know that I am unable to do this without you.  With You, all things are possible.  Guide me in the journey You have laid before me, for You alone know all of the true pitfalls that come along while wandering through this age.  I need to be saved.  Sometimes daily and sometimes moment by moment.  Guide me, for I need Your experienced help.  You have set the path before me; help me to walk the path.

Lord Jesus, I suspect You have done and are doing more than I can imagine.  Above all of the meditations I contemplate, bring me to the place where I trust Your experienced leading.  Guide me according to Your plan of salvation and help me overcome the obstacles that will stand in the way.  Lead me always into the life You intend for me as You prepare me for eternity.  Amen.

“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.  Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased” (Mark 1:9-11).

It takes a perfect man to perfectly repent.  Jesus underwent the baptism we need, and when we are united with Him in repentance, He unites with us so that through His death and resurrection, we are united to His life.  Our hope is in hearing the same words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Jesus came as the perfect servant of the living God in order to create in us children of the Heavenly Father.

Lord God, the mystery of this is great, but help me to see the simple truth that You offer to save us, redeem us, and grow us into the likeness of Christ.  He is the first-fruit, but You have called for us to follow Him as He, the author and finisher of our faith, makes of us children of God.  Help me, beyond my understanding, to humbly submit to Your eternal plan, following Your beloved Son.

Thank You Jesus for doing all that is needed so that the completion of the Father’s creation of me as a child of God may take place.  Guide me today and every day that You give me in this age to reach for the place where I may join with all of the faithful saints who have striven to do the Father’s will and receive the prize of eternal life with the words, “Well done good and faithful servant.”  Help me always Lord Jesus.  Amen.  

“And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.  I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:7-8).

Jesus called John the greatest of those born of women.  Jesus is greater.  He is the One through whom all things have their being.  The Almighty has come through the Incarnation and has walked among us.  John gave us a baptism of repentance, but Jesus has come and given us eternal life.  To be baptized is to be immersed.  Will you be immersed in the life you have, or the life that Jesus gives you?

Lord, help me to see that I cannot walk a Sunday morning, church going, part-time religion and live the life You intend.  Help me to understand that You have come to immerse me in the true life which comes through You.  Guide me ever deeper into the mystery of faith so that I may humbly walk in Your presence and be led by Your goodness and mercy every step of the way.

Lord Jesus, Mighty Savior, overcome my unbelief, take me and never let me go.  Guide me ever deeper into the journey of faith which You have prepared before me.  Lead me in the way I need to go and wash away any hindrances that may come my way.  You know all that is needed.  Guide me in the right way of walking according to the Father’s will.  Keep me in the righteousness You intend for me that I may grow into Your likeness.  Amen.

“John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey” (Mark 1:6).

Locusts are the local name for the Carob pods which are similar to chocolate.  They are roasted and are edible and nutritious.  John was a vegetarian.  He was clothed with cheap clothing and was purposefully meager in His provisions.  He was as the Lord made him to be.  Our preparation does not need to be fancy, but meager, for we come to the Lord in need and our Lord provides all that is needed.

Lord, help me to not fall into the trap of pretense where I think everything must be over-thought and prepared for before I journey in faith.  You have given me the basics that I need.  You must be the One who saves me, taking me from where I am to where I need to be.  Guide me in the way of salvation, not depending upon anything I think I may know, but wholly leaning upon You who has come to save us.

Lord Jesus, You have laid all needful things before us so that we may come in faith, trusting You each step of the way.  Guide me in the way of salvation, for You have given me the revelation of You, the Word made flesh.  As to the rest, I do not know, but You do.  Whatever my lot in life, help me to be thankful that You have prepared the way for me to live in order that I may take up my cross and follow You wherever You lead.  Amen.

“John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins” (Mark 1:4-5).

The beginning of the Gospel starts with repentance.  Unless we confess that we have a problem, we cannot see the need for salvation.  If we think we can do it, or should do it on our own, we miss the point that Jesus has come to save us.  In order to repent, one must be aware of the need.  In order to repent perfectly, it takes a perfect man, but then, a perfect man does not need to repent.  Christ alone is the perfect man who leads us towards perfect repentance.

Lord God, help me to see that daily I sin and daily I need to repent.  Rather than playing games with You, thinking I am okay, help me to see my complete dependance upon You.  Guide me by Your Spirit so that I am quick to repent, humble in submission and willing to follow where You lead.  These words are easy to say, but they are so hard to accomplish.  Lead me so that I learn to obey all that You direct.

Lord Jesus, You alone who is perfect leads the way.  You sent John the Baptist before You to prepare the way and You have come preparing the way so that I may know the way of right living.  Help me today to do those things which are needed in order that I may humbly walk in the right and narrow way of the Gospel.  Guide me into Your goodness, helping me each step of the way, and teach me to be faithful.  Amen.

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make ready the way of the Lord, Make His paths straight’” (Mark 1:3)

From the passage in Isaiah 40, we are reminded that our time here is short.  The message comes that salvation is made available by grace and through faith. Behold, the Savior has come.  Some will follow and others will not.  We should not stop preparing the way of the Lord.  Every person needs help to make the way of the Lord become the way of living.  We live in a wilderness and the Lord is calling us home.

Lord, help me so that I am not content with the wilderness in which I find myself.  You have put into me a longing for my true home, which is in and with You.  Help me by deepening in me the eternal desire You have planted in me so that I help by making ready the way You have established.  Guide me in Your grace to live on the straight and narrow path, speaking Your word of truth.

Thank You, Savior of my soul, for coming into the wilderness of this world.  You have given me the words of life.  Help me to walk the straight and narrow path that You have set before me.  When I err, let me repent and set me again on Your path.  When I stray, lead me back to safety.  May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my mind be upon what is right and true.  Guide me ever deeper into the salvation You have given me.  Amen.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.  As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, Who will prepare Your way” (Mark 1:1-2)

The Lord, who knows the beginning from the end, has prepared us in order that we may receive the Good News of salvation which comes through the only begotten and anointed Son, Jesus.  We too are a part of preparing the way for others to receive the good news of the Gospel.  Everyone is a messenger.  The question is, what is the message that is being shared?  Share the Gospel with others that they may receive what You have received.

Lord, I come to You because messengers have come to me.  Prepare me to be a messenger of the Gospel so that others will have the opportunity to receive salvation as I have received it from You.  Guide me ever deeper into the mystery of the revelation of the Good News which You have brought for all.  Lead all the faithful through this world to humbly come into Your presence now and forever.

Lord Jesus, Son of God and Eternal Savior, the way was prepared before me, first by You and then by others.  Help me to be a part of Your kingdom and continue to prepare the way so that others may receive what You have given me.  You have given the words of eternal life.  Help me to speak those words, live those words, and abide in the truth of Your eternal presence now and forever.  Amen.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Through others you have come to faith.  By your faith others will come to faith.  A part of what the Lord is doing in us is having us be a part of community building.  We do not do this alone.  To be a disciple is to follow Jesus.  Be steeped in Trinity, sharing with others the promise of salvation and learning how to be obedient.  It is the journey for all of us and our belief shows through our action.  If we believe, we do.

Lord, help me to see things as they are.  In our time, folks believe in specialization, compartmentalization and isolation.  You call us together to be community, helping one another and doing as You instruct us.  Teach me to follow Your ways and not just the ways of the world.  Guide me to live according to Your word and not by the false words of this world.  You are always with us.  Help me to always be with You.

Lord Jesus, even amid miracles, You know how easily I can become distracted.  Help me to be Your disciple at all times in all places.  Help me to be immersed in You, abiding with You and knowing You are with me.  Help me to learn obedience.  Help me to share these things with others I meet that they too may have the opportunity to live into the eternal life You grant by faith and through grace.  Amen.

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18).

All authority belongs to Jesus.  No one has authority except what is granted from above.  The Lord has His reasons, even with the tyrants and despots who exercise authority.  Those who have faith are directly connected to the One who has all authority.  Learn from the Centurion, or others who have understood, that when Jesus speaks, that is all that is needed.  People of faith, we are under the direct authority of Jesus who is above all.

Lord, help me to understand that only under You am I in the right place.  You have guided me thus far and You have set before me the promise of eternal life.  Guide me so that I live according to Your will and under Your authority.  Keep me from all danger and help me live this life which You have given me by faith and in Your grace.  Keep me from straying from the path You have set before me.

Lord Jesus, You who hold all authority, teach me to walk with You as my authority.  If you tell me to speak to a mountain to be moved, let me so speak.  If You tell me to lay hands on another and tell them they are healed, let me so speak.  If You give me any task, or words to speak, help me to do all things knowing that it is under Your authority that I live this life of faith which You have given me.  Amen.

“But the eleven disciples proceeded to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had designated.  When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some were doubtful” (Matthew 28:16-17).

There are always doubts.  We each have our way of being confronted by truth and we are not sure what to do with it.  The truth sometimes feels either too awful or too good to be true, but truth is truth.  Go where the Lord directs and, from the story of the disciples, you will see truth revealed more and more such that your unbelief goes away.  The Lord promises to lead us into all truth.

Lord, help my doubts and fears so that I am not rendered useless.  Life is to be lived, and in the living, I discover more about this gift of life which You have given me.  Guide me so that I seek the truth that You will reveal as I journey on the path of faith.  You have given me the gift of faith.  Help me to walk by that faith, and not by the ways of this world, so that I may become ever more like Christ.

Lord Jesus, You give clear instructions for steps of the journey of faith.  The faith You give requires that I step out and go where You send me.  Help me, I pray, to live by faith, trusting You each step of the way.  Guide me into all truth, for You are the way, truth, and life.  Lead me so that I endure through all doubts, doing what You give me to do, and help me now and always to trust Your word above any words of this world.  Lead me in faith, dear Savior, and help me finish the course You have set before me.  Amen.