“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.

“One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet  and implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live.”  And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him” (Mark 5:22-24).

Jesus can and does heal.  Never forget that it is according to the Father’s will.  We should never go to the Lord demanding anything.  Read the book of Job and remember.  But do go to the Lord and make your humble requests.  The Lord has a purpose for everything, and we are called to live by faith, that is, trusting the Lord above all things, even and especially for our circumstances.  Trust the Lord and live by faith.

Lord Jesus, I have observed those who come to You and then deny You because You did not give them what they wanted.  Let me never go to that place.  Guide all of the faithful so that we are not conditional with requests we bring before You.  You are and must be the author of our faith.  Lead us to live by faith and not react because of circumstances.  Guide us along Your paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for loving me enough to do all that is needed so that I can walk the path of salvation which You have set before me.  Lead me to pray fervently, but also to trust in every answer You give.  You know what I need better than I do.  No matter the answer You give, guide me to give thanks in all situations for the goodness of Your mercy and grace which sustains me in every circumstance.  Amen.

“When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore” (Mark 5:21).

People have always been curious about Jesus.  Many gather each Sunday with congregations around the world.  Being a seeker and being a follower are two different things.  Jesus will make of us children of the Heavenly Father if we will enter the narrow path of salvation.  More than just listening to the words of Jesus, it is realizing that Jesus abides in us as we abide in Him.  He is and will be the author of our new lives.

Lord, like many throughout the ages, I have come, listened to the words, and gathered with others.  You know where I have drawn lines hidden from others that keep me from walking farther along the narrow path of salvation.  Remove those barriers that I may humbly continue in whatever direction You take me.   Guide me, Jesus, so that I may humbly submit to You as my Lord and Savior.

Lord Jesus, in this world filled with darkness and deception, help me to see the clear light that You shine for all to see.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life and help me so that I do not just gather with others but humbly submit to You.  You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Lead me  in the way of everlasting life and allow nothing to get in the way of the path You have set before me.  Amen.

“And he went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed” (Mark 5:20).

No one is beyond the need for salvation that is possible only through Jesus.  We all have demons that plague us.  In Christ, we have been freed to live into a new life.  That freedom, given by Jesus, is a gift and it belongs to all who live by faith, understanding that they have been set free from sin, death, and the devil by Him.  Sinners love to celebrate notoriety.  By grace through faith, we recognize that all who are in Christ have undergone a wonderful transformation.

Lord of grace and mercy, I sometimes am awed by stories that amaze me – of a rabidly possessed man – thinking myself normal.  But what is normal?  Are we all not born in sin and in need of Your grace?  You have come and set me free also.  That is the amazing story of grace I can tell.  This world thinks in terms of greater and less, but You have come to make us all children of the Heavenly Father.

Lord Jesus, You have come to set this captive free.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to go to the places You send me and proclaim what great things You have done.  I once was fully caught up in this world, but You have set me free to live into the life You have given me by grace.  Guide me, Lord, to live into the new life You have given me and not fall back into the traps and snares of this world.  Amen.

“As He was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed was imploring Him that he might accompany Him.  And He did not let him, but He said to him, “Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you” (Mark 5:18-19).

The Lord heals us and then sends us.  We may want to stay in the comfort of our new feeling of safety, but the Lord knows best.  This man had new ability through faith and the understanding the Lord gave him to proclaim to these people the truth of salvation.  The call is for us to obey the Lord and go where He sends us.  He raises up those who will proclaim the truth from among every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation.

Lord, I sometimes do not understand what enters my head.  I want to go to some other place thinking that this will be what I am looking for.  You are what everyone is looking for.  Once I realize that You have found me, help me to go where You send me and proclaim the great things You have done.  You have created me and are re-creating me in the image of Christ.  Send me into the harvest.

Lord Jesus, You willingly went where You were sent.  Help me to be willing to go where You send me.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy so that I live the life You have given me, growing to be more like You each day.  Help me to live with whatever group of people You send me to and live with them as I would with those whom I treat as my people.  Give my tongue the words to speak and to share the truth of the Gospel always.  Amen.