“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.

“Those who had seen it described to them how it had happened to the demon-possessed man, and all about the swine.  And they began to implore Him to leave their region” (Mark 5:16-17).

It is a similar pattern.  A little religion is okay but let us not be carried away and actually believe this stuff.  You who believe are astonished when another who has been in the same fellowship for years demonstrates apostasy.  The irreligious and heretics want to be rid of those who challenge their delusion of power.  That and fear.  Fear drives some to just want to stay in the place of pretending these things do not exist.

Lord, there are as many reasons as there are people as to why they fear.  I know, for I fear too.  Help me so that I marvel at Your hand in this world.  Help me to see clearly so that I lament the action of the wicked one.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You would have me go and help me to live a life of love and peace.

Lord Jesus, You who heal the infirm and raise the dead, raise me up into the life You are preparing me for.  There are many things I do not understand, but You do.  Teach me to listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance in this walk.  Help me to not be afraid when I know You are with me.  Continue to shape me to be like You in every way.  Through all things, stay with me now and forever.  Amen.

“Their herdsmen ran away and reported it in the city and in the country. And the people came to see what it was that had happened.  They came to Jesus and observed the man who had been demon-possessed sitting down, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the “legion”; and they became frightened” (Mark 5:14-15).

How easily can people become frightened with any change to their normal routine.  Even if the change is good, there is often fear.  People are afraid of the demonic.  As long as they feel they’re in control, it’s okay, but this word reminds us that we are not in control, and our reaction is often fear.  The story spreads and fear is whipped up.  Fear, fear, and more fear is fomented.  Fear not, for the Lord is with you now and forever.

Lord, in this so-called modern age, some use the same wicked tactics to instill fear and create hysteria.  Help me to understand the truth that You are with me always and that nothing can separate me from You.  You have told me to be anxious for nothing, but trust that I am in Your hands.  I see things that I do not understand, but You are the One who knows all things.  Lead me to be in You.

Lord Jesus, You who cast out demons, raise the dead, and save all who believe, help me so that I do not panic with everything which comes along that is strange.  Guide me in Your goodness and mercy to see that You are leading me.  Heavenly Father, You have promised that all things will work together for good if I love You.  Help me to trust in You above all fear that seeks to plant its seed in me.  Amen.

“And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.  Now there was a large herd of swine feeding nearby on the mountain.  The demons implored Him, saying, “Send us into the swine so that we may enter them.”  Jesus gave them permission. And coming out, the unclean spirits entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, about two thousand of them; and they were drowned in the sea” (Mark 5:10-11).

The wicked seek death.  Even the demons, cast out, fled into death.  The devil promotes sin and death, seeking those who will follow Him.  Jesus comes to free us so that we are set on the path which leads to life.  This world is better understood when you see those who promote power (which leads to death) versus those who tell of Jesus and the life which He offers through grace.

Lord, help me to understand things such that I better understand the state of this world.  I often settle for simple things and stay with my own pleasures.  But the things of this world are fleeting and there is no peace.  You have come to free me from the curse of death to live the kind of life which You have intended for us to live from the beginning.  Set my heart aright and help me see and follow the path of righteousness.

Lord Jesus, You cast out the demons that are in me.  Sometimes I let them come back in.  Lead me away from those things which harm me and help me to live the life which You intend for me.  Put in me a right mind and guide me along the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake.  Guide me, Lord, now and always so that I may continue on the path which You have set before me.  Amen.

“For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”  And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many” (Mark 5:8-9)

There are many who fell with Lucifer.  With pride, they set up against the Creator of all.  God is love and love allowed them to exist apart from Him.  Will love allow the same with those in this age who reject His offer of grace?  Beyond this question is the one each of us must ask of ourselves:  Will I continue in pride, or submit to the One who created me?  The Lord is Lord of all.

Lord, in such simple terms I come to grips with the fact that I am created and did not, and cannot, make myself.  Help me, dear Lord, to willingly submit to You, the One who created and creates all things.  Guide me away from pride so that I may recognize that all things are in Your hands.  Lead me now and always that I may live Your purpose and not be one of the legion that pretend they do not have to obey You.

Lord Jesus, I see that You came into the middle of what terrified others and did so with complete calm.  The winds and the sea obey Your word.  The demons are afraid of You.  Why are so many in this world so dismissive of the humble truth that we are created and that all things have their being through You?  I may never know the answer to that question, but I can know that You are my Lord and Savior.  Be the One who leads me always.  Amen.