‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
“Don’t you understand yet?”
She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even dogs are allowed to eat the scraps that fall beneath their masters’ table.”
“Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.”
Lord God my Father,
Soften my heart so it may be reshaped to your will, open my ears so I may hear you. I am unworthy but you make me worthy. Deliver me from my sinful way.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up. 9“There’s a young boy here with five barley loaves and two fish. But what good is that with this huge crowd?”
Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man6:27 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
“This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up.
Lord God my Father,
Give me faith to believe what I can’t understand and to seek you in all moments of my day. Quiet my thoughts so I may her you and follow your desire.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.
But when he saw the strong14:30 Some manuscripts do not include strong. wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.
Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage! I am here!6:50 Or The ‘I Am’ is here; Greek reads I am. See Exod 3:14.” 51Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, 52for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
Let the spiritually dead bury their own dead!9:60 Greek Let the dead bury their own dead. Your duty is to go and preach about the Kingdom of God.”
Lord God my Father,
Keep me close so I have less regrets, help me to look past the storm to your calm and trust your plan. Keep fear away with confidence by knowing you and guide me to where you can use me.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Don’t hesitate to accept hospitality, because those who work deserve to be fed.
“Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and harmless as doves.
And all nations will hate you because you are my followers.10:22 Greek on account of my name.
if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine.
Lord God my Father,
Help me to build relationships with others so we may know each other. Help me to join forces to do your will. Keep me from fear of others and balance my love of others with my love of you.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? 14The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others. 15The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away. 16The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. 17But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. 18The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, 19but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced. 20And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”
When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. 40Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”…
So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs,
Lord God my Father,
Give me understanding so I can learn, help me to become who you wish me to be. Allow your power to clear my path and inspire me to do what I should to be ready.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“You are permitted to understand the secrets13:11 Greek the mysteries. of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. 12To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. 13That is why I use these parables,
‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you see what I do, you will not comprehend.15 For the hearts of these people are hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand, and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.
“I will speak to you in parables. I will explain things hidden since the creation of the world.
And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest.
Lord God my Father,
Open my mind to allow your truth to rest on me, give me enough understanding to follow you without delay. Allow me to understand your secrets as I am ready so I may share you well.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.
“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.”
As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions. 54They wanted to trap him into saying something they could use against him.
Lord God my Father,
I am with you, help me to grow stronger in my walk and do your will without hesitation. Bring unity for you into my thoughts and remove the distractions I am tempted by.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing,11:12 Or the Kingdom of Heaven has suffered from violence. and violent people are attacking it.
But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.”
Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Lord God my Father,
Give me courage as your servant to stand in your Truth in Love. Allow my actions to please you and show me how to allow you in to take my load so I don’t rely on my own efforts alone.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.”
for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”
When they heard this, all the people—even the tax collectors—agreed that God’s way was right,7:29 Or praised God for his justice. for they had been baptized by John. 30But the Pharisees and experts in religious law rejected God’s plan for them, for they had refused John’s baptism.
Lord God my Father,
Heal me for I am sick, allow me to steal a touch of your robe and forgive me of my many sins so I may delight in your presence this day.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. 12Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.
“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ 5:21 Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17. 22But I say, if you are even angry with someone,5:22a Some manuscripts add without cause. you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,5:22b Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, ‘Raca.’ you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,5:22c Greek if you say, ‘You fool.’ you are in danger of the fires of hell.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Lord God my Father,
Keep me strong in your Truth no matter what the world says and make me bold as I share life with others. Keep my heart from temptation so my thoughts remain in you. Use me to bring your message to others as you desire.
In Jesus name I pray,
Amen