Matthew 25

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return.

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. 

‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

Lord God my Father,

Help me to stay focused on you and not on the struggles. Give me strength to do your will with what you have entrusted me with and give me opportunities to serve you well in my relationships.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Matthew 24

 “Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. 10And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. 11And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. 12Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. 13But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.

Lord God my Father,

Help me to stand for you in the most loving way, give me strength to endure the attacks to come, praising you in all things.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Mark 13

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. 23Watch out! I have warned you about this ahead of time!

I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Lord God my Father,

Give me your Peace so it may lead me and discernment to see the deceit around me and a focus that remains on you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

The teachers of religious law and the leading priests wanted to arrest Jesus immediately because they realized he was telling the story against them—

Watching for their opportunity, the leaders sent spies pretending to be honest men. They tried to get Jesus to say something that could be reported to the Roman governor so he would arrest Jesus. 

So they failed to trap him by what he said in front of the people. Instead, they were amazed by his answer, and they became silent.

The crowds gathered at the Temple early each morning to hear him.

Lord God my Father,

Thank you for your Truth and patience, protect me from improper thoughts, help me to keep my trust in you alone. Give me discernment over deceit and keep me in your Peace. May I seek you in all moments today.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 Matthew 22

“Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’22:37 Deut 6:5. 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’22:39 Lev 19:18.

Mark 12

Realizing how much the man understood, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” 

Lord God my Father,

Help me to allow the Scriptures to rest on me well and love as you have designed me to. Allow your understanding to be revealed.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Mark 11

“Have faith in God. 23I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart. 24I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours. 25But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.11:25 Some manuscripts add verse 26, But if you refuse to forgive, your Father in heaven will not forgive your sins. Compare Matt 6:15.”

John 12

Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 

The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 

I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 

Lord God my Father,

Make my faith solid so it remains intact, protect me from deceit and judgment. Use me to show your light to the darkness.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. 7But the people were displeased. “He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner,” they grumbled.

“Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a true son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man19:10 “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself. came to seek and save those who are lost.”

 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given.

Lord God my Father,

Give me a heart that is eager for you alone, cause me to turn only in your direction. Remove distractions that cause me to hesitate.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 Should you be jealous because I am kind to others?’

 My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit. 44Anyone who stumbles over that stone will be broken to pieces, and it will crush anyone it falls on.21:44 This verse is not included in some early manuscripts. Compare Luke 20:18.

Lord God my Father,

Quiet my heart so I may hear you, prepare me to be chosen. Condition me so I may turn completely to you and protect me from stumbling.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.”

But I have no right to say who will sit on my right or my left. God has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen.”

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

And Jesus said to him, “Go, for your faith has healed you.” Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.

Lord God my Father,

Restore me to have a mind like an innocent child, give me strength to keep my heart in submission to you. Make me bold in your truth, allow me to truly see.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen

 “Lazarus’s sickness will not end in death. No, it happened for the glory of God so that the Son of God will receive glory from this.” 

Thomas, nicknamed the Twin,11:16 Greek Thomas, who was called Didymus. said to his fellow disciples, “Let’s go, too—and die with Jesus.”

 Jesus would die for the entire nation. 52And not only for that nation, but to bring together and unite all the children of God scattered around the world.

So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night?

But they didn’t understand any of this. The significance of his words was hidden from them, and they failed to grasp what he was talking about.

But he only shouted louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Lord God my Father,

Open my eyes to see as you do, keep me from blindness of my perspective. Use me to draw your people together as you desire. Open my heart to understand your desire and how to pursue you.

In Jesus name I pray,

Amen