Thought for Wednesday February 1

The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;

and all my being, bless his holy name.

Bless the LORD, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits.

The Lord's kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.

Mark 6: 1 – 6 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house." So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,

Do I ever pigeonhole people based on my first impression or experience of them? Do I stereotype people in a way that limits their ability to “perform mighty deeds” around me?

Action: Take a fresh look at 3 people in your life and see if you can notice how God is working through them in ways you haven’t noticed.

Thought for Tuesday January 31

They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.

The lowly shall eat their fill;

they who seek the LORD shall praise him:

"May your hearts be ever merry!"

They will praise you, Lord, who long for you.

Mark 5: 21 – 43 But his disciples said to him, "You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?"

In the crowd of people that has surrounded me throughout my life, who has touched me? How have I touched others?

Action: Help (touch) as many people as possible and if a soft touch doesn’t work, don’t be afraid to whack them a little.

Thought for Monday January 30

Lord, rise up and save me.

But you, O LORD, are my shield;

my glory, you lift up my head!

When I call out to the LORD,

he answers me from his holy mountain.

Lord, rise up and save me.

Mark 5: 1 – 20 “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?”

What does Jesus have to do with my everyday life? Is it too little or too much?

Action: Write down 3 reasons why Jesus would want to be involved with you, and 3 reasons why you want to be involved with him.

Thought for January 27

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;

in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.

Thoroughly wash me from my guilt

and of my sin cleanse me.

Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.

Mark 4: 26 – 34 It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.

What things can I think of that started small and grew into something great? Have I ever planted a “mustard seed”?

Action: Plant a small seed – do something good that you think could grow into something great.

Thought for Thursday January 26

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;

the world and those who dwell in it.

For he founded it upon the seas

and established it upon the rivers.

Lord, this is the people that longs to see your face.

Mark 4: 21 – 25 To the one who has, more will be given; from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Am I a “have” or a “have not”? Am I excited about what I may be given or worried about what might be taken away?

Action: Thank God for what you have.

Thought for Wednesday January 25

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the Lord, all you nations;

glorify him, all you peoples!

Go out to all the world, and tell the Good News.

Mark 16: 15 – 18 These signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.

Have I ever done any of these things? Have I ever tried?

Action: Find a way to communicate with someone who seems isolated, be brave enough to deal with some evil head-on, help heal someone who is hurting...

Thought for Tuesday January 24

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

Your justice I kept not hid within my heart;

your faithfulness and your salvation I have spoken of;

I have made no secret of your kindness and your truth

in the vast assembly.

Here am I Lord; I come to do your will.

Mark 3: 31 – 35 A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Does my relationship with my family help me to be a more faithful, loving and spiritual person? Do I help my family to be more faithful?

Action: Write, call, text, email, fb, tweet or visit someone in your family today.

Thought for Monday January 23

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the Lord a new song;

sing to the Lord, all you lands.

Sing to the Lord; bless his name.

Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Mark 3: 22 – 30 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

Is there division in my society? Is that division slowing progress toward establishing the Kingdom of God?

Action: Join in with a project you believe transcends petty divisions to focus on solutions.

Thought for Friday January 20

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me,

for in you I take refuge.

In the shadow of your wings I take refuge,

till harm pass by.

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Mark 3: 13 – 19 He appointed the Twelve: Simon, whom he named Peter; James, son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, whom he named Boanerges, that is, sons of thunder; Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus; Thaddeus, Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him.

Would Jesus have wanted me to be one of his posse? Would I have wanted to be one of the twelve?

Action: Do your best to carry out Jesus’ mission like his Apostles have.

Thought for Thursday January 19

In God I trust; I shall not fear.

I am bound, O God, by vows to you;

your thank offerings I will fulfill.

For you have rescued me from death,

my feet, too, from stumbling;

that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Mark 3: 7 – 12 Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.

What is it about the sea that draws people? What is it about Jesus that draws me to him?

Action: The next time you feel drawn to serve others, worship God, or pray do so with gusto.

Thought for Wednesday January 18

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

My refuge and my fortress,

my stronghold, my deliverer,

My shield, in whom I trust,

who subdues my people under me.

Blessed be the Lord, my Rock!

Mark 3: 1 – 6 Then he said to the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent. Looking around at them with anger and grieved at their hardness of heart,

Where does my hardness of heart show itself? Are there sad situations for which I have no compassion?

Action: Take on (volunteer, donate, campaign, support, etc) a new cause; one which you have ignored in the past.

Thought for Tuesday January 17

The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart

in the company and assembly of the just.

Great are the works of the LORD,

exquisite in all their delights.

The Lord will remember his covenant for ever.

Mark 2: 23 – 28 The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath.

What is the value of the Sabbath? Does my society value the Sabbath?

Action: Make a plan to celebrate the Sabbath in a way that honors its true value.

Thought for Monday January 16

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

“Yours is princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor;

before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.”

You are a priest for ever, in the line of Melchizedek.

Mark 2: 18 – 22 The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were accustomed to fast.

What is the value of following customs? What am I accustomed to doing spiritually?

Action: Accustom yourself to something that helps you express your relationship with God.

Thought for Friday January 13

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

For you are the splendor of their strength,

and by your favor our horn is exalted.

For to the LORD belongs our shield,

and to the Holy One of Israel, our King.

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Mark 2: 1 – 12 When Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it became known that he was at home.

What does it mean to be “at home”? Am I “at home” with Jesus?

Action: Enjoy being at home (yours or someone else’s) this weekend.

Thought for Thursday January 12

Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Yet now you have cast us off and put us in disgrace,

and you go not forth with our armies.

You have let us be driven back by our foes;

those who hated us plundered us at will.

Redeem us, Lord, because of your mercy.

Mark 1: 40 – 45 A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.”

Would Jesus have healed this man even if he didn’t pity him? Am I more inclined to help someone for whom I feel pity?

Action: Do something for someone for whom you feel no pity.

Thought for Wednesday January 11

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

I have waited, waited for the LORD,

and he stooped toward me and heard my cry.

Blessed the man who makes the LORD his trust;

who turns not to idolatry

or to those who stray after falsehood.

Here am I, Lord; I come to do your will.

Mark 1: 29 – 39 Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her. He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.

Do I ever think that maybe Jesus cured her just so she would fix him dinner? Do I ever do things for people hoping they will do things for me?

Action: Serve somebody today.

Thought for Tuesday January 10

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

How shall I make a return to the LORD

for all the good he has done for me?

The cup of salvation I will take up,

and I will call upon the name of the LORD.

To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.

Mark 1: 14 – 20 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him.

What am I fishing for? Am I catching any?

Action: If you are not having success doing whatever work God has assigned you, consider changing your tactics.

Thought for Monday January 9

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Give thanks to the LORD, acclaim his name;

among the nations make known his deeds,

proclaim how exalted is his name.

You will draw water joyfully from the springs of salvation.

Isaiah 55: 1 – 11 Seek the LORD while he may be found, call him while he is near.

Where do I find God? How often do I seek God?

Action: Look for God somewhere you haven’t seen him before.

Thought for Friday January 6

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

He has granted peace in your borders;

with the best of wheat he fills you.

He sends forth his command to the earth;

swiftly runs his word!

Praise the Lord, Jerusalem.

1 John 5: 5 – 13 Beloved: Who indeed is the victor over the world but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

Do I feel like a victor over all the world? Do I ever feel like the world has beaten me?

Action: Celebrate your victory, even if you feel like a loser.

Thought for Wednesday January 4

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

Let the sea and what fills it resound,

the world and those who dwell in it;

Let the rivers clap their hands,

the mountains shout with them for joy before the LORD.

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 35 – 42 Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?”

Am I looking for anything? Is there something I really don’t want to find?

Action: Resolve to spend some time looking for Jesus in every situation in your life.

Thought for Tuesday January 3

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands; break into song; sing praise.

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 29 – 34 Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

Have I seen enough in my experience of Jesus to testify that he is the Son of God? What else would I like to see?

Action: Testify to what you have seen.

Thought for Monday January 2

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

All the ends of the earth have seen

the salvation by our God.

Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;

break into song; sing praise.

All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.

John 1: 19 – 28 When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”

What is my most honest answer for “Who are you?”? Who do I really want to be?
Action: If there is a difference between who you are and who you want to be, make a change in your life to close the gap.