Thought for Monday February 1

Lord, rise up and save me.
When I lie down in sleep,
I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I fear not the myriads of people
arrayed against me on every side.
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 me? What do I have to do with Jesus?

Action: Involve Jesus in some activity in your life that you have never made him a part of.

Thought for Friday January 29

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 28

The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.
LORD, remember David
and all his anxious care;
How he swore an oath to the LORD,
vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.
The Lord God will give him the throne of David, his father.

Mark 4: 21 – 25 For there is nothing hidden except to be made visible; nothing is secret except to come to light.

Do I have a secret that I would really like to have revealed even though I would never do it myself? What would my life be like if there was nothing I felt I had to hide?

Action: If there is something you do that you don’t want anyone to ever know about, work to stop doing it.

Thought for Wednesday January 27

For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.
“Forever I will maintain my love for him;
my covenant with him stands firm.
I will establish his dynasty forever,
his throne as the days of the heavens.”
For ever I will maintain my love for my servant.

Mark 4: 1 – 20 “Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on …

What effect does sowing seed have on the sower? Does it discourage me to know that some of the good things I try to do will not make a difference?

Action: Go sow some good seeds today and hope they grow.

Thought for Tuesday January 26

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: 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?”

Would I have given Jesus’ family special treatment? Do I give Jesus’ family special treatment?


Action: Do something special for a child of God.

Thought for Monday 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: Make a specific effort to do one of these things: 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, (please don’t try drinking poison).

Thought for Friday January 22

Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.
Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
Have mercy on me, God, have mercy.

Mark 3: 13 – 19 Jesus went up the mountain and summoned those whom he wanted and they came to him.

Do I believe Jesus wants me? Do I respond when I experience him calling me?

Action: Reach out to someone you think may not feel wanted or appreciated.

Thought for Thursday January 21

In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
In God I trust; I shall not fear.

Mark 3: 7 – 12 He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him.

Why didn’t Jesus cure everybody? Why don’t I invest all of my time to relieve human suffering?

Action: Do one thing to relieve the suffering in your community and pray for all of the people in Haiti.

Thought for Wednesday January 20

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 19

I have found David, my servant.
Once you spoke in a vision,
and to your faithful ones you said:
“On a champion I have placed a crown;
over the people I have set a youth.”
I have found David, my servant.

Mark 2:23 – 28 At this the Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the sabbath?”

Is it in the “spirit” of the Sabbath to judge others? Do I judge other people at church?

Action: Next time you go to church, make a point of being happy about the other people who are there regardless of their clothing, arrival time, singing voice, etc.

Thought for Monday January 18

To the upright I will show the saving power of God.
“Why do you recite my statutes,
and profess my covenant with your mouth,
Though you hate discipline
and cast my words behind you?”
To the upright I will show the saving power of God.

Mark 2: 18 – 22 People came to Jesus and objected, “Why do the disciples of John and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?”

Do the people who are complaining fast? Do I pay more attention to what other people do or to what I am doing?


Action: Fast when no one else is.

Thought for Friday January 15

For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
Blessed the people who know the joyful shout;
in the light of your countenance, O LORD, they walk.
At your name they rejoice all the day,
and through your justice they are exalted.
For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Mark 2: 1 -12 Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him.

Do the “crowds” ever block me from getting to Jesus? Do crowds ever bring me to Jesus?

Action: Before you get caught up in a crowd, make sure they are taking you toward something good.

Thought for Thursday January 14

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 13

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 think it is shocking or wrong to think of Jesus being so simply human?

Action: Serve somebody today.

Thought for Tuesday January 12

My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.
“My heart exults in the LORD,
my horn is exalted in my God.
I have swallowed up my enemies;
I rejoice in my victory.”
My heart exults in the Lord, my Savior.

Mark 1:21 – 28 All were amazed and asked one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

Do I believe Jesus has power over my sins? Have I ever asked him to use it?


Action: Make a plan to stop committing some particular sin.

Thought for Monday January 11

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 Friday January 8

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.

Luke 5: 12 – 16 “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.”

Have I ever asked Jesus to make me clean? In what ways am I dirty?

Action: Start cleaning up some of the dirt in your life.

Thought for Thursday January 7

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
May his name be blessed forever;
as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Luke 4: 14 – 22 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the sabbath day.

Does the church were I grew up hold special meaning for me? What church do I most consider to be my home?

Action: If you are not “at home” in your current church, make a change – get more involved, switch services, go to special events or as a last resort, find a new church.

Thought for Wednesday January 6

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Mark 6: 45 - 52 And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.

Is praying something I look forward to? Do I make time and seek out places for prayer?

Action: Leave the company of your friends occasionally to pray.

Thought for Wednesday January 6

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
the lives of the poor he shall save.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Mark 6: 45 - 52 And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray.

Is praying something I look forward to? Do I make time and seek out places for prayer?

Action: Leave the company of your friends occasionally to pray.

Thought for Tuesday January 5

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Justice shall flower in his days,
and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
and from the River to the ends of the earth.
Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Mark 6: 34 – 44 When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

Have I ever felt like a sheep without a shepherd? Do I look to Jesus for leadership?

Action: Be a shepherd in a situation that seems to need leadership.

Thought for Monday January 4

I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.”
I will give you all the nations for an inheritance.

Matthew 4: 12 – 25 He went around all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness among the people.

Is this what I would expect from the “baby” whose birth we just celebrated? How exciting is this mission he embarked upon?

Action: Keep celebrating the Christmas season.