Week: Mark's Gospel
Each day we will simply pray (P.R.A.Y.) together.
P: PAUSING to be still.
R: REJOICING with a Memory Verse and REFLECTING on some verses from the Bible.
A: ASKING God to help us and others.
Y: saying YES to God’s ways.
We start by pausing and taking a deep breath:
In and out.
In and out.
We remember that God is here, and so together we prepare ourselves to be with God.
Pause
Jesus, we hear Your invitation, and so we choose to follow You, with all our hearts, with all our minds, with all our souls and with all our strength.
We REJOICE and celebrate God’s goodness with this week’s memory verse:
Read by Noelle
Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:3 (NIVUK)
God, help us to remember Your Word.
Today, we’re reflecting on how angry the religious leaders were when Jesus told the paralysed man that he was forgiven. ‘Only God can forgive sins!’ they said.
Read by Noelle
Mark 2:8-12
Jesus knew immediately what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, “Stand up. Take your mat and walk”? But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home.’ Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his mat, and walked out while everyone was watching him.
Mark 2:8-12a (NCV)
The paralysed man needed healing on the outside – he was unable to move his legs. But first, Jesus looked deeper, into his heart, and forgave his sins – Jesus healed the man on the inside. Jesus did the first miracle of forgiveness to prove He was God’s Son, and then He did the second miracle of healing the man’s legs, to show everyone that what He said was true.
Let’s press pause and talk about today’s question, which is: What do you think is harder, healing someone or forgiving them? Why do we think this?
Healing and forgiveness are both miracles from God. What miracle do we need Jesus to do in our lives at the moment?
Jesus, we ASK You to do a miracle in our lives. We thank You that our sins are forgiven, and that You make us whole too – in our bodies, in our minds, in our souls and emotions, and in our spirits too.
Let’s think of a friend who isn’t a Christian yet, someone who doesn’t believe in Jesus.
Jesus, we ASK You to do something in their lives – something miraculous – so that they will know, just like the crowds in that house with the paralysed man, that You are God’s Son.
As we read the Bible again, let’s listen for a word or a phrase that the Holy Spirit might want to say to us from today’s verses.
Mark 2:8-12
Jesus knew immediately what these teachers of the law were thinking. So he said to them, ‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to tell this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to tell him, “Stand up. Take your mat and walk”? But I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘I tell you, stand up, take your mat, and go home.’ Immediately the paralyzed man stood up, took his mat, and walked out while everyone was watching him.
Mark 2:8-12a (NCV)
What word or phrase stood out from today’s Bible verses?
And now, let’s say YES to God together.
Jesus, we say YES to praising You for all Your miracles, the ones we can see with our eyes and the ones we need to believe with our hearts.
After enjoying this time with God and each other, let’s say our memory verse together:
Psalm 63:3
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
Psalm 63:3 (NIVUK)
Let’s put a hand on our heart.
Father God, fill us with Your love. Help us to love You, and everything that You’ve made.
Let’s point to our eyes.
Lord Jesus, help us to see You, and to see others the way that You see them too.
Let’s point to our ears.
Holy Spirit, help us to hear You, and give us courage to do what You say.
Chris lives in Melbourne, Australia with his wife and two boys. He works for 24-7 Prayer Australia and Red Church and is also a professional musician. When he’s not working or drumming Chris enjoys going on long hikes in the mountains with his boys and playing table tennis.
Noelle lives in Kansas City, Missouri USA, with her parents, sisters and dogs. She loves animals, playing basketball, creating art and teamwork. Noelle gives the best hugs.
