Prayer Journal Entry 1: Mark 1: 1 - 8

Wow. It has been a minute since i blogged about ANYTHING. And that has everything to do with me not spending my time well. In fact, that is one of the reasons behind todays note. This blog will now become my prayer journal (umm..yes...the titled does call it prayers and plans..i noticed that too) or, more precisely, my regular prayer journal.

Reading: Mark 1: 1-8

1) Sins: John 'just shows up' on the scene. So does Jesus. Moses' life had a lapse of 40 years. It cannot be a coincidence. God prepares His people in quietness and sometimes even solitude. When they spring up, we marvel at their prayer lives, their words of wisdom, their great and mights works in His name. But that is just the cake. The challenge to me is "what is your battar?" Am I using this season of silence and relative obscurity to learn to pray more earnestly, fast regularly and study Gods word diligently? Thus my sin is using time badly. Not redeeming (making the most of) time as Ephesians 5:16 instructs.

Lord, thank you for helping me all but put away the TV and the movies. Help me now spend that extra time ministering to you, to my family, and developing the gifts and talents you have placed in me that when they are revealed your glory will be seen by all.

2) Promises: He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit. This promise is not selective: He will. To us all. I need not worry that it has not happened to me yet (baptism of the Holy Spirit as evidenced by speaking in tongues). It is guaranteed that He will.

Lord, thank you for the free gift of your Holy Spirit

3) Examples to emulate: John is a powerful example of a life given to God. He openly rebuked the scribes and pharisees for their hypocrisy, and stood firm against the political forces when they were wrong. Would to God that I would become like him.

4) Commands to follow: No clear commands that I can see in this passage

5) Truth to believe: Just like John, I believe the Messiah is coming! Just that this will be the second time around.