Week 10: Monday, November 16th
SILENCE, STILLNESS, AND CENTERING BEFORE GOD:
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few minutes in silence, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
READ:
Let your mind settle. Silently read the Scripture for this week: Mark 10.
ASK:
Read the Scripture again, this time aloud. Listen for a word, phrase, or section that grabs your attention. Write down any questions about the passage that you have. When you finish, close your eyes. Recall the word or phrase, taking it in and mulling it over. Write down what comes to mind.
REFLECT:
At the beginning of this passage, we see Jesus and his disciples making the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem. Jericho, the lowest city on earth, sits at more than 800 feet below sea level. Jerusalem, just a dozen or so miles away, sits at 3,000 feet above sea level. Jesus, his disciples, and many other Jewish pilgrims, were making the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. They knew that the effort and exertion of the climb would result in arriving at the place where God dwelt and where they could participating in the fellowship and freedom and joy of His kingdom. Can you relate to this analogy of a challenging climb towards God’s kingdom in your faith journey right now? What can you visualize yourself climbing towards that gives you hope?
As Jesus rides into Jerusalem, people begin spreading their cloaks in the road and cutting off branches to wave in welcome. These are not normal actions for people to take – cloaks weren’t spread in the dusty road for just anyone; branches were not cut off trees for just anyone. These things were only done for royalty, and the people did these things willingly because of their loyalty to and excitement about the kingdom of God that Jesus represented. Ask these questions of yourself – am I ready to put my property at Jesus’ disposal, to obey Jesus’ orders even when they puzzle me? Am I ready to go out of my way to honor Jesus, to find in my own life the equivalent of a cloak to spread out on the road before him, and branches to make his coming into a real festival? Or have I so domesticized and trivialized my Christian commitment that I look to Jesus simply as someone to help me through the various things I want to do anyway, someone to provide me with comforting religious experiences, but not as a true king?
In Mark 11:28, the chief priests and scribes come to Jesus and ask Him by what authority He does the things He does. Jesus knows they won’t listen to Him, so he doesn’t answer. However, we know the whole story and we know by what authority Jesus did these things – by the authority bestowed on Him by God the Father and by the power given to Him by God the Holy Spirit. By extension, as the “little Christs” that we are, we also have authority to speak to power (as Jesus did in the temple), to heal, to apply the wisdom of God’s kingdom to the broken places in the world. Reflect on whether or not you are ready to answer the question, “Who do you think you are?” as you bring Christ’s hope to the world. How can you become more assured and confident of your right to be an authoritative kingdom agent?
PRAY:
Read the Scripture one last time, then stop and listen for who Jesus is inviting you to become or what He is inviting you to do this week. Write down what comes to mind.
Talk with Jesus about it.
PRACTICE:
For this week's prayer practice, as a community we are going to practice what it means to have a heart of gratitude. Yes, because Thanksgiving is coming up, but now more than ever we must remember to always be thankful because it helps us to focus on what God has done and what he has already been doing, apart from what he has yet to do. Having a heart of gratitude comes with discipline, and it helps us to be aware of the abundance of gifts, benefits, mercies, and grace that have been poured into our life daily. The fact that you woke up today with breath in your lungs is a reason to be thankful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” May we be a people that embodies this well. If you are willing and able, let’s walk through this guided prayer time:
Take a second to breath, get rid of distractions, and silence you mind. Acknowledge God’s presence with you.
Begin to thank God for the little things in your life: Breath in your lungs, a house over your head, the fact that you can be in relationship with him and he hears your prayers, etc.
Then continue and think through an abundance mentality- what is in abundance for you this season? Joy, peace, finances, friendship, direction, etc.
Thank God for the abundance he has given you in this season.
Then begin to think through your day, week, month. How has God blessed you and taken care of you? Continue to thank him.
Lastly, pray for a continued awareness of how God has blessed you and taken care of you, and praise Him for what he has done, is doing, and will do.