Jesus Sends Out Seventy-Two to Preach

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Friday August 16, 2024}

Luke 10:1-11

Father, You have called me to evangelize. My responsibility for this task cannot be given to my pastors, to my elders, my deacons, my Sunday School teachers, or the missionaries I support. I will answer one day as to how my hands and feet brought the gospel of Jesus Christ to others. Father, it is my prayer that You will one day conclude that I did indeed obey Your command to do my part sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with the people You have brought into my life. Please make me an evangelist and use me to transform lives for Christ. Amen.
Father, we read in Luke 9:52-56 that Jesus had sent people ahead to a Samaritan village to make preparations for His arrival. We now learn that the village was not the only village Jesus had sent His followers to in order to make arrangements for His coming. He appointed seventy-two “others”, in thirty-six groups of two, to do this work throughout the region.READ MORE.

Jesus is Opposed in Samaria

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Thursday August 15, 2024}

Luke 9:52-56

Father, I don't want to be self-righteous. I don't want to have a "holier-than-thou" heart. Please forgive me for anything within me that thinks that way. I have sinned the same as anyone I could label as wicked or evil. Father, give me a heart that is slow to anger, compassionate, gracious, forgiving, and rich in love. I want those traits to apply to anyone in my life who I think deserves the wrath of God. Help me to love them because Jesus loves them. Help me to share the love of Christ with them by what I say and what I do. Amen.

Father, there are so many self-righteous, holier-than-thou, people who truly believe they are good enough to stand fearless before You, ready to receive their reward or “pats on the back” by the hand of God for their “at least I am not like that bad person” lives. The light is shined on their sanctimony when they make comments to posts on the Internet.
“That ......READ MORE.

Jesus Heals Ten Lepers

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Wednesday August 14, 2024}

Luke 17:11-19

Father, I thank You that You heard my plea for mercy. You brought the gospel into my life. You led me to confess my sin and to pursue a life of repentance. You have washed away my sin as far as the east is from the west. I will now stand clean before Your throne because of what You have done for me. Father, please make me eternally grateful and help me to use that spirit of thanksgiving to serve You and to build Your Kingdom, Amen.
Father, Jesus passed through a village on the border between Samaria and Galilee. Ten men from the village with leprosy came to Jesus at the entrance to the village and begged to be healed. They referred to Him as Master and asked to receive pity. According to Leviticus 13, the following things must occur for anyone with a skin disease:

• They must be examined by a priest.
• If the priest determines the skin disease is contagious, the perso......READ MORE.

Jesus Leaves Galilee and Goes to Perea

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Tuesday August 13, 2024}

Matthew 19:1; Mark 10:1; Luke 9:51, 13:22; John 10:40-42

Father, I would love it to be said of me that I had so talked about Jesus, and demonstrated His character honorably that a family, a group, an organization, or an entire community is introduced to Him. Jesus would then do what only He can do and bring the people to faith in Him. Father, please let this be said of me. Amen.

Father, it appears that Jesus left Jerusalem after the Festival of Tabernacles and returned to Galilee. He was in the region of Galilee for an unspecified period of time. Your Word has not recorded what He may have said or did during this period. I hypothesize that Jesus wrapped up His business in Galilee, aware that He would not return to the region again. I’m not sure what that may have entailed. Your Word does tell us that Jesus had a place in Capernaum (Matthew 4:13). Perhaps Jesus gave away whatever belongings He may have had. He may have concluded business wi......READ MORE.

Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Heals a Blind Man

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Monday August 12, 2024}

John 9:1-10:21

Father, please help me not to be a coward. I want to stand side-by-side with You in ministry. Help me not to fear man. Please give me confidence and courage to challenge lovingly and skillfully all who question the gospel of Jesus Christ. Father, I don’t know why others may suffer. Help me not to judge them. Instead, please help me to show compassion upon them. Help me to do the good works You have called me to do while there is still time to do them. Father, You may answer my prayers in ways I can’t make sense of. Help me to trust that You know what You are doing and to have total faith in Your goodness. Father, give me a spirit that celebrates the miracles You perform. If an alcoholic is saved from his alcoholism, help me to celebrate with Him and, therefore, glorifying You. Father, I don’t want to be spiritually blind. Help me to know who You are, who I am, and what the gospel means to me. Please also use me to open the ey......READ MORE.