The Coin from the Fish and Temple Tax

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Tuesday August 06, 2024}

Matthew 17:24-27

Father, Jesus has demonstrated for us how to live as His disciples. Father, help me not to demand my rights. Give me a heart that is willing to humbly put aside my rights for the sake of serving others and honoring You. Father, please give me a generous heart that wants to give to others in abundance. Please provide me with the miraculous resources I need to be generous to others in their time of need. Father, make me a fisher of men, casting the gospel into their lives so that You will lead them to accept it. Amen.
Father, Jesus and His disciples returned to Capernaum. Peter is approached outside the house by the temple tax collectors with the insinuation that Jesus was not paying the two-drachma temple tax like everyone else. In other words, Jesus was a law breaker and, as such, was not worthy of being followed as a teacher.
Satan is clearly trying to alienate Peter from Jesus ......READ MORE.

Once More, Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Monday August 05, 2024}

Matthew 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 9:43-45

Father, help me not to let my human emotions get in the way of my doing the work You have assigned for me to do to build Your Kingdom. Help me also to uphold the truth, regardless of the resistance I will encounter from those who don't want to hear it. Father, I understand there are many things that have been hidden from me. There are many mysteries that I will not understand until the time is right. However, I do ask that You will not withhold understanding from me because of my lack of faith and commitment to You. Please help me to be a man of God, strong in faith and surrendered to You, so that You will reveal more things to me than You would if I was not so. Amen.
Father, the crowd was still marveling at how Jesus had cast the demon out of the boy. Jesus was able to depart from the scene with His disciples. Jesus carefully led His disciples on a journey through Galilee so as to avoid being noticed by......READ MORE.

Jesus Casts Demon From Boy

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Sunday August 04, 2024}

Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, Luke 9:37-43

Father, please help me to overcome by unbelief!  I ask that the Holy Spirit work in my heart so that I have faith that You will do amazing things through the work You have called me to do. Father, help me to do all the things that are well within my power to do on my own, such as pushing someone's wheelchair to see a fireworks display. For the things that truly are beyond my ability, give me the faith to ask You to do a miracle that I know You want to do (such as someone's salvation) and then to believe You will do it. Amen.
Father, Jesus, Peter, James, and John descended from the mountain. They saw a large crowd gathered around the disciples who had not gone up on the mountain. They appeared to be arguing with the teachers of the law. When the crowd saw Jesus approaching, they ran to Him.
Jesus most likely made His way through the people who were jocke......READ MORE.

The Transfiguration of Jesus

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Saturday August 03, 2024}

Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:2-13, Luke 9:28-36

Father, it is so easy to think of Jesus as a man. However, He is the Son of God. His visible glory, holiness, and righteousness is so bright that it is blinding to our mortal eyes. One day I will see Him for who He really is - my almighty God, my royal King, and my sovereign Lord who has made all things right. Father, please help me to model for others that I serve such a glorious Savior and that I have surrendered my life to Him. Father, help me to never be deceived - there was no better solution for the world than for Jesus Christ to have suffered and died on the cross for our sin and then to have been raised from the dead on the third day. Amen.
Father, it is as natural as the law of gravity – in every group there are leaders. There are leaders in government. There are leaders in businesses. There are leaders in organizations. There are leaders in local communities. There are leaders on sports teams. Th......READ MORE.

Jesus Tells of His Death and Resurrection

Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
^{Friday August 02, 2024}

Matthew 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-9:1, Luke 9:21-27

Father, help me to surrender my life to You. Help me to not pursue fame, wealth, power, influence, and pleasure. Transform my heart so that my goals and dreams are exclusively about the building of Your Kingdom. Give me the courage to hold onto my faith even when I suffer for it. Father, please give me a sense of fulfillment, satisfaction, peace, and joy from surrendering my life to You that is far better than living for my own glory. Amen.
Father, I imagine that the disciples were feeling rather excited about the conversation they just had with Jesus:

• They are in personal relationship with the Messiah, the Son of the living God.
• They have been chosen by Jesus for salvation.
• They will become better men, transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Their lives now have meaning and purpose.
• They will save people by sharing the gospel with them and te......READ MORE.