The Gramazin Blog
One article every day from Charles Wagner's two commentaries on the New Testament.
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27
Jul
Jesus Heals Canaanite Woman’s Daughter
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Saturday July 27, 2024
Matthew 15:21-28, Mark 7:24-30
Father, please warm my heart to anyone who cries out for help. May I never delay grace, mercy, and compassion because I judge a needy person for who they are, what they have said, or what they have done. Father, help me to come to Jesus in prayer and ask for His mercy. It is a rebellious heart that does not cry out to Him for help. Help me to show my deep faith in Jesus' love for me by being persistent in prayer, even when it appears Jesus is not answering me. Amen.
Father, the text tells us that Jesus, along with His disciples, “left that place.” The place referred to appears to be a house in the Capernaum area. The text also tells us that Jesus “retreated” to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Jesus may have wanted some rest from the crowds. Or, He may also have considered this a missionary journey, a divine appointment to bring salvation to a Gentile woman.READ MORE.
26
Jul
Jesus Judges Pharisees and Teachers of the Law
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Friday July 26, 2024
Matthew 15:1-20, Mark 7:1-23, John 7:1
Father, I want a pure heart. Please cleanse my heart through the working of Your Holy Spirit as I study Your Word. I want to obey Your commands motivated by my love for You. Help me not to be a hypocrite. Help me to practice what I preach. I also ask that You help me not to fear what men can do to me. Instead, help me to fear You. Please forgive me for the times that I have been deliberately ignorant of Your ways. My "stupidity" was not because of a mental deficiency. It was because of my refusal to learn Your ways. Give me a heart that is eager to learn and apply Your truths. Amen.
Father, as I wrote about in “Jesus Charged With Having Unclean Hands”, Jesus was accused of not washing His hands before eating (Luke 11:38). He responded with the “five woes”. Some time has passed since that discussion. Jesus has calmed the storm, sent demons into a herd of 2,000 pigs, brought......READ MORE.
25
Jul
Jesus is the Bread of Life
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Thursday July 25, 2024
John 6:22-71
Father, help me not to lose sight of the forest because I'm studying the bark on one of the trees. Help me not to lose sight of the gospel message because I'm hung up on the detail of the songs the worship team chose to sing this past Sunday. It doesn't matter how Jesus traveled from the region of Bethsaida to Capernaum. The only thing that matters is His message that He is the Bread of Life. Father, help me not to be entrapped by the pleasures and desires of this world so that I cast aside the Kingdom of God. Help me to focus on eternal things, things of the Kingdom of God. Father, I believe that Jesus Christ shed His blood for my sin. I internalize ("consume") that truth into my soul, knowing that His shed blood has washed away all of my sin. Father, the only thing that will truly satisfy my soul is Jesus. Please fill me with the Bread of Life, the Son of God who came down from heaven to rescue a sinner lik......READ MORE.
24
Jul
Jesus Walks on Water
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Wednesday July 24, 2024
Matthew 14:22-36, Mark 6:45-56, John 6:16-21
Father, teach me to pray not just about present and future things. Teach me to pray also for events that have just occurred. I'm sure Jesus prayed about the feeding of the "5,000" after the event was over. Similarly, help me to pray for encounters I have recently had with people, that You will use what I did and said to transform their lives. Father, I know that You will test my faith from time to time. I know that You may test my faith to expose to me that I'm not really as strong as I think I am. Father, please help me to learn from those lessons. Please help me to not lose faith in You in times of trouble. Instead, please help me to become even more dependent upon You in dark and scary times. Father, I want to be courageous and brave in the storms of life. Finally, please help me to have truth faith in You and not merely one that comes from intellectual reason. Amen.
Father, the crowd of ......READ MORE.
23
Jul
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
Take Every Passage to Prayer - Volume 2, The Gospels
Tuesday July 23, 2024
Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, John 6:1-15
Father, please help me to have the courage and confidence I need to tell others about what Jesus has done for me and for my brothers and sisters in Christ. I know there are countless things that He does in the lives of people I don't know. Jesus is awesome and He is my King. He rules over all things. Father, I ask that You make me the kind of man that attracts people to Jesus. I want to exemplify His character by the things I do, the things I say, and by my countenance. Please give me a heart of compassion for strangers, especially strangers in crowds. Please help me to live to meet the needs of others. I ask for Your help as I work to put into practice the Great Commission. I also ask that You give me the kind of faith where I believe that Jesus will do miraculous things. Help me to be a man of efficiency and productivity, not wasting precious resources in ministry. Father, help me to inquire of You ......READ MORE.
