PERSONAL JOURNAL:
SIN ( Mark 1: 7-8 ): Reading these verses, I think about how oftentimes I feel so unworthy of all of the grace and patience You have shown me. At the same time, I think about how selfish I can be at times, thinking how much more I deserve or am owed. I do no deserve nor am I owed anything in this life, Father. Please forgive me for occasionally thinking this way. It’s selfish, disobedient, and disrespectful to the sacrifice Jesus made for me on the cross.
PROMISE ( Mark 1: 8 ): The promise made today is about Jesus’ coming and the Holy Spirit. John said that although he baptizes with water, when “He” come we will be baptized with the Holy Spirit; He being Jesus of course. Thank You so much for fulfilling this promise, Father, and thank You so much for the Holy Spirit. Although I do struggle often to actually listen to the Holy Spirit, I know He is there and I know He has Your will in mind for me. Thank You, Father.
ATTITUDE ( Mark 1: 7 ): Father, please grant me the humility of John here. All that he was doing for Your kingdom and he declared himself not worthy to even untie Jesus’ sandal straps! WOW! I do struggle quite often with the topic of humility and reading this verse makes me feel that even more so. Help me understand where I am lacking, Father, so that I may improve.
COMMAND ( Mark 1: 14 ): Your command today is one that is riddled throughout the entire Bible many times—repent and believe! Although I am a very true believer, I will admit that I struggle with the repent part at times. There are some sins in my life that I choose not to confess or bring to You, because I really am not ready or don’t want to repent of them, yet. I know this is not how You want me to treat sin in my life, but it’s the truth from me, Father.
EXAMPLE ( Mark 1: 9-11 ): Jesus’ baptism was absolutely amazing. John humbles himself before Jesus to perform the Baptism, which I can only imagine that experience for him. Then Jesus becomes the first EVER to gain the Holy Spirit. Jesus is both God and man, but now the Holy Spirit also dwells within Him! How amazing of an example of a truly blessed and righteous Baptism! Thank You, Father, for revealing this to me as I never actually thought about Jesus being the first “man” ever to have the Holy Spirit in Him.
*DAILY NOTE: I wasn’t sure where to go for my next quiet time after finishing 1 Kings. I was not feeling moved to continue on in Kings by You, so I proceeded to try and find out where You wanted me to go. Mark was the third option that came to mind, but after reading the first chapters of two other books I still was not feeling moved to do my actual quiet times in those, yet. Thank You for putting in me the Holy Spirit to be able to find where You want me to be, Father. I am looking forward to seeing what Mark has in store for me over the next couple of weeks!
EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES
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