“And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and the waves obey him!””
Mark 4:41
It’s day four of “Mark, one chapter a day for Easter” here at Refocused Bible Study. If you missed the details of the plan, you can find them here. We’d love for you to join us!
Today we are reading in chapter four, and I was mostly drawn to the very last section, verses 35-41. For today’s blogpost, I am going to share my quiet time plan. It’s based on an acronym for this series. See the image below.
My verse –is Mark 4:41, because I am enamored with the great power of Jesus, even over the weather. He can do anything, and it’s so easy to forget that and get terrified in a storm of ANXIETY. I have been battling a small storm of anxiety over decision making lately, so the disciples reaction to Jesus’ ability to sleep during the storm really spoke to me.
Application – Don’t be anxious, have faith in Jesus. Like Jesus asked the disciples:
“Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?” Mark 4:40
Jesus has ultimate power over all things, storms, and circumstances.
Having faith over fear and worry means that we have the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. If we have prayed about it, we can leave worry at his feet and know he is in control, no matter how hard the wind of doubt starts blowing or how violent the waves start crashing around us.
If we know Jesus is in the boat with us, our heart can rest knowing that at anytime he has the power to say, BE STILL.
Review: Jesus was sleeping in the boat as it filed with water from the raging storm. The disciples woke him. He rebuked the wind and the waves, and then he rebuked the worried disciples, asking them why they didn’t have faith in him.
Kneel in prayer: Almighty Savior, I praise you for calming storms; for desiring us to have faith over fear and anxiety that rage like storms in our souls. Please forgive me for my little faith. Empty me out of my anxious, storm-like behavior, Lord. Help me trust you are good and in sovereign control at all times, Amen.
I pray this prayer over you as well, sweet reader! I’d love to hear your verse from chapter four. ❤
Anyone who does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3:35
It’s day three of the “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter” reading plan! If you missed the details, you can find them here, catch up, and join us!
Reading together as a family is proving to be a beautiful time. It is so inspiring to see God’s faithfulness as He reveals himself to our children through His Word.
Yesterday, one of mine asked, “Where does Jesus get his power from?”
This is so special to me, because I want my own family to really know Him, more than anyone else.
I’m sure Jesus felt the same. He wanted his mother, and brothers to know him as their Savior.
In this chapter, we read that they come to see him, and he stays inside the crowded home he is in, teaching. And says this:
Jesus stayed focused on the kingdom work he was doing, but we see something interesting later in scripture…
“They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.”
Acts of the Apostles 1:14 NLT
Do you catch that?!?!
Jesus’ mother and brothers were there, praying and believing, waiting to receive the Holy Spirit.
Let’s stay focused on kingdom work (Matthew 6:33) as we keep praying for and loving our unbelieving family members. I know this revelation encouraged me to follow Jesus’ example and trust salvation of our loved ones to the Father as we continue following Him.
What was your verse of the day? I’d love to hear how He’s speaking to you!
When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor- sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
Mark 2:17
We are in day 2 of “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter here at Refocused Bible Study” here at Refocused Bible Study. You can find out about the plan here. We’d love for you to join us! Today we are reading and discussing Mark chapter 2.
Oh, how I wish I would have been at Levi’s dinner party with Jesus. The guests were not the ones who looked as if they had it all together religiously. They were “notorious sinners,” known for their impurities and looked down upon by the Pharisees.
When Jesus is confronted about his decision to eat with “such scum,” he responds with a phrase that should shake us believers again today, making us double check and make sure our righteousness is in our faith in Christ alone.
Do we know we are sinners?
Although as believers, we may not have the lifestyle or be known for our sins like those eating with Jesus that night, it is important to remember that we will fall short every single day of the perfect love God lavishes on us. Everyday we need to ask him to search our hearts to see what sin may be taking root in there, underneath the surface, so he can pull the weeds up and keep the soil in our hearts soft and keenly aware of our need for him.
Are we clinging to Jesus and what he did on the cross?
Even Jesus said himself that there is nothing good in him but God himself. Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. The only thing good in us is God. If we think for a moment that what we “do” for the Lord makes us worthy, then we are lying to ourselves.
Do we see all people as God’s children, worthy of our Savior?
Jesus’ rebuke of the Pharisees here is recorded for us to remember. Absolutely everyone is welcome to be introduced to Jesus. Whether they choose to follow him, is up to them. God makes it clear in scripture that he is being patient and desires to see everyone come to salvation (2 Peter 3:9). Make sure you are not writing anybody off. Start by praying for those around you who don’t know him. Love them and tell them about the Savior who doesn’t want them to “clean up” before calling out to him. Just as we are, he invites us. Thank you, Jesus.
Share your verse of the day below in the comments! Tomorrow we discuss chapter 3!
If you missed the post aBout this online Bible Study, find the details and join us here:
Before Daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. Mark 1:35 NLT
It’s day one of the series “Mark, a chapter a day for Easter” here at Refocused Bible Study. If you missed the details, you can find them here.
Whatever way you came across this post, I’m glad you are here and I pray you’ll join us! There is so much good stuff in every chapter, it is hard to pick one verse to focus in on! However, this one about Jesus going off to pray by himself made me fall in love with him all over again.
Jesus was fully God and fully man, yet still went off by himself to intentionally cultivate a connection with the Father through prayer. Did he do this to model spiritual discipline for us? Maybe. Did he do this because
HE LOVED THE FATHER AND WANTED TIME ALONE WITH HIM?
I think so. The day before, Jesus had been healing people and casting out evil spirits. Ministry was busy. He knew another busy day of serving and healing was ahead of him. So he got up while it was still dark to go spend this time one on one with his heavenly father. If Jesus did this, how much more do we need to do this? He was one with The Father, and yet he still carved out time from the rest of the day to go and talk to him one on one. Do you know what I’ve been telling myself instead of waking up early to spend time with The Father?
YOU NEED SLEEP, AND THE LORD KNOWS IT. YOU CAN PRAY LATER DURING THE DAY.
But, ladies, how I’ve been missing this time with Him! Time alone with God in the morning just cannot be replaced. There is nothing like it. Plus, it’s easy to see that Jesus sacrificed sleep to go and be alone with God, even in the thick of a very busy few days of ministry.
During the days leading up to Easter, let’s follow Jesus’ example and set our alarms just 30 minutes earlier. Let’s go and pray to Him and see how it changes our hearts and our days. Following the pattern for prayer that Jesus shows us is a good place to start: “This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Matthew 6:9-15 NIV
I look forward to hearing what your verse for chapter 1 is! Let me know in the comments below. ❤
Did you miss the first post about the Mark Study? Find the details and print out your goodies HERE!
Today is April 1st, a new month and a new opportunity to have a fresh start, especially with spring greening up under our feet, reminding us God is still in the business of making all things new. In just over two weeks, the pinnacle day of our Christian faith, the day our Savior conquered death, will come and go. Between now and then, a group of women connected through this blog will be reading Mark, a book of the bible, a chapter a day, ending on Easter. It beautifully coincides with the timing of this special day, and we want you to join us!
Mark Reading Schedule
April 2nd – read Mark 1, April 3rd- read Mark 2, and so on- a chapter a day, and you will read the last chapter on Easter, April 17th! If you want to journal through it see below for a FREE print out!
Plan Options
I want to journal through it
Hello, fellow journaling friend! I love to journal too.I find power in recording what I hear the Holy Spirit speak to me. I also focus better if I am writing my prayers down on paper. Finally, if I write down one verse a day from my time with the Lord, it sticks better. I meditate (think on it, pray God will help me apply it) the rest of the day, and my time with God continues on after I close my bible.
Having a structure to your quiet time or bible reading time can be very helpful. I like to use acronyms to help me pattern my time with Jesus. Below is an option for this reading plan. As I am reading through the chapter, I pick a verse that really speaks to me. (Don’t get too caught up in this, just pick a verse!) I write that verse down. Then, I study that verse, and write how I can apply that verse to my life right now. For this study, next we will “review” – write out the context ( the setting, what was happening, who said the verse, and maybe a little about the entire chapter). Last, I write out a prayer to close my time with God. If you so choose, you could also pray out loud or stop writing at this point and pray quietly to the Lord. You could also write down a few prayer requests and then go to the Lord in prayer. The important thing is to PRAY TO END YOUR QUIET TIME! ❤
I just want to read
Go for it, girlfriend! I have some ideas to help you succeed in this very important endeavor over the next sixteen days. First of all, decide what time of day you will read the chapter. Next, decide how this will be a priority. What will you refuse to do until you have read the chapter for the day? This REALLY helps me make time one on one with God a priority. For example, you may decide you will not get on social media, watch Netflix, (basically any mindless time-sucker) until you have read your chapter. This really helps me! Let me know if it helps you, too! Sometimes quiet time isn’t so quiet, and you have to “just do it, ” (think Nike). DECIDE to drop perfectionism and read the chapter on the bible app on your phone while you rock your baby. Decide to listen to the chapter on the app through your earbuds in the car rider line or while you are working out. Just do it! 🙂 Even though you are not writing it down, pick one verse to take with you throughout the rest of the day until your next reading session so you can think on it and let God continue to speak to you through it. (Yes, He still speaks to his people)!
Accountability
Let’s link arms, ladies, and encourage one another on this short journey the next sixteen days. I want you to share your “My verse” with me. How can you do this?
Here on the blog, in the comments. Yes, I will try to send an email everyday between now and then, so make sure you follow this blog.
I just know we are going to see Jesus more beautiful than ever through this journey. I will be reading it with my children. This is a lot of scripture for them to digest at once (even at the ages of 11, 12, and 14) so I’ll be pressing into Jesus asking him to help me not stress over it and them falling in love with his Word the priority for them. ❤ I make it fun as possible. We are having special breakfast every morning and listening to the chapter through the Bible app together at the table each morning. Then each of us shares our favorite part of the story or favorite verse. Then we pray together. It can take as little as 7 minutes or the conversation can get deep and last 3 minutes. These are the best days!
That is my prayer for all of us, that we would fall more in love with Jesus and his Word as we journey with him this Easter season.
Let me know you are joining us! I want to hear from you!
Invite your friends!!!
Here are some helpful links to a series I wrote on Back to the Basics of Bible Study if you want more inspiration and direction:
Amy D Terry 
