Welcome to daily prayer.

This week we are walking through sections from Mark 3 that reveal the new people that Jesus is forming and what it means to be part of God’s family. Today and tomorrow we are looking at a moment of sharp conflict where the nature of Jesus’ ministry is slandered and a sharp line is drawn.

As we begin our time together, let’s prepare our hearts to be with the Lord.

Lord, I draw near to you.

Hallowed be your name.

I surrender every fear, every false security, every divided loyalty in me. I lay it down.

I give everyone and everything to you.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth will declare Your praise.

A Scripture reading from Mark 3:20–27:

"20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”

23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house."

Though widely popular among the crowd, Jesus is misunderstood by his family, who attempt to restrain him because they think he has lost his mind. It is unclear whether they are acting from concern or just embarrassment and unbelief. Meanwhile, the religious leaders from Jerusalem openly reject him, accusing him of working by Satan’s power and thus being an enemy of God.

Jesus reveals the blindness of their charge and that it makes no sense that satan would be opposing himself. Then Jesus announces that he is the one who is binding the strong man and plundering what has been stolen by Satan.

A Prayer of Adoration:

Lord Jesus, you have been so misunderstood, accused and slandered. The accusations and shame went with you all the way to the cross and you left them in the grave. You confront darkness with truth. You overcame darkness with your own sacrificial death and resurrection power.

Jesus, you are the Beloved Son of the Father and the Promised Messiah. You came to destroy the works of the devil. You set the captives free. I worship you as the one who binds the strong man, reclaims what was stolen, and brings freedom to your people.

Father, I praise you that through Christ you have “delivered us from the domain of darkness and brought into the kingdom of your beloved son in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Col. 1).

A Prayer of Confession:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for anyway I have tolerated or invested time in things you came to tear down. Forgive me for anyway that I have been embarrassed of you or tried to redirect what you were doing because it didn’t make sense to me. I honor you as my Lord and the strong Son of God.

A Prayer of Trust:

Jesus, you came to set the captives free. You are plundering and restoring what the enemy has stolen. His kingdom cannot stand and is coming to an end. Your Kingdom O Lord will never end!

I give you my allegiance and renounce all the works of darkness. I am a servant of Christ and member of the household of God.

Lord, I place myself under your rule and authority. I again place my life fully under your lordship and refuge.

A Prayer of Intercession and Petition:

Lord, we pray for those bound by sin, addiction, trauma, fear, despair, and spiritual oppression.

Lord bring healing life. Empower your church to do the works of the kingdom.

Let your kingdom come and your will be done.

We pray for individuals and communities who are dominated by forces of darkness.

Bring your renewal and hope.

Lord, we especially pray for people groups where the gospel has not yet gone or is being actively opposed by evil. May the name of Jesus be honored and glorified.

We pray for Christians around the world who are starting a season of fasting and prayer leading up to Resurrection Sunday. May your church bear witness to the joy and freedom of Christ. We want to be a people who long for you. Lord, remove anything that hinders us from loving you and others.

A Moment of Reflection:

Lord, would you show me any place in my life where fear, comfort, or control is keeping me from fully trusting you?

As we hear the Scripture again, let’s listen for a word, phrase, or idea the Lord may want to highlight for us today.

"20 Then he went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.”

23 And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27 But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house."

And now our verse to memorize and reflect on this week:

Mark 3:35

“For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

Let’s pray the Lord’s Prayer Together as we close:

Our Father who art in heaven,

Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven

Give us this day our daily bread and

Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

amen