FREE: The Lord Jesus sets you free - Luke 4:18

• Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has chosen Me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed and announce that the time has come when the LORD will save His people.” Luke 4:16-19
• "So if the Son shall set you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36
• "He has rescued [liberated] us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of the Son He loves." Colossians 1:13

Quote: "The only way you will ever experience true freedom is through Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to set you free." - Hector Perez

Prayer & Praise
I was a captive of the evil one and never knew true freedom until You entered my domain of darkness, shattered my chains of hopelessness, and set me free, Lord Jesus. Thank You, for laying down Your life to liberate the poor and helpless of this world who have no one. Holy Spirit, as America celebrates its 249 years of Independence, please move upon the hearts of people to stop and praise God and our Lord Jesus for allowing us to live in a country where we enjoy religious freedom. Heavenly Father, I worship and praise You for Your beloved Son who set me free for all eternity. All glory and honor to my Savior, Lord Jesus Christ.

WELLNESS: Faith in Jesus brings you wellness - Mark 5:34

In the crowd was a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years. Although she had been under the care of many doctors and had spent all her money, she had not been helped at all. Actually, she had become worse. Since she had heard about Jesus, she came from behind in the crowd and touched His clothes. She said, "If I can just touch His clothes, I'll get well." Her bleeding stopped immediately. She felt cured from her illness. At that moment Jesus felt power had gone out of Him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched My clothes?" His disciples said to Him, "How can you ask, 'Who touched Me,' when you see the crowd pressing You on all sides?" But He kept looking around to see the woman who had done this. The woman trembled with fear. She knew what had happened to her. So she quickly bowed in front of Him and told Him the whole truth. Jesus told her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness." Mark 5:25-34

Prayer

I press through the crowd, like the woman who had been suffering for 12 years, to touch Your clothes, Lord Jesus. I believe You wrote this story in the Holy Scriptures to assure me that You know my pain and keep track of all my sorrows. You collect my tears in Your bottle and are acquainted with every affliction I face in this life. I believe, just like this woman, that my faith in You makes me whole. I worship, praise, and thank You for being my Savior. Hallelujah! 

MERCY: The Lord Jesus is merciful to you - Mark 5:19

Now, when those who had been taking care of the pigs ran away, they reported what had happened in the city and countryside. So the people went to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there dressed and in his right mind, they were frightened. The people who had seen it told them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and the pigs. So they began to beg Jesus to leave their territory. As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging Him to let him go with Him. But Jesus would not let him. Instead, He told him, “Go home to your family, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been to you.” So the man left and began proclaiming in the Decapolis the great things Jesus had done for him. And everyone was utterly amazed. Mark 5:14-20

Infallible Truth

• However, even though I was the worst, I obtained mercy so that the patience of Jesus Christ could be shown toward the worst [of sinners] as an example for those people who would later believe in Him in order to [receive] eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:16
• "The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22-23
• "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one." 1 John 5:18-19

Prayer

Just as this man, who was possessed by demons, I come to thank You, Lord Jesus, for showing me great mercy and rescuing me from the devil's control. I praise You for delivering me from being a child of darkness and making me a child of light. My mind is no longer influenced by evil spirits that caused me to sin against God and harm others without conscience. No longer do I have dissociative identity disorder that destroyed my mental health. Grant me, Holy Spirit, opportunities this day to tell someone about the great things that Jesus has done for me. Heavenly Father, please liberate them from the devil's stronghold. I pray in Jesus' mighty name.

FAITH: Have faith in Jesus, who calms your storms - Mark 4:39

On the same day, when evening had come, He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.” Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace, be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?” And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!” Mark 4:35-41

Infallible Truth

• "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
• "For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!" 2 Corinthians 4:17
• "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later." Romans 8:18

Prayer
As you already know, Lord Jesus, I sometimes struggle to maintain unwavering faith when I face personal hardships or see a loved one suffering, which causes me to feel like the disciples that You don't care. Please forgive me for feeling fearful and allowing problems to weaken my faith during times of trouble. My faith is in YOU, my Savior, who cares for me, quiets the wind, calms the raging seas, and fills my heart with peace. Holy Spirit, please help me to have faith in times of tribulation by keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus. Fill my heart with assurance of faith that God is greater than all my problems, no matter how big they may seem. I praise and pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

SEED: God's kingdom is like a seed that grows in you - Mark 4:27

Then Jesus said, “God’s kingdom is like a man who plants seed in the ground. The seed begins to grow. It grows night and day. It doesn’t matter whether the man is sleeping or awake, the seed still grows. He doesn’t know how it happens. Without any help the ground produces grain. First, the plant grows, then the head, and then all the grain in the head. When the grain is ready, the man cuts it. This is the harvest time.” Mark 4:26-29

Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. I praise You, Lord Jesus, for accomplishing the impossible on the tree, the cross of Calvary, to usher in the Kingdom of God. Thank You, for teaching me about God's kingdom. Indeed, I don't understand how a dead seed planted in the ground sprouts and grows into a tree, plant, vegetable, grain, or beautiful flower, but I see it happen every day. Please plant the seed of Your Kingdom in my heart so it can grow, produce fruit, and prepare me for the harvest time, when You come to take me home. I praise and glorify Your mighty name. Amen.

UNDERSTANDING: Listen to Jesus to gain more understanding - Mark 4:24

Then He [Jesus] added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to My teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Mark 4:24-25

Living Truth

• "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." John 10:27-28
• "This is what the LORD says: Don't let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don't let strong people brag about their strength. Don't let rich people brag about their riches. If they want to brag, they should brag that they understand and know Me. They should brag that I, the LORD, act out of love, righteousness, and justice on the earth. This kind of bragging pleases Me, declares the LORD." Jeremiah 9:23-24

Prayer

Teach me Your ways, Lord Jesus. I treasure Your teachings which deepen my understanding of God's eternal purpose for my life and enriches my soul with a fullness of hope. Help me, Holy Spirit, to have a teachable heart so I can learn to be an attentive listener of Christ. Abba Father, I ask that You please give me wisdom and understanding to help build up family members and friends who are struggling with their faith. Use me today to help someone whom Satan, the father of lies, is tearing apart with deception and arrogant pride. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.

FRUIT: Hear and accept the Word to bear good fruit - Mark 4:20

Then Jesus asked them, “Don't you understand this parable? How, then, will you ever understand any parable? The sower sows God's message. Some people are like the seeds that fall along the path; as soon as they hear the message, Satan comes and takes it away. Other people are like the seeds that fall on rocky ground. As soon as they hear the message, they receive it gladly. But it does not sink deep into them, and they don't last long. So when trouble or persecution comes because of the message, they give up at once. Other people are like the seeds sown among the thorn bushes. These are the ones who hear the message, but the worries about this life, the love for riches, and all other kinds of desires crowd in and choke the message, and they don't bear fruit. But other people are like seeds sown in good soil. They hear the message, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirty, some sixty, and some one hundred.” Mark 4:13-20

Prayer
Take my heart, Lord Jesus, and please cultivate it into good soil that treasures and lives Your word, so I bear fruit that impacts the lives of family members and people in the marketplace who are spiritually dead. I want my life to testify to Your goodness and grace by caring for people who Satan deceives, defeats, destroys, or chokes with the thorn bushes of worry, love for riches, and lustful desires. Holy Spirit, please guide and use me today to sow the good seed of God's word through my care for the people You place in my path. I pray in Jesus' mighty name.