Quiet Time in Mark 4

PERSONAL JOURNAL:

SIN ( Mark 4:9 ): Father, this verse makes me realize how much I fail to listen. I know I have two ears and one mouth so I should be listening twice as much as I am talking but I fail to do that most of the time.  Today I ask for Your forgiveness in my failure to truly listen to You, Father.  Help me to remember when I need to shut up so that I may listen fully instead of in a distracted manner or instead of interrupting. Help me to become a truly humble and focused listener towards You, Father.

PROMISE ( Mark 4:20 ):  This verse not only reminds me that I need to have a solid foundation but it also reminds me that if my foundation is based firmed in You, Father, then Your promise is that I will reap a multiplication of what I sow.  You don’t say that I’ll just be “okay;” rather, You say that I will produce a crop 30, 60, and 100 times what was sewn! Wow!

ATTITUDE ( Mark 4:40 ): This verse hit me hard, almost like Jesus was speaking this directly to me right now instead of on the boat to the other men. I am fearful, Father. I don’t know why and I don’t know how to change/fix that, but I do not that I am fearful. I know that means my faith is no where near as strong as it should be. If I were stronger in my faith, then the fearfulness I possess would diminish. Please help me to build my faith properly, Father, so that I can no longer live a fearful life.

COMMAND ( Mark 4:9 ): This verse speaks to me so much. It’s obviously a command from you, Father. We all have ears and since this says anyone who has ears should listen I guess this was Your way of saying EVERYONE needs to shut up and listen to You, to the Truth, to His great word!  Help me become a better listener, Father.

EXAMPLE ( Mark 4:16-17 ): When Jesus explains the parables in more depth, it’s just absolutely amazing the revelation we gain from Him. I wish I could know all the details of ALL the conversations Jesus had with the disciples. Maybe one day. This set of verses, though, are such a powerful example and Truth! If I am not planted in a firm spiritual foundation, then I can quickly deviate from my faith. I may have fully and joyfully accepted His word at first, but without a firm foundation I have nothing to stand on when the world, the enemy, or my flesh attacks or temps.  Thank you for this amazing example, Father.

*DAILY NOTE: I really do not know why I haven’t done my quiet time in the book of Mark, yet.  The way You had Him write his perspective of Jesus’ journey truly speaks to me! Thank You, Father, for such a great quiet time today. I really needed this.

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EXPAND TO READ: GENERAL NOTE FOR MY QUIET TIMES

I always "sandwich" my quiet time with God in prayer and do it in a location that I will not have any distractions so that I can be focused on my quiet time with God. Do not worry about how short or long your journal entries are for that day's quiet time. Just focus on the actual quiet time and relational conversation with God through the Holy Spirit and His Word. The journaling is an enhancement to your quiet time conversation with God, but also to allow you to reflect on things later as you can look back on your journal entries later when you do the chapters again in the future to see how you have grown. See the FAQ for more detail on how I do my quiet time.