University Heights Baptist Church

“Jesus left that place and went into the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know that he had entered a house, but he couldn’t hide. After leaving the region of Tyre, Jesus went through Sidon toward the Galilee Sea through the region of the Ten Cities.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬, ‭31‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Jesus and the disciples walked a lot. Walking gives you time to think. Walking gives you time to pray. It can become a prayer time. So, today let’s try some prayer “exercise”, it’s up to you what you choose. Runners, cane-walkers, swimmers, dancers, wheelchair, etc. whatever works for you.

Pick a place, outside or inside. Start moving, as you move, think about your breath. Breath in new air and breath in new life. Exhale and imagine negative thinking, old things that have held you back and frustrations leaving your body and soul.

As you continue, ask God to bring people to mind. Maybe the people you see as you exercise, maybe it’s situations you know about. Take a look around you. See the people.

Pray: God, renew my strength. Let me run and not be weary, walk and not faint. Amen.

“A man with a skin disease approached Jesus, fell to his knees, and begged, “If you want, you can make me clean.” Incensed, Jesus reached out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do want to. Be clean.” Instantly, the skin disease left him, and he was clean. Sternly, Jesus sent him away, saying, “Don’t say anything to anyone. Instead, go and show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. This will be a testimony to them.””
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭40‬-‭44‬ ‭CEB‬‬

“Many people saw them leaving and recognized them, so they ran ahead from all the cities and arrived before them. When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things. Late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place, and it’s already late in the day. Send them away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something to eat for themselves.” He replied, “You give them something to eat.” But they said to him, “Should we go off and buy bread worth almost eight months’ pay and give it to them to eat?” He said to them, “How much bread do you have? Take a look.” After checking, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.” He directed the disciples to seat all the people in groups as though they were having a banquet on the green grass. They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves into pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. Everyone ate until they were full. They filled twelve baskets with the leftover pieces of bread and fish. About five thousand had eaten.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬-‭44‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Imagine what was going on. How did Jesus feel about people? Jesus was moved with compassion toward the l***r in Mark 1. He had compassion for the crowd in Mark 6. This is how Jesus looks at you, me, and all people – with love and compassion.

Pray: God, overwhelm me with love. Help me love people. Help me see people as part of your human family. Remind me that I am human, a member of this big human family in which You became a part of by sending Jesus. Amen.

“Let my whole being bless the LORD! Let everything inside me bless his holy name! Let my whole being bless the LORD and never forget all his good deeds: how God forgives all your sins, heals all your sickness, saves your life from the pit, crowns you with faithful love and compassion, and satisfies you with plenty of good things so that your youth is made fresh like an eagle’s. The LORD works righteousness; does justice for all who are oppressed. God made his ways known to Moses; made his deeds known to the Israelites. The LORD is compassionate and merciful, very patient, and full of faithful love. God won’t always play the judge; he won’t be angry forever. He doesn’t deal with us according to our sin or repay us according to our wrongdoing, because as high as heaven is above the earth, that’s how large God’s faithful love is for those who honor him. As far as east is from west— that’s how far God has removed our sin from us. Like a parent feels compassion for their children— that’s how the LORD feels compassion for those who honor him. Because God knows how we’re made, God remembers we’re just dust. The days of a human life are like grass: they bloom like a wildflower; but when the wind blows through it, it’s gone; even the ground where it stood doesn’t remember it. But the LORD’s faithful love is from forever ago to forever from now for those who honor him. And God’s righteousness reaches to the grandchildren of those who keep his covenant and remember to keep his commands. The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. You divine messengers, bless the LORD! You who are mighty in power and keep his word, who obey everything he says, bless him! All you heavenly forces, bless the LORD! All you who serve him and do his will, bless him! All God’s creatures, bless the LORD! Everywhere, throughout his kingdom, let my whole being bless the LORD!”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103‬:‭1‬-‭22‬ ‭CEB‬‬

Which lines speak to you the most powerful? Rewrite them.

What in the psalm do you know to be true? What have you experienced yourself? Has there been a time when you've experienced:

Forgiveness? Healing? Redemption? Love? Mercy? Renewal? Graciousness? Compassion?

Pray: God, you are the Holy One. Your steadfast love lasts forever. I bless your holy name with all that is within me. Thank you for my life and those I call family and friends. Thank you for the people you can reach and love through me. Amen.