Mark 6 - 2.16.2024

Scripture - Pick one verse that stood out to you.

Mark 6:52

for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Observation - What about this verse stands out to you?

I knew what the Lord was going to talk to me about in preparation of this SOAP journal. I just knew it. I had been getting wronged all week. I had been doing well on various fronts. So of course when things started to appear not to go my way I knew I wasn’t at fault. I knew that the Lord was going to speak to me in preparation for my journal entry. I just knew that a story about deliverance and a psalm about vindication was headed my way!

I knew I had found my answer when I read that the disciples and apostles, when watching Jesus walk on water, were afraid because of their hardened hearts.

A-ha!

I knew that I was dealing with hard hearted people. I just knew it!

The context of this verse is that Jesus had just prior performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand (which only counts the men who had eaten).

The full section of this verse in NIV Mark 6:47-52 reads:

Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them,  but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.

Application - How will you apply this to your life?

God hears the plans of men and…

As I was preparing to write out my journal, I felt a small voice inside me speaking. A voice I wanted to ignore.

With all my relational and situational struggles here on earth beginning to mount again, as my life began to feel like the wind was against me and I was straining to paddle against that wind, I initially knew I was more like Jesus in this story. There was absolutely no way that God was telling me that I was still on the other side.

But sometimes that still small voice is persistent.

And so it is with a small sigh I begin to examine my own heart today, Lord. Heart check me for areas of hardening. The spiritual kind.

For my life application today I will inspect my heart and pray to God for guidance.

Prayer - Write out a prayer.

Lord, I thank you for the bible verse this morning. Thank you for helping to give me a much needed gut check to my heart. I ask for forgiveness for my sins. Help me to change, Lord. Please help my inclinations towards frustration to be replaced by peace. Please, help me to be reminded of all the amazing things you have done in my life. Thank you for the miracle of Christ. Thank you for being a loving Father. As I inspect my heart today please soften me. Fill me with Your peace. Fill me with Your love. 

And the next time I find myself paddling against the wind. Help me to remember You. Draw me closer to You, Lord. Always and forever.

All these things I pray and ask for in the name of Jesus, amen.