Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Loving and righteous Father, it is comforting for me to know that Jesus has power over all demonic power. I ask now that he use that power in several people about whom I am concerned. I fear that they have succumbed to temptation and have made themselves vulnerable to the influence of the evil one because of their association with evil people, harmfully addictive chemicals, out of control greed, or uncontrollable lust. Father, I want to pray for several of these folks by name ... Bless them and empower them. I ask this in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, your Son and my Savior. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

Jesus and the followers left the synagogue. They all went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was very sick. She was in bed and had fever. The people there told Jesus about her. So Jesus went to her bed. Jesus held her hand and helped her stand up. The fever left her, and she was healed. Then she began serving them. That night, after the sun went down, the people brought many sick people to Jesus. They also brought people that had demons inside them. All the people in the town gathered at the door of that house. Jesus healed many people that had different kinds of sicknesses. Jesus also forced many demons to leave people. But Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because the demons knew who he was. The next morning, Jesus woke up very early. Jesus left the house while it was still dark. He went to a place to be alone and pray. Later, Simon and his friends went to look for Jesus. They found Jesus and said, "All the people are looking for you!" Jesus answered, "We should go to another place. We can go to other towns around here. Then I can tell people {God's message} in those places also. That is why I came." So Jesus traveled everywhere in Galilee. He spoke in the synagogues. And he forced demons to leave people.

Related Scripture Readings

that God will strengthen you with his own great power; that God will strengthen you, so that you will be patient and not quit when troubles come. Then you will be happy and give thanks to the Father. He has made you able to have the things he prepared for you. He has prepared these things for all his people who live in the light (good). God made us free from the power of darkness (evil). And he brought us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus).

So give yourselves to God. Be against the devil, and the devil will run away from you.

My dear children, you belong to God. So you have defeated them (the false teachers). Why? Because the One (God) who is in you is greater than the one (the devil) who is in {the people of} the world.