Walking in the Way of Jesus

After a full day’s work, I come home thankful. God has blessed me with a job and the strength to do it. Now, as I sit back and rest, my mind begins to wander—not in worry, but in reflection. I notice things in my own life and in the lives of those around me, especially among people who have a relationship with God.

When I look at the life of Jesus, I am reminded of something striking: He never valued people according to their popularity or power. Instead, He noticed the hurting, the lonely, the poor, the ill—the ones the world often overlooks. In contrast, our world gives prominence to the strong, influential, and powerful. Yet Jesus’ attention was drawn to the weak.

This truth became even clearer to me when I read my daily Scripture portion, Mark 15:1–15. In this passage, Pilate wrestles with what to do with Jesus. He does not believe Jesus deserves death, but he sees the pressure of the crowd and the influence of the chief priests, scribes, and elders. He is afraid of going against popular demand. Rather than stand for what he knew was right, he chose acceptance from the powerful. His verdict was to crucify Jesus.

This is not only sad—it is a warning. It is a frightening picture of what happens when we allow fear of people to shape our choices. As followers of Jesus, we are called to choose the humble path, even when it is unpopular or costly. But we cannot do this in our own strength.

Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we walk in the footsteps of Jesus. When the Spirit is given prominence in our lives, He enables us to see as Jesus sees, to value what He values, and to choose humility over approval.

Heavenly Father, help me each day to allow Your Spirit to work in me. Make me attentive to Your voice, courageous in obedience, and humble in heart.

 Journal Entry

Today after work, I had proper food waiting for me — the meal I prepared the day before. But instead of choosing what I knew was good for me, I gave in to the take-out junk food. It was the easier, more comforting choice in the moment.

After that, I spent some time in prayer and then watched a little TV. Later, I read Mark 14:53–65.

While reading this passage, something struck my heart deeply.
Before Jesus was taken to the cross, He brought Peter and the two other disciples with Him to pray. But they couldn’t stay awake. They sought comfort in sleep because they were tired. Their desire for comfort overwhelmed their calling to stay alert with Jesus.

Then in verse 54, it says:

“And Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the guards and warming himself by the fire.”

Peter followed Jesus — but only up to the point where comfort appeared. The moment he saw the warm fire, he sat down with the guards. That image pierced me.

Because I recognize that same tendency in myself.

Comfort pulls at me more than I like to admit.
I walk with Jesus… but when something easier, warmer, more instantly comforting appears, my heart leans toward it. Just like today — choosing junk food over what I had prepared. Small decisions, but they echo a deeper pattern.

This part of the passage made me realize how carefully I need to guard my heart. Comfort itself isn’t wrong, but choosing comfort at the expense of obedience, discipline, or closeness with Jesus — that’s where I have to be watchful.

I want to learn to stop following Him at a distance.
I want to choose what nourishes me — spiritually, physically, emotionally — even when the comforting alternative is right there.

This is where I need His strength, not my own.

Prayer / Strength 

I just finished cleaning the house, and I am so thankful that God motivated me to do it. I want to clean every Saturday, but sometimes I simply don’t feel motivated enough. Today, as I worked, I found myself thinking about the faithfulness of God—even in something as small as cleaning my home.

I’ve been feeling ill lately, coughing and sneezing, and I honestly didn’t think I would have the strength to clean anything at all. But I prayed and asked God for strength. And prayer always works. When we are weak, He is strong. His strength is what carries us through anything that comes our way.

I turned to Mark 14:32–42, and verse 38 especially caught my attention:

“Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

The night before Jesus was arrested and taken to be crucified, He brought three of His disciples with Him and asked them to pray. Jesus knew what was coming, but they didn’t. He knew they needed strength to face what was ahead, and the only way to receive that strength was through close communion with the Father.

Even Jesus—fully God yet fully man—sought the Father before facing the cross. If He needed that connection, how much more do we?

Heavenly Father, I need to come to You daily. Help me, Lord, to have a closer communion with You.

 

Journal Entry – Preparing for Christmas

Christmas is approaching sooner than I thought.
We organized the house, put up a little tree, and did some simple decorations.

Later, I sat down with a cup of tea and started going through my WhatsApp messages. One message caught my attention — a friend had sent an amazing hymn, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” It’s one of my favourites.

As I listened, my heart filled with gratitude toward my Jesus.

Then I read Mark 14:10–16, and a few things stood out to me:

• Jesus didn’t have a place of His own. That’s why the disciples had to ask where to prepare the Passover meal.

• The man carrying the water jar — he had such a generous heart. His home was open to anyone in need of food or shelter. God saw that openness and used him as a vessel.

That made me think about my own life.
God has stripped away my prideful ways, yet He has never let me go without shelter, food, or clothing.

Am I willing to open my heart, my home, and the things I own to bless others?

I want God to use me the way He used the man carrying the water jar — quietly, faithfully, with a willing heart.
For God to use me like that, I must surrender everything to Him.

 Journal Entry – A Night of Weariness and Worship

Today was heavy — physically and emotionally. Almost the whole family gathered at the hospital emergency room. My husband had a seizure, and fear filled the air. During times like this, I wish family could come together in unity and support, but instead, someone chose this difficult moment to stir hurt and tension. While worrying about my husband’s health, we were all emotionally drained by the pain caused by harsh words and misunderstanding.

I felt lonely — wishing I had someone outside my family I could reach out to, someone who would pray with me, someone who could simply listen. But sometimes, comfort feels out of reach, even when you long for it the most.

Now, sitting here close to midnight, I thank God for getting us through this day. I opened my Bible and read Mark 14:1–9. I’ve read this story many times — the woman who broke the expensive jar of perfume at Jesus’ feet and wept. But tonight, something new stood out: Jesus was at the home of Simon the leper.

A man with leprosy — an outcast.
A woman with a broken heart — also an outcast.
And yet, Jesus was there with them.

The world may have turned away, but Jesus did not. He loved them, He saw them, He accepted their offerings and their presence.

Tonight, I take comfort in that truth. Even when I feel unseen or alone, He is near.

My prayer:

Lord, help me to feel Your presence in every situation.
Help me to look to You for strength and peace.
Help me to praise You continually, even through tears.

 Delighting in the Lord

These days, with so much happening in my life, it can be difficult to keep my mind steady. My thoughts often race in many directions, and I sometimes struggle to find peace in the middle of it all. Yet recently, I have felt God strongly impressing on my heart the importance of delighting in Him.

To me, delighting in the Lord means doing what He asks of me—and not just obeying, but doing so with joy. It’s more than following rules; it’s about loving Him enough to trust His will and find happiness in it.

Tonight, before going to sleep, I read Mark 13:32–36, and one verse stood out to me:

“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”
— Mark 13:32 (ESV)

Jesus was teaching us that no one knows the exact moment of His return. As I reflected on this, I sensed the Holy Spirit reminding me to always be ready—to live each day in joyful expectation. The best way to be prepared, I realized, is to delight myself in the Lord.

When I choose to find joy in God, I’m not just waiting for His return passively; I’m living in a way that honors Him now. Delight keeps my heart awake, my spirit hopeful, and my life centered on the One who loves me most.

 

Scripture Reflection: Mark 13:24-31

Verse focus:
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31)

Reflection:
Jesus reminds His disciples that everything in this world — all creation, kingdoms, and circumstances — is temporary. But His words, His truth, endure forever. Even when the world feels uncertain or chaotic, His promises stand firm.

He calls us to discern what is happening around us, not to live in fear, but to remain awake, grounded in faith, and attentive to His truth. The signs of change in the world are not meant to panic us, but to remind us where our hope truly lies.