Mark 13:32–37

Be Still: Lord, make me attentive to your presence today. Keep me awake to your purposes and ready to follow wherever you lead. Amen.

Read: Mark 13:32–37

'Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.' (v33)

Encounter: Jesus reminds his disciples that no one knows the exact day or hour of his return – not the angels, not even the Son, but only the Father. Rather than dwell on speculation, he calls his followers to watchfulness. Like servants awaiting their master, they are to remain alert, faithful, and ready.

This is not anxious or passive waiting. To be awake is to live purposefully. Praying, serving, loving, and obeying with attentiveness to God’s Spirit. Each day carries eternal significance, whether Christ returns today or years from now. Expectancy shapes the way we speak, act, and relate, transforming mundane tasks into acts of devotion.

Jesus’ call is also a call to self-examination. Are we spiritually awake – or sleepwalking through life? Complacency dulls our sensitivity to God’s guidance, yet vigilant hearts experience deeper joy, clarity, and impact. Living with expectancy invites a rhythm of alertness, responsiveness, and anticipation.

Apply: Where are you spiritually drowsy. Going through motions, distracted, or half-hearted in discipleship? Consider areas of life where preparation, prayer, or obedience has waned. Reorient your priorities, letting your daily decisions reflect readiness and faithfulness. Intentional acts such as prayer, scripture reading, or service cultivate the heart of a watchful servant.

Devote: Lord Jesus, awaken my heart. Keep me from drifting into complacency. May I live each day with hope, purpose, and faithfulness, ready for your coming and alert to your presence in daily life. Transform my ordinary moments into faithful acts of preparation, so I may welcome you with joy.