Hey! I hope you are well. For ages I have wanted to grow in my relationship with Christ and this has become a major life goal. In this video I share what I discovered in reading John 15:4 in how I can grow closer to God. Click on the play button below, and if you can’t see the video, click here: VIDEO.
God bless,
Mark Brown
If you would like to subscribe to this blog and receive my reflections as an email for free: click here.
October 6th, 2011 at 9:42 am
I’m starting today. It has been along time since I made this a daily discipline. Thanks for the encouragement.
Today is the day.
October 6th, 2011 at 9:51 am
I so understood this work you gave. It is discipline to be in the word and praying. Please lift up my family. My husband is not saved and about the leave our marriage. My son who is 11 is fighting me on the things of God. I feel like my world is falling apart except for the Lord. He keeps my sanity. The more I seek his face and read his word I find strength. Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. THey challenge me to move on in Jesus.
October 6th, 2011 at 10:10 am
Mark,
Thank you for sharing your heart and what God has revealed and is speaking to you. Praying, reading, and worshipping has become part of my daily routine. I love the Lord with all my heart, soul and mind and just want to be used for His glory. Please pray for me. There are days that the enemy certainly tries to defeat and destroy. I work as a school and mental health counselor and deal with a lot of brokenness. Pray that God continues to heal and reveals His love to those who are hurting.
Thank you and may you be blessed…..
October 6th, 2011 at 10:21 am
Hello, Mark
I appreciate your messages of scriptures of the Disciples. But, we must start spreading the word of Jesus speaking of Hell. Show how each who turn away, or don’t accept Jesus as the ONLY way to God but through him, we will endure everlasting hell. Read where each will have their own ‘Worm’ AND one’s body will be different surely to endure everlasting damnation.
I’ve come to know Jesus within the past 3yrs. All Jesus says about riches, bodily health(out bodies) are a Temple has been shown to me. All I can say, if I think of things of the Bible, within months they are shown to me through example. My life has been 40yrs of turmoil, 6 yrs of quiet only. So, I know the hardships but in God’s knowledge of where he is preparing me for what I am not sure, he has given me endless strength to endure these hardships. Well Brother…you’re a good soldier of Jesus.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:17 am
This is great now I have to put it into practice Praise God Amen!!!!
October 6th, 2011 at 11:35 am
Dear Mark, God has spoken through you to me. I have got to put Him first! I have a lot of time on my hand’s right now as my brother has had open heart surgery. He says he is a believer but being the strong willed man he is, has the reins. I have got to talk with him this morning because instead of progressing, he is regressing. Pray the Lord speaks through me to him to let go and let God have His way in his life. He’s an airline pilot so he is the one that always shouldered all elements of flying. He needs to put Jesus into the “left seat” of his life and let God take over the controls while he “rides in the back.” Pray for Larry and me. Thanks so much.
October 6th, 2011 at 11:43 am
Please pray for mr Marl as I am going through a very tough time with a sore marriage and a friend that needs me. Thank you for all you have done on your website it has helped me tremendously.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:00 pm
Thank you for this encouragement this morning. I needed a push to start down a different path than the one I have been on. I pray regularly but have not been reading the word of God. Pray for me to be strong and to stick with this – I know it will make a difference in my life
October 6th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
Thank you Mark, for your encouraging comments today. Yes it is necessary to be in the Word, more important, than physical food. As we need physical food for our bodies, so we need God’s Word, for every part of our being. Please pray for my husband and I as we continuing to seek God’s will on a daily basis! Thanks and God bless
October 6th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Mark, please help me. I need all the prayer. Please help me be more disciplined in getting close to GOD! I so need.him more than ever now. I feel like I’m really ready to breakdown.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Hi Mark;
Thank you so much for the Journey. You help open my mind to the word of GOD. Could you please talk about” Once Saved, Always Saved “…I know that that the attoning work of Christ saves, I know the witness of the Holy Spirit, and I know the word of GOD is true. I know from Genisis to Revalations, the central meaning of the Bible, is Jesus Saves. When I back slide, how can I know for sure. Thank you and God Bless.
October 6th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
I’ve recently just started going to church and started reading the bible again and praying a little not everyday but on the days I remember to cause you see I had a serious brain injury and sometimes I forget stuff even tho it is important to me . I’ve been a Christian for years but recently I’ve been getting into the bible and going to church and praying is what I really need to do just need help on that if you could pray please pray . I had a rough life and never really known about GOD till I was 12 and after my mother passed away then shortly after I got baptized I fell away from GOD and started listening to really bad music and that is another reason i fell from GOD cause i was kinda forced to get baptized by my aunt and was forced to go to church . Now I’m willing to accept the Christ in my heart for all eternity . I’ve been a strong christian since 2008 and never backed down cause I have the truth that GOD is really real and NO ONE can break my FAITH in him my LOVE for him and my HOPE in him if you want to know more about what I mean by my brain injury hit me up on Facebook name is Bryan Ralstonn – for Mark Brown
October 6th, 2011 at 1:51 pm
I love ya Mark!
October 6th, 2011 at 2:12 pm
I needed this encouragement, I started the life application Bible study plan on youversion but have been struggling with exhaustion (emotionally and physically) so listening to this message has been a great blessing. Thank you!!!!
October 6th, 2011 at 2:24 pm
Mark, Count me in. I’m on board!
October 6th, 2011 at 2:38 pm
Thank you for reminding me of this truth, of getting into the Word and in Prayer daily! It sometimes is easy to let life get in the way of the reading and praying, this is very dangerous because with the Word of God we are able to fight the good fight of faith… I would encourage everyone to read the Word even if it is just a small amount and to pray with out ceasing! If you lack the hunger of the Word, ask God to give you the hunger and thirst of the Word! He will do it!!! Thanks again for encouraging me… Linda
October 6th, 2011 at 3:13 pm
Thank you Mark for encouraging me to read the word and pray. There are times I read the Bible but I need to make it more of a daily routine. I pray that God will continue to use you to help people draw closer to Him and His word!
God Bless You Richly!
October 6th, 2011 at 3:56 pm
i want you to pray for me i want the lord to make me the christian man he wants me to be god bless you
in god we trust amen
October 6th, 2011 at 3:59 pm
i want you to pray for me i want the lord to make me the christian man he wants me to be god bless you
in god we trust amen
October 6th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
Dearest Mark, thank you so much for sharing and encouraging us in your journey. I tell myself everyday I need to be closer to God, I need to learn more, I need to focus more. I am going to start and I don’t know if I can devote an hour but I will make a commitment to read my Bible everyday. Reading the Bible is hard for me because I do not understand everything I read and I struggle with it. YSIC, Marilynn
October 6th, 2011 at 4:56 pm
Thank you so much for all your encouragement. I am going to stand strong and start reading God’s word more each day. I do read it every day, but I know I need to be in His word more and spend more time in prayer.I will continue to pray for all that you do Mark.
October 6th, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Mark,
I have been listening to your preaching for mths now maybe a year or so. AWESOME!! Is all I can say. I ask you send a prayer my way I own a business that helps people. My Goal this year is that I can help 100 more people by the end of this year. I know with your prayers and prayers of your team WE can get this done. I read daily from my Bible. EXTREMELY IMPORTANT to me! I have had over 150 surgurys in my life and 3 Kidney Transplants. I KNOW I am here for a reason. I just hope that I can make more of a difference. My Goal for next year is to Build a home/ buy a Newer Home. And to start my Kidney Foundation. HUGE GOALS to me, But ALL things are possible with God. And I know this.. Just seems I’m missing something? And I THINK you hit it on the head when you said I need to get even closer. Possibly setting somethings aside for now. Well sorry for rambling, LOL! If you don’t mind shoot a prayer out for my business to expand quickly. So we can make a HUGE difference in the next 90 days.
Thanks for your time,
GOD BLESS,
Chad Z
October 6th, 2011 at 5:39 pm
What would be very nice is Caption. Way to many video’s have no caption For the Hearing Empaired. Maybe you should start a trend in this. Thanks
October 6th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Yes I want to make that commitment today. I don’t read the word everyday, please pray that the Lord will give me a unquenchable appetite for the word….
thanks!
October 6th, 2011 at 6:04 pm
Mark,
I have really been enjoying your messages. I recently realized I have been involved in a emotionally abusive relationship since I was a child. I have been seeing a Christian counselor to deal with the hurt and pain, and to also seek out restoration, healing and forgiveness through God and His word. I desire to get closer to God to hear the truths He has for me and to be healed by His love and grace. Please keep me in prayer as I work though the hurt and grow closer to my heavenly Father … I promise to work hard on making time with God a daily discipline. Blessings to you and your ministry!
October 6th, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Thank you for the encouragement, Mark. Question: You said in a previous video that bones are stronger after broken and healed. I truly get that when it comes to being broken by God and coming out the other end of it much stronger, but bones? That is opposite from what I’ve always been told. I listen very closely to what you say and it blesses me each and every time. God bless YOU. Lisa
October 6th, 2011 at 7:26 pm
Thank you for your words of encouragement Mark Brown
October 6th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Mark, thank you for posting this.
October 6th, 2011 at 8:10 pm
Great encourager and conviction. I will use this as my started to spend more time in God’s word.
God Bless you!
October 6th, 2011 at 9:13 pm
Thank you Mark for your perseverance and continued work to teach and encourage the rest of us believers. I appreciate your no nonsense, no frills videos which allow us to focus on the words you are speaking. Thanks for the challenge to all of us to become more disciplined in reading God’s Word and praying for we have only begun to scratch the surface of God’s love.
May God bless you and your ministry !
October 6th, 2011 at 9:54 pm
I’m starting today! Thank you for the prayers!
October 6th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Thank you Mark for being used by God to guide me closer to Him….I’m going to start today
October 7th, 2011 at 12:58 am
Thank you for saying that you read all the things that people write to you. When I did not receive any word from you, I felt dissed.
Also, your video is exactly the Word I need right now. Thank you for speaking of discipline. I do know about discipline, however, my circumstances are/were overwhelming. I am doing better, as of today…then I see this in my email and it is as if it were just for me. Now I can use that discipline that is in me to make this commitment you are asking of us.
I do confess my sin, right away. That’s just how I do things.
I commit today, to a closer walk with God. To mediate on a verse all day and speak it out too. To keep my eyes and my heart on Him. To be disciplined in praying and reading daily, even though I may not feel like it (due to circumstances).
I have learned, when we don’t feel like it, that is when we need to the most. This takes discipline. I step up to the plate now and will walk this out with you and all who commit today.
Thank you for praying for me and all of us who are committing this day to a closer walk with God. Meaning for me personally, more prayer time. I study a lot but my prayer life is not that good.
I pray for you too, thanking God for your dedication to Him and for having the courage to share on video. I thank Him for people like you who dedicate themselves to helping others with their walk.
Peace and joy to you brother Mark.
Sincerely,
Bobbie
October 7th, 2011 at 7:34 am
please keep me in prayers to endure.
October 7th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
I want to start today.
October 7th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
Mark, Thank you so much for the encouragement.My family needs a lot of Prayer. I am the only one that is trying to walk with the Lord. We are raising grandchildren and one is a alchol symdom child. We are having a hard time. Please Pray. MAY GOD CONTINUE WORKING IN YOUR LIFE
October 8th, 2011 at 4:11 am
I have been endeavouring to get into the word more and have been praying for more faith and to grow closer to God again. Due to past and current hurts that still affect me I am really struggling in my faith and walk with God. I am wanting to become passionate again but am often overwhelmed and bound by fear.
October 8th, 2011 at 5:11 pm
I watched this with my daughter and said :”I will follow in your footsteps.” Amen!
October 9th, 2011 at 2:44 am
As I watched this video, I started thinking about my faith walk in the months since I started working at my amazing Christian private school. There is so much spiritual support and we are always learning about God and His word. This made me question, “Through all this support, is the growth in my faith really just growth in knowledge and a stall in a real relationship? Am I just developing a psuedo-relationship?” I need to spend more time deliberately developing a true relationship. I start today. Thanks!
October 9th, 2011 at 4:38 am
I’ve tried many times to stay on a consistent schedule of spending time with God every day, but I always fall out of rhythm. Please pray for me that I would stick with it.
October 9th, 2011 at 6:29 am
Thank you for your message you share. I am always trying to get closer and closer to God. My 22 yr old son Russell passed away on sept.21st. Please pray for me.
October 11th, 2011 at 3:37 am
Thanks, Mark for a good teaching on growing with God. Everyday God shows me in many ways to look to him for everything I need to grow. I read my bible very often and I also read some good christian books. I am almost finish reading the book by Bruce Wilkinson ( You Were Born for This ) It is such a powerful lesson on what God want us to be. If you have time, I recommend it highly. He is the author of ( The Prayer of Jabez)also. God Bless you and keep up the good work.
October 11th, 2011 at 12:55 pm
Hello Mark,
Praying throughout the day, check! Asking for forgiveness of my sins, check! Spending more time in the Word, this is where I need prayer, please pray for me to have more of a commitment to “journey deeper into God’s Word”!
Thank you and God bless,
Donovon P.
October 11th, 2011 at 3:28 pm
Lord, Your will be done. This was spoken at church last week. I want to remain, to endure. amen
October 11th, 2011 at 6:27 pm
people never cease to amaze me.
October 14th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
Mark: I wish to draw closer to God each day. I made a committment to fellowship with Him each day. Good days and bad days. Please pray for me.
Thanks,
Dana Russell
October 15th, 2011 at 1:38 am
118 days ago I gave my life to God. I have 117 days and nights clean and sober today. To God be the glory I couldn’t do it without Him. I will start reading more. I am in church 4 nights a week and Sunday also. I tithe 10% listen to The Holy Spirit and do my best to change in all the ways He leads me to go. Please pray for me in Jesus Name. I love you brother, Amy
October 15th, 2011 at 5:01 pm
Please pray for me to stay in Gods word. I would truly appreciate it.
October 25th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Mark — thank you for your inspirational words. I thoroughly enjoy listening to you. Although, I pray every day and try to do good deeds to help people, I have to admit that I am not disciplined in reading the bible each day. I do read it, unfortunately, not every day. From this day forward, I will make a commitment to read the bible so that I can get closer to God and his love. I would also ask for your prayers to help me get well. I have health challenges that limit me from leading a normal life and really going out there and volunteering my services to help people that I would truly like to. It is heart wrenching to me that I am limited in what I can do because I have so much love to give and my dream is to work with abused women and help them overcome the abuse and hurt they have endured and to help them become a whole, confident person.
Thank you, Mark, and God Bless you and your ministry.