Prayer Root Ministries -> Praying through Scripture -> The Gospel of Mark -> Mark 5
Scripture (ESV)
They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
Prayer Root: Word to Prayer
Heavenly Father,
It is amazing that You sent Jesus, who looked beyond the torment and saw the man behind the demon possession. While others saw fear and madness, Jesus saw a heart that could be healed, and through His authority, brought deliverance. You looked deep within him—beyond the fierce and broken exterior—and restored him to wholeness through Your Son.
Lord, I pray that You do the same for me. In the layers of my sin, my iniquities, and my fears, look deep into my heart. See me beyond my faults and failures, and through Jesus Christ, cast out every darkness that holds me captive. Just as Jesus commanded the demons to depart, please drive away all sin, all spiritual bondage, and every force that opposes Your truth in my life.
They asked Jesus to leave their region, Lord—perhaps out of fear, loss, or misunderstanding. But if there are any areas in my own life where I have asked You to leave because Your presence challenges my comfort, please reveal and remove them. Cleanse every part of me that resists Your truth.
Replace fear with faith, and restlessness with Your peace. Remove what is impure and unhealthy from my soul, and fill those places with Your light. Just as Jesus delivered that man from torment, deliver me daily from everything that separates me from You.
Lord, You determine the calling and direction of every life. To some, Jesus says, “Follow Me.” To others, He calls them to take up their cross. And to some—like the healed man—He says, “Go home and tell how much the Lord has done for you.”
Wherever You place me, the call is clear: to testify to what Jesus has done for me.
Let my life be a dwelling place for Your Spirit—a living testimony of the mercy and authority of Jesus Christ. May I proclaim, with joy and boldness, how much He has done for me and the compassion He has shown.
Rooted in prayer, rejoicing in Christ.