a 365 day trip through Matthew with a key thought, prayer, focus verse and contextual verses for each day
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If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to all people, so he will give you wisdom. But when you ask God, you must believe and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown up and down by the wind. Such doubters are thinking two different things at the same time, and they cannot decide about anything they do. They should not think they will receive anything from the Lord. (NCV)
James 1:5-8
I tell you the truth, whoever believes in me will do the same things that I do. Those who believe will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And if you ask for anything in my name, I will do it for you so that the Father’s glory will be shown through the Son. (NCV)
John 14:12-13
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Luke 18:1-8 |
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March 24
Keep Praying! - Matthew 7:7-8
"Ask, and God will give to you. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened."
Full Text
Key Thought
Ask, search, knock. They sound so harmless and so easy. But behind these words is the intent of Jesus: "Be persistent! Keep asking! Continue seeking! Don't quit knocking!" This is not a cookbook prescription, but the target attitude we should have in our prayers. We must be persistent and faithful.
But before we make that persistence our key to acquiring and achieving for ourselves, let's remember Jesus' example in the model prayer in 6:9-13: the focus is on God's will -- his Kingdom and his glory; our most basic needs -- daily bread; and overcoming sin through forgiveness and deliverance.
Jesus is reminding us that if we stay after these, not only will we get what we ask for, but we will also be changed in the process!
Today's Prayer
Holy and righteous Father, thank you so much for the many prayers you have answered. Thank you, dear Father, for answering my prayers to be more like Jesus. I confess I am still so very far from his perfection, but when I look at the distance you have brought me in the past, I can only view the future with excitement knowing that you will lead me on to become more like him in the future. In Jesus' name I thank you and ask for your continued grace. Amen.
Today's Verses with Jesus
(key verses in bold)
1 “Don’t judge other people, or you will be judged.
2 You will be judged in the same way that you judge others, and
the amount you give to others will be given to you.
3 “Why do you notice the little piece of dust in your
friend’s eye, but you don’t notice the big piece of
wood in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your friend, ‘Let
me take that little piece of dust out of your eye’? Look at
yourself! You still have that big piece of wood in your own eye.
5 You hypocrite! First, take the wood out of your own eye. Then
you will see clearly to take the dust out of your friend’s
eye.
6 “Don’t give holy things to dogs, and don’t
throw your pearls before pigs. Pigs will only trample on them,
and dogs will turn to attack you. Top
of Page
7 “Ask, and God will give to you.
Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will open for you.
8 Yes, everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will
find. And everyone who knocks will have the door opened.
9 “If your children ask for bread, which of you would
give them a stone? 10 Or if your children ask for a fish, would
you give them a snake? 11 Even though you are bad, you know how
to give good gifts to your children. How much more your heavenly
Father will give good things to those who ask him!
12 “Do to others what you want them to do to you. This is
the meaning of the law of Moses and the teaching of the
prophets.
(NCV) The New Century Version, (Dallas, Texas:
Word Publishing) 1987, 1988, 1991.
Used by permission.
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