Key Thought

Today's Prayer

Father, you know that I have had several things on my heart. I now ask that you hear me once again and act in your great might and for your glory and accomplish your will in the following areas ... I ask it all in Jesus' name. Amen.

Today's Verses in Context

One time Jesus was praying in a place. When Jesus finished praying, one of his followers said to him, "John taught his followers how to pray. Lord, teach us how to pray too." Jesus said to the followers, "When you pray, pray like this: 'Father, we pray that your name will always be kept holy. We pray that your kingdom will come. Give us the food we need for each day. Forgive us the sins we have done, because we forgive every person that has done wrong to us. And don't let us be tempted (tested).'" Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you went to your friend's house very late at night and said to him, 'A friend of mine has come into town to visit me. But I have nothing for him to eat. Please give me three loaves of bread.' Your friend inside the house answers, 'Go away! Don't bother me! The door is already locked. My children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you the bread now.' I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask. So I tell you, continue to ask, and God will give to you. Continue to search, and you will find. Continue to knock, and the door will open for you. Yes, if a person continues asking, that person will receive. If a person continues looking, that person will find. And if a person continues knocking, the door will open for that person. Does any of you have a son? What would you do if your son asked you for a fish? Would any father give his son a snake? No! You would give him a fish. Or, if your son asks for an egg, would you give him a scorpion ? No! {You are like all other people}—you are evil. But you know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father knows how to give the Holy Spirit to those people that ask him."

Related Scripture Readings

Lord, you are my Rock, I am calling to you for help. Don't close your ears to my prayers. If you don't answer my calls for help, then people will think I am no better than the dead people in the grave. {Lord,} I raise my arms and pray toward your Most Holy Place. Hear me when I call to you. Show mercy to me. Lord, don't think of me as one of those bad people Those people greet their neighbors with the word "Shalom." But in their hearts they are planning bad things against their neighbors. Lord, those people do bad things to other people. So make bad things happen to them. Give them the punishment they deserve. Bad people don't understand the good things the Lord does. They don't see the good things God does. No, they don't understand; they only try to destroy. Praise the Lord! He heard my prayer for mercy. The Lord is my strength. He is my shield. I trusted him. And he helped me. I am very happy! And I sing songs of praise to him.

We have a great high priest who has gone to live with God in heaven. He is Jesus the Son of God. So let us continue strongly in the faith we have. Jesus, the high priest that we have, is able to understand our weaknesses. When Jesus lived on earth, he was tempted in every way. He was tempted in the same ways that we are tempted, but he never sinned. With Jesus as our high priest we can feel free to come before God's throne where there is grace (forgiveness). There we receive mercy and kindness to help us when we need it.

"And when you pray, don't be like those people that don't know God. They continue saying things that mean nothing. Don't pray like that. They think that God will hear them because of the many things they say.