part three
The Great Lessons
  
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The Power of Prayer       

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be full.

Once a man appeared at his friend’s door after midnight. "Lend me three loaves of bread,” he called. “I have visitors who have travelled far to see me, and my cupboards are bare."

But his friend replied: "Please don't disturb me now. The door is locked, and my children are asleep. I can't get up and help you."

Here is a lesson. Though the man did not get up and provide the bread because of their friendship, he did eventually give in to his friend’s earnest pleading, and rose from his sleep to give him what he asked.

Be so persistent in your requests to God. Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, those who seek find, and to those who knock, the door will be opened wide.

In a certain town, there lived a hard-hearted judge, who neither feared God nor cared for his neighbour. In the same town there lived a widow, who pursued him for justice concerning a person who had harmed her. Time passed, and the judge persisted in ignoring her pleas, refusing to hear her case, until finally, one day, he said to himself:

"Though I do not fear God, nor concern myself with charity, I will see to it that this widow gets justice; for she wears me out with her constant appeals."

Will not God, then, offer justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he too ignore your earnest cry for help? I tell you this: he will see that they who seek him receive justice, and quickly! And yet, the real question raised in this story is this: When the Messiah returns, will he find many on the earth with such persevering faith?

I do not mean that you should let your prayer fall into a pattern of mindless repetition. The unenlightened pray in this manner, imagining that they will be heard because of the great number of their prayers. Do not imitate them. Remember your heavenly Father knows what you need even before you ask.

The prophet Isaiah has written: "My house shall be called by all nations, a house of prayer."

Pray then, to the Father who hears your most intimate prayers and rewards them openly; and whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will provide. If you live your life in me, and let my words live in you, you may ask what you wish and it will be given to you.

Pray in this manner:

“Our Father in heaven, may all the earth recognize that you are the one and holy God.
May your kingdom dwell among us. May your purpose be accomplished on earth, as it is in heaven. Provide us with daily bread to sustain us, and forgive our falling short. Help us to forgive those who have wronged us. Keep us from wandering into faithlessness, and deliver us from the evil one. For to you belongs all power and glory, eternally. Let it be so."

turn the page to read the next section: The Treasures in Heaven

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