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The Words of Jesus of Nazareth
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Up until now you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, and your joy will be full.
You go to a friend's house at midnight, and say: "Lend me three loaves of bread. I have visitors who have travelled far to see me, and my cupboards are bare."
The reply comes back: "Please don't disturb me now. The door is locked, and my children are asleep. I can't get up and help you." I tell you, though your friend will not get up and give you bread because of your friendship, he or she will eventually give in to your earnest persisting, and rise to give you as much bread as you need.
So continue. 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 about his neighbour. In the same town there lived a widow, who constantly harangued him for justice concerning a person who had harmed her. For long time he ignored her, and refused to hear her case. But finally he said to himself:
"Though I do not fear God, or concern myself with charity, I will see that this widow gets justice; for she wears me out with her constant appeals."
Will not God, then, bring justice to his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Do you think he will put them off? I tell you: he will see that they receive justice, and quickly! Yet the real question raised in this story is this: When I, the Messiah, return, will I find many on the earth with such persevering faith?
I don't mean that you should let your prayer fall into a pattern of mindless repetition. The heathen pray this way, thinking they will be heard by the quantities of their prayers. You shouldn't 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 private 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 your hearts, 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 only holy God.
May your kingdom come dwell among us, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day bread to sustain us, and forgive our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.
Keep us from wandering into temptation, and deliver us from the evil one.
For to you belongs all power, and glory, eternally. So be it.
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These are the very words of Jesus of Nazereth. Taken originally from the Bible , and arranged here by subject as they appear in Lee Cantelon's book "The Words" (c) 1997. [www.thewords.com]
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