We have courage in God's presence, because we are sure that he hears us if we ask him for anything that is according to his will.

You will listen, O LORD, to the prayers of the lowly; you will give them courage.

I prayed to the LORD, and he answered me; he freed me from all my fears.

The LORD watches over the righteous and listens to their cries;

The righteous call to the LORD, and he listens; he rescues them from all their troubles.

Call to me when trouble comes; I will save you, and you will praise me."

If I had ignored my sins, the Lord would not have listened to me.

But God has indeed heard me; he has listened to my prayer.

He is near to those who call to him, who call to him with sincerity.

He supplies the needs of those who honor him; he hears their cries and saves them.

When good people pray, the LORD listens, but he ignores those who are evil.

If you do not obey the law, God will find your prayers too hateful to hear.

"When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood.

Turn to the LORD and pray to him, now that he is near.

Let the wicked leave their way of life and change their way of thinking. Let them turn to the LORD, our God; he is merciful and quick to forgive.

Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will answer you.

You will seek me, and you will find me because you will seek me with all your heart.

"Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you wonderful and marvelous things that you know nothing about.

"Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

For this reason I tell you: When you pray and ask for something, believe that you have received it, and you will be given whatever you ask for.

And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Would any of you who are fathers give your son a snake when he asks for fish?

As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"

We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do.

And I will do whatever you ask for in my name, so that the Father's glory will be shown through the Son.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, then you will ask for anything you wish, and you shall have it.

"When that day comes, you will not ask me for anything. I am telling you the truth: the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.

Until now you have not asked for anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your happiness may be complete.

But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all.

So then, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you will be healed. The prayer of a good person has a powerful effect.

What he commands is that we believe in his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as Christ commanded us.

Those who obey God's commands live in union with God and God lives in union with them. And because of the Spirit that God has given us we know that God lives in union with us.

"So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.

The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.

While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased---listen to him!"

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

God has overlooked the times when people did not know him, but now he commands all of them everywhere to turn away from their evil ways.

To Jews and Gentiles alike I gave solemn warning that they should turn from their sins to God and believe in our Lord Jesus.

Jesus answered, "What God wants you to do is to believe in the one he sent."

And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."

We know that God does not listen to sinners; he does listen to people who respect him and do what he wants them to do.

Here, then, is my receipt for everything you have given me---and it has been more than enough! I have all I need now that Epaphroditus has brought me all your gifts. They are like a sweet-smelling offering to God, a sacrifice which is acceptable and pleasing to him.

Then you will be able to live as the Lord wants and will always do what pleases him. Your lives will produce all kinds of good deeds, and you will grow in your knowledge of God.

(SEE 13:20)