An Encouragement for Prayer

² Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

¹⁷ Never stop praying. ¹⁸ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.^[a]

¹² Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.

⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.

³⁶ Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”

⁷ The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.