"Dear Grace" by Sarah Gomez-Lorraine

Psalm 138

I give you thanks, 
   O God,
with my whole heart;
   before the gods 
I sing your praise;

I bow down 
   towards your holy temple
and give thanks 
   to your name
for your steadfast love
   and your faithfulness;

for you have exalted your name
   and your word above everything.

On the day I called,
   you answered me,
you increased my strength 
   of soul.

All the kings of the earth 
   shall praise you, O God,
for they have heard the words
   of your mouth.

They shall sing 
   of the ways of God,
for great is the glory 
   of God.

For though God is high,
   God regards the lowly;
but the haughty,
   God perceives from far away.

Though I walk 
   in the midst of trouble,
you preserve me
   against the wrath 
of my enemies;

you stretch out your hand,
   and your right hand delivers me.

God will fulfill God's purpose 
   for me;
your steadfast love, O God,
   endures forever.
Do not forsake the work 
   of your hands.

Luke 11:1-13

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial."

And he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.' And he answers from within, 'Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.' I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

"So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"