Pray for those who persecute you. Praying for someone that isn’t good to you is not easy— especially when you are angry or hurt—but it is exactly what Jesus requests of you in the above verse. By sincerely praying for the worst people in your life, you grow closer to God.

In this scripture the apostle Paul addresses a problem everyone faces at one time or another: Do we please the people around us, or do we please God? Your life won’t always make sense and you won’t always make others happy, but it’s best to decide to trust His plan and purpose for your life. Seek to please and obey God over man and everything else will fall into place.

The story in this verse of the anointing of Jesus is a beautiful testimony of love. So moved by Jesus’ forgiveness, the sinful, unnamed woman didn’t utter a word. She simply wept and kissed His feet, knowing deep in her heart that she had been forgiven.

Philip Yancey said, “Though the world may be tilted toward the rich and powerful, God is tilted toward the underdog.” The Bible is filled with unlikely heroes, ordinary people that the world considered underdogs. When you think that a goal is out of reach and the odds are stacked against you, look to the Bible and the many examples of everyday people living lives of heroic faith.

If you have a decision to make and need wisdom, go straight to the Source. Ask God to show you how to make choices that will bring honor to His name. As Daniel described in verses 2:21-22: “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals the deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.”

In this scripture, and in different passages throughout the Bible, clouds symbolize divine presence. Other examples are when Moses ascended Mount Sinai and a cloud covered the mountain, or at Solomon’s dedication when a cloud filled the temple. The next cloudy day, pause to reflect on God’s use of clouds to remind us of His presence and to feel His comfort when it is overcast.