The keys are gone, and a door stands open, and your heart is troubled. Yet herein is a matter for prayer, and prayer of the right sort, prayer that pleads with the Most High, spreading the case before Him with all the arguments you can muster. Tell Him that this small thing touches your peace, that an open gate is a danger, and that a missing bunch of keys is a burden to your mind. But remember, the prayer that avails much is first found in the heart because the Lord has put it there. Go then, and look in your heart for the prayer He has prepared; do not simply cry out in sudden alarm, but seek the supplication He has laid ready for you, and then lift it up with holy boldness.
But now, consider the soul that carried those keys away. Perhaps it was an intruder, or someone known, or merely a passerby who saw what fingers had long coveted. Into that heart none can look but God. And yet this is your great comfort: the Lord can work in that heart as easily as He turns the rivers of water. Prayer is a mighty weapon, and intercessory prayer has stayed plagues and brought back the straying. Cry out, then, that God would speak a returning word to that hidden one. Let your prayer follow that person as if it were a voice crying, "Return, return!", return not only the keys, but return from an evil way. Your loss may be God's occasion to fetch a wandering soul home. Oh, that the thief, if thief there be, might hear the command, "Return now, every one from his evil way," and so bring back the stolen goods and bring himself to the feet of Jesus!
Yet it may also be that the keys were simply mislaid, and not stolen at all. Then let your prayer be the prayer of inward thirst that cries to God in the hour of small distress. The Lord is a prayer-hearing God, and He condescends to cares we think too trifling to name. Do not be ashamed to ask Him to open your eyes to see what has been hidden from them. But while you ask, search your own heart as well. Is there some key of the Kingdom which you have let slide from your grasp? Some grace that once unlocked sweet communion, now lost through carelessness? The absence of those iron keys may call you to remember how you have mislaid trust in Christ, and left the gate unguarded against the world.
Let your prayer, then, be earnest and immediate. You know not what a day may bring forth; the time for returning to the Lord is now. And when you pray, pray with the Church, for those who continue with one accord in prayer obtain answers both for themselves and for one another. Bring this small burden to the prayer meeting, and let your brethren plead with you. United prayer is wonderfully prevalent.
Be much in prayer, but do not let your asking end with the restoration of brass and steel. Pray that the opener of the back gate may have his heart’s gate thrown wide to the King of Glory. And if your keys come back, then praise Him, but if they do not, still trust. Unanswered yet, prayer is not lost, for it teaches patience and drives you deeper into the bosom of Him who hears. He knows your need, and He knows where those keys are gone. The Lord work secretly in that unknown heart, and work openly in yours, to give you peace beyond the keeping of locks and bars.
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. Thank You for loving me, Jesus. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. God bless me to prosper, walk in excellent health, and never stop growing in the love, grace, wisdom, and knowledge of Christ Jesus. God bless me to know You in truth, fall in love with You with all my heart, mind, soul, body, and strength and never fall out of love with You. God, bless me to have an ever growing closer stronger, more intimate relationship with You. Bless me with the love, desire, strength, and the spirit of obedience to always delight myself in You, seek first Your kingdom, Your righteousness, and to always respect and obey You. Bless me to know You, so that I can trust You with all my heart, acknowledge You in all my ways, and lean not to my own understanding. Bless me with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding in all You have called me to do. 
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