"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere" (Ephesians 6:18).

All human beings are born with an inborn virtue of persistence. For example, before infants start walking, it all starts with crawling until through persistence we all learn to walk. No child starts walking steadily but only by falling and standing up again, the child masters the trick. Yes, persistence enabled us all learn to walk.

Jesus met many people whom he was able to deliver because they were persistent. There was that bleeding woman he cured of an incurable condition because she refused to believe in the doctor's report. For she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment"  (Mathew 9:21-22).

The there was the Canaanite woman. She met a wall of resistance once she showed up. "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly" (Mathew 15:21), she cried out to Jesus. At first Jesus played deaf. "Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us" (vv 23).

Against this initial discouragement this mother stood her ground. She persisted.
"The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said" ( vv 25). And then it got more interesting and quite humorous too. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs" ( vv 26).
This mother was not about to give up. “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table".   ( vv 27). Jesus was moved by her tenacity and finally yielded. "Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment" ( vv 27 -28).

You too like this mother have been born with an inner fighting spirit. Like her, you might have met certain opposition but you should not give up just because someone has yelled “No” and the crowd is urging you to go away! Have the faith, like this woman, stand ground and do not be moved. Soon but not later God will come down and say, "Child, for your faith it is done"!

Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, with faith I come to you assured you have answered my prayer needs, to your glory, this I pray in Jesus’ name.