"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 Cananite 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 said no and the crowd is urging you to go away! Have the faith, like this woman who would not be moved, and 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, this I pray in Jesus’s name.
Related upcoming events
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18/06/2024 - 19/06/2024 All day“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phill 4:6-7)
Every now and then there comes those situations that almost paralyses us as we don’t seem to see any way out and we are lost of any hope. Who has not had that matter which weighed so heavily on the mind that left one hopelessly cornered. This could range from situations such as an estranged relationship or bidding for a job that is slow in coming forth. The matter seems to leave us overwhelmed.
Whenever one reaches such point of desperation, well, it could be time to let go and ask God to take over. By letting go we are but confirming our total trust in God. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
In the life of Moses we see that at one point he was obsessed with liberating the Jews from captivity that he even took the law into his hands when he murdered an Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-13). It wasn’t God’s call and he had to flee once word went out. Moses had to let go. Finally we see at a time of God’s choice him being picked out of
the wilderness and told it is time to go to victory (Exodus 3).But letting go is not as easy as it might sound. Even then; the Apostle Peter writes, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” ( 1 Peter 5:7). And Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Today, if there is any matter that seems to be weighing so heavily on you that you are almost bereft of peace, it might be best, to just let it go and ask God to take over. You will be surprised when victory knocks!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of heaven and earth, whatever it is weighing on my heart, I decide to let go, for you are sovereign and have power to will anything to, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
