FAITH CAPSULE: Be persistent in prayer, resisting all discouragement. 

Matthew 15:21-28, Luke 18:1-8

Persistent payer is not the character of those with no heart to wait patiently for answered prayer.
Matthew 15:21-22 records a demonstration of a woman with the character of persistent waiting on God for expectation for an answer in prayer before God. “Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.’”  
A woman of Canaan wanted a positive response from Jesus.  “But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, ‘Send her away, for she cries out after us.’ But He answered and said, ‘I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.’” (Matthew 15:23-24) 
The response of Jesus and His disciples was enough to discourage the woman of Canaan from turning her back to Jesus, but she pressed further, expecting to gain.
She persisted in receiving by resisting all discouragement. 
The Bible records, “Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Matthew 15:25) 
Despite her appeal, Jesus answered, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 1:26)  
The answer of Jesus made her insist and persist for her miracle. 
The woman responded to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15:27) 
There is no better way to describe persistence than that of the Canaanite woman before Jesus. 
Eventually, she got an answer from Jesus, “’ O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.’ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.” (Matthew 15:28)
Great faith is the evidence of unyielding persistence in expressing expectation. 
Are you expecting to get an answer to your prayer request? 
Jesus is the Master healer. 
He alone is the One who gives and takes as He pleases. 
There is no place or reason for giving up on Jesus.
Some challenges demand crying out instead of crying silently. 
Are you crying silently where a challenge calls for crying out? 
All should understand that crying out is not a sign of weakness. 
The woman of Canaan cried out regardless of the multitudes and eventually got the attention of Jesus.
She called Jesus out, “Son of David”.
She was repeatedly snubbed and eventually got a delayed answer.
The case of the Canaan woman demonstrates that Jesus is the Master who unpredictably answers to all. 
He will never fail to answer those who reach out and do not give up on their request.
Engage Jesus in prayer, looking to Him alone, to be focused on getting an answer like the Canaan woman instead of looking outside of Jesus.

Prayer for today: Ask for the grace of strength on your prayer altar.