Prayer

When God’s Answer Seems to be NO

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When God’s Answer Seems to Be No!

” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”  Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”  

Matthew 15:24-26

Well finally after being ignored and just a little humiliated by the disciples, the woman got an answer from Jesus. But the response was definitely not what she had hoped for. What do we do with our prayers when it seems that on very good scriptural basis we are told that God’s answer for us is “NO!”? In fact, what may hurt the most is not only God’s refusal,  but also His apparent agreement with people who reject us. How could Jesus take the side of those who seem to have such cold and uncaring hearts.  How we choose our to respond in that lowest of moments says everything about who we truly believe our God to be.

p1020539lives? Have we begun to murmur, complain or even point the finger of blame towards Jesus Himself? This Canaanite woman somehow knew that no matter what the outward appearances were, Jesus was in fact both willing and able to heal her daughter and to grant her request and He will hear and answer our prayers today!

 

 

 

 

 

God Answers Prayer – Part One

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 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.”  But He answered her not a word …Matthew 15:22-23a

Did it ever feel like God wasn’t paying any attention to your or your needs? That is undoubtedly exactly the feeling that this woman experienced. She cried. She begged. She fell to His feet. Nothing she could do or say seemed to touch the Lord. Her story reminded me of the Bangladeshi people who came to work the gravel of the dry river banks in North India. They were rejected by most of the local people and forced to take the lowest and most menial jobs. Yet Jesus made His only trip abroad and in retrospect came only for this one woman as an answer to her prayers.

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Bangladeshi Women in North India

So when it seems as if Jesus is not listening and when no one else seems to believe that we will find the answer, we have a decision to make. Will we continue to believe or will we go away? Will we continue to ask or will we give up in desperation?  For all of us there comes that single moment when we have to decide what to do with silence. This woman who appeared to have no background, no friends and no hope leaves us with a testimony of hope, not only that God is listening but that He cares enough to hear and answer our prayer! It is if you could think that Jesus made the trip to earth, just for you!

3rd Gift at Christmas

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Third Gift of Christmas – Prayer

 

But I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”  Luke 22:32 ESV

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That sense of being totally alone in the world can be worse for some people as Christmas works its way closer. Even people surrounded by friends can feel abandoned because of inner struggles that no one else knows. Why not take a moment to tell someone you will be praying for them, or better yet, pray right away with them. Some things in life are so heavy, so difficult, so complicated and so unbearable that only prayer can meet that need. There is no greater gift we can give someone than to be able to truthfully say “but I have prayed for you.”