Remarkable faith is often found in the most unremarkable places.  Jesus exclaims this in two gospel stories involving those outside God’s covenant people.   First, Jesus declares of the centurion who asks healing for his servant, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.”  And later as Jesus and his disciples vacation at the seaside, a ‘Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, ‘Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.’”  Jesus tested her by putting her off, but she persisted and received healing for her daughter. 

Jesus, no doubt, shocked his disciples when he “answered [the Canaanite woman], ‘O woman, great is your faith!  Be it done for you as you desire.’”  A Canaanite?  A Gentile dog?  No, a woman of great persistence in prayer! Evidence, Jesus says, of a great faith.

Scripture teaches us about the remarkable promise and power of believing prayer.

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Luke 11:9-10

But also warns us that prayer is no mere talisman.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 

James 1:6

Even contemporary artist, Jelly Roll, angsts over the tension between itinerant, half-hearted prayer versus faith in the grace of a merciful God in his popular song, “Need a Favor.”

I only talk to God when I need a favor
And I only pray when I ain’t got a prayer
So who … am I, who … am I to expect a savior, oh
If I only talk to God when I need a favor?
But, God, I need a favor!

“Need a Favor,” Jelly Roll,

What does you prayer life look like?   Who does your prayer life resemble?  Is it more like Jelly Roll or the Canaanite woman?   Is your prayer more afterthought than wrestling match?   If you had been at Peniel would you have said with duplicitous Jacob, “I will not let you go until you bless me?”  Do you let go easily in prayer?  Or hold fast in unshakable faith?

Join us as Rev. Bill Holiman leads us to examine Matthew 15:21-28 and consider ‘believing prayer.’  We meet on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join us on Facebook Live @PottsvilleARP or YouTube.