Relentless Warrior

From my blog on Established in Grace
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I was praying for my daughter and saw the verse Matthew 15:28 on my list of verses to pray for her.  So I turned to it and read,

Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted."  And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Then I went back and re-read the story, verses 21-28 and I felt as if Jesus was opening my eyes anew to something I already understood and had read many many times.

This Canaanite woman is asking for something that Jesus will grant her.  He wants to grant her the request she is making but He delays her request.  Making her ask again and again.

Did He deny her request to test her faith?  To grow her?  Was it for the disciples?  Was it to grow them?  Whatever the reason Jesus denies and puts her off.  But she keeps asking.  It's her child, her daughter.  She won't give up even if it means to humble herself over and over again and relentlessly ask.

I imagine Jesus smiling when He answers her, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted!"  Could she feel His heart of love even though it seemed He was denying her request to heal her daughter?

I don't pretend to know the ways of God, or how prayer works, but as I read this story and prayed for my daughter I felt God move on my heart.

Keep praying.  The answer might feel like a "no" but keep asking.  Don't give up.  Pray relentlessly even in the face of obstacles and doubt. I have given you this burden of prayer, this love to ache and pray for her, don't stop praying.  

Being a warrior doesn't mean that things come easily.  It means that we fight for them.  As Christians we fight spiritual battles. We fight in prayer.  Praying for our daughter is a joy and sorrow. Some of you understand that kind of prayer.  Some days I feel parched and empty.  Other days full of hope and expectation.  But even on the days where I feel weak to pray I won't give up.  I clutch Jesus' feet and pray our daughter.

Have you felt impressed to pray for someone or something?  Have you felt you're praying on repeat without any movement?  Don't give up.  I can't explain why there is this silence or seeming delay but I do know that there is a loving God who wants to give you all good things.  Keep praying.  Ask for clarity in your prayers and search the Bible, but don't give up praying.  You never know when or how He will answer.

Silent and Unknown Warrior

From my blog post on Established in Grace
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Over Mother's Day weekend I thought about her.

Not my daughter but her birth mother.  My heart skitters and slides over that messy and beautifully painful truth.

I don't have our girl home yet. I don't have her picture or her beautiful Chinese name to look at and memorize, but already the magnitude, tragedy, depth, and privilege begin to expand and grow in my soul.

And this woman that I don't know is a warrior.  I don't know her story and I cannot claim any knowledge about her and our shared daughter.  But this woman chose to grow our daughter in her womb.  And give her life.  It is not an easy choice.  But she did it.  This warrior woman gave our daughter life and gave her to us.

In response to this warrior woman I will be a warrior to fight for her spiritual life.

So I fight in prayer for our daughter's birth parents. Praying for God to work in their hearts and lives and have them accept Jesus as their personal Savior, so that one day we can all be together in heaven and love on our girl as a family.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."  2 Peter 3:9 (emphasis mine)

Prayers are often silent and unknown except to the person who is praying.  But prayer is powerful.  Here at Established in Grace we want to pray for you. To be silent warrior women for you as we pray for the needs of your heart.  We may not know you personally but we can join together in prayer to the One who knows and loves you best.

I also invite you to become the unknown and silent warriors for someone.  Who are you fighting for?  Who do you need to be wrestling in prayer for?  Be a warrior and fight for the eternal lives of those God is placing upon your heart.

I think of Jacob's reply after wrestling with God,

"I will not let you go unless you bless me." Genesis 32:26

Don't give up. Don't let go of God as you fight for those He has laid on your heart.  And one day I look forward to being gathered together in heaven and seeing and hearing all the ways God has answered our prayers.