Matthew 15: 21-28

Matthew 15: 21-28 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 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." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered, "Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted." And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Jesus, In Your presence You never fail to teach me! Today You taught me how to keep my family from destruction. It's not enough for me to be there for my children. They need more than my friendship. My listening ear and open line of communication will not save them. These things are important, but unless my family members are on-fire for You, and totally in love with You, they are drifting spiritually and in danger of suffering terrible demon possession. A lukewarm spirit can lure them into evil and temptation. You have shown me that Satan wants to rob my family of their genuine, fervent faith. Like this woman, I must persistently seek You for my family. You may test the tenacity of my faith by not responding to me or rebuffing me with harsh words. Like the woman, I will not go away until You hear the cry of my heart and give me what I need for those I love! Please empower me to remain steadfast and determined in my pursuit the fullness of mercy and grace for them. I will not settle for crumbs!  I am boldly approaching the throne of grace with confidence to present their desperate needs to You. I may not see them get right with You, but with Your almighty power I will erect roadblocks and obstacles to stop their race to hell. On my knees, I will pray down conviction on them and pray up protective hedges around them. Please send godly role models into their lives. If not me, then who will pray for my precious family? I will not resign them to fate. Help me to sweat and labor in intercession for their souls. Whatever it takes Lord, I am going to do battle for them with the swift sword of Your Word and the power of prayer until one of us goes home to be with You. God, please save my sweet family by the power of Jesus' name! Amen.

Do you diligently seek Jesus for Your family - children, grandchildren, saved and unsaved relatives? If not you, then who will seek Jesus to heal and save them from destruction? For years the simple prayer of my heart for my family has been that they would love the Lord their God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, and love others as themselves. I thank God for hearing the cry of my heart, and not only saving my children, but also for filling their heart with mercy and grace, and the power to follow Him no matter the cost.  Now that my two boys are young adults, walking with Jesus day by day, I continue to pray that they will love the Lord, and that the women they chose to marry will be so hidden in Christ, that they must seek Him first, in order to find her.