I’m a woman who believes in the power of faith-filled prayer. I know that if I want to see a miracle, I need to get on my knees and cry out to God. Only God has the power to bring life out of dead-end situations. Only God can melt a heart of stone. Only God can heal what this world has poisoned.  

Jesus said one faith-filled prayer can move a mountain, and I know Jesus doesn’t lie. Yet, my mountain currently still stands. I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed…  Some days, I wonder if God is tired of hearing me beg Him to turn things around in my world, but I know He isn’t. I know He is listening.I know He cares. In the depths of my weary heart, I know that my pain matters to my God.  

So, I pray on. I pray on, and I won’t give up.  

I know I am not alone in the waiting room of unanswered prayers. I am surrounded by Mama Bears who pray on for their prodigals to turn to Jesus and stop destroying their lives. I know several brave caregivers who continue to intercede for their loved one to get up out of their sickbed. Every time I hear someone else tell me “we pray on,” I know I am not alone in this fight.

Neither are you, friend. I know you have cried out to God for a breakthrough. I know how hard it is to hold on to hope. Your prayers make a difference. Don’t give up.  

In hopes of encouraging my heart to persevere in prayer, I spent some time this week getting a little inspiration from a very gutsy woman who went straight to Jesus and refused to take no for an answer.  

The Mighty Power of One Faith-Filled Prayer

This woman pleaded with Jesus for help. Her daughter was cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit, and she had nowhere else to turn. 

Now, this story is not fiction. I know you may have seen a horror movie where demon possession seems like a bizarre fantasy only found on the Hollywood film screen, but the power of evil in our world is a reality. We may not ever see someone’s head spinning and foaming at the mouth, but we all have loved ones bound by addiction. We all sadly know of a family that has broken apart and lives turned upside-down and destroyed. Evil is real, and we need to arm ourselves with faith and God’s truth and prayer to help shield our loved ones. Prayer helps us partner with God to stop the schemes of the enemy from causing even more chaos in our world. Prayer places us and our people in the circle of God’s protection.  

So, this Mama Bear in the pages of my Bible had a daughter who desperately needed help. She came running to Jesus and asked for HIs mercy.

I seriously need God’s mercy right now, so I have read her story over and over again this week in amazement. Her cause was just, and she refused to take no for an answer.

If you need God to turn things around in your world, I want you to know that Jesus has mercy for you. He has mercy for me. This woman’s story is a reminder to us all that our prayers make a difference, and we should keep pressing into Jesus.  

You can read this woman’s story for yourself in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. Her gumption and grit to not give up have challenged me to follow her example as I continue to fight in prayer:  

I want to keep seeking with a steadfast heart.

This woman’s initial request to Jesus was met with silence. But the lack of response did not quiet her. She begged. She cried. She continually and consistently appealed for help. She remained steadfast and never wavered.  

• A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Keep Seeking: “But I tell you this—though He won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, He will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:8-10, NLT)

I want to submit my will to God with a worshipful heart. 

Even though the answer from Jesus appeared to be “no,” this woman fell at His feet and worshipped. She knelt in reverence and showed that her life was totally yielded to Him as Lord no matter what.  

• A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Submit to God’s Will: I love how David cries out to God in the Psalms when he is discouraged. I often turn to Psalms when my emotions are all in a jumble over difficult circumstances that just make no sense. This week, I was encouraged by Psalm 13. David starts out by asking God why he is suffering so much:  “God, O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  How long will my enemy have the upper hand? (vs 1-2, NLT).  But by the end of the Psalm, David has surrendered His emotions to God. He stops looking at his problems and reminds himself of what is true about His Heavenly Father: “But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord  because He is good to me.” (vs 5-6, NLT)

I want to see with eyes of faith and stand secure in God’s response.  

In a situation where other people would have withered from disappointment, this woman showed fortitude. Although Jesus did not initially give her what she wanted, she responds by saying “Yes, Lord” in agreement. She concedes her position, but she doesn’t view His response as excluding her humble request. She asserts her faith with two words that appeal to God’s compassion and acknowledge His power: “yet even.”  

Right now your mountain and mine might still stand, but that doesn’t mean they always will. “Yet even” you and I can experience a miracle. We have a God who cares about us, and He is able to breathe life into any dead-end situation. Where evil has triumphed up to now can instantly be transformed by just a word from the Master.  

• A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Cry out “Yet Even” to your God: This woman told Jesus that she was ready to receive the scraps from His table. But guess what? God has more than scraps for you and me! Our Protector has reserved a seat for us as His table: “You spread out a table before me, provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies; You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.” (Psalm 23:5, VOICE)

Friend, your Lord never remains unresponsive to your faith-filled prayer.

Need some inspiration? I’ve created a faith-filled prayer tool for us!!!!  To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to move mountains. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

Let’s resolve to never give up praying for God to do the miraculous. As we fall down at Jesus’ feet and beg for help, we will receive blessing upon blessing from His table. 

A woman who falls at Jesus’ feet with great faith can make a powerful difference.  

 

Let’s join in faith-filled prayer together: Share your one-word prayer request or a longer request in the comments below.

Want to join a group of women who believe in the power of faith-filled prayer? I want to invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

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