Matthew 15:26-28 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.(NKJ)
Months ago we were blessed with three year old bulldog named Samson.
After a few days of being with us, he was part of the family. It did not take him nor us long to get used to each other.
When the rainy season came, we quickly discovered that Samson was afraid of the rain, thunder and lightning. As soon as the clouds would roll in, he was in the house, usually under my desk or if he could, on the couch snoring away.
We began to close the doors so that he would not come in, but he manages to open them if we did not close them properly. We later found out that he climbs through the windows, which is hilarious, anything just to get inside. He was determined to get his way.
This made me think about the things of the Lord. How persistent are we when it comes to going after His blessings and promises in our lives? Are we determined like a bulldog, to do whatever it takes to obtain our blessings, or do we just give up after a few tries?
I have been observing Samson in a different light. He is determined to have the biggest bone, to climb through windows, and to try to sneak in and sleep on the couch. He will do anything, just to obtain his desire.
I had to ask myself a question. Do I give up so easily when I run into an obstacle? If one door has closed, do I look for an open window and try there?
Many times the enemy will try to divert you from your path, your goal, your promise. We need to be like the bulldog, determined to obtain that prize that is rightfully ours.
I am ready to start climbing through windows to obtain my blessings, how about you?
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What a great life’s lesson to learn from a dog!? persistence is a great Christian quality we should all learn to persevere and not give up or give in easily
God bless
Yvette,
Samson seems like quite the character. I hope I will be as persistent as he in seeking what I need from God and man.
Blessings to you.
It is uncanny – aka a god-thing – how that when I check out your site, to see what the Lord is speaking to you, that I find it is often very similiar to what I’ve heard within the last 2-4 weeks !!!!
I’m not sure – this is just a wild guess – a slight possibility – that we know and are hearing from the same Jesus written about in the Scripture
I just heard a teaching at my brothers church this last month on prayer that has changed my attitude in prayer forever. It’s very similiar to what you have written here. I emailed some friends this last week and included some thoughts the Lord gave to me on this subject. I’ve included it here if that is okay and hope it will expand on the blessing of the Lord to your readers. Bless you
Here is the end of my email to my two buddies in Phoenix. I was encouraging them and also asking them to pray and agree with me that the Lord would give me some “bread” so that I could bless those under my care. I hasten to add that this bread can be spiritual or physical or both.
And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;
6 For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?
7 And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.
8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Luke 11:5-10
I heard a sermon on verses 5-8 that has changed the way I pray. Now it makes total sense to me what verses 8-10 mean. Ask and keep on asking until you receive what you’ve been asking for. I just looked up the word importunity in verse 8 and it means to have impudence or an almost rude boldness. The Jews call it chutzpah. Of course we’re not rude towards the Lord but I do think the Lord is expecting us ( me anyway ) to have a kind of radical boldness in prayer going past the discomfort of our emotions – based on old religion – that tries to shame us and make us think we can’t be unnervingly bold in prayer or have what we ask of the Lord. We’re not trying to heap up treasures for ourselves but for others, although the Lord will bless us in the process. We can’t give up on the dreams ( bread ) the Lord has for us because it’s going to feed a lot of people in due time. No matter how bad things look or appear. Even if we get down ( I’ve been there a little lately ) we can still come to the Lord who is kind and gracious and be bold in the Lord and the power of His might to continue petitioning Him for our needs and receive what we’ve been asking for.
Bless you guys — Jesus never fails