09/01/2025
STUDY YOUR RHAPSODY OF REALITIES DAILY DEVOTIONAL
PASTOR CHRIS OYAKHILOME
FAITH AND WORSHIP
THURSDAY JANUARY 9TH 2025
And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil (Matthew 15:22).
In our last two studies, we reviewed two important mysteries about prayer: lifting up of our hands and praying in the night watches. Thereโs also another mystery about prayer that has to do with faith and worship. Iโll explain this with an intriguing story in the Bible.
In Matthew 15:22, we read about a woman of Canaan who cried out to Jesus for help. The situation was dire; her daughter was afflicted by a demon, and the physicians couldn't help. Despite her desperate plea, the Lord Jesus initially remained silent. Verse 23 says, โ...he answered her not a word....โ The Masterโs silence didnโt deter the woman as she remained importunate.
The disciples, uncomfortable by the Masterโs silence, urged Him to rather send the woman away because she was causing a disturbance. Finally, the Lord spoke, saying, โ...I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israelโ (Matthew 15:24). Undeterred, the woman decided to add worship to her faith-request; the Bible says she came and worshipped Jesus, saying, โ...Lord, help meโ (Matthew 15:25).
At that moment, the conversation shifted; Jesus then responded with a seemingly strong statement: โ...It is not meet to take the children's bread, and to cast it to dogsโ (Matthew 15:26). Yet unmoved, the woman still expressed her faith saying, โ...Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters' tableโ (Matthew 15:27). Her response was a demonstration of great faith and humility.
In verse 28, Jesus commended her, saying, โ...O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt....โ Her daughter was healed from that very hour. This story reveals a profound lesson: worship can be the key that unlocks divine responses when it seems like thereโs silence from God. The womanโs persistent faith and worship led to her miracle.
Have you ever prayed and it seemed like you werenโt hearing anything from the Lord? You're wishing you could hear from God and it seems as though thereโs no response? Do what the woman did. In faith, worship the Lord profusely and sincerely, and youโll get a response. Hallelujah!
PRAYER
Dear Father, I worship and adore you, the everlasting King of glory, the only wise and true God, gracious, holy, righteous, pure and kind. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the majesty and the splendour! Youโre exalted as head over all, and I extol your majesty and praise you for your blessings and wondrous works in my life and in all the earth, in Jesusโ Name. Amen.
FURTHER STUDY
John 4:23-24 KJV
[23] But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. [24] God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Matthew 15:22-28 NKJV
[22] And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, โHave mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.โ [23] But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, โSend her away, for she cries out after us.โ [24] But He answered and said, โI was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.โ [25] Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, โLord, help me!โ [26] But He answered and said, โIt is not good to take the childrenโs bread and throw it to the little dogs.โ [27] And she said, โYes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their mastersโ table.โ [28] Then Jesus answered and said to her, โO woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.โ And her daughter was healed from that very hour.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Psalm 34:1 KJV
I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 7:7-29; Genesis 23-24
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN
Matthew 5:1-10; Genesis 9