An Intercessory Prayer – As a loving mother, her child’s misery became her misery – She cried out repeatedly to Jesus (Matt. 15:22): “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David!” “My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” – How often do we pray for others? (cf. James 5:16)

A Specific Prayer – This mom asked a definite thing—the thing nearest her heart – “She kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter” (Mark 7:25) – When we pray, are we filled with generalities or specifics? “Ask!” (Matt. 7:7) “Let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6)

A Persistent Prayer – Consider the obstacles that she struggled against: The silence of Jesus. “He answered her not a word” (Matt. 15:23) The attitude of the disciples. Repeatedly urged, “Send her away” The apparent unwillingness of Jesus to grant her request – “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” (15:24) – Yet, even if it seemed in vain, she persisted in her request – Are we persistent in our prayers? (cf. Luke 18:1-8)

A Reverential Prayer – It was not only supplication: She “fell at His feet” (Mk. 7:25). – It was adoration: She “worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, help me!’” (Mt. 15:25) – She knew and believed that He was divine and worthy! – How reverential are our prayers? (cf. Matt. 6:9)

A Humble Prayer – She was willing to accept any name the Lord would give her. “Let the children be filled first…throw it to the little dogs” (Mk. 7:27) If she must be a “dog” for her daughter to be healed, so be it! The Lord gave her an “argumentative handle” & a door of hope. – “Even the little dogs…eat from the children’s crumbs” (7:28) But even as a dog, all she asked for was a “crumb of a blessing” – How humble are we in our prayers? (cf. Luke 18:9-14)

A Hopeful Prayer – Behind this earnest prayer was great faith! “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire” (15:28) Her expectations of the Lord were very high! He was her only hope! – This was faith from an unexpected source: a heathen woman! – How hope-filled & faith-filled are our prayers? (cf. Mt. 7:7-11)