Today's word--Determination!
If we want to live above our circumstances we must determine to hold fast to God. (I shared this message on August 31st, but felt I should share it again.)
"What will my brother do to me?" Jacob wondered, hearing Esau was heading his way with 400 men. "Will he take his vengeance on me?" "Will he destroy me for having deceived him from his natural birthright?"
Desperate, distressed, and distraught, Jacob worked out a plan to appease his brothers anger. He sent out servants to take hundreds of male and female goats and camels to appease Esau's anger. Though God promised Jacob He would prosper him, upon returning to his home country, Jacob feared Esau.
Anxious, worried, and in a panic Jacob pressed in to God. Left alone in the middle of the night, scripture says Jacob wrestled with a man until day-break. Jacob desperate for a blessing, held on, fighting, grappling, tussling; determined to not let go until the man blessed him.
Finally, realizing Jacob's determination, the man blessed him saying, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed."
Friends, what are you wrestling with? Have you determined to press in and press on? Will the cry of your desperation turn to determination?
Jacob turned his desperation to determination, and God blessed him. The same is true for us: when we determine to not let go, not give up, and we press in and hold fast to God, God hears us. Scripture says if we ask anything in accordance with His will, it will be done.
Mark 11:22-24 says, "Have faith in God," Jesus answered. "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." (NIV)
I'm NOT talking about naming and claiming it...I'm talking about holding fast to the truth...knowing what God has said...clinging and wrestling...determining to not let go of what HE HAS PROMISED. God told Jacob to return to his home country and that He would prosper him, that was God's promise to Jacob...
What has God promised you? What does Scripture declare? Whatever it is...DON'T let go. DON'T give up. Be desperate for God. Be determined to NOT let go! You're blessing is coming. God fulfills ALL of HIS promises!
PRAYER: Father, we are desperate for a touch from you. Fulfill Your promises. We give You our life. We surrender to YOUR will. Deliver us from our enemies. Empower us for Your service. Let Your Kingdom Come...Let Your will be done...on earth...in our lives...in our jobs...in our finances...in our marriages...in our families...in our health...as it is in Heaven! In Jesus name we pray, amen!
GOOD WORD! Love the boldness of Jacob and his relentlessness in believing and holding onto the promises of God and would not give up or give in!! Makes me more determined!!! Reminds me of the woman with the blood issue and just kept on trying and not believing the lies of the enemy that she would never get well UNTIL one day she REACHED and touched the hem of Jesus' garment! WHEW! That's some FAITH!
ReplyDeleteDetermined!
Andrea