FWD: Morning Manna (Feb. 2); BP: Gen. 32; RBTTY: Mt. 21:23-46; Ex. 29-30

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: Apostle Tom <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Sent: Fri, 1 Feb 2008 21:52:19 -0600
To: <pressingon@hotmail.com>
Subject: Morning Manna (Feb. 2); BP: Gen. 32; RBTTY: Mt. 21:23-46; Ex. 29-30
 

February 2                                                                                                        “On Wrestling With God”

 

“And Jacob was left alone—and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. . .And He said, ‘Let Me go, for the day breaks.’  And he said, ‘I will not let You go, except You bless me’.”

                                                                                                                                        Genesis 32:24, 26

     If it doesn’t move us, it’s unlikely it will move Him.

     How’s your prayer life, Pilgrim?

     If you’re like most folks, it’s probably one of the weakest parts of your pilgrimage of faith.  It’s “unnatural” and no doubt the most difficult spiritual discipline we’ll ever undertake.

 

     Why is that?

     Partly because we don’t want to pray.  Let’s be honest:  It’s much easier to try and do things on our own—in our own strength and wisdom.  Oh, we may shoot a quick prayer to Heaven right before undertaking something, but little or no fervent, persistent, deep heartfelt prayer has preceded it.

 

     Then, we wonder why we fall flat on our faces.

     No, “effectual (Grk. ‘energeo’—‘effective, active, efficient, mighty, etc.’)-- prayer” (James 5:16) is “fervent prayer.”  And, that is never a casual, impromptu prayer that springs easily from our lips and is soon forgotten. 

 

     Instead, it is a heartfelt petition that flows from the deep wells of brokenhearted contrition and supplication.  And, that can only happen when we reach the point where we say “I will not let You go, Lord, except You bless me.”

 

     Thus, “desperate prayers” are “intentional” and “insistent.”  We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us to be so “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20) that we, like Him, “offer up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears” (Heb. 5:7a).  Only then can we rest assured that “He hears us,” because we know He knows we “fear (Grk. ‘eulabia’—‘reverence, to be in awe of, show respect to, etc.’) Him” (Heb. 5:7b).

 

     Another reason we don’t pray as we ought is because we don’t know how.  Like Jesus’ first disciples, we should cry, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Lk. 11:1).  By nature, we’re drawn away by our own lusts (James 1:14-15; I Jn. 2:16), which ends up asking for the wrong things and fruitless petitions (James 4:2-3).  Thus, without crying, “O, Lord, I need Your help,” the Spirit cannot/will not come to our aid “with groanings that cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26)—for He will not force Himself on us.

 

     Oh, dear Pilgrim, the Heavenly Father yearns to bless us and grant our requests.  Throughout the Scriptures there are numerous passages that attest to His desire to “open the windows of Heaven and pour out blessings upon us, so much so that we won’t be able to hold them all” (Mal. 3:10b; Gen. 1:22, 28; 9:1; 12:2; Dt. 15:18; Acts 11:21).  May today be the day we cry with Jabez, “Oh, that the Lord would bless me!” (I Chron. 4:10)—which will only happen when we “humble ourselves” (II Chron 7:14a) and say with Jacob, “I won’t let You go until You bless me.”  Let it be, Lord; let it be.