November 14 - Wrestle.

Genesis 32:24
“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.”
 
Jacob was left alone. When we are left alone it is easy to wrestle with our own thoughts and worries, or with the burdens of others that we too are bearing. We can even begin to wrestle with God when we don’t understand why things happen the way they do. Sometimes we can wrestle all evening long, which leads to faithless and sleepless nights.
 
Genesis 32:25
“And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.”
 
Wrestling brings discomfort. Jacob’s thigh was out of joint because of his match with the Man.
 
Genesis 32:26
“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.”
 
Jacob wrestled with Him all night long. Jacob was persistent; he refused to let go until he received something from the Lord. Giving up is easy, but persistence in our prayer lives pays off.
 
Genesis 32:27-28
“And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”
 
Wrestling will change us. Jacob had his name changed to Israel, the home of God’s chosen people. He named the place Peniel, “or I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
 
God may not choose to change our name, but when we wrestle with Him and allow Him to change us, our lives will never be the same. We may get injured along the way, but God makes no mistakes. The pain is for our good and His glory.
 
Whatever you are wrestling with, give it to the Lord and allow Him to change the situation as He changes you.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Ezekiel 7-8  |  Mark 1 |  Psalm 107