Today’s exhortation- contend for it
Many of us have been cheated out of our breakthrough because we called it quits too early. We all have dreams and aspirations and the bigger they are, the more we have to contend for them. God has placed something big inside us and sometimes we have to contend with Him for it to come out. Inside Jacob was Israel and he had to contend with God for that to be called forth out of him. He held onto God until God blessed Him and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. The bible says, The Angel Of The Lord said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:26-28)
Jacob contended all night and from what I see, he was prepared to carry on. That picture shows us that at some point God will answer if we hold on. There are many promises of God available to us, but to come into them, we have to fight for them. We have to say to God, “I won’t stop praying until you heal me or my mother or father; I won’t stop praying or fasting until you change my situation!”. He’s the same yesterday, today and forever and therefore if we are persistent, He WILL answer!
Francis Hans-Jorie