Good Morning
Genesis 32:24-29
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 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. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
Jacob got the victory and the blessing
not by wrestling, but by clinging.
His limb was out of joint and he could struggle no longer,
but he would not let go.
Unable to wrestle,
he wound his arms around the neck of his mysterious antagonist
and hung all his helpless weight until at last he conquered.
We will not get victory in prayer
until we too cease our struggling,
giving up our own will
and throw our arms about our Father’s neck in clinging faith.
What can puny human strength take by force
out of the hand of Omnipotence?
Can we wrest blessing by force from God.
It is never the violence of willfulness that prevails with God.
It is the might of clinging faith,
that gets the blessing and the victories.
It is not when we press and urge our own will,
but when humility and trust unite in saying,
“Not my will, but Thine.”
We are strong with God only in the degree
that self is conquered and is dead.
Not by wrestling,
but by clinging can we get the blessing.
J. R. Miller
Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Romans 12:9
Cling . . .Today
With my prayers, desiring yours, Leslie
Thoughts of Grace 