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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  CHANGING IDENTITY

We all want God to move immediately when we pray about something. Our timing is not God’s timing. Yes, we have faith that he can move mountains if we ask. But sometimes we have to climb those mountains instead.  It is in the struggling, that we gain strength.

When I think about struggling, Jacob wrestling with the angel all night comes to mind.

Gen 32:24-28 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.

This story in Genesis should be encouragement for all of us that change is painful. Growing in the Lord is always a struggle, but it is worth the struggle. God always turns around and leaves us a bigger blessing than we needed or expected. Because Jacob held on and wouldn’t let go God changed him. He was no longer the deceiver Jacob, but was now Israel. The man who would father twelve sons that would become the twelve tribes of Israelites.

With the wrestling came a name change.  God sometimes wants us to fight our way through situations. When we get on the other side, we will have a new identity. We will also have strength for the next leg of the journey.

It is easy to get frustrated when we pray and it looks like God is not moving. He is often waiting for us to step out in faith and show him our courage and strength. God desires to see his children be bold and brave in our faith.

After Jacob wrestled with the angels, he came out different. We are often changed by our battles and we have the battle scars to prove it. But those scars give us a testimony that can shine a light on the path of others. So don’t give up when it looks like God is not answering, he will be with you to give you strength to keep climbing.

As Children of God, we have changed identities. We went from being an orphan to a son or daughter of the most high king. Having access to the king has given us a lot of privileges not given to the lost of this world. We need to take our role seriously in the family and do all we can for the kingdom of God.

One day we will get a new name.

Rev 2:17 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

How has God changed your identity? How does he want to make more changes? Something to think and pray about today.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

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