Word for Today, Fri, 16 Dec 2005: Wrestling Before God
Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>
Dear friends,
There is a definite distinction between wrestling before God and
wrestling with God. From the book of Genesis, we know that Jacob
wrestled with God. He had a permanently crippled hip to prove it.
God wants the very best for us in everything, so there is no positive
value in fighting with God. Instead, we ought to fight against the
things that get in the way of a wholesome personal relationship with
God and instead give our attention and energies TO God.
Oswald Chambers offers his usual concise and accurate insights into
the character of the relationship that our Creator wants with us. I
encourage you to read what he has to say to us.
Yours in Christ,
Brian
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/ MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST -- http://www.heartlight.org/
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December 16, 2005
WRESTLING BEFORE GOD
Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God ...
praying always ...
Ephesians 6:13,18
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=eph+6:13,18&sr=1
You have to wrestle against the things that prevent you from getting
to God, and you wrestle in prayer for other souls; but never say that
you wrestle with God in prayer, it is scripturally untrue. If you do
wrestle with God, you will be crippled all the rest of your life. If,
when God comes in some way you do not want, you take hold of Him as
Jacob did and wrestle with Him, you compel Him to put you out of
joint. Don't be a hirpler in God's ways, but be one who wrestles
before God with things, becoming more than conqueror through Him.
Wrestling before God tells in His Kingdom. If you ask me to pray for
you and I am not complete in Christ, I may pray but it avails
nothing; but if I am complete in Christ my prayer prevails all the
time. Prayer is only effective when there is completeness -
"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God."
Always distinguish between God's order and His permissive will, i.e.,
His providential purpose towards us. God's order is unchangeable; His
permissive will is that with which we must wrestle before Him. It is
our reaction to the permissive will of God that enables us to get at
His order. "All things work together for good to them that love God"
- to those who remain true to God's order, to His calling in Christ
Jesus. God's permissive will is the means whereby His sons and
daughters are to be manifested. We are not to be like jelly-fish
saying, "It's the Lord's will." We have not to put up a fight before
God, not to wrestle with God, but to wrestle before God with things.
Beware of squatting lazily before God in stead of putting up a
glorious fight so that you may lay hold of His strength.
MY UTMOST FOR HIS HIGHEST - by Oswald Chambers //
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http://www.heartlight.org/devotionals/my_utmost /
This devotional is copyright Oswald Chambers Publications,
< http://www.oswaldchambers.co.uk >.
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Brian Masinick
mailto:masinick@yahoo.com