Genesis 32:24 – “So Jacob was left alone.  Then a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, the thought of focus and commitment filled my thoughts.   We cultivate harvests through our focus, commitment, and follow-through.

When Jacob was preparing to face Esau in Genesis 32, he separated his family and possessions from himself.  He was fearful and trying to devise an escape plan.   In verse 24, we read, “So Jacob was left alone.”  

That is a horrible place where we are unable to escape our inner thoughts and fears.  It is also a wonderful place because there we must face God, and if we are to have any hope of victory, we must wrestle with God’s purpose, settling in our hearts, our focus, and commitment.   Jacob wrestled with God all night long. (Type of Intercession).  He was changed forever that night!

When Jacob’s daughter had been raped, two of his sons took the matter into their own hands, forcing Jacob to relocate.  He went to Bethel (House of God).   He went to the place symbolic of God’s presence.  He instructed his family to rid themselves of all their idols and to change their clothes.  Jacob opened the door to trouble by burying the idols and articles rather than burning them.

Focus guides us and helps us commit and follow through on our purpose. Focus enables us to see our objective and to be keenly aware of the pitfalls and hindrances.

In Athens, Paul was stirred because of the idolatry.  His focus on his mission and commitment launched him into action.  Are we grieved in our spirits over the condition of those around us?  Does the evil of this world trouble us, or are we able to live unaffected by it?  Does it keep us awake, or does it have little impact?

In Acts 20:24, Paul focused on his commission and God’s purposes. He was unconcerned about ease or safety. He was focused on the assignment to share Jesus with all. In verse 35, he explained the focus of his life: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

How much is our soul worth?  That’s how much every soul is worth.  I’m disturbed by my too-frequent ability to live an unaffected life while the world around me is ravaged by sin.   If I truly love like Jesus, I will be unable to live an unaffected life.  Life is not about ease.  Life here is secondary to eternity! My focus will determine my destiny and destination.

LORD, help us to focus and make a full commitment to you!

Genesis 22:1 – “Some time after these things God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” Abraham replied.”

As I read, prayed, and mused on the Word of God today, I was challenged deep in my spirit about “mindset” or, more specifically, how we view everything.

As I read the story of Abraham in Genesis, my hope expanded.   Knowing that although God uses particular people for specific tasks, He exhibits no partiality.   God has no favorite children.   Some exhibit the attitude that they are more special than others, but what He does for one, He is willing and able to do for all.

After God gave Abraham the miracle son when old Abe was 100, God challenged him beyond belief.   Genesis 22:1 – “Some time after these things God Tested Abraham.”   The test was not a small challenge but a monumental, life-altering challenge.  The challenge: sacrifice your son! Sounds contradictory to the revealed heart and nature of God, right?

Abraham had the covenant promise that through his descendants a multitude would come!  Through his offspring, the entire planet would be blessed. Now, God asks or directs him to take that link (Isaac), the miracle child, and kill him as a burnt offering.  The Bible calls that a test!  To the flesh, that would be a nightmare.

Abraham’s response was immediate obedience.  Notice verse 3. “Early in the morning, Abraham got up and saddled his donkey.”   Immediately, without question or hesitation, he began the process of obeying.

That screams Total Trust!   

• No wonder we read that Abraham is the father of faith.  
• No wonder we read that Abraham staggered not at the promise.
• No wonder we read that Abraham believed God, and God credited it to him as righteousness.   His mindset was unshakable confidence in God!

Out of that act of obedience flows all we now know and experience. Out of that example, we should be inspired to trust God completely and obey Him explicitly.   When Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac, God’s faithfulness is impossible to miss.   The servant began praying at the well for a sign.   In Genesis 24:15, we read, “Before he had finished praying, there came Rebecca (the answer).” She did not start toward the well because of his prayer; before he prayed, she was already on her way.  Remember, before we pray, He answers.

This is the God Abraham trusted. This is the God we serve. This is the God who created all things.  Therefore, our requests are small compared to all He has done for all time.   Why do we find it so difficult to trust completely?

We are like the church praying for Peter in Acts 12.   They prayed earnestly and fervently but not expectantly.  Read the account.  They were shocked that their prayers had been answered. They should have been shocked if they weren’t!

What is our mindset?  How do we view God, ourselves, and life?  The urge I sense is to surrender my imagination and hope to God!  If I trust Him with my eternal soul, why is it hard to trust Him with my life?  It is mindset.  It is relinquishing control. It is trust.

Lord, I repent of my lack of trust. That lack of trust screams that I, in some way, question Your character. Please forgive me!  Let’s surrender our All to Him. He never fails.

Genesis 20:11 –  Abraham replied, “Because I thought…”

As I read, prayed, and pondered the Word of God today, I was drawn to the transition from Abram to Abraham. It pictures our development in God and our spiritual walk.

• As Abram, he encountered the Living Creator God. 
• As Abram, God cut the covenant with Him. 
• As Abram, he received the promise of an heir from his loins even in old age.

In Genesis 17, he received the directive, “Walk before me and be blameless.” God placed that condition on the confirmation of the Covenant, which included an heir and the Promised Land.  As God saw his heart, he received the name change.  Abram means “exalted father.”  He came from a noble lineage.  Abraham means “father of a multitude.”   It was a constant reminder of God’s covenant.

Abraham’s journey was one in which his flesh ruled him.  He lied about his wife.  In Genesis 20, his explanation was, “I thought…”   Proverbs 3:5-6 is the remedy.

• He became the man known as the father of faith or faithfulness. 
• He became a man known for having his prayers answered.
• He became a man God could trust, bless, and use.
• He became the depository of the promise. He carried the seed of salvation in his heart and body.

We are all in transition.  Setbacks must not be stopping places, but life lessons.  Failures must not identify us but become reminders of the danger of trusting the flesh.   

We want a utopia or storybook life. God wants a surrendered heart that trusts and serves no matter what.  He wants those who, like Abram, are willing to go places they have never been to become what they had never dreamed they could.    People who, like orthodox Peter, will go where directed, even though they do not know what or why.  Total Trust.  We want to be happy in the flesh; God wants to promote us to a higher place, Joy!

Happiness is tied to conditions, circumstances, and people.   Joy is a divine supernatural condition that is birthed in surrender and trust!  He wants to change our names (hearts) so we can fulfill our purpose! Stop allowing conditions, events, people, or things to be your focus.

Become who He designed you to be!  You are God’s heir! Victory or defeat is conditioned in our thoughts about God, ourselves, and our circumstances.  Through the lens of the Cross, we can see victory and become victorious!

Today would be a great day to give it all to God.

Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”

Today is beginning as a day when it feels like I am a step behind and catching up.   However, I reject the temptation to shortcut or cut short my needed routine of beginnings. I will honor God, not the clock.

As I read, prayed, and meditated on the Word of God today, I saw things I had never seen in the way I saw them.   I won’t address all of that, but what rose like a mountain before me was Eve’s encounter with the sneaky snake and God’s initial directive to Adam & Eve.

The directive was Genesis 1:26 – “Then God said, Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness, SO THAT they may RULE over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, AND over ALL the earth, AND over all the creatures that move on the earth.”   Do you see the magnitude of that directive and objective?   It is Impossible without verses 27 and 28. Created, ordained, anointed, appointed, and blessed (empowered).

This creation (Eve) met the snake in the garden.  This one with rulership authority over all, including the snake, met the master manipulator.  God’s prohibition was one tree.  He said (verses 16-17) – “Eat from this prohibited tree and die.”   The Hebrew is “in dying you will die.”

Death was a foreign concept, but if we consider or understand death as separation, not extinction, we see that they could understand.  Physical death is separation from the earth.  Spiritual death is separation from God. Not extinction but separation.

The snake subtly asked, “Did God really say you can’t eat from any tree in the Garden?”  He knew that was not what God said but was planting the seed of a question of being deprived of something good.

He was partially truthful in describing what would happen. Separation from God’s peace, purpose, and presence occurred, resulting in real death.  Death that would be in the DNA of their lineage. Death that would require a Redeemer to restore us.

A break in fellowship through disobedience is a kind of death. In dying, you will die!  We, too, will succumb to the deception and manipulation of the snake if we fail to keep our focus on God and our assignment.

The early chapters of the Book of Acts give us a pattern and pathway to perseverance and peace.  Acts 2:42-47 should be studied and adopted as a lifestyle.  They became The Body of Christ. It was not a ritual but a relationship!

Lord, help us realize the purpose, power, and authority we have IN Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Help us to be and do that!