Three a.m. the clock said. Then 4:00 a.m. Finally closer to five. I got up and turned the coffee pot on.
         My sleep had been like a wrestling match. I know God’s Word says that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. (Ephesians 6:12).
         It had been some time since I had been involved in one of these wrestling matches. There was a long season when I fought these powers on a regular basis. Yet, in my sleep, God still brought His Word to me and I battled them with the S/word (sword) of the Spirit; His Word. 
         “No weapon formed against me shall prosper.” I would say. Then, “I have been redeemed from every court room lie. I shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord. I plead the Blood of Jesus over myself and call on the Power of His Name…Jesus.”
         I would repeat the Armor Prayer from Ephesians 6:10-18. I would pray in the spirit and with understanding. These were spiritual battles that occurred while I slept…but God always supplied my need…His Word.
         Now, as I look back, not one of these battles was lost. God saw to that. But in each one, I felt I was fighting for my life and often the life of others. I believe God “allowed” these battles for a purpose. Perhaps something like a personal boot camp: training to teach HOW to fight in spiritual warfare. To create a boldness that comes from experience…having been there and survived…by the Grace, Love, and Power of my Heavenly Father.
         There was not one minute that He was not there with me, watching the whole scene. Surely angels were standing by also, but God probably said:

“Stand back. She has to learn to fight. She doesn’t realize it yet, but I will never let her fail.”

         That is the scary part. Satan makes you feel alone…as though God has deserted you and left you to fight alone.
         This morning, the word WRESTLE rose to the surface of my mind and I thought about Jacob when he wrestled with God. (My study Bible says that the man Jacob wrestled with was an angel, a special messenger from God, and others say the man was the pre-incarnate Christ.)
         As I thought about Jacob, I went to my concordance and found the story in Genesis 32:24-30.
         Have you ever found yourself in God’s Word? I knew by my spirit that the Holy Spirit had something to teach me this morning through Jacob’s experience. I really had not remembered what this passage was all about, but the Lord was to reveal much to me as I reviewed the story. How like Jacob I felt.
         Verse 34, “…And Jacob was left alone.” I too, was alone. I had two strong areas in my life where it seemed God was not answering my prayers that I had prayed for years.
         NOW…the BIG WRESTILING MATCH began to take place. I was no longer wrestling against the powers of darkness, but I recognized that I was wrestling with God.
         How dare I do such a thing? I don’t know other than that God “allowed” it.
         In my wrestling, I said. “God, I’ve had enough of You not answering these two prayers. I’ve prayed, been obedient, and You have not answered them. I’m tired of hurting in these areas and if You love me like You said in Your Word, You will come to my rescue and heal me in these areas.”        
         In verses 25 and 26, God (or the angel) saw that He prevailed not against Jacob. He said: “Let Me go, for the day breaketh.” (which, by the way, was also happening outside my physical window.)

         And Jacob said: “I WILL NOT LET THEE GO EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME.”
         Wow! That is how I was feeling.
         “And He blessed him there.” (verse 29b).

         I had forgotten that this was the place God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. The name Jacob means: “Heel Catcher”, “Supplanter,” or “Deceiver”. God changed his name to Israel which means: “MAY GOD PREVAIL (for him). Thus, he was now recognized as “Prince with God.”
[This information taken from my Study Bible.]
           Verse 30. “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
         As we learn the different kinds of prayer, I believe this is the one that would be called “prevailing prayer”. The one where we are so desperate we meet God…face to face, being totally honest and vulnerable in His presence.

         God teaches us through Jacob’s experience that He will not destroy us, but will bless us, when we chose to confront Him and demand His help. When God brings us to this point of desperation, I believe He is ready to make some BIG changes in our lives.
         Our hearts will never allow us to be disrespectful to God, but our pain and passion can drive us to great boldness before Him We know He is the only One who can help.
         And, as Ephesians 6:9b says, “…neither is there respect of persons with Him.” If God “allowed” Jacob to wrestle with Him and say, “I WILL NOT LET THEE GO, EXCEPT THOU BLESS ME.”, God will “allow” the same for us.
         And He blessed Jacob there (verse 29b) and said, “For as a prince, hast thou Power with God, and with men, and hast prevailed.” (verse 28b).

[As I pondered on the word “what God allows” and wondered at my freedom to send forth this Advanced Angel Food, I read the scripture I Thessalonians 2:4. It said for me what I would like to say to you: “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”]

After the Battle, May Your Dreams
Be
As Sweet As Jacob’s
(Genesis 28:12)