Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: At Peace With God
Date: Tuesday January 10, 2012
Today's Chapters: Genesis 32-35
Preview of Today's Message: A blessed change takes place when a sinner meets with God. Being justified by faith we have peace with God, knowing that all the guilt of our past is behind us and we are forgiven, no matter what we have done. All Scripture quoted from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

We have all done things in the past that we wish we could take back, but dwelling on them and haunting ourselves with them will not change the situation. Until we meet with God and hand it all over to Him we will never have peace with ourselves or with God. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” - Romans 5:1-6.

As Jacob was heading back to Canaan I imagine he had a lot to think about, the things he did over the years, where he is now, he had not seen his brother in twenty years, what would come of him when he meets him face to face. It was time to make amends, some how, some way, he wanted Esau's forgiveness. He sent messengers to Esau to let him know that he was on his way to meet him only to find out that Esau was coming to meet him, with four hundred men. Fearing his and his families lives, Jacob did the only thing he could do, he began to pray.

“And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.” -Genesis 32:9-12.

God is a forgiving God, He does not want to stay angry with us or even make us suffer for our past sins. When He says we are forgiven, He means we are forgiven. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” - I John 1:9. So, why don't we feel any better about ourselves after we repent? We need closure, something that makes amends to the wrongs that we have done. Sometimes, the only way to get that closure is to wrestle with God, what I mean is confront Him face to face. Tell Him how you feel and let Him show you how to make amends not only between God and yourself, but with anyone or thing that you have been wrestling with. That night, Jacob wrestled with God.

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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.” -Genesis 32:24-28.

Sometimes we just have to beg and plead with God, confront Him with what He has promised. You can talk to God without disrespecting Him, He knows your frustration and even that you question His way of doing things from time to time. He likes you to remind Him of His promises, which tells Him that you paying attention to Him. “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” - Hebrews 10:35-37.

The time had come for Jacob to meet Esau face to face, “And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept...And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord...Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.” - Genesis 33:1-4,8,11.

Jacob and Esau found peace and forgiveness with each other, Jacob no longer had to wrestle with his conscience, and he is at peace with Esau and with God. Either we lean on God's plan for our lives or on our own, but until we get to the point where only God can do this, there is going to be a constant battle within ourselves. He must bring us to the end of our own strength before He strengthens us. “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” -James 4:7-10.

Today's Psalm: “ The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.” - Psalm 69:32.

Today's Proverb: “A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.” - Proverbs 29:23.

Today's Prayer: God, we regularly come to You asking for peace regarding situations that we don’t understand or have no personal ability to change. Way too often troubling circumstances capture our emotions and rob us of the peace promised to those who place their trust in You. Help us not to be tossed about by the changing circumstances in our lives, but to be steadfast as we discipline our mind to be fixed upon You. Only then will we know the true life sustaining peace that comes from our relationship with Your Son, Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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