Quiet Time: Unstoppable

Jacob wanted to change who he was, but needed to wrestle with God to make it happen. No one changes without a fight.

After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions.  So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.

Genesis 32:23-30

Jacob physically wrestled with God all night because he wanted God’s blessing. He received God’s blessing because he refused to quit, until God gave him what he wanted.

Have you ever physically wrestled with anyone? How much effort does it take to wrestle? The more you wrestle, the longer you can wrestle. What do you think it would look like and feel like to wrestle in prayer?

Ask a friend to spend some time praying with you.

Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured.

Colossians 4:12

Wrestling with God is done through prayer as you’re fighting to make God’s will your own. Through wrestling, you learn to fight the temptation of sin, fight the temptation to quit, fight to make a change, and to fight for a friend.

What specific temptation do you need to wrestle through? What do you need to change that seems impossible?

Epaphras wrestled in prayer to help his friends.

Who do you need to wrestle in prayer for?

Write a list of 10 people you want to pray for.  Choose 2 each day to wrestle in prayer for today

The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”

Genesis 32:27-30

What role does perseverance have in prayer?

Because Jacob persevered, he was able to overcome his fear and be blessed by God.

What fear do you need to admit? Besides prayer what else do you need to do to overcome the fear?

Spend 10min in your time with god writing down your fears and practical ways to deal with them.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

You need to need to persevere and fight to change everyday to continually get closer to god. Dont avoid the obstacles, they are there to help you grow and mature.

What trials are you facing that you have been avoiding or ignoring?

Challenge:

1. Pray away fear: Be specific, use an emotions chart or emotions journal – take 5 min. to write our what you’re feeling.
2. Pray with focus: Find a cool spot, away from distractions, to pray – take a friend with you and help each other pray
3. Pray throughout the day: on your way to a class, or to the bathroom – take breaks and remember to pray – even if it’s just 1 min.