Grace Devotional
Friday, 6th of September, 2024
Topic:
Text: Genesis 32:24-32
Memory verse:
“Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭25‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Saint Augustine of Hippo, who is regarded as one of the greatest church fathers that ever lived, had an unimpressive background. Augustine adopted a licentious lifestyle. He lived with his mistress and had a son with her and even embraced the heresy of the Manichees, who believed that all matter was evil. In his grief and weeping for his mother after her demise, Augustine said, “now gone from my sight, who for years had wept over me, that I might live in Your [God’s] sight.” Monica, spent years crying, praying to God in tears for his salvation. Truly, mother Monica died a happy woman, for she saw her prayers answered, and both her husband and her son became believers.
“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, And give Him no rest till He establishes And till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” ‭‭(Isa 62‬:‭6‬-‭7‬).
What a privilege we have to come to God in prayer. He hasn’t only permitted us to reason with Him but to wrestle with Him. “The scriptures speak of Jacob wrestling with his Maker. So many still find it difficult to accept that the Creator can allow His creation to wrestle with Him. The scripture above says, “.. And give Him no rest”. This appears like a contest. In our text, we see Jacob wrestling with God. “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” ‭‭(Gen‬ ‭32‬:‭24‬).
Today, many believers are losing this art of prayer. No greater area of the church, where she is poverty stricken as much as in prayer. Poverty in prayer is poverty in every other area. To lose this art is to believe that it is possible to finish in the flesh what was started in the Spirit. Prayer brought forth the church on the day of Pentecost, and the prayer of the apostles sustained the church.
No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing, and the people who are not praying are straying. The devil does not fear your preaching or your eloquence but your prayers.
Friends, are you praying or playing? May your passion in the place of prayer be restored.

Prayer points
1. Father, please, pour Your Spirit on my prayer life, in Jesus’ name.
2. Father, help me to never faint or give up in the place of prayer, in Jesus’ name.

Today’s declarations
1. What a privilege not only to reason with God but to wrestle with Him in prayer.
2. Just like mothers deliver their babies in the maternity room, I labour, groan, and travail in the prayer room to bring forth.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng