Stir Yourself Up!
Does your life seem unfulfilled? Have His promises become a reality in you?
“And there is no one who calls on Your name, who stirs himself up to take hold of You!” (Isaiah 64:7).
Jacob knew what it meant to literally take hold of God. In Genesis chapter 32 we read of Jacob’s wrestle with God. The scriptures say that a Man wrestled with him. Verses 25-26 say that Jacob would not let Him go unless He blessed Him: “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. He said, “Let Me go for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
Jacob later on called the place Peniel, meaning, “I have seen God face to face”
God is reachable and tangible. In fact, throughout the scriptures we see God reaching out towards His people and continually drawing them to Him in a real way. From Genesis through Revelation God makes Himself known. The question is not whether God wants contact with us, but whether we have awakened our spirit man; our inner man to God and are rousing ourselves to take hold of Him.
The term,” stir up” literally means to “awaken, arouse and revive”. It seems that now, more than ever, there is a cry within the heart of people that is causing them to sincerely reach out and grab a hold of God so that He becomes a reality in their lives.
I want to encourage you that any time you read about God in His nature, begin to ponder on whether or not you have experienced Him those ways. As your read about God as your Jehova Jireh, ask yourself how you have experienced Him as your Provider, and the same goes for Him as Your Righteousness, Healer, Peace, Joy, Lover, and so forth, and then begin asking God to take you deeper into Himself in those ways.
In the season that we are living in I believe there is a mandate to stir ourselves up to take hold of God. The world has a strong pull, and it is always easier to be brought down, than to raise the standard.
To remain complacent rather than seeking God and desire His manifest presence and glory within our lives takes less effort, but is not nearly as fulfilling. The book of Mathew says that the Kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. There are times we need to be an aggressive people, warring for His promises to become reality within us, and within the earth.
One of those promises is in Hebrews 11:6 which says that God is a rewarder of those who seek Him. Let’s wake ourselves up to God in a real way. Let us seek Him and surrender our spirits to His Spirit so we may know Him more deeply and rise up as His glorious people throughout the earth.
Heavenly Father, I thank you that you want to be so real to me. I yield myself to you and all that I am. Make Yourself known to me, oh God. Breathe on me and take me deeper into yourself, so I may dwell and abide in You. Holy Spirit, teach me and guide me, drawing me even closer into Your presence and glory.
Questions: Is God real to you? How can you begin to experience God in a dynamic way?
About the Author Brigitte Straub
I know that God has to be real because there is no way that I could be the person that I am today, because the person I was would be dead right now!
Jacqueline what wonderful words you have written and oh so true. I may try the same thing
Great word, I do want to have you think about, ponder about the Kingdom of God; what is the Kingdom of God? The Bible says it is Peace, joy, and Righteousness in Holy Spirit; in this verse “Kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” was brought to my attention this past week. Powerful, The Lord had me to be violent in not allowing the devil to take my peace and joy, through others that came in to my home and try to do just that, so I was led to post a sign on my from door, “No negative words allow, no critical spirits allow, Only love, tenderness, kindness, words that build up and not tear down are allow in my home”. The peace of God that is back in my home is amazing. Sometimes taking a stand with the Word of God and not backing down is what Jacob did, and then He became Israel.
Blessing to you
Jacqueline
Great word, I do want to have you think about, ponder about the Kingdom of God; what is the Kingdom of God? The Bible says it is Peace, joy, and Righteousness in Holy Spirit; in this verse “Kingdom of God suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” was brought to my attention this past week. Powerful, The Lord had me to be violent in not allowing the devil to take my peace and joy, through others that came in to my home and try to do just that, so I was led to post a sign on my from door, “No negative words allow, no critical spirits allow, Only love, tenderness, kindness, words that build up and not tear down are allow in my home”. The peace of God that is back in my home is amazing. Sometimes taking a stand with the Word of God and not backing down is what Jacob did, and then He became Israel.
Blessing to you
Jacqueline
God is real to me not just because I think it, I FEEL IT so deep within like nothing I have ever felt in my 50 years.
and Darrin, may I say that although sudden change or change period can be upsetting, with anything that we feel is negative, there is always a positive just around the corner. as we are always reading in Scripture, ”patience is a virtue”
I love that He breathes in me and i will not let go till i get the desire of my heart, the blessing He has promised me will come to pass and without a shadow of a doubt I will never let go, never ever let go!! Thank you Jesus for giving me this burning passion to see Your face and to dwell in Your presence, please keep me and give me strength and patience for the trails yet to come sill take this and I want to drink of Your cup, I Love You Jesus, in ur mighty and powerful name amen
the verse from Hebrews quoted says that God is a rewarder of those who ‘diligently’ seek Him.
Joy Dawson comments on this saying He does not reward casual enquirers – His word and rewards go to the diligent seeker. When we ask Him to reveal His word or will to us… are we asking just to consider it as one of several options or do we plan to obediently say Yes to whatever He may show us?
as to the new format – If you dislike the smaller size print you can go to your toolbar top of page – click on View and then on zoom to enlarge the print. This can be done several times until it is large enough for you.
Hope that helps someone else because that is my main beef with it but it can be rectified.
Personally I like the old format better too but what I do is just open up the devotional and right away scroll down to where it says comment and just below that it says visit the article here and if you click on that then you basically get the old format or at least pretty close to it and then the comments are all there too on the same page which I think is great! Hugs, Linda!!!
I think the new format is pretty good. any way i do enjoy the devotionals weather in the old or new. thanks for them
Hi everyone! I’m sorry to hear that some of you don’t like the new format, but going back to the old format isn’t really an option. If there are specific improvements that you’d like to suggest we’re more than willing to listen to your concerns or ways to improve the new site. Please contact us to let us know, thanks!
I’m with you Helene. I too don’t like the new format either.
I was just praying this morning during my bible reading and prayer time for the Lord’s kingdom would come in greater quality and quantity in my heart. That I would allow the Lord to rule, reign and regulate my thinking. That He would have dominion, control and rule over all aspects of my heart and mind. I pray Lord that I would focus on You and want You would have me do.
I can feel this writer’s heart as she prays for her husband to draw nearer to God. God is not far away from anyone who desires to draw near to Him. Any time we call out to Him, we will find that He’s reaching out to us.
Today, at this hour, my husband is at the men’s 3rd Sunday breakfast meeting. (After attending our church for 20 years, this is a new experience for Otto) My belief of God working is this…..
Seeing my husband INTERESTED and knowing he is getting closer to God through these meetings is bringing my heart closer to him and I can see God in our marriage moreso now.
I DO NOT LIKE THE NEW FORMAT. GO BACK TO OLD