A NEW IDENTITY!
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” “Please tell me your name,” Jacob said. “Why do you want to know my name?” the man replied. Then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob named the place Peniel (which means “face of God”), for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared.” The sun was rising as Jacob left Peniel, and he was limping because of the injury to his hip.
Genesis 32:28-31 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Jacob had an encounter with God that transformed his life. Until this encounter, Jacob had been a manipulator and cheat. His name identified his character as a deceiver.
First, God gives Jacob a new name. God declares him to be Israel. He was no longer going to be a deceiver but a prince. God was changing his identity.
Everyone bases their behavior on their self-identity. If we see ourselves as a failure and loser, we will act like a failure and loser. If we see ourselves as a winner, we will act like a winner. God saw Jacob as more than a deceiver or manipulator. He wanted Jacob to see himself differently, so He gave him a new name which signified he was a prince.
Secondly, God blessed Jacob/Israel. Until this moment Jacob had been manipulating things through his own power and ability. He worked things to achieve his desires and dreams. From this moment forward Jacob/Israel would learn to depend on the blessings of God to fulfill God’s plan for his life.
We must have the blessings of God on our lives to accomplish His dreams and purposes for our lives. Satan will try to convince us we can do it in our own ability or strength, but the truth is we can’t. Jacob/Israel could not get to the land of promise without the blessing of God. Neither can we.
Finally, God touched the hip of Jacob/Israel and gave him a limp. From this moment forward Jacob/Israel would recognize the limits of his ability. He would daily be reminded he could not achieve God’s plan through mere human effort. He was limited, God was unlimited.
We must recognize our limits. We are human and we have flaws and failures. Our flesh is weak and will put us in bondage if we trust in the flesh. But God is unlimited. He can do more than we ask or imagine. When we learn to trust God even in our weakness, we become strong.
God wants to give us a new identity. Not the one given by our parents or even by ourselves. He wants us to adopt His identity of who we are to become. He wants us to depend on Him for blessing and strength. We can’t accomplish God’s plan through human ability.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit help me to see myself the way You see me. Help me to transform my dependence from the flesh to the Spirit.
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