In this sermon by Ali Martin from Soul Survivor Watford, Ali talks about the need for us to Embrace whatever season we are in.

The following notes were taken the the Bible Reflections Team. Please feel free to add your own thought or comment using the comment box below. 

1. what is God doing in your life today?
2. what is God saying in your life today

Jacob was the Son of Isaac who was the son of Abraham, and Abraham was the person from whom the whole of earth would be blessed.

Isaac gave birth to two boys - Jacob and Esau, Esau was the older son and was due everything from his father, including a blessing of prosperity, however Jacob was able to scheme and trick and manipulate his father into giving him everything.

Jacob ran away from his brother for fear of his life.  He ran away and got married (twice!). So Jacob journeys with his family.

Genesis 32:22
One night Jacob was aware that he would meet his brother Esau the next day.  So he sent his family and all his possessions first (perhaps in order to avoid confrontation), and Jacob was left alone all night. 

That night Jacob encountered a man with whom he wrestled with all night.  At the end of the night the man whom he wrestled with renamed Jacob and said that he had overcome and would continue to overcome.  Later on Jacob declared the man with whom he wrestled with to be God and Jacob renamed the place to reflect the encounter with God.

For that moment, Jacob did not rush on to the next thing (perhaps out of fear), Jacob wrestled with God. For Jacob, the past was not appealing and the future was not appealing, for him, the path he could see was filled with shame and embarrassment.  So Jacob stayed in and found safety in the present.

Do we look to the past which may or may not be more attractive than the present? or do we look to the future which may or may not be more attractive than the present.

We must find a way to deal with the past.

Our most common focus is usually found in the future - what will happen tomorrow? or the next day etc?

Perhaps our common present in quite boring? Perhaps our current circumstance is quite painful? Perhaps our hopes and dreams have not been realised in the present? Perhaps we have had words and dreams from God which are yet to be fulfilled in our lives? Perhaps we feel isolated and lonely in our today - perhaps the people around us are moving on and we are not?

Hebrews 12: "let us throw off everything that hinders…and run with perseverance the race marked out with us" - you have a different race marked out for you than your peers.
There is a future reality - Philippians 3:13 - a future goal - more! but the future reality informs our today, it MUST inform our today.

Do we hold on to our today and our present in the understanding that tomorrow is around the corner?
Hebrews 13:5 - God will never leave and never forsake - God is always there.
Can we embrace what God is doing in our todays?

What is God saying to our todays? - In the moment of wrestling, God renamed Jacob  - He spoke over him a new name. God said that Jacob was no longer someone who would live up to their name of 'deceit' but would now be named Israel - someone who has 'overcome'.

God loves to rename - Abram to Abraham, Jacob to Israel, Gideon called out of weakness into a mighty warrior, Simon to Peter (the rock), Zacchaeus the 'sinful man' to 'Purity'. We are called to be a chosen people, His children, loved, friends, His, valuable, chosen, delighted. Jesus speaks over each of us - He speaks to our characters and our passions and desires. Can you hear the voice of Jesus or are you caught up in the past?

God tries to speak names over us but are our own self-beliefs getting in the way of hearing who we really are and who we are called to be?

In God we receive our names and the power to live it out.

God is called us TODAY to come and be who we are really called to be.

For one night Jacob held on and wrestled with God, but he came through a different man.

What is God doing in your present today and circumstances? What is God speaking to your today?