This resolution of Daily United Prayer is based on An Humble Attempt, originally put forward by Jonathan Edwards in 1748. Its design is to encourage God's people in the duty of united extraordinary prayer; setting aside some time every day to pray for the revival of His church and the advancement of Christ's kingdom in our homes, in our churches, in our nation, and in the world.
"And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed." Genesis 48:2.
I was reading the passage in Genesis 48 this morning and was struck with the simplicity of this verse. Jacob was sick and near unto death. He was at his lowest point physically and his weakness is emphasized in Hebrews 11:21 where we read, "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." The great blessing in all of this is that while Jacob was at his weakest point in life, he exercised the greatest faith. Out of all his life's experiences, this is the one episode that is recorded for us in the Hall of Faith. Sometimes when we reach that point in our lives when the natural energy of youth is depleted and when we are feeling the natural decay of the "evil days" according to Ecclesiastes 12:1, the temptation is just to lie down, close our eyes, and be done with it all. We can argue in our minds that we've worked hard in the "burden and heat of the day," and now there's nothing left for us to do.
But this was not so with Jacob. When he was sick and "a dying," he strengthened himself, sat upon the bed, and prayed one last great prayer of blessing upon Joseph's sons. He exercised faith one last time in his greatest weakness. We see this demonstrated in Samson's life as well. His ministry was over. His life was over. But as he stood there between the pillars doomed and defeated, he called unto the Lord and said, "O Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God" (Judges 16:28). He also exercised faith one last time in his greatest weakness.
Friend, where are you today? If you're like me, you may feel your weakness all too well. Every day I feel it and have the temptation to just lie down and not get up. But I pray that God will teach us that while we have breath, to strengthen ourselves, sit up on our bed, and exercise faith, albeit one last time, for the glory of God Almighty.
DAILY UNITED PRAYER unitedprayer.net
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