Voice: Terry
Today is Thursday, 12th of February. We are now about a week from Lent. Whatever you are planning to do today, take a moment to commit your plans to the Lord.
We pray:
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
whose years never fail and whose mercies are new each returning day:
let the radiance of your Spirit renew our lives,
warming our hearts and giving light to our minds;
that we may pass this year in joyful obedience and firm faith;
through him who is the beginning and the end,
your Son, Christ our Lord,who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Psalm 37:1-9
Fret not yourself because of evildoers;
be not envious of wrongdoers!
2 For they will soon fade like the grass
and wither like the green herb.
3 Trust in the Lord, and do good;
dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the Lord,
and he will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in him, and he will act.
6 He will bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him;
fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way,
over the man who carries out evil devices!
8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.
9 For the evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
Genesis 32:22-30
22The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.
23He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.
24And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.
25When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.
26Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
27And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”
28Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him.
30So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
From Jacob to Israel
Jacob leaves Laban in Genesis 31, obeying God’s command:
“Return to the land of your fathers.”
But returning home means facing Esau—the brother he cheated and fled from twenty years earlier.
When Jacob hears that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men, fear grips him. He anticipates a hostile reunion. As was typical of Jacob, his mind immediately goes to strategy. He divides his camp into two, reasoning that if plunder comes, at least only half would be lost.
After sending his family and servants across the ford of the Jabbok, Jacob is left alone. One can imagine the thoughts racing through his mind. Laban is behind him. Esau is ahead of him.
Was he escaping the frying pan only to fall into the fire?
Then something utterly unexpected happens.
A man appears and begins to wrestle with him. Whoever this stranger is, Jacob refuses to yield. He fights back—not to win, but to hold on.
Yet Jacob is doing more than resisting. He is clinging. He pleads, “Please bless me.”
He does not enjoy the struggle, but neither will he let go of God.
The stranger declares:
“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Before Jacob can meet Esau, he must first meet God.
And before reconciliation can happen, identity must be transformed.
That night, Jacob becomes Israel.
God often meets us in our darkest moments. Transformation rarely happens when life is comfortable. So do not be in a rush. Cling to God for His blessing. Jacob’s persistence was rewarded.
Did not Jesus Himself teach us to be persistent in prayer?
You may have been praying for something. Did you ask once and move on? Or have you persisted—week after week, month after month—refusing to let go of God?
Jacob is wounded, but not crushed. He walks away with a limp. That limp becomes a lifelong reminder of what happened that night. A mark of transformation.
You too may bear scars from past suffering. Those scars are not meaningless. They serve a purpose.
Sometimes wrestling with God takes great effort. Cling on.
Sometimes it is deeply painful. Trust God—even that pain can serve His purpose.
We pray the Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and
the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen.
_____
In closing, be blessed by this song, It is well
Grander earth has quaked before
Moved by the sound of His voice
Seas that are shaken and stirred
Can be calmed and broken for my regard
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
It is well with me
Far be it from me to not believe
Even when my eyes can’t see
And this mountain that’s in front of me
Will be thrown into the midst of the sea
Through it all, through it all
My eyes are on You
Through it all, through it all
It is well
Shot & Edited by Garrison Strahan
Mixed by Ryan Johnson
Keys by Caleb King
@calebkinggmusic
Website: https://www.garettandkateserban.com/
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at info@mpcc.org.sg
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