The Lord intercedes for us!!
And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired [to have] you, that he may sift [you] as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fails not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Luke 22:31-32 (KJV)
The Lord did NOT pray for Peter to be kept from sin. Rather he prayed that Peter would be able to endure the temptation and failure he was about to succumb to. God wishes not for our failure, but He will use it to teach us valuable lessons pertaining to living for Him. It’s through our failures in life, that seems to be the greatest teacher that we cannot trust in our own human strengths. Jesus understood Peter needed to be sifted to get all of the self-confidence out of his system. Thus, He allowed Satan to come in and do the sifting. (What satan uses to break us, God will use to make us)
Failure should always lead us to God’s Grace!! When Peter fell, he looked up and saw the Lord standing there waiting to restore him. Because he was about to use him on the Day of Pentecost!!!
That is the pure grace and mercies of God. The acknowledgment of our weaknesses is a grand design to allow God to perform His glory and grace in our life. As in the words of Paul, His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses!
The steps of a [good] man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand. I have been young, and [now] am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. [He is] ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed [is] blessed. ~Psalmist David
It’s often times through our colossal failures, that our faith fails, and we feel as though The Lord is finished with us. After Peter denied Jesus, all the words from His master flooded his mind, the cock crowed, and he went out weeping…as time transpired, The Lord went through Calvary, Peter and a few disciples decided to…”go fishing” (back to his old life) I believe Peter thought his ministry was over.
Amazingly Jesus in His resurrected body showed up on the sea shore, and Peter came to shore and the Lord had prepared some food for them…sitting there waiting on Him!!!
This is perhaps one of the greatest sceneries in all scripture: The Lord waits for us through our failures, ready to restore us…
He goes on to ask Peter three times…Lovest Thou Me?
Are we willing to turn to Him in our failures and wholeheartedly give our life to Him? Failure should always lead us to a repentant heart, and point us to the need of His divine strength…
The Lord intercedes for us today!!! There is hope through our failure!!
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