Luke 22:31-32 - “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to have you, to sift you like wheat, but I have
pleaded in prayer for you that your faith should not completely fail. So when you have repented and turned to me
again, strengthen and build up the faith of your brothers.”
Jesus had sat at the Passover table and
dined the last earthly time with the twelve men who knew Him the best. Satan had won the battle for Judas Iscariot’s
life….but Jesus was still battling for Peter. It is one of the rare times that
we hear the details of one of Jesus’ prayers. The difference was that Judas
would die alone and completely engulfed in his sin….and Peter would repent and
use the mistake he made to increase his faith.
Satan has asked at least once to have all of
us that choose to follow Christ. Like
Job…we are all tested. We can chose to let our sin harden our heart like Judas…or
we can choose to let the blood of Jesus sacrifice on the cross wash that sin
right out of our heart…so God can replace it with faith to do what He needs us
to do.
What a comforting thought that Jesus prays
for all of us…that Satan never be given complete control of our faith. If we have asked Jesus to be our Lord…He
takes that job seriously…and intercedes for us…even when we are too weak to pray
for ourselves. God will use every mistake…every time we fall to build us up…and
use us to strengthen others.
Father…thank you for never leaving me
completely to Satan’s wicked ways. Thank
you for sending your son to win the battle over evil so that I can use His
strength when my own fails. Forgive me
for the times that I take that gift for granted. Use my mistakes and failings to
build me up for your use like you did Peter.
Amen.
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