“But I have prayed for you.”

Luke 22:31-34, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

Like so many of us, Peter is sure of his own strength and doesn’t even recognize his need for strength. We too are subject to the same temptation, to deny that we need spiritual power thinking that we have the strength to stand. Fortunately, we also have this same promise that even now Christ is interceding for us, and even though we slip and fall he is there to lift us up when we turn to him. And in so turning he can also use us to strengthen others! Are we seeking and receiving his strength today or trying to stand in our own as did Peter?

We thank you for your intercession for us, for we know our weaknesses and we need your strength to stand; use our past failures to strengthen others.

ESV Lectionary