Luke 22:31-32

New International Version (NIV)

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.”

For Your Encouragement

Trusting in our own abilities reveals a deep flaw in our faith—we know very little about God. We know nothing about His prayer ministry, without which the enemy would make minced meat out of us. It is His grace and mercy that sustains us in the Christian Walk. Our knowledge of God’s power and strength in all its fullness acting on our behalf, would be seriously deficient, until we yield to the illumination of the Holy Spirit. 

Christian, you are so weak until you acknowledge the only thing that sustains you through life—GRACE! The temptation from that flirtatious woman or the persistent advances from that nice man during dinner alone in that dimly lit hotel restaurant you walked away from was not in your own strength. Certainly, not in your determined, “Not me, lady!” or “gentleman” bluff. The Tempter would have squashed you like a marshmallow, but for the grace of a loving Father who carried you and opened a door of escape for you (1 Cor. 10:12-13). The juicy business deal you turned down, the demanding boss you tolerate, the stormy marriage you are enduring, and the anger you’ve learned to suppress. It’s all grace, my friend. 

The fact is, we are so human and very weak without our Savior. Until we acknowledge this and humble ourselves under His Sovereign protection and constant intercession for us, we will always fall (Rm. 8:34). Pride is our worst enemy. Still, our egos don’t help. We hardly acknowledge that we are swimming in it. Who doesn’t like position and recognition? 

However, follow the discourse of Jesus with the disciples at the Last Supper, as Luke tells the story, and observe the disciples, particularly Simon Peter. Jesus warned them against the leadership style of the world, contrasting it with His own model of servanthood (Lk. 22:24-30). He then turned and addressed Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (31-32). Peter, missing the point, said, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” 

To appreciate the force of Jesus’ statement, let’s walk through Peter’s failures after this event. He slept in Gethsemane, followed Jesus at a distance after His arrest, denied Him three times, didn’t show up at the crucifixion, failed to believe the resurrection report from the women, and finally went back to his old business. It was all downhill until the Lord intervened and restored him after the fishing fiasco on the shores of the Sea of Tiberias (Jn. 21:15-19). Do you see how worse things could have been for Peter, had it not been for the Lord’s intercessory prayer? 

David got it right when he said, “If the Lord had not been on our side—let Israel say … when the enemy attacked us, they would have swallowed us alive … they would have engulfed us, the raging waters would have swept us away” (Psa. 124:1-5). 

Reflect on your life and the challenges you’ve faced. “If the Lord had not been on your side!” That’s what makes grace so amazing. Recognize it, appreciate it, and be grateful for it.

Pray with Me

Father, I bless your holy name for your mercy that carries me through all my challenges and trials. May your grace continue to abound to me and remain sufficient for me through Jesus my Lord. Amen!

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