Tag Archives: Jesus prays for us

When We Let Jesus Down

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

I’ve been rather introspective of late. I’ve thought of things I could have done better. Situations where I should have acted differently. Words spoken that would have been better left unsaid.

Could have. Should have. Would Have. Ever been there?

Of course, on the flip side of all that there were days I did get it right. I did the correct thing. Latched onto the opportunity. Said the right words.

But not always, and that’s what’s bugging me right now.

And that’s what got me thinking about one of Jesus’ followers. Peter.

He meant well. He tried hard. Yet, he also failed. Not all the time, mind you, but often enough we have a record of the times he fell listed with the times he rose above.

Jesus told Peter ahead of time Satan asked to sift him like wheat. He followed that bleak news with a promise, however. Jesus was praying for Peter.

I believe Satan asks to sift us, too. Don’t you think?

Why wouldn’t he? After all, he wants us to believe his lies and fail miserable as a result. The great news is, just as Jesus promised to pray for Peter, he prays for us, too.

It encourages me to know Jesus didn’t wash his hands of Peter when he failed and let Jesus down. Nope. Jesus loved him regardless. In fact, Jesus knew before Peter was ever born, and definitely before he chose Peter as one of the four in his inner circle, that Peter would deny ever knowing Jesus.

So, remembering Peter didn’t always live up to the standard set before him, and the fact Jesus continued to love him and died for him, and welcomed Peter with open arms gives me hope. It gives me confidence.

Because of God’s unconditional love I can keep moving forward toward the goal set before me by the power of Christ in me.

Even when I fall sometimes.

Jesus won’t wash his hands of us. In fact, he holds his arms open wide for us to come running into his safe embrace.

Isn’t that a comforting thought?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

“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.” Luke 22:31-32 (TLB)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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Sunday Scriptures — The Joys of Being a Homeowner

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by Sandy Kirby Quandt

It’s wonderful to return home after time away. To relax among the familiar. Sleep in your own bed. Putter around the yard.

It’s not so wonderful, however, to return home to find a mysterious liquid stain on the ceramic tile in the living room under the entertainment center, a leaking pipe in the kitchen, and a broken air conditioner unit outside.

The night Pilot and I returned from our trip to Colorado last month, he noticed a liquid stain creeping out from under the entertainment center in our living room.

The next day I heard water running in the kitchen as the clothes washer drained.

The day after that we both heard a screeching, grinding noise coming from the air conditioning unit outside.

Hmmm.

Welcome home.

The running water?

I discovered it was a leaky pipe under the kitchen sink.

But you want to know the really great thing about the leak? Sitting under the pipe was a large, empty flower vase. That’s right. The water drained into the glass vase instead of all over the cabinet floor.

Only God.

After a trip to the hardware store, Pilot fixed the leak in no time…and left the vase right where it was.

The screeching, grinding noise?

A worn out condenser motor and capacitor.

Fortunately, the air conditioner repair man was able to come to the house the day after we called. He happened to have the correct parts needed and was able to make the required repairs during that service call. And the day was cool and overcast so no need to run the a.c. until it was fixed.

That mysterious liquid stain?

Have no idea.

Our first thought was the refrigerator which backs up to the wall near the leak. But when we pulled it out from the wall, nothing, fortunately. While we were on our trip our area had copious amounts of rain. Possibly, the water seeped from the ground near the area where the sunken living room is.

Who knows?

Each of these incidences could have been cause for frustration, annoyance and alarm. Especially since we returned home tired and Pilot needed to be at work the following day.

Just as Satan pursued Peter, he pursues those of us who claim Christ as Lord and Savior. The deceiver wants to frustrate us, cause us to become angry, make us give up. He strives to make our lives miserable.

But in the midst of the battle, we have a Mighty Advocate who sits on his throne in heaven at the right hand of his Father and pleads our case daily.

Feeling like things are falling apart around you? Leaky pipes. Broken appliances. Mysterious whatevers.

Your health. Job. Finances. Relationships.

Whatever Satan tosses at us, we need not despair. Instead we should hold onto the hope we have in Jesus because greater is HE who is in us, than he who is in the world.

Amen?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject. Leave a comment below. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

Simon, Simon, how Satan has pursued you, that he might make you part of his harvest. But I have prayed for you. I have prayed that your faith will hold firm and that you will recover from your failure and become a source of strength for your brothers here. Luke 22:31-32 (Voice)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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