MEDITATIONS AND MEMORIES

"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 fail not; and when thou art converted, strengthen the brethern.   And he said unto him, Lord , I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death.  And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou  shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me."  (Luke  22:31-34)


I think Peter meant every word he said when he told the Lord he was ready to go with him to prison and to death.  He was completely devoted to the Lord  and determined to go with Him if it meant death.  He had sailed on the stormy sea of Galilee with the Lord.  He had seen miracles of Jesus.  He was the one who said,
"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God."   He was a bold fisherman and had faced many storms.
He had been through many difficult times with the Lord and the other disciples. How could he not be sincere?

Yet, there was coming soon a day when their faith was to be put to the test.  Jesus was just before being put to the most dreadful conflict in His earthly life.  Jesus warned them of what was soon to take place in Gethsemane.  He, Himself, was entering into conflict with the prince of this world, Satan.  He knew that Satan would do all he could do to destroy Him and His followers.

He looked at Peter and 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 fail not."
He wanted his followers to have the assurance in the time of deepest darkness and despair that He would be there for them.  Peter had often seen the Lord pray and had seen the answers to prayer.  He had been with
the Lord when He raised Lazarus from the dead.  Peter really thought he was stronger than he was.  He did not fully understand his heart.

Peter did fail, but in answer to prayer he was restored and became a channel of blessing.
We, like Peter, undergo times of deep testings.  We get fearful and frustrated within.  That's when we need to remember  that the Lord is our Great High Priest.  He ever lives to intercede on our behalf.
We are tested, but not forsaken, bruised and bewildered, but not abandoned; utterly cast down, but not destroyed, because of Him who says to us today as He did to Peter long ago: " But I have prayed for thee
that thy faith fail not."