Rom 8:31 (NIV) What, then, shall we say in response to this? IF God is for us, who can be against us? Jesus, help me understand that the problem with Peter was, he didn’t think God was for him anymore. He thought he had committed the unpardonable sin. You had warned about that: Luke 12:10 (NIV) And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

Jesus, I remember the WANT and HATE of Romans 7:15. But, help me realize that Peter doesn’t know it yet; but, he still has what God requires of a Christian. Help me remember that You had already told Peter he wasn’t going to be condemned and commit the unpardonable sin: Luke 22:31-32 (NIV) “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Peter’s faith was really being challenged; but, You prayed this for Peter: “that your faith may not fail.”

Jesus, it hurts when I fail You. But, help me believe that times like these are very important moments in my and Peter’s lives. He, like me, had to learn that self-dependency isn’t the answer to living the life of God. His attitude was good. His intentions were good. He thought he was telling You the truth when he said he would be willing to die for You. I think this. But, when I fail, because I have a sincere heart, I will weep bitterly.

Jesus, Peter made You a promise; he tried with everything he had, and failed You. He was starting to realize he wasn’t made out of the right stuff. Teach me that until I come to this place, I will always be incomplete in my training. Show me that this weeping Peter was doing wasn’t with spiritual understanding. Peter was very disappointed in himself. He probably hated himself. Help me see that because he didn’t keep his promise, he had decided that he was no longer worthy to be one of Your disciples.

Jesus, teach me that this is a satanic attack coming against Peter. All the work You had done in his life was being called into play during this moment in time. Did Peter respond to Your training with a true heart; or, was he just acting like he wanted You and the things You had to offer? Show me that few people understand just how important the time of training is. During the times of training, help me realize that I may not see how important it is going to be once I have to use it.

Jesus, when I am going through the life-classes, taking these courses, facing the smaller tests in life, and applying myself to learning the subjects, help me see that I don't feel much urgency. I do feel a certain amount of apprehension when something bigger comes around. But even then I still don’t see it all from a future perspective. Show me that just like my education for my career, it isn’t until I am faced with a job that requires all that training, that I see more clearly how important all my training was.

Jesus, show me some of the life-classes You put Peter through trying to help him be ready for future challenges:

• Luke 5:4-6 (NIV) When He (Jesus) had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. Jesus, like Peter, I need to use these principles when You tell me something. I need to always know You only speak truth.


• Mat 17:24-27 (NIV) After Jesus and His disciples arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Doesn’t your Teacher pay the temple tax?” “Yes, He does,” he replied. When Peter came into the house, Jesus was the first to speak. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect duty and taxes--from their own sons or from others?” “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
  
  Jesus, this life-class of Peter’s was teaching him to not speak in Your behalf: “But so that we may not offend them, go to the lake and throw out your line. Take the first fish you catch; open its mouth and you will find a four-drachma coin. Take it and give it to them for My tax and yours.” Jesus, help me see that when Peter made his promise to not deny You, he directly refuted Your words. This life-class about paying taxes should have taught Peter to accept Your words. Help me learn that I should never put words in Your mouth and never take any out.


• Jesus, when Peter was attempting to walk on water and started sinking, immediately You reached out Your hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” You said, “why did you doubt?” This should have taught Peter to never doubt You; help it teach me to never doubt You.

John 14:15 (NIV) If you love Me, you will obey what I command. Jesus, help me understand that part of Your training program was to help Peter not only WANT to obey, TRY to obey, DETERMINE to obey, and be TRAINED to obey, You wanted to teach him how to get the POWER to obey. Help me see that, that is what You want for me. At the point of Peter’s failure, show me that he was still looking to himself and his own abilities. Make it clear to me that it is vital that I learn how to put my depency on You. Teach me that Christian want, try, determine, and be trained to obey is empowered through You and not through human resources.

Jesus, since Peter got that opportunity to try out his own determination, stamina, self-control, human skills and through them fail, help me see how it helped him be ready for You to bring him back into the discipleship program. Show me that since Peter was a lot more humble, You were able to reinstate him and get him to listen to what You were saying to him. Teach me that the big issue was, to bring Peter to the place where he would accept Your forgiveness for such a big failure. Peter did NOT believe he was worthy of any kind of forgiveness for such a huge failure. But, he was going to learn about grace. Let me learn more about grace.