Jesus, take me through this situation with Peter one more time. Show me that You aren’t just trying to heal Peter from the damage that came from denying You, You are leading him into the next level of spiritual growth. I ask You to do that in my life. Sometimes, like Peter, I try to go back to my old way of life; and, You are trying to take me to a totally new way of life.

John 21:15 (NIV) When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you TRULY love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My lambs.” Jesus, first, You dealt with Peter's trade; I ask You to deal with mine. John 21:3 (NIV) “I’m going out to fish,” Simon Peter told them, and they said, “We’ll go with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. You wanted to know if Peter loved You more than his old source of income. Help me not love anything more than You.

John 21:16 (NIV) Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you truly love Me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Take care of My sheep.” Jesus, since the next two questions were, “do you love Me,” let me see that You are asking me too. Peter was happy to report that he really did love You, when asked the first time. Teach me that even a confident commitment concerning love isn’t enough here. Show me that the second and third times You asked, Peter got the impression You had doubts about his love. Help me see that this hurt Peter. You seemed to be doubting his commitment. Do You have any concerns about mine?

John 21:17 (NIV) The third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said, “Feed My sheep. Jesus, make it clear to me that You weren’t just bringing Peter back into Your discipleship training program, You were taking Peter to the next level of spiritual growth. Teach me that when I fail, You won’t just restore me back to where I was. You will use it to help me be stronger and more committed than ever.

John 21:18-19 (NIV) I tell you (Peter) the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him, “Follow me!” Jesus, help me see that like Peter, the future-demands will be far greater than those that have just taken me down. Help me see that You were telling Peter he was going to be a martyr.

Jesus, help me always keep in mind that when I finished the first grade in school, I was going to face a more difficult second grade. They were going to expect me to use all the things they had taught me in the first grade so they could require me to learn all the things in the second grade. Teach me that, that is the way life is; it keeps requiring me to grow, learn, progress, and mature. If those things I failed at in the past set me back and I stay there, I won’t be ready for the future. Use them to take me far beyond anything I have ever been before.

Jesus, show me what You used to help Peter get ready for the denial challenge and the future demands on his life.

Mat 14:28-29 (NIV) “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to You on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. Jesus, since Peter failed to be able to walk all the way to You, You ended up asking him: “You of little faith,...why did you doubt?” Teach me that even though it looked bad, Peter was the only one who learned about having consistent, stable faith; he got out of the boat! Show me that, that helped Peter grow in his understanding of the principles of faith.

Mat 15:15-16 (NIV) Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. Jesus, that sounded like a harsh evaluation; but, help me see that it got Peter to open his heart and let it start looking for spiritual truths. Peter was seeing things from a human perspective. You wanted him to start seeing in the spirit realm. Like Peter, I am training to be a mighty child of God. Just like that class and Your critiquing helped Peter start hearing from God, teach me how to better hear from God.

Jesus, help me see that this was the results of Your critiquing and that Understanding-Parables class: Mat 16:15-17 (NIV) “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in heaven.

Jesus, show me that like Peter was going to soon need his spiritual eyes seeing all kinds of things in the spirit realm, so am I. As I read through the book of Acts, help me see a transformed Peter who got incredible revelations from the Holy Spirit. This class was very important to him and very important for me.

Mat 16:22-24 (NIV) Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to Me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.” Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Jesus, just like Peter failed his “Standing-Up-For-Jesus” class and denied You because of this fear of persecution and death, I need You to help me with it.

Jesus, just like Peter finally passed his No-Fear-Of-Persecution-Or-Death class, help me get this kind of results: Acts 4:18-20 (NIV) Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God’s sight to obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Jesus, even though Peter was talking to those people who had condemned You to death, he wasn’t afraid of them anymore. He had been healed through Your training in his life; do that same work in my life.

Mat 17:24-25 (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?” Jesus, like Peter didn’t have Your permission to say You were going to pay taxes, help me not just guess what I think You will do.

Mat 17:27 (NIV) “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, even though Peter stepped out of bounds on this one, You used it to teach Peter about supernatural supplies from God. Like Peter, Jesus, I am going to need to trust God for my finances and material needs for the rest of my life. Like he also learned to not speak for You and put words in Your mouth; help me learn the same things.

Mat 18:21-22 (NIV) Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. Jesus, help me ALWAYS be willing to ask You for the answers to questions. Help me not fear what the answer might be. Since, by asking the question, Peter learned a very IMPORTANT principle that had his relationship with God at stake, help me follow his example.

Mat 6:14-15 (NIV) For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. Jesus, show me that Peter’s question opened a door for him to always get his heavenly Father’s forgiveness. Like this training class gave Peter some things to pray about that would build his relationship with God on many levels; help my questions do the same for me.

Mat 16:18-19 (NIV) And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Jesus, teach me that these words weren’t just for Peter; like they flowed through Peter into the lives of multitudes of people, use me in a similar way. Like Peter, I still have a ways to go; but, let me always know when I am on the right track.

Jesus, it was right after the Matthew 16:18-19 affirmation from You that Peter took You aside and rebuked You. Prov 16:18 (NIV) Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Help me see that I, like Peter, need affirmation; I need You to tell me that I am doing good and am progressing. I need You to let me know that You are going to use me in a mighty way for You glory and honor. But, help it NOT cause me to see You giving me the credit for my growth. Teach me that Peter wasn’t getting better; he was getting more yielded to the flow of You through him.

John 15:5 (NIV) I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. Jesus, take me to a place where I believe that apart from You I can do nothing. Make it clear to me that it is only when I believe this and yield fully to Your influence in and through me that I will be ready to be helped myself and be a channel through which You flow into the lives of others.