Blank Days

Luke 22:31-32 And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”

I sat down on the front porch to pray as the sun arose; so few words came…..I came into my secret place and prayed again for Him to guide me in his Word…..my mind just seemed blank this morning. In my heart I desired a powerful prayer, and the deep things of God, but my body is tired. This week has been a week that stretched my physically, and my mind and the pressures of business continue to work on me. My soul deep within wants the special times with God, but the pressures of the world win the battle, with thoughts of work flooding my head; I am simply tired, and thankful for the rest I found in the time searching scriptures, and stopping at the passage above; Jesus prayed for the zealous Peter, just as Jesus prays for my zealous self. Jesus, and the level of faith in him, are all a matter of your heart. Your heart is your gauge of your faith.

Jesus had just spent the incredible special time of the Last Supper with his disciples. He had told them of the days of persecution to come, of the betrayal to come, and even of Peter’s denial to come following this scripture above. Can you imagine the weight of the words of Christ that Peter heard? Peter was outspoken, quick to react, and a leader among leaders. Peter would fail in his flesh, but even in his failure, Jesus used the fall to strengthen Peter, and to further the kingdom. What a testimony built in the pillar of the church. God knows your heart; the motives before the actions, or even the acts of omission, the refusal to move because of the fear of the result; you can hide nothing from God. Psalm 44:21 Would not God search this out? For He knows the secrets of the heart.

If you claim to believe, you are a chosen child of God. The deep doctrinal arguments of election are throughout the Bible, but no one can come to God unless God chooses them, tugs at their hearts, and they respond in faith. John 6:44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. Just as Jesus prayed for Peter, he and the Holy Spirit are interceding for you before God right now. Jesus is reminding God of the price he paid for your sins, and the Spirit is telling God what is on your heart when you can’t find the words to say. Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Your life doesn’t have to be that of a religious Pharisee, but of one of a humble heart that seeks God with all of it. He knows the days you struggle, but he also knows the level of your heart for him.