I've never seen this verse before tonight and I came across it in my study of Jesus the One and Only. It stopped me in my reading of the Passover Supper when Jesus is about to be betrayed by Judas. He has just shared the last meal with the disciples, announced that he would be betrayed, and washed the disciples feet. Then Jesus spoke those words to Peter... Satan has ASKED to sift you as wheat...
This was an answer to my prayer of the last 11 days in my life as I wondered why I was faced with a couple of seemingly bad circumstances. As I have learned in my walk with the Lord, if I seem to be under a little oppression or trouble seems to be brewing around me, I stop and check my fellowship with the Lord, then I go through a mental list of confessions as I seek the Lord for an answer in response to my unfortunate situations.
Here's a little of my confessional list that I sift through my mind and heart
- I first humble myself and realize that "who am I" that something bad SHOULDN'T happen to me.
- Then I give my concerns and discernments to the Lord and ask HIM to bear them for me.
- Then I watch! I stay alert!!! (Satan is the great enemy... not the people around me who I might feel the attack is coming from... It's ALWAYS Satan...He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
- Then I stand firm and Wait... Waiting isn't a passive thing for me... Waiting is SEEKING the Lord for comfort and understanding... I read the Bible to seek God's grace to deal with the unfortunate cirumstance... then I wait a little longer.
- Then I stand firm on my belief that GOD IS ABLE TO DELIVER ME... whatever the issue may be... I STAND FIRM in my faith...
- Then I praise God for keeping me safe... even when I don't understand...
- AND I ALWAYS THANK GOD for His GRACE to overcome the whatever... if it's a dishonor, or a slander, or a financial shortfall, or whatever it is... I KNOW GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ME.
- I then Wait some more because I know that after I've suffered a little while that God will restore me, support me, and strengthen me and bring me back into a firm foundation... HE IS ALL POWERFUL and nothing happens without HIS PERMISSION...
So with all that check list being checked off, I have peace...that surpasses all understanding... so that I can pass the test that I am called to take. This is what I KNOW and what I've walked out through the years with the Lord. So when I had a bit of a shake up last week, I immediately recognized it as a test and I have had several scriptures that have brought me comfort.
Hosea 10:12 Plant the good seeds of righteousness and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord that he may come and shower righteousness upon you...
I read that verse on Saturday and I felt healed. But when I read the verse from Luke 22:31 tonight... It actually stopped me in my reading and I had to write this to give praise to the Lord. I'll try to explain what I mean but it's still fresh...
I actually felt honored... Honored to be ASKED by satan to be sifted... My checklist is right out of scripture if you'd like to read it yourself... 1 Peter 5:6-14
This sifting is allowed by God because in his kindness he has called me to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. Because I am a follower of Christ, I can bring glory and honor to the Lord through my suffering and sifting. GLORY TO YOU, FATHER.
The very next thing Jesus said to Peter was this... But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again...Strenghten your brothers...
This is what is so amazing about this story...Jesus knew Peter would deny him...BUT he also knew that he would repent and be even STRONGER because of his faith and go on to do GREAT things for Christ...
WHAT JOY!!! To know that we can be restored to fullness of faith with the simplest form of repentance and obedience to do what God calls us to do... Just Trust and Obey...
Again, I just say Thank you Lord. For revealing the purpose behind the bump in my path. That I stayed on your path for me and "after a little suffering, you will restore me, support and strengthen me... OH what a story to tell... Satan will be sorry he messed with me...
Please know that nothing happens without God's knowledge and permission... if we just humble ourselves and seek HIM instead of focus on the problem, HE WILL RESTORE US...
In Christ,
Lea Anne
