Grace for the Growing Heart 11/5

Grace for the Growing Heart

Jesus named Simon, whom He also called Peter. This man had a heart to follow Jesus and a mouth that often arrived ahead of his brain. Jesus called him knowing full well that Peter would promise to die with Him, then deny he even knew Him. Jesus knew the distance between Peter’s confidence and Peter’s strength.

Jesus works through people who still need changing. He hears us sing “I surrender all” on Sunday and sees what we are still holding onto on Tuesday. That grudge, that habit, that right to have the last word. Peter’s failure was real, but the Lord’s grace was greater. His failure did not write his final story.

You cannot go back and undo what you did. But you can turn back to Jesus and obey Him today. Your past mistakes are not a permanent disqualification. They are opportunities to experience the restoring power of Christ. What failure from your past do you need to bring to Jesus for restoration today?

“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 thy brethren.” (Luke 22:31-32)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to restore one area where you have failed Him recently.

Challenge: Write down one specific habit you are holding onto. Burn the paper as a sign of releasing it to Christ.

To listen to the sermon that corresponds with this devotion, click the link: https://www.mbcpb.org/media