A Father's Prayers

"'Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. 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, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32

Satan is a sifter. He didn't stop with Simon. He wants to break us down and shake us apart so violently through hardships, doubts, disappointments and loss that our faith is destroyed. Don't imagine that any difficulty is coincidence. The struggles that we face are testing our faith. On our own, our adversary will win, but we have an Advocate who sees us, calls us by name and is interceding to strengthens us.

These verses, though challenging to read as we comprehend the battles we too will face daily, provide comfort in knowing that our Saviour pleads in prayer for us. Paul tells us in Romans 8:34 that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for all the saints. As believers, we are part of that "all".

That truth really needs a pause. A Selah moment. Jesus prays for me. Jesus prays for you. The Son of God knows us by name, is very aware of every detail of our lives, and presents us before His Father with perfect pleas on our behalf, knowing exactly what we need. While the enemy, in malice, tattles on us to God day and night (Revelation 12:10; Zechariah 3:1), Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses and intercedes for us.

What does Jesus pray? He prays for strong faith. Remaining faith. He prays that in faith we will resist temptation. Is it any wonder that when Christ was teaching His disciples to pray He included this phrase, "lead us not into temptation". He knows at any moment we face multiple opportunities to make decisions that walk in direct opposition to God's word. It is only because of the Lord's continual intercession for us that we don't turn away. His ongoing prayers are essential for our eternal salvation this very day and all our days to come.

Like Simon, we won't always get it right. How do I know he failed? "So when you have repented and turned to Me again." Even with Christ praying for us, we fall. Yet, after our confession Jesus gives us a commission. "Strengthen your brothers."

Weakness often speaks louder than perfection. We need to share our stories to help others learn from choices we've made. In vulnerability, reveal the subtleties of Satan that lured you away. What was the turning point that led you astray? What brought you back? You have returned stronger from lessons learned. Don't waste your wandering.

Simon wasn't the first disciple who faltered in his faith and he won't be the last. Let's encourage one another with what God has taught us in faith failures and remember, your Heavenly Father is praying for you.