“All the disciples forsook Jesus when He was captured. But Peter did a worse thing than that. He denied the Lord – as if he had never heard of Him. Finally He began to curse and to swear, saying,” I know not the man.” Then Peter went out and wept bitterly ( Mat 26:70-75 ). But what was the use? Within a few days he was planning to go back to his old profession (Jn 21:3). Perhaps you are like Peter. After repenting for a particular sin, you may repeat it. Do not be discouraged; there is still hope for you in Jesus.

Such a cursing, swearing backslider as Peter was restored, and finally he lay down his life for the Master. According to his desire, he was crucified upside down, as he felt he was not worthy to be crucified as was his Master. He wanted his posture (in crucifixion) to be such as his lips could kiss the feet of his Lord. What a wonderful work of grace!

Dear reader,perhaps you are perplexed – plagued with backsliding like Peter. You may be repenting and afterwards repeating the mistake or doing something worse. Do you realize that God’s grace through the power of the Holy Spirit is greater than all your failures and mistakes? Trust His grace.”Where sin abounded,grace did much more abound” (Rom 5:20).
If the grace of God can change Peter,it can change you too.

• TPM Morning Manna.

Stay Blessed 😊
Ravi

Matthew 26:41 “…the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Jesus asked his closest friends to help Him pray during this darkest hour of His life.

One of His own was about to betray Him.
Jesus knew the guards were on their way to arrest Him.

The cross is waiting for Him in the distance.
His death was imminent.

Everyday, we may have great ambition about how we are going to serve the Lord.
Sometimes we may get ready to give our very life for Him; but then, weI find ourselves denying Him by the way we live.
Some of us may give excuses that we are only human.
Indeed the Lord understands that we are nothing more than earthen vessels.
Jesus understands that our flesh is contaminated by sin and extremely weak when it comes to spiritual things.
But here in this verse, Jesus encourages us to pray.
The Bible says much about ‘repentant’ prayer, but it also says much about ‘preventive’ prayer. “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
“Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation…”
Each of us have certain areas where we are more vulnerable to temptation and susceptible to sin.
Jesus tells us that we should always be alert to the possibility of Satan’s temptation, especially in these areas.
The thought here is bringing our needs and weaknesses “specifically” and “strategically” before the throne of God in order to receive His help.

• He also encourages us to seek His strength so that we may live for Him and NOT to surrender to our flesh.
  Even though we are weak, God has been strong for us.

Jooley Mathew Z
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