Do You Really Mean It?

33 Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

34 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the
rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

35 But Peter declared,
"Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other
disciples said the same.

Matthew 26:33 - 35

Peter thought it and so do you. We all think it but not often tested. What will you do during your adversity? What will you do when the heat is on?

I too would like to believe as Peter did that I would never fold: I will remain strong until the end whatever that may be. I, like Peter, love the Lord and desire to follow Him and be strong like Him. I want to do my best and show Him that I am different; that I am devout and steadfast. However, we see that Peter failed in this case despite his strong belief that he would never do such a thing.

Without the Holy Spirit, which is what Peter and the other received at the day of Pentecost, all of us are doomed to failure in Christ. We cannot serve Christ as He expects or even as we desire without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit giving us supernatural stamina, confidence, boldness, courage, and wisdom.

Paul was another Apostle who demonstrated how powerful the Holy Spirit operating in ones life can be. Paul ran his race well and for what it's worth I am proud of him and grateful of words he wrote and the life he lead through the grace of God.

Here's my prayer:

God, please anoint me with your Holy Spirit such that I can face
adversity with courage and utter faith in you. Lord, my short-comings
are many and often I feel ashamed that I am not further along the road as even I
desire of myself. Nevertheless, I fight on because I want to please you as
I love and appreciate your love for me and your grace and mercy.

God, please strengthen my heart and my mind. Make me wise that I might
live well before the. Grant me favor that I might be a continued blessing
to others in this life. Have mercy upon me and my family that we might
dwell safely in this world. Deliver us from evil and keep us in the time
of adversity. Please deliver us from the will of the enemy and bless
us with a double portion of your love and provision. Have mercy upon us.

Amen.

I pray that anyone who stumbles across this post will take a moment and pray to God in heaven that He would strenghten our hearts and help us to become the best we can be, live for Him, and be strong.