ONLY A PRAYER AWAY

Why is it I can't stay one with Jesus all the time?  How come there are times that I fall into disharmony with Him and others, and then finally with myself?  What's wrong with me anyway? Well, I'm human and because I'm human I'm a sucker for anyone who will tell me that I'm right and others are wrong.  Or I'm a sucker for feeling satisfied with things as they are and there is no need to change.  In other words, I want to believe I'm exceptional!

Remember Simon?  The guy who later was called Peter?  He was like that.  He loved Jesus, in fact he thought he loved Jesus even more than anyone else. Maybe he did....and maybe he didn't.  But he disowned allegiance to Jesus three times!  Simon was human, like me.  In fact, Jesus warned Simon and the others (with great love and understanding) of what was to come--his death on the cross.  In Luke 22 verses 31 and 32 Jesus says, "Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out.  When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."

Jesus knows the human conditions and so warned his former disciples as well as those disciples of today to be wary of Satan and his messages to us.  Jesus knows our weaknesses, our strengths, our sins and our moments of goodness and joy.  We are His--all the way--yet there are moments when we are weak and Satan moves in to "try his best to separate" us from Him, Jesus, the One who is Ours, our very own Savior.

At this point I must not give in to the tantalizing message of Satan who always causes me to see ME with capital letters and it becomes easy for me to capitalize on my own will. I give in to the message of Satan, "You are important."  Giving in, I might give up the fight for the Lord's leading. I may give out the wrong message to those around me, to those I love, wrongly telling them Jesus doesn't matter in these circumstances.  Protection for ourselves becomes of utmost importance.  No matter what words we use, we have given in, given up, and given out wrongly.

I must remember.  Stick with the guy what brung ya!  Stick with the Lord who found you, carried you, taught you, loved you, and will always love you!  Stick with the guy who saved you!

Peter did!  So can I! And Jesus is only a prayer away!  Jo