The Sifting

Good morning, my friend!  Good morning, Father!

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat:” - Luke 22:31

Lord, in this verse the word “you” is plural.  Satan wasn’t just asking to merely sift Simon Peter like wheat, but to sift all of the disciples, including us.  There is a lot of shaking going on all around us.  Things are shaking that we never would have imagined would even budge.  The enemy is intending to use circumstances in our lives to shake us up.  He wants to shake us violently, so our wheat (grace) becomes buried and the chaff (sin) lands on top, so our lives look like only chaff.

Father, we know that the enemy is not allowed to touch even one hair on our heads without permission.  If You allow us to be sifted, You promise to work all things together for the good when we love You and are called, according to Your purposes (Rom 8:28).  So, while it is unpleasant and often painful, the shaking will be for our good, if we hold on and trust You.  What the enemy intends for evil, You will turn for our good (Gen 50:20).

You remind me, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” - I Corinthians 13:13.  Father, we thank You that Your hand limits the shaking.  In the process, remove things that are not of You.  Remove our bad habits, bad attitudes and errant beliefs.  Shake off our egos, foolishness, selfishness and greed.  If the winds of adversity’s have to blow, use them to blow away the chaff.  May what is left when the earthquake is over be faith, hope and love.  They are the only things that will remain.

Father, I lift my friend before You.  I pray that when it all settles down that they will have a good harvest for their struggle.  May their basket be brimming over with the wheat of faith, hope and love.  Help them to make choices today that will make them glad tomorrow.  Help them to invest their energy and lives in things of eternal value.  When the heat becomes unbearable, burn away what torments them and holds them back.  When the pressure is too intense, may the crushing of their grapes bring forth new wine.  Strengthen them to make godly choices at every step.  May they look back at this season with gratefulness, seeing the blessing that came from the struggle and eternal treasures  that came from the pain.  Gives them eyes to see their tomorrow.  Then may that revelation propel them forward with new strength.  Calm the sifting, Lord.  But until then, cause the sifting and wind to blow away the chaff.  In Jesus Name ❤️

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