Tonight I would like to arm you with a little "preventive medicine." Let me ask a question: How well do you think the Apostle Peter slept the night he betrayed the Lord? I doubt he slept well for weeks. Yet when Jesus tried to warn him in advance of the impending disaster, Peter refused to believe it. While he couldn't envision anything that could make him deny his Master, Satan could.

Do you think you could ever deny or betray the Lord? Very few of us can imagine falling to such depths, but only the Lord knows who, under the pressures of persecution, sickness, bribes or fear, will buckle.

Take heart that should this ever happen, you have the Lord's words to His apostle as His words to you: "And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you that your faith should not fali; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren'" (Luke 22:31-32 NKJV).

Suffering from severe shame and humiliation, Peter tried to drop out, but the Lord made it clear through His prophetic word that even failure and temporary denial can be used for God's glory. Peter was to return to Him, and with a new foundation of power, compassion and faith, strengthen his brethren! You do the same.

Heavenly Father, I thank You that You use all things for my ultimate good, and should I find myself to be "sifted like wheat," I can know that Your Son, my High Priest, is interceding for me that my faith may not fail. Bring me safely through fiery trials and give me the courage to return to You, with the desire to then strengthen my brothers. In Jesus's Name, Amen.