Warriors Arise: October 11, 2020
John 21:15-16 (NKJV) So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
Simon is asked the question, "Do you love Me?" a second time. Simon responds with the same answer, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Whether Simon is caught off guard by this line of questioning or has learned his lesson from past experiences something is different.
I am wondering if Jesus was wanting more, not just the words, "I love You". He was asking the disciple that generally speaks more than what he should. Remember at the mount of Transfiguration, Simon is overwhelmed by Jesus' glorified presence, as Moses an Elijah talked with Him. Peter offers to make each one of them a tabernacle. God speaks and tells Peter to listen to His Son. Then in John 13, Jesus and the disciples are gathered for the Passover meal and there is no one to wash their feet. Jesus girds Himself with a towel and proceeds to wash His disciples' feet. Peter is missing the point of Jesus' actions and objects to having his feet washed by Jesus.
John 13:6-10 (NKJV) Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?” 7 Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” 8 Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.” 9 Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
When Jesus asks, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He may be expecting Peter to have a little more to say.
What compels you to pray? The need to talk to God or the need to hear from God? For Peter this is a time to hear what Jesus is saying. Many times, in our deepest devastation, our need is not to share everything going through our mind, nor the situation that has brought us so much grief; but it is to listen with our whole body, ears receptive, mind alert, and heart a field that is ready to have God plant truth, compassion, and a way out.
I remember when Josiah was about four years old and sitting beside me at the dinner table. He was telling me something, he really wanted me to hear. He wanted me to engage. He wanted to see my facial reaction. I was serving plates and passing them out and starting to feed Lydia who was 1. He reached over and pulled on my chin to look his way, "Mommy, listen with your face."
Reality check, another refining of my communication skills. He needed me to listen with my whole body. He wanted to be sure I was listening, not just hearing him say something or another. What he had to say was important to him.
When God speaks to us, what He has to say is important to Him. He took the time to call our name and to make sure we knew it was He who was called us. He came to us. He was ready to talk. Josiah's action to move my chin, make my face look at him, hit deep within me. Over the next year, he trained me to be a better listener not just when he spoke but when others spoke and definitely when God called to me. I will never forget that first time because it hit hard. The plea in his eyes for my attention when he spoke was asking, "Do you love me? Am I valuable to you? Do you value what I have to say?"
Those questions penetrate to my heart as I think about God asking me those questions. It concerns me when people say they do not hear from God. I understand He doesn't speak audibly to everyone but He speaks loud enough in your inner being that you know it is God calling to you. I hurt for people who do not hear God speak to them; because there is nothing in life more valuable than hearing God speak. He is speaking to us all the time, encouraging us, strengthening us, telling us the enemy wants to sift us, telling us the solution and how to elude the enemy, giving us wisdom beyond our years, cheering us on when things are tough, and rebuking us just like he did Peter when we do not have the Father's heart. Most of us are afraid of the rebuke so we decide not to listen to anything God says. In comparison to all God tells us, the rebuke is the least of what He says. He is not mad at us. His compassion overflows toward us. He may be disappointed but He encourages us to get back up again. When Jesus rebuked Peter, He didn't turn him away or replace him with someone else. God won't do that to you either. God's love is amazing toward you. He wants you to know He is for you to succeed, to fulfill the destiny He put inside of you. He wants you to value what He is saying to you. He may have to reach down and turn your chin to see His face. Then you will begin to know the astounding love He has for you.
Father, I am not the best at listening. I ask to be forgiven for entering a conversation with You only when I want to talk, when I want to share, when life is so difficult and I have tried everything I know to do but I didn't position myself to listen to You. I am asking for myself and for Your people, Your children, I ask for each one of us to be anticipating Your presence and desire to speak to us. I ask for each one to pray for their ears to be open to hear You speak. I ask for each one of us to look to You, to listen with our face, to listen with our whole body to what You want to share with us. I pray for Your people to desire to hear Your voice and follow You. I lay down my own thoughts and still my mind to hear from You. I ask for You to increase my ability to hear and I will work on better listening skills. I want to hear what You say. I want to follow You. I want to know when You are speaking; therefore, I will cultivate better listening skills with my family and friends, in church and worship, and in my Bible time. I desire to hear when You speak to me. I need Your help to become a better listener. Come and help me recognize Your voice and hear You clearly in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy
My hope is for Believers in Jesus Christ to join together each day to pray, to push back the enemy as we release God’s power here on earth against the coronavirus, riots, and lies. The prayers will be listed each day as Warriors Arise. I will put a date with it so we can keep them straight. If you have any questions please feel free to make a comment or private message me. If you would like this to come to your email directly please go to verideehand.com and subscribe.
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