Jesus said, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have prayed for you Simon, that your faith will not fail.  

Satan wants to sift you and shake you. He wants to break you down and drag out all your inner troubling fears, doubts, and failures. 

Satan will not stop until he has amassed a giant pile of your wrongdoings. He will sift out old lies, mistakes, and poor choices. 

Then he’ll move to your cheating, lusting, and fretting. Followed by old gossiping, greed, and shame. He wants every failure, tiny to giant, all piled up in front of you. Satan wants you groveling in regret. Then he’ll shriek,“This is you and you’re a mess!” 

Oh! He’s not finished. Next, he’ll add in some upsetting fearful beliefs. 

• No one wants you. 
• No one likes you. 
• No one cares.  

Satan will then scream, “This is you! Now, join me in despair.”

Jesus says on those days when Satan is trying to sift you, “let not your faith fail.”

Satan’s job is to get you to look at yourself and focus on your failings. See yourself as bad and help you hate yourself. Followed by the belief that not even God could love you. In the end your faith is shattered. 

Jesus says hold on to the promise of your faith. You are saved, chosen, forgiven. You gave your life to me. I alone get to define you.

Prayer

Father, thank you for letting me know about sifting challenges. Thank you for teaching me Satan must ask you for permission before proceeding. I know these trials are actually opportunities to deepen my faith. Bless and strengthen me. Amen.

Verse Quoted – Luke 22:31-32 (NIV)