Reading: Luke 23, Psalm 37:23-24

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and He delights in his way, Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand.

We all fall down. Sooner or later each of us takes a tumble as we walk down our path in life. This passage in Psalm 37:24 is not addressing the stumbling ways of the unbeliever. It is directed to the good man of verse 23, who delights in walking in God’s ways. The bible teaches that part of our journey as children of God will include slips and falls.

This does not mean that we are powerless to resist sin and failure. We are not intended to resign in our struggle against the flesh just because failure happens. It means that falling down is a part of growing up. As we follow the Lord we sometimes miss the mark. As the Apostle James admitted, “For we all stumble in many things…” (James 4:2).

What God wants us to know is this: Jesus sees our future with perfect clarity and has already provided the grace needed to get us up when we take a tumble. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down”. The word translated utterly cast down is the Hebrew word tul. It means to throw something down without the hope of ever picking it up again. It could be translated to permanently reject or throw away as garbage. This verse tells us that though we may fall often and hard in our walk with God, we will never be forsaken and thrown permanently away like trash. His hand is holding us up.

In yesterday’s reading from Luke we learned of Jesus’ prediction that Peter would betray Jesus by denying Him three times. It is almost unthinkable that a man who loved Jesus so dearly and followed Him so passionately would surrender His faith to social pressure - just when Jesus needed him the most. But when the Lord predicted Peter’s fall, He also said this, "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 fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:31-32).

Jesus knew Peter would fail miserably. But He had already prayed for Peter’s repentance and restoration. Here we see the intercessory ministry of Jesus in the lives of His true sons and daughters: the Lord sees our future failures and has already prayed for us to return to Him. Thankfully, this is a prayer that the Father in heaven is committed to answer. Listen to these words from Heb 7:25, “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him because He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf. If Jesus' prayer was effective for Peter, His prayers at God’s right Hand today are effective for you!

Think of it. This very moment Jesus is seated at the right hand of God - praying for you. His intercessory prayers assure us that no matter how badly we may stumble and fall, the Lord will uphold us with His Hand. The Apostle Paul put it this way, “I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:6) The prophet Micah declares, “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The LORD [will be] a light to me.” (Mic 7:8).

So, stop lying in the dirt of your failures and sins. Stop believing that you have out-sinned the grace of God. It's time to get up, and joyfully receive by faith the grace that comes through the intercessory prayers of Jesus for you! You have a life to live for Jesus. Get moving.

Begin your time with the Lord today by praising Him for His grace. Reflect on the promises of God we have studied and thank Him for never giving up on you. Ask His mercy for your stumbles and falls. And accept His cleansing and restoring grace.
In your journal write down a prayer to Jesus thanking Him for praying for you at the right hand of God. Tell Him that you receive His prayers on your behalf by faith.
Finally ask Jesus to pray for you in specific areas of your life where you struggle - just like you’d ask for prayer from a friend or pastor. And then believe He is doing it and rest your heart on the strength of His prayers!!

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