After a little while again those who stood by said to Peter, "You truly are one of them, for you are a Galilean, and your speech shows it." But he began to curse, and to swear, "I don't know this man of whom you speak!" The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the word, how that Jesus said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times." When he thought about that, he wept. Mark 14:70-72 WEB.

After walking closely with the Lord Jesus for over three years, Peter denied knowing Him three times in one night. Earlier that evening, Jesus had even told Peter it would happen, but he couldn't believe it. That night, as Peter was lying to the people in fear, Jesus looked right at him (Luke 22:61), and Peter went out and wept bitterly.

When looking back over all the mistakes in his life, Peter probably regretted this moment the most. He was one of the closest companions of Jesus and was part of the inner circle. Yet, he denied he even knew Jesus three times. Thankfully, Peter's story doesn't end there. Peter pulled himself together. He followed the Lord again, and his greatest days happened after this incident. He couldn't change the past, but he tried to make the best of his future.

Everyone falls, but not everyone gets back up. The Lord knew what Peter would do and told him about it before it happened. Jesus loved him anyway, for the Lord knows our weaknesses and frailties. He knows that we will sometimes fail. When you do, you must get back up. Though the righteous may fall seven times, they rise again (Proverbs 24:16).

When you stumble, tell God you are sorry, and try it again. Don't give up. Don't throw in the towel. We all fall down. Be the one who gets up and fulfills the Lord's plan in their life, and do it now. No one can change the past, but fortunately, His plan for you isn't behind you. It's always ahead of you. So stop looking at your history, which you can't change, and begin to make the best of what is left of your life as Peter did.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, please lead me into all that You have for me. Help me become the one that you want me to be. Draw my focus away from my past and toward you. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Today is Thankful Thursday at the Ministry Events group! This event gives us an opportunity encourage each other by posting thoughts, moments, and prayers of gratitude for Him, His creation and all that He does in our lives. All our welcome! To join, just click on the group name and then the join link on the page that will follow. As always, if you have a prayer need, we are here for you! We and the prayer team are ready to lift you up at our private prayer page: RHM Prayer Network.