OUR DAILY BREAD 15TH JULY 2025 DEVOTIONAL READING, TUESDAY ODB MESSAGE
Our Daily Bread 15th July 2025 Devotional, Tuesday TOPIC: The Prayers of Jesus
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Psalms 13-15; Acts 19:21-41
KEY VERSE: But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” – Luke 22:32
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Luke 22:28-34
28 “You are the ones who have stood by Me in My trials; 29 and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you 30 that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
31 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has [a]demanded to sift you men like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for [b]you, that [c]your faith will not fail; and [d]you, when you have [e]turned back, strengthen your brothers.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death!” 34 But He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.”
INSIGHT FOR TODAY
Satan had to ask Christ for permission to test Peter and was permitted to sift him “as wheat” (Luke 22:31). This would entail forceful shaking, but Satan wasn’t allowed to destroy Peter. On the contrary, this sifting would remove the chaff from his life. This is reminiscent of Satan asking for God’s permission to test Job (Job 1:9-12; 2:3-6) and Job affirming that “when [God] has tested me, I will come forth as gold” (23:10).
Jesus’ sovereignty is evident in His prayers that Peter’s faith wouldn’t fail (Luke 22:32). His courage failed, however, as he denied knowing Christ three times (vv. 54-62). But though he momentarily faltered, his faith didn’t fail. Jesus’ prayer that Peter would turn back to strengthen his brothers (v. 32) was fulfilled when he repented (v. 62). He was later restored and commissioned by Christ to pastoral ministry (John 21:15-17). We can be encouraged when we remember that Christ also prays for us.
Our Daily Bread 15th July 2025 Devotional MESSAGE
Jesus, how are You praying for me? I’d never thought to ask that question until my friend Lou shared the experience of his heart-cry to Christ when he was faced with a situation that required more wisdom and strength than he was able to muster. Hearing him voice that noteworthy question in prayer has helped me add a fresh dimension to my understanding and practice of prayer.
In Luke 22, there was no mystery as to how Jesus was praying for Simon Peter: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail” (vv. 31-32). When Peter was battered through trial, his faith flickered. But because of Christ’s grace, it didn’t fail.
The book of Acts tells us how Jesus’ prayers for Peter—His eager but weak disciple—were answered. God used him to preach the good news about Christ to Jews and gentiles alike. And Jesus’ prayer ministry hasn’t ended. Paul reminds us that “Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34). When you find yourself in the throes of trial or temptation, remember that Jesus, who prayed for His disciples, remains in prayer for those who have believed their message about Him (see John 17:13-20).
REFLECT: How does remembering that Jesus is praying for you affect how you pray? In view of His prayer ministry, how might you live and serve differently?
PRAY: Dear Jesus, thank You for Your prayers on my behalf. Please help me to pray and live with this awareness.
Our Daily Bread Ministries (ODB) is a Christian organization founded by Dr. Martin De Haan in 1938. It is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, with over 600 employees. It produces several devotional publications, including Our Daily Bread. our daily bread devotional for today audio our daily bread booklet. (Our Daily Bread 15th July 2025 Devotional)