Matthew 16:17-19

S - Matthew 16:17-19

O - Jesus replied to Peter regarding his declaration of who Jesus was. He said that this was revealed to him by God. He also spoke into Peter's life saying that "on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

A - What has God spoken into my life? Have faith in what he has revealed to me. Trust and do not be afraid. Also, I love the "whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." I know he was talking specifically to Peter here, but I truly believe that can be applied by faith in any believer's life and have witnessed the power of that Word in my own. I need to remember that scripture. How we react to the circumstances in our own life and speak the Word into those circumstances by faith in Christ has an effect in the heavenly realms. Somehow...

Of course, God is sovereign over all things and this is not a name it, claim it type of thing, but again, what we loose in our lives that is according to God's will, God blesses. Whatever we bind that is not of God, he blesses. Our faith, our mindset, our actions, our prayers all have ramifications in the heavenly realm. Someday we will see the magnificance of this.

P - Thank you for another day you have given, Lord. Thank you for these verses that you spoke into Peter's life. Thank you for the example of how you changed his life as he had faith in the words you spoke into his life. Peter was impulsive, emotional, and didn't think before he acted when Jesus was with him. This was the rock you built your church upon. God, Peter had faith in you and walked according to your plan for him. Help me to do this, as well. Use my life. Use my children's lives for you. I pray that they would grow into wise young women of God and that they would hear you speak your words into their lives. I pray they would have faith in those words and follow them. I pray we would loose those things and bind those things on earth that you desire us to, and I pray for your wisdom and more faith. Help me to watch my tongue, help me to not be so impulsive, help me to be discerning and move more slowly as I hear your voice. Amen.