"Stir My Heart" by Sara Groves

The whole song is quite moving, but this particular verse hit me:

"I swear it will never happen to me
But how I can I know
For Peter swore the same to thee
Oh, hear the cock crow

Please stir my heart
Take me back to the fire
And bring to me recollections of joy
And renew my first desire"

This song made me think of Peter cursing His Lord and Friend back then on the first Good Friday, and how Jesus, just after the cock crowed, coming out from the hate filled religious court room, and staring into Peter's eyes with love, brought Peter to himself. What a dark moment for this Apostle. He then went and found the darkest corner he could find to hide, and he wept with deep and bitter sorrow for how he failed His Savior, Jesus the Messiah.

And I now think of how after the resurrection, the angel had instructions from the Lord to tell the three women to go and tell the Lord's disciples-and Peter-that Jesus had risen indeed.

When I reflect on how I have failed the Lord, and go over in my mind just how bad I am, I then realize that Christ knows that, and even understands my weakness, just as He knew Peter's weakness.
Jesus wants us to come to grips with our failures, and admit them, for He wants us broken before Him, and ashamed of our sin. However, He is full of love and forgiveness. He loves to pour out His grace and peace upon us, when we come to Him, and seek His mercy after we have be foolish and sinful.

I have to believe Peter did a lot of praying from the time he denied Jesus, until he was brought together with Him again. Peter must have surely been crying out to his Father, and even to Jesus I would think. Scripture is silent on this, but I would have to think this was probably Peter's heart, to cry out to God for help, forgiveness, mercy, and to be accepted once again in the sight of Jesus, His Lord and God, and Friend. Because even though Simon Peter sinned a great sin against His Master, he loved Jesus.

And so, Peter went on to be a great Apostle for the Lord. He continued to fail His Savior, but he also was used mightily by God. And he grew more and more humble and godly as time passed. His Epistles show us this, as well as Luke's Epistle: The Book of Acts.

So listen to the song, and be blessed and moved, and take heart, because God loves to stir our hearts, and warm them up when they have become a bit chilled down. He is faithful, even when we are not.
What a Savior we have!