When we receive revelation about things in prayer, we must be careful not to allow those revelations to puff us up. We must not get the idea that we really know something that we’ve heard from God. If we do, we’ll fall into the same trap Peter did. He got so full of himself after his great revelation that right on the heels of it, he fouled up in a colossal way.
He actually scolded Jesus.
It’s true. When Jesus began to tell His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, be crucified, and raised the third day, Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
Peter got no kudos for that wrong-headed “revelation.” Instead, Jesus turned and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (verse 23).
Think of it! Peter was the one who just four verses earlier had been blessed by Jesus for receiving divine revelation. Peter was one of the top three disciples. He wasn’t just one of the 70 or one of the 12. He was one of those who walked most closely with the Master. Yet he missed it so badly that Jesus rebuked him and referred to him as a hindrance and a snare.
If we’re not watchful, the same thing can happen to us. We can be preparing the way of the Lord in prayer one day and getting in His way in prayer the next. We can start assuming that just because we understood God’s plan yesterday, we automatically know what His plan is today. And when we pray out of assumption instead of revelation, we become a hindrance to God instead of a help.
May God give us the grace and wisdom to avoid that trap. May He help us to be humble and teachable every time we pray.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:21 – 28