Don’t Be Sifted, Be Lifted

Don’t Be Sifted, Be Lifted

Scripture

“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. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

— Luke 22:31–32 (NIV)

Ponder This

Sifting is an intense process. In the natural, wheat is shaken, agitated, and separated so that the grain is distinguished from the chaff. Spiritually, the enemy seeks to sift us through trials, discouragement, and accusations, hoping to shake us away from our faith and separate us from our confidence in Our Father.

Jesus told Peter that the enemy had requested to sift him. But take notice: Jesus didn’t stop the sifting. Instead, He interceded: “I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail.” The sifting wasn’t meant to destroy Peter; it was meant to expose and refine what was in him so he could be lifted into his assignment. What the enemy intended to break, Jesus used to build.

There are seasons when life feels like everything is being shaken - your relationships, health, finances, identity. In those moments, we have a choice:

• To be sifted - losing faith, becoming bitter, withdrawing.

• Or to be lifted - leaning into Christ’s intercession, allowing Him to strengthen us in the shaking, and rising with renewed purpose.

Peter’s failure didn’t disqualify him; it prepared him. After being sifted, he stood up in boldness and strengthened others (Acts 2). Likewise, Our Father allows some shakings not to destroy you but to separate the superficial from the supernatural in your life. He’s lifting you through the shaking.

Prayer

Father, thank You that Jesus prays for me. In seasons where I feel sifted, thank You for helping me choose not to lose heart. Strengthen my faith in the shaking. I choose to trust You and to stand firm, to be refined and not defined by the enemy’s attacks. I desire that every trial will reveal Your power in me. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Declaration

I will not be sifted by the enemy. The intercession of Christ Jesus will lift me up. What was meant to shake me will shape me for Our Father's glory.

Reflection

• What area of your life feels like it’s being “sifted” right now?

• How can you shift your perspective from being shaken to being lifted?

• Who can you strengthen as you rise?