A Prayer about Faithlessness and Faithfulness

Peter answered, ‘Though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Truly, I tell you, the very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.’

Matthew 26:33-34

Faithful Lord,

How like Peter we all are, 

thinking we will be more faithful than we will ever be, 

wanting to be more faithful than we are. 

We think we will never forget you, 

wander off from you, deny you, desert you.

And yet, like wayward and stubborn sheep, we do. 

You knew Peter would deny you, and you shot straight with him.

But even as you told him the truth about himself, 

you also knew the day would come 

when you’d rise from the dead 

and meet Peter on the beach.

On that day, you would forgive and restore him, 

calling him to tend your sheep (John 21:15-19). 

Lord, forgive us for our faithlessness to you.

Embolden and empower us 

to live and love out of your faithfulness to us. 

In your true name. Amen. 

Read Matthew 26:30-35; John 21:15-19.