Deny
April 13, 2025
So often we make promises to others but when the real work begins we run away. What does it mean to be a real friend? What does it mean to do real work that makes a lasting difference instead of going for easy fixes? God grants us the gift of deep friendship and the strength to follow Jesus even when it gets hard.
READ
Matthew 26:31-35
Peter said to him, “Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.” Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.”
REFLECT
1. Think of a close relationship in your life that has grown distant. How may have I allowed fear or pride to cause this distance between me and my loved one?
2. If we've failed, even in a big way, it doesn’t mean we’re done. Jesus plans for restoration. What is my part in actively working to restore relationships that have been affected by my fear or pride?
3. What is the role that God's grace plays in my own life to heal broken relationships?
RESPOND
1. Invite God to sit with your fears and choose to release them to God. Ask to exchange them for courage and love.
2. Ask God to bring to mind a relationship that has been broken in your life. Desire that it be restored and seek the courage and grace that God gives to heal relationships.
3. When life is hard, it’s an opportunity to lean in and let our actions match our values, not just our words. Invite God and others who know you well to help you identify these opportunities, and lean in.