I sat on my back porch, wrapped in my fuzzy worn robe—the one that’s twenty years old that I just can’t seem to get rid of. The birch trees waved “good morning,” and the newly planted gerbera daisies stretched their faces to the sun…just a bit higher than the day before. Then I heard him. The rooster.
ER-er-ER-er-ERRRR. I’m not sure where he lives, but it’s within earshot.
ER-er-ER-er-ERRRR. I thought of Peter. I thought of me. I thought of you.
You know the story. At the dinner table, on the night before Jesus went to the cross, he said to Peter:
“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift 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.”
But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me” (Luke 22:31-34).
A few hours later, Peter did just that. Denied that he even knew Jesus. Three times. And then the rooster crowed. ER-er-ER-er ERRRR.
“And he went outside and wept bitterly” (Luke 22:62). He cried and cried and cried.
(I’ve messed up big time and cried and cried and cried before. Have you?)
The next morning, the rooster crowed. And Peter remembered his failure.
And the next, and the next, and the next.
With every squawk of the bird. A fresh reminder. First thing in the morning. Have you ever been there? I have. I have failed. And I have remembered…the rooster crowed. And even though I had asked for forgiveness, and I knew that God HAD forgiven me, the rooster crowed in my heart, and I remembered my failure anew.
What did Jesus have to say about Peter’s failure? Three strikes, you’re out? Not hardly.
After His resurrection, Jesus pulled Peter aside and asked him one question in three different ways.
“Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
A third time He said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Each time Peter answered that he loved Jesus. Each time Jesus told Peter to feed his sheep or lambs.
Jesus removed the shroud of shame hanging from Peter’s guilt weary shoulders and called him to get back to the ministry.
God’s forgiveness is always complete, total, and comprehensive. “If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action]” (1 John 1:9 AMPC).
However, the accuser continues to crow—reminding us of our past sins and failures. He tries to drown out the song of grace with the caw of shame. He crows. We remember. Perhaps even weep with Peter behind the wall.
Do you know what I’ve decided? Rooster makes a fine meal. Let’s wring the rooster’s neck and cook him up once and for all. Don’t let the enemy accuse you of what God has already forgiven you of. Don’t let the enemy fool you into thinking that the cross wasn’t enough. Click & Tweet!
I wonder what went through Peter’s mind the next time he heard the rooster crow. I think he smiled and thought of God’s amazing grace. That’s what I’m going to do tomorrow on my back porch when I hear that rooster crow.
Jesus, thank You for forgiving me totally and completely. Help me to not listen when the devil tries to make me feel guilty and ashamed. I’m standing on the truth that there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…and that includes me. In Your Name, Amen.
Today’s devotion was taken from my book, Take Hold of the Faith you Long For: Let Go, Move Forward, Live Bold. A mediocre, mundane faith is not what you were made for! In Take Hold of the Faith You Long For, I reveal the most common reasons we get stuck in our Christian faith, living less than what we had hoped. I show you how to break free of all that holds you back, move forward with all that God promises, and live the adventurous faith of bold believing. It’s time to TAKE HOLD of all that Jesus has already taken hold of for you and placed in you! Includes a Bible Study guide in the back.
Comments 32
This was right on time. God bless you.
Always a good reminder. Thank you.
Thank you Jesus for reminding me that guilt and shame were nailed to the cross with You. Thank you that You forgive 70 times 7 and teach me to do the same. Help me to forgive myself and move forward in Your grace, love , mercy and strength. In Your Holy name I pray. Amen
This Devotional was just what I needed. I must agree the roosters of life can TRULY take try and deceive Us. But I will not be deceived by the the enemy. GOD has Forgiven me. For JESUS paid the price. Thanks So Much
Love this! It was JUST what I needed to hear! Thank you!
Thanks for the book and thanks for this devotion. I need a reminder daily that it’s not about legalism but relationship. Yes! The cross is enough!! -Anika
What a wonderful word to wake up to. This word is exactly what I needed to see this morning. Thank you & God bless you
Before I was saved I indulged in this certain sin. then when I repented and accepted Christ Jesus as my Savior I gave up this sin. I totally did a 180 degree turn away from this sin. But then I got into a relationship with a guy and I got into my old habits. I heard the chicken crowed and I reconciled with the Lord. Before the reconciliation I worried about my future and the consequences of my sins. But I surrendered to the Lord. Obedience and Honesty are a constant reminder of how I should please and glorify the Lord.
Thank you so much . This devotion reminds that the voice of God is greater than the craws of the devil. His voice is truth!
Thank you for sharing your words. The rooster is so loud and close in my brain, it’s hard to hear another voice. (The voice of forgiveness) But the next time I hear the accusing rooster voice, I will try to stop and reply, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re talking about; what you are telling me is gone. It’s been erased.”
From one Karen to another: Yes, indeed! The rooster will no longer be heard in my head or yours! For decades I endured spousal abuse which heaped shame into my soul. That was the devil’s work, not the work of our holy God! Be gone, roosters, for we have been set free at last! Hallelujah!! God loves you, my Sister in Christ!
Karen
From one Karina to two Karens:…and all the other ladies (Saints of God, too)
Amen and Amen!
As the Lord said “HUSH” to stormy sea of Galilee
May HE muzzle
the feathered fowl,
screeching us out of slumber,
with hellish whispers of torment.:
This is my prayer for all of us….
In the Holy Mighty Name of Jesus:
“Be still,
and know
that
I am,
God.”
“May the God of Peace, crush satan,
under
our
feet.”
Amen, Rooster makes a fine dinner!! I love it!
This was really really good! I know that I fail Him time and again. But I also know that He is faithful to forgive me if I repent and turn. I am so glad that He loves me with an unfailing love! Thanks for sharing!
Rooster DOES make a fine meal…even if you’re vegetarian! Wring that rooster’s neck, then sleep in, knowing the Lord is watching over you & everything that concerns you. Great read!
I kept getting reminded of my past sins as soon as I woke up in the morning. I knew I had confessed and turned away from these sins and had been forgiven. The enemy kept pushing me around. I knew I needed a Scripture verse to fight back and silence him. I searched Scripture until I found the right ammunition for the fight. Phillipians 3:13–“But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” That verse did damage to the enemy and silenced his accusing voice. Praise God–it was a direct hit!
My heart tumble and my stomach twists each day my past failures step boldly into my head. I find the biggest mountain is that many of my failures now cost dearly in my kids and family and even generations to come as my sins hid Gods truth for their lives.
Yes, they can choose to do better, really forgive and learn too from my mistakes, love me anyway. Biggest problem I am tromped on in my thoughts and others decisions are where our Lord is concerned. Mix that in with the world’s and I feel so responsible and sad.
Oh my gosh, Sharon, I needed to read your words today! Thank you for spelling out the truth.
This rings true for me and my circumstances from this last week, so grateful to read your words that I will hold dear to my heart.
Thank you.!
I have that same robe! Others come and go but not the 20+ favorite. Loved the image from the nagging rooster to the renewed sound of Gods faithfulness .. He is new, like the dew, every morning (His compassion) renews. Lam 3:23
Amen Sisters.
All I can say is thank you for the timely word🙏🏻 Be blessed
I just sat down and read this just what I needed .My soul says,Thank you!!
I agree with this devotion but my question is, why did Judas end up in hell instead of heaven? He too was very sorry afterwards for turning in Jesus to the authorities. Or, how about Ananias and Sapphira? God struck them both dead for lying.! David got away with murder and adultery and God so loved him anyways. I could go on with such examples of God’s mercy but these 2 New Testament stories have always bothered me!
What an amazing, awesome and so wonderful reflection on GOD’S amazing and unfailing love, grace mercy and forgiveness.
GOD bless you Sharon and more power to your ministry.
This is exactly what I needed to hear after my epic trial of “failure reminders” yesterday (which had me in tears by day’s end). No matter how hard I try to ignore the crowing rooster, I am still vulnerable to the adversary’s attacks – because I’m not God… I’m human – and I’m forgiven by His grace and Christ’s redemptive love (I just have to keep reminding myself of these facts as soon as the rooster even begins to make so much as a “peep”!). Thank you for this quick, entertaining, & “to the point” read, Sharon (please take no offense, but I’ve hung it on my bathroom mirror)!
Loved your words of encouragement in this devotional. God is so gracious to His kids that He doesn’t want to leave us outside the fence ruminating on our past but inside safe & enjoying life. Yes the rooster needs the chop & chicken soup is so good for the soul.
I live in Australia so is this devotional book available on digital download.
Bless your ministry Susan
Thank you for sharing this devotional. I cannot tell you how often I’ve heard that rooster crow and pick that guilt and shame right back up again even when I know that God has forgiven me. The hardest part is still forgiving myself! Thank you again. I needed the reminder that when we repent and the Lord forgives us; that the forgiveness doesn’t end!
I do needed this message, Thank you Jesus for speaking through Sharon.💕🙏
5 things to know about me: First, I so enjoy & absolutely love your morning devotionals and have shared with friends over the years. 2. I’m a Southern Woman raised with traditional Southern values, Faith, Family & ACC Football. 3. I raised my sweet nieces, and now they’re grown with children of their own, so I’m like a grandmother to them. 4. I married later in life, in my 40’s and The Good Lord truly blessed me with a wonderful, Godly, family man, and very handsome. 5. We live on 40 acres in a very rural county in the Panhandle of Florida, life is good here, with our kitties, puppies, each other and some good Godly folks we’ve met
I am replying to my gf in God devotion. You said in your devotion you wanted to know me better. I am a 38 year old woman who was in a long term relationship with my son’s father for 16 years, we split up in June of 2015. I have a son that is 20 years old. I met my husband now in August of 2015 and we where married in March of 2016. I try to regularly attend church. I do my quite time with God in the mornings starting with prayer and then the girl friends in God devotion, then I read in the bible a little and have 2 things I watch on Facebook. I am Baptist and believe only in the King James Version of the bible, so when I do the devotion I use my bible. My husband and son are both lost and need to be saved. I pray for them daily. We have alot going on right now. So with this I ask you to pray for my husband Eric Moore age 41 and my son Aaron Hicks-Yates age 21 for salvation and for our unspoken request. Thank you so much for doing what you do. Girlfriends in God are a blessing to me.
1. Your GIG daily devotional truly makes me feel like a friend. Thank you for that😊
2. I love to draw and paint, trying to figure out how to use my gift to minister🤨
3. I’ve been married 40 years, have 4 kids and 8 grandkids ❤️ (Praying daily for their salvation)
4. Struggle with my weight which saps my self confidence 😢
5. I love fly fishing, camping, hiking, but my husbands health keeps me home😢
Hi! I came to give you the 5 things about me and found myself being ministered to by this. Thank you!
I want you to know:
1. I am intensely trying to deepen my relationship with Christ through reading the Word and praying.
2. I have metastized breast cancer of the bone amd am battling that daily.
3. I am a recent widow who misses her husband terribly, but rejoices in the fact that he is with Christ.
4. I am actively asking for God to show me His will for my life.
5. I have 3 daughters and 5 grandchildren.
Thank you again for the rooster blog!