³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

³² But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

³³ Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

³⁴ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

³⁵ But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Dear God, there are so many times when my intentions are great, and my expectations of myself are really high, and then I end up falling way short of both. It plays into my relationships with those around me. It shows up in my relationship with you and the time I intend to spend with you, studying your Word and experiencing you in prayer. It even shows up in how much I intend to exercise during a given period. I expect to do great things, but I often fall short.

While some may see this story as a story of Peter’s hubris and overconfidence, Matthew is careful to tell us two things about this exchange:

1. Jesus knew that Peter would fail and it was okay.
2. The other disciples were just as overconfident (or at least overconfident in their words) as Peter.

Father, I know I am overconfident and that I often fail. I understand that I need your power and redemption over my failings. But I am also grateful that you know my weaknesses and you allow for them. You don’t like them, and you want me to do better, but you know they lay of the land and what is going on with me. You know my heart and its love for you. You also know the laziness of my heart and how I sometimes just give up. Please forgive me for my weaknesses and help me to reflect you to others.