He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21:17)

This has to be one of the most touching moments recorded in the Bible. The entire episode (from verses 15-19) is often referred to as the “restoration of Peter.”

The reference, of course, is to the cowardly behaviour Peter exhibited in denying that he knew Jesus, despite the bravado of declaring: “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33) just a few short hours earlier.

The first two times Jesus asks Peter: “Do you love me?” he is able to respond without any emotion. Perhaps he took the second attempt as simply reinforcement.

But the third time…it did Peter in. Now the connection between the threefold denial and the threepeat questioning is unmistakeable. Peter was grieved.

Amazing, isn’t it, that Jesus would take the time to have this one-on-one conversation with Peter! Obviously Jesus considered it crucial for Peter to receive His personal ministry before He ascended into heaven.

It would appear that Jesus wants to ensure that the guilt (and perhaps even shame) of denying Him does not keep Peter from fulfilling his destiny, beginning with the message he preached on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.

Over the past 32 years of ordained ministry, one of the saddest things I have witnessed is how guilt and shame prevent someone with great promise from realizing their full potential in life. No matter what produced the guilt—benign neglect or an act of malicious intent, an unwise choice or an act of wilful disobedience—a break-up, an abortion, a crime, a refusal to help, a rumour they started…the result was still the same. It held the person captive to such a degree that they could not advance into their destiny.

On the other hand, one of the gladdest things I have been privileged to experience is the joy of seeing someone who had allowed the enemy to keep them shackled by guilt and shame confess it, receive forgiveness and accelerate toward their destiny.

By the way, the people to whom I am referring are not heathen godless unbelievers—these are bona fide born-again, yes, even Spirit-filled followers of Jesus, some of them leaders in the Church—yours truly included.

Small wonder then that we find these words in an epistle written by an apostle to those who are already part of the household of Christ: If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9)

One of the reasons given by those who refuse to deal with the guilt and the shame is the pain that they may have to re-live in the process of receiving their healing. And, let’s be upfront about it. There is pain involved. Just ask Peter!

But, the pain is indeed worth what you gain. One week of Restoring The Foundations ministry and three Sozo ministry sessions have been keys for Sulojana and me to be the people we are today. Some of you, our DWOD subscribers have subjected yourselves to the gentle scrutiny of the Holy Spirit through these and other ministry vehicles as well, amen?

Friends, would you kindly ensure that guilt and shame do not hold you back from reaching your destiny? Here are two decisions that we would highly recommend you make today:

1. Get the ministry you need to rid yourselves of the guilt and the shame.
2. Resolve never to willingly do anything that could lead to regret down the road and produce guilt and/or shame.

You will be amazed how these decisions will accelerate your journey toward your God-given destiny…as it did Peter.