When I was growing up, my grandmother lived across the street, and every day, I would walk over to her house. Baking together was one of our regular activities. My grandmother, born in 1899, lived in a time when essentials weren’t readily available. Yet they found ways to cook and bake with what they had. Almost every recipe we used the sifter.
My favorite recipe was angel food cake with 7-minute icing. To begin, we would sift the sugar and then sift the flour with the baking powder and baking soda. We didn’t just sift once—we would sift the dry ingredients several times to get them just right.
You might wonder why this extra step mattered. Sifting the dry ingredients removed lumps, aerated the flour for a lighter, fluffier texture, and evenly distributed the leavening agents. This process ensured a smooth batter, helped prevent dense baked goods, and eliminated impurities or compacted particles.
Reflecting on these memories, I was reminded yesterday during brother Bryan’s sermon series at the table of the word “sift.” When he said it, my thoughts turned to my grandmother, to those recipes, and to how sifting ingredients connects with how God sifts us. Just as we sift when we bake, God also sifts us.
Brother Bryan referenced Peter being sifted in Luke 22:31-32 NIV. Jesus says to Peter
31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
God allows us to be sifted through trials, allowing circumstances to shake away and remove distractions, pride, and weak faith. Sifting is valuable to us, even though we probably won’t like the season of sifting that we all must go through. The seasons of sifting prepare us and transform us to become humble, teachable servants of Christ. He sifts us so our faith will grow stronger. He is sifting out everything that is holding us back from his purpose and plans for us.
When we think of sifting the flour, God sifts us to get rid of what is lumping up our mind, body, and soul. During the sifting He is adding space to make more room for him. He is ensuring that we are smooth and free of all impurities and harmful particles. So yes, God is sifting us just like we sift the dry ingredients.
Just like Peter, Christ allows us to be sifted and prays for us during the sifting so that when we turn back, our faith is strengthened and renewed, and we will become powerful people leading others to Him.
A quote I found summarizes the message: “We must surrender to the sifting so we can receive our shifting.”
As we are journeying through being sifted remember to
- Show up for JESUS every day – Start your day in the Word.
- Show up for OTHERS – Serve others, whether or not they are like you, whether or not they annoy you, or are difficult to understand. That is what Jesus did; He showed up for everyone.
3. Show up for YOU – Fill your cup before you help fill others’ cups.
WE WILL FIND JOY WHEN WE SHOW UP FOR JESUS, OTHERS, AND OURSELVES.
As Father Mike says, “You pray for me, and I will pray for you.”
As Tara Leigh says: He’s where the joy is.
Have a great week, Cupcake loves you and so does Jesus.
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