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Welcome to season 2 of the Determined to Dance podcast. I pray that you’ll be uplifted, encouraged, and will move forward each and every day. Today’s episode, Praying Like Jesus: Thankfulness, focuses on Jesus and his example of being grateful.
Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: Thankfulness
Jesus is the ultimate example of how to dance with God. He talked to and listened to His Father during his short time on earth and then moved accordingly. He went where God sent Him and did what God told Him to do. The perfect dancer performing the perfect dance. We can learn a lot by reading the New Testament, especially Jesus’ prayers of thankfulness.
Throughout the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Jesus thanked His Father often. In Matthew 11: 25-26, He spoke to the crowd about John the Baptist and then about the generation and cities that would not repent. Right after this strong rebuke, He stopped to talk with His Father:
“At that time Jesus answered and said, ‘I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.’” NKJV
Jesus took time to focus on the positive, the ones who did seek truth and to be grateful for them and the Father who cared so much. Later on, in John 11: 41-42, we see Jesus visiting the grave of Lazarus after speaking with Mary and Martha. He takes time to weep, then speaks with God:
“Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” John 11: 41-42
Jesus also gave thanks before He fed the crowds of four thousand and five thousand. At the last supper, He gave thanks before handing around the bread and the cup. How could He be grateful with full knowledge of the betrayal of Judas, the abandonment by His disciples, the trial, beatings, and the cross that loomed in the future?
He knew His Father and had complete faith in who He is. Jesus put Himself completely in God’s hands and rested in the knowledge that He could trust God. Wow. I’m reminded of the faith of the three Hebrews in Daniel 3: 16-18 after they’d been told to worship a golden idol or be tossed in a fiery furnace:
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.”
The faith that says, “We trust God more than we fear man.” I’m not there yet. I still worry and fret when life is difficult, especially when it concerns my family. At times, I have faith and at others, I doubt. I’m afraid I’m more like the disciple Thomas than the three Hebrews.
But God knows my heart. I’m digging into His Word, which is where faith comes from, and giving thanks when those terrible doubts come against me, often during times of prayer.
When Jesus went alone to pray, as we discussed last week in Episode 28, I’m sure that thankfulness was in abundance as He talked with His Father. When we’re thankful, it pulls our attention away from the problem and to the only One who can truly solve it. God, the Father.
This summer has been one where I’ve dealt with physical issues with my hip and with asthma. I’ve been whiny to my family and friends as I’ve sought ways to better handle aging. Thankfulness has helped more than anything. Taking time to focus on the good things in my life and the fact that God saved me when I could not save myself brings perspective to my issues.
I told one of my friends that I believe God has a plan, even during seasons like this. I’m not sure what it is at the moment but I’m seeking. And I know He’s good.
In The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, Susan speaks to Mr. Beaver about being afraid of Aslan the lion, asking if he is safe: “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver …who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Let’s pray: Father God, thank you for saving us so we can live forever with You. I’m focusing on Your goodness and away from the problems that relentlessly surround me daily. Help me when my eyes are pulled toward the storms to return my gaze to You. I love that Jesus is the perfect example of thankfulness and we can learn from Him. In Jesus’ name, we pray, amen.
Our Father in Heaven is good and we can trust Him with our very lives and be thankful.
Today’s featured author is JPC Allen, the author of A Shadow on the Snow, a teen Christian mystery. As nineteen-year-old Rae Riley gets to know her newly-found father and his family, a stalker won’t let her forget her late mother’s notorious past. Fearing the threat will alienate her new family, Rae investigates on her own. But her amateur sleuthing may cost her the father she’s always wanted.
Learn more at on her Goodreads page. Go to https://www.goodreads.com/ and type JPC Allen in the search box or check out the direct link in my show notes. https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18623122.J_P_C_Allen
Next week, we’ll look at what Jesus says about how to pray effectively. Until then, stay determined to dance…
Links:
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Praying Like Jesus: Thankfulness
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
Thankfulness is something I need to work on.
I do too!
Hearing your struggles helps me put my own frustrations in perspective. Thank you for your uplifting and encouraging words about being thankful. God does have a plan.
He does. My problem is being patient 😊