Pray Gratefully Series

HoHum:

There is an insurance commercial where an internet influencer says into her phone: “Hey, fam. I am at this beautiful lake that I just discovered. Practicing gratitude, manifesting abundance”

WBTU:

Laugh at that every time but it is true that practicing gratitude does make a difference (that manifesting abundance is hard for me to grasp). I remember ministering at a large church (250 when I came) and things went well for the first few years, able to use my gifts and talents to bring healing to a troubled church. Then things got out of hand for me. I doubted that I was making a difference. I felt like I was to blame for the downturn. Attendance was down by about 100 people, baptisms were a thing of the past, and offerings were failing to provide what was necessary for the budget. Bright spot was a new youth minister but I was floundering. Had not met with the elders for 3 months and that was fine with me, leave me alone so I can do my ministry of preaching and visiting people. Next time I met with the elders they said that had been meeting without me and wanted to know what my vision was for the church. I said that the next time we would meet I would have something definite. I had nothing. The next meeting I told them that I felt like I was not the person to take them to the next level. I would be seeking another ministry but to give some time. They didn’t give any time. I was released from my position within a few days. I felt like getting out of full time preaching ministry. I sought associate positions but nothing, who wants to hire someone who was just let go. The money situation was dreadful (they gave me severance pay but it ran out so fast). I sought jobs around town but no one would hire me. I was finally hired by Walmart but they let me go after 3 months. This was 2008 with the Great Recession. For me it turned into a Great Depression. I felt worthless and a detriment to my family. I was a failure. During this past summer went through a series called Red Letter Prayer Life by Bob Hostetler. Talks about Jesus teaching on prayer. This one is called pray gratefully. Bob talks about his own bought with depression. He said, “I’m convinced the biggest contributor to my recovery was prayer.” I would say an Amen to that. I struggled in prayer during 2008; at times I would just sit there with nothing to say. Other times I would cry. Other times I was just angry. I had a struggle with gratitude. I focused on what I lacked instead of the abundance I had. It’s hard to practice gratitude when creditors are constantly knocking. My mental health was improved when I counted my blessings instead of my failures. Bob said, “God is my salvation from depression, and prayer was a daily means of grace to me.” Again an Amen from me. Good practice Bob got into: “I determined never to lay my head on my pillow for the night without recording at least 3 prayers of thanks.” I need to give thanks for my wife and children. Need to give thanks for food and the house where I live. Need to give thanks for my relationship with Jesus. Now there are other things that we need to do to overcome depression, more than just prayer and reading the Bible. Don't want to be irresponsible and just say that is all that is needed, not everything is a spiritual problem. Even so, Bob says, “Nonetheless I believe that praying gratefully was tremendously influential in overcoming my depression.”

Thesis: Gospels record several places where Jesus gave thanks.

For instances:

A. John 11:38-44

Focusing on vs. 41-42. Thank you that you have heard me- vs. 41. Was that a thank you for a prayer He had already prayed? For something He was praying as He talked to Martha? Did He receive some subtle assurance that the Father had been listening? Was He thanking the Father in advance for the resurrection of Lazarus? Not sure but we do know a few things here:

1. Jesus said thank you. Notice that the one from whom "all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities” (Colossians 1:16), said thank you. The One who commands legions of angels. The One who calms the seas and raises the dead. The Son of God said, “thank you for hearing me.” If anyone could have taken it for granted that His prayers would be heard, it would have been Jesus. Jesus took no such thing for granted. He said thank you.