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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: When Temptation Comes, focuses on prayer, being addicted to approval, and forgiveness.
Show Notes: Praying Like Jesus: When Temptation Comes
I am human. I want people to like me. I struggle with approval addiction. The book by Joyce Meyer of the same name stripped me bare when I read it. I want people to be proud of me and even brag on me. I am human.
My problem is turning to people for approval instead of God. Ouch. Jesus pointed out people who did charitable acts to be seen in Matthew 6:1-4:
“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise, you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.” NKJV
Jesus said these people received their reward from men. If done in secret, God rewards greatly. Why would I think man’s rewards would be greater than God’s?
Jesus goes on in verses 5-8 to like it to prayer:
“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”NKJV
Wow. How does Jesus say to pray? First, go into your room and shut the door. Shut out distractions. Then, pray to the Father. Pour it all out to Him in private. And lastly, don’t repeat the same thing, using many words to get God to hear you. He does hear from the first and knows what you need. Keep to the point in your own words.
Jesus takes prayer one step further in verses 14 and 15: “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.” NLT
He clearly states that if we want God to forgive us, we must forgive others. And I often wrestle with forgiving others, especially if they hurt my children or grandchildren. I prefer Matthew 18:6: “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.”
But way back in Matthew 6, Jesus says forgiveness in necessary. Vital. The only way.
In a book by Tim Sledge called Making Peace with Your Past, Sledge says, “Forgiveness means that you no longer regard the offending person as indebted to you.” How can I release someone and forgive?
- Give the person and the offense to God. Admit how you feel because God knows anyway. Write in a journal or confide in a trusted friend. Then hand it over. You might have to repeat this step often.
- Ask God to help you to forgive. You can’t forgive without God guiding you, step by step, to the place you no longer feel the need for revenge. Make a decision to forgive.
- Recall how God has forgiven you. Back it with scripture about forgiveness and forgiven people.
- Pray for the offender. It is super hard at first, but I truly believe that no one, not the most terrible person, deserves hell because it was made for the devil and the fallen angels. We’ve all fallen short. I remember this as I pray for those who’ve hurt me or my family.
How can I dance with God when I’m standing on the dance floor, arms crossed, foot tapping, glaring at the one who offended me? Better to follow the steps above, then take God’s hand, letting him be the judge, the defender, the Savior. He gave His life for all of us and wants all men to come to repentance. Including me.
Let’s pray: Father God, thank you for forgiving me when I didn’t even know or acknowledge You. I bring to you this person who hurt me and admit that I’m angry, sad, frustrated, and bitter. Help me to forgive, to be willing to forgive. I make a decision to forgive and believe that all these emotions will eventually line up. You have forgiven me for so much, time after time. Your word says to forgive. I pray for my offender. Help him or her come to a saving knowledge of You and let them know Your love as I do. Draw them by Your Spirit. In Jesus, name, we pray, amen.
We can forgive by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
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 below: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18623122.J_P_C_Allen
Next week, we’ll look at what Jesus says about praying alone. Until then, stay determined to dance…
Links:
Six Powerful Steps Toward Truly Forgiving Someone
My debut novel, Jessie’s Hope
Remember: Praying Like Jesus: When Temptation Comes
Video of the week:
I absolutely love music and each week I’d like to share a relevant song we can enjoy together.
I’ve been struggling with forgiveness lately. Thank you for practical steps. It’s one thing to know you need to forgive and something else to understand how to do it.
JPC, it’s hard to understand and harder to follow through sometimes. I honestly am praying for the offender the three things with gritted teeth: They come to a saving knowledge of God, they know God’s love as I do, and the Holy Spirit draws them. I believe at some point my feelings will line up…
So good.
Thanks for this message.
I appreciate you stopping by, Dave. Glad it was helpful…