Sunday Walk 79 – Thanksgiving

We pray for God’s intervention in our lives, then congratulate ourselves rather than God for the results.

Jerry Bridges, The Practice of Godliness, (page 101)

We pray to God for something to happen. It happens. However, since it is always possible to concoct some explanation for what happened that does not involve God, we forget about thanking Him. Do we think He wasn’t listening? Do we think He wasn’t involved in that event? If we do, why did we even bother praying?

Bridges adds, “Thanksgiving is a normal result of a vital union with Christ, and a direct measure of the extent to which we are experiencing the reality of that union in our lives.” (page 103)

If we are not thankful after something we explicitly prayed for, and we take Bridges seriously, does that mean we may not have a vital union with Christ?

Jerry Bridges, Godliness

Earlier I had no idea what to write for this post. I prayed. Afterwards much of what’s in this post came to mind as well as suggestions for revisions.

Now, finishing the post, I do not want to be thanking some sentimental imitation, some Greek muse, some forest faerie, some earth mother goddess, some pan-psychic cosmic consciousness for what happened. I hope none of them were involved. To the extent any were, I apologize for the results.

I prayed to God, Adonai, specifically, to Yehovah (the Father) through Yeshua (the Son, Jesus,) in Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) (Ephesians 2:18). I thank God over and over again with joy.

Even if nothing had come to mind for this post, and none of it did in the ways I expected it would, I would still thank God, because I prayed, grateful that I can pray, accepting responsibility for any mistakes I made.

That’s my testimony of thanksgiving.

Weekly Parashah Readings
Parashah: Tetzaveh 11 Adar, 5782 – February 12, 2022
Torah: Exodus 27:20 – 30:10
Haftarah: Ezekiel 43:10-27
Brit Chadashah: Hebrews 13:10-17
Resources: Chabad, Hebrew4Christians, Weekly Torah Readings, Calendar

Author: Frank Hubeny

I enjoy walking, poetry and short prose as well as taking pictures with my phone.

27 thoughts on “Sunday Walk 79 – Thanksgiving”

  1. Greetings! Very powerful message this morning.

    This is humbling: “We pray for God’s intervention in our lives, then congratulate ourselves rather than God for the results.” YIKES. I resemble that remark. So thankful for God’s mercy.

    Blessings for speaking the truth.

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  2. This is a GREAT post, Frank! Jerry Bridges was a wise man and I am confident He is loving every moment in God’s presence. This is convicting for me. Your last line I will put in my journal. Praise the Father through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit for the life we have in Him. Have a wonderful Sunday!

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    1. Thank you, Mandy! I mainly wrote the post to remind myself I must be thankful. I am thankful for Jerry Bridges who brought the point home to me and grateful to both you and Jim for bringing Bridges to my attention in one way or the other.

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  4. I believe you have fed your brain (mind, spirit) with good soul food. When God needs you to remember certain facts or experiences, He can “set the dial” to retrieve what is needed. If one does not keep staples in the cabinet, he can not run to the pantry to find good stuff.

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    1. The Jerry Bridges book made me more aware of thanksgiving than I previously had been. I think God filled my pantry with the right staples, as you mentioned, when that book was pointed out to me. Thank you and blessings, Oneta!

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  5. Frank, I just read this after a long text message to someone about something I put on FB. Reading this, 5 min later, this is so absolutely what I needed. I usually read these in the morning but didn’t today until now, the evening.

    Even if nothing had come to mind for this post, and none of it did in the ways I expected it would, I would still thank God, because I prayed, grateful that I can pray, accepting responsibility for any mistakes I made.”

    Everyone, I mean everyone, makes mistakes. How many accept responsibility for them? Exactly what I was saying, that I say a lot more wrong things than right and I am always repenting if I truly find out I was wrong. I don’t think it is common, even among Christians, leaders and laypeople alike.

    Thank you. My heart is at peace.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. We all make mistakes. Repentance leads to joy because we are forgiven and have forgiven in turn. That joy leads to thanksgiving and peace. I don’t think it is commonly done either, but may it become more and more what we do.

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  6. Beautiful testimony, Frank. When I pray, I thank HIM in advance–whether He says Yes or No, I know He has my best interests at heart. Blessings on your week! 🙂

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    1. I finished the book some time ago after hearing about him from you. Although it was easy to read, many of his ideas were surprising and stayed with me like this one about thanksgiving. Thank you, Jim!

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  10. I struggle with this as well. There were many concerns that led to my atheism, but the pattern you’ve outlined of not recognizing God’s hand in my life literally led my steps there.

    Only a return to the basics of prayer and reading scriptures guided me back to remembering.

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      1. I noticed this in your link: “Jesus Christ lives! He is the Son of the living God, and He directs prophets on the earth in our day.” I agree with you on this and likely many other things as well.

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    2. Reading scriptures has helped me over the past two years. Most of these Sunday posts are problems I’ve had recently that I am trying to overcome. They are sort of like confessions. I am grateful and thankful that I can see better than I could in the past.

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