Gratitude Series Episode 12

Hello, my walking friend! Have you already started thinking of things you can thank Jesus for – like the 10 minutes you have taken out of your busy life to spend with him? I hope so!

Today is the 12th episode in the gratitude series. In each podcast during this series we will take some time to focus on thanking Jesus for something specific and we will have two different verses to meditate on. Today we will be thanking Jesus for our families.

Our first verse to meditate on is 1 Kings 8:57 :

May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

Jesus desires that all families would be centered around him, but that isn’t always the case, is it? What about your ancestors, did they have a relationship with Jesus? Did they pass on to you a legacy of faith? Not all of us were blessed that way – if you were, send up a special thanks to Jesus for those ancestors!

But if you weren’t blessed that way, don’t feel bad! You are part of a family of faith now – God’s family! And you can start a legacy for your own family right now. In fact, you can be the ancestor that some future relative thanks Jesus for on their 10 minute walk! Imagine that!

Even if you came from a family of Jesus followers, I’m sure they weren’t perfect because there are no perfect families. Every human family has some brokenness – and some more than others. If you are someone who came from a hurtful family situation, I promise that Jesus knows every hurt and he is heartbroken for what you have experienced. His love can heal you. His love can cover a multitude of hurts. And his love can make good come from bad. You can be his light of love and life to your family – even if you must do it from a safe distance.

Whatever your family background, Jesus used your ancestors, your family, to give you human life, so let’s thank him for that today.

Our second verse for today is Philippians 1:3:

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Take a little time to meditate on today’s verses and to remember your ancestors and family who gave you life and thank Jesus for them.

Did Jesus reveal anything special to you as you meditated on these two verses? Here are some thoughts that came to me.

Today’s first verse came from the first book of Kings and if you read through this book of the bible, you will see that even God’s chosen people, his human family, was filled with brokenness. Sometimes they followed him closely and sometimes they strayed. I think the same thing is true in family histories today. And that is why I am so grateful that God showed us, in his word, the fullness of family life – the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the not so beautiful.
Regardless of the kind of family you came from, whether the people you call family are related to you by blood or not – and let’s not forget that we have all been adopted into God’s family through the blood of Jesus – it is important to thank Jesus every time we remember them. Let’s also remember to thank Jesus for making us a part of his family. Every fellow believer is joined together in a family, commonly called the church. That is why we call each other brothers and sisters in Christ.

Now let’s take some time to thank Jesus for our families, both earthly and spiritual.

You are now at the halfway point of your walk. If you need to be back in 10 minutes, this would be the time to turn around and head back.

Now I am going to pray for us:

Dear Jesus,

Thank you for adopting me into your family. Thank you for making me your child. Thank you for the earthly parents who gave birth to me. Help me have a heart of empathy and forgiveness for any failings they had in raising me. Help me remember there is only one perfect parent – my Father in heaven. Thank you, Jesus, for covering over the multitude of hurts that come from being a part of a family with your love. Thank you for all the blessings I have received from being part of a family. I know it is often through these close, sometimes challenging, relationships that you grow my character. Thank you, Jesus, for always filling in where my family falls short and thank you for walking with me always. Amen.

Here are some questions for you to consider:

Do you come from a family of Jesus followers? How did your answer, yes or no, impact your faith? Take some time to consider your answer now.

Have family hurts ever negatively affected your relationship with Jesus? If so, take some time to pray for wisdom and healing so that you can have a close and loving relationship with your Savior.

Take some time to thank Jesus, by name, for different people in your family and tell him one reason you are thankful for them.

Before we wrap up, listen again to today’s verses:

1 Kings 8:57 :

May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us nor forsake us.

Philippians 1:3:

I thank my God every time I remember you.

Is there anything else you would like to talk to Jesus about? Remember, he is right there with you, walking with you, and he is eager for you to share all that is on your heart and mind with him. Take some time to talk to and thank Jesus now.

Well, you did it, my friend! Another 10 minutes of walking with Jesus. The more you walk with Jesus, the more his light will shine, through you, to your earthly family. And the more you will glorify your heavenly father!

Thank you for taking the time to walk with me today! But more importantly, you walked with Jesus, who has welcomed you into his family!

For more Walk with Jesus resources, including the Walk with Jesus 21 day scripture, devotional, and guided prayer journal book for walkers, go to WalkwithJesusDevotional.com. The November edition focuses on gratitude and is a part of this podcast series. You will find the URL for this book and other resources in the podcast show notes.

I hope we can walk together again tomorrow, friend. In our next episode we will be thanking Jesus for our talents. Until then, God bless you as you walk with Jesus.