Dancing With Daddy: A Prayer For The Reluctant Dancer In Us All

DANCING WITH DADDY - A Prayer For the Reluctant Dancer In Us All

By: Julie Souza Bradley Lilly

“Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre.” - Psalm 149:3

Sometimes we feel so awkward in this dance that we call life.  We step on toes, trip and fall and make the most graceful of leaps, only to split a seam. Even the most rapt attention will not become skill by observation.  Without effort, blisters and beads of perspiration, we are not dancers, but merely observers.

We fall and get up only to fall again.  With time, our discouragement can give way to timidity and paralysis.  We take off our shoes and gently place them on a shelf, determining that we are not dancers after all.  Our childhood joy is replaced with comparison, perfectionism and joylessness.

Life started out full of hope and passion, but disappointment has taken a toll on our joy.  Wisdom and caution have decayed into fearfulness, and excitement for a new day is replaced with a mere hope of remaining hidden under the bed long enough to see morning.

Beloved, how long has it been since you danced?  You may have put your shoes away, but the Father has come today and offers His hand, “May I have this dance?”

Lord, turn up the music. Let us see Your loving hand extended to where we hide beneath our bed of disappointment. Bid us to come and dance, but this time with You.  Show us to stand with our feet resting upon Yours.  Replace our timidity with childlike joy as we realize that you never intended for us to dance alone (Is 41:10).  You always intended to be our partner.  Together with You, our weak legs are met with being lifted, our fall backward (Ps 145:14) with a graceful dip.  Oh Father, what a delight to dance with You!

Lord, refresh our passion. Banish the task master of perfection and revive our faith in the God of wonder, whose glory is on display in our weakness, and in whose arms those who stumble find grace.  And may joy be found in discovering that stepping on toes can be lovely, when the toes we step on are our Father’s.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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