A long time ago someone handed me an index card that said “Don’t just pray, pray dangerously.” I’ve always been curious about how to pray dangerously, because so many of my prayers are “me” centered. I sometimes present my prayers to God like they are a Christmas list, “Lord, here are the things I want.”
Let me challenge you to pray some dangerous prayers this week. Ask God for some things that will spice up your spiritual life. Pray any of these 5 dangerous prayers and see what happens.
- SEARCH ME (Psalm 139:1, 23) – How many times do we look at others sins, others problems and other screw ups and not see our own. David asks God to search him and show him any thing that’s offensive in his life. And the more I learn about myself the more I realize there are so many areas of my life still not fully surrendered to God. Ask God to “search you” this week.
- BREAK ME (Psalm 139:24) – “Lord, if you find any offensive way in me … break me.” One of the ways we grow spiritually is through our brokenness. My life is full of worldly things that I have allowed to become “acceptable” because others do it, but God sees as sin. Break me in these areas, Lord.
- STRETCH ME (or Test Me) (Psalm 139:23) – The strongest Christians I know are those that have been stretched and tested. Just like companies test there products to see their weaknesses, so also our testing can do the same. In the book of Acts we find the apostles and the church being stretched and tested, it made them stronger. Show us our weaknesses Lord, so we can become stronger in them.
- LEAD ME (Psalms 139:24) – Asking God to take your life and lead you is a HUGE risk. Because His plans for us may be different (and better) than our own plans for us. Just ask Abraham what it means to have God lead you (Genesis 12). God told Abraham He wanted him to move, and when Abraham asked, “where,” God said, “You pack and let me lead you and I’ll let you know when we get there.” Wow, risky, but what an amazing adventure.
- USE ME – It’s exciting to make yourself available to God so that He can touch someone else through you. “Use me” is a dangerous prayer that creates adventure. Oh, how I want to be used by God, but to be used, I wonder if I first must allow Him to search me, break me, test me, stretch me, and lead me.
Want to spice up your spiritual life? Pray a dangerous prayer this week.
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To my friend Don, “AW – Please say it isn’t so.”
I am a Christian husband and father, who moonlights as the minister for the church of Christ in Childress, Texas. My wife Lea and I have been married for 23 years. We are doing our best to raise our 4 boys, who are all growing up way too fast.
just having a conversation with my wife’s uncle, and last week I commented in a lesson about Col 4 where Epaphras was “wrestling in prayer”
thanks,brian
Trey,
Hunting season comming round and don’t want the deer, turkeys and other animals that hunters shoot following me anymore.
I’m back. I had to take a break. Your not going to believe why, it had been raining so much in Tx. God told me to build an ark. My wife Joan, I mean Tess. Told me to get out of my robes it was offending neighbors and church members. So I had to get blogging.
Great post. It is a great challenge to all of us to pray this great prayer. Imagine what would get done in the church if everyone prayed this prayer.
I am feeling better and want to thank you for your encouragement while I had to take a break.
I think praying for patience is dangerous.
I also think it is dangerous to pray for anything unless you are ready for to accept the answer or the trials that you go through for the answer. God does a lot more molding than Santa giving.
Kathy
Good point Brian.
Kenny … welcome back.
Kathy should it keep us from praying these things because we’re scared? Just thinking out loud.
Great post Trey,
thanks!
No, in fact, I think your post is the reason we should be bold and not scared. If dangerous prayer spices up the spiritual life then I think it will do the same for our faith.
Kathy
BTW, glad to see you blogging around.
K
I recently heard that praying for patience means that God will only give you more trials so that you can develop your patience. I don’t know if I agree with this or not. What is your take on it?
Thanks,
Paula
Paula … I’m not sure I’ve read anything like that in the bible, but I have heard people say that.
I’m sure God’s powerful enough to give me patience or wisdom without the trials. But, that’s totally up to God.
Trying of your faith works patience – If we are faithful, we are going to be praying – and one of the things most of us need is patience. So God answers our prayer for patience by giving us trials. Does that make any sense or am I way off base?
My prayers are almost always for others, but I do ask that He would give me courage and strength to do His will in my life. I have been praying for my son to find his way back to the Lord, and really didn’t think about God using a divorce to do it. Now do I want to continue that prayer?? Jeanne M.
Great thoughts Trey!
I don’t know if I can honestly pray #3 – Test me. I’m kind of afraid of that one. Yes, I know the outcome should make me a stronger in faith but I’m still afraid it. (Which is probably the precise reason that I should pray that one, huh?)
-NB
Jeanne,
I’ve been praying for your son, too.
Trey,
What’s wrong with Don? With camps, kids, and other things going on I haven’t been checking blogs very much. Is he ok?
Paula
Really nice thoughts. I am at my best when I pray. But I’ve found that God’s the same no matter what…
Great post here Trey. I’ve read your blog a couple of times and will certainly be back more times to read what you have to say. I have wanted to be in full-time ministry since childhood. It’s risky and something I have always dreamed about and am passionate about. I’ll be praying those prayers you talked about this week. Be blessed! Peace be with you.
Zack
Fantastic post. Great thoughts on prayer and how to pray.
Zack … I’m excited to hear you’re interested in full time work. Continue to pray about it and let God work in your life. I continue to pray that the Lord send forth workers…
See Trey you have charisma! If only I had this charisma for people! By the way I have 8 users now but it could be so much bigger with Gods Blessing!
Brandon Voss
God never changes! The only Truth that prevails is God and the Bible!
Brandon Voss
God never changes! The only Truth that prevails is God and the Bible!
Brandon Voss
God never changes! The only Truth that prevails is God and the Bible!
Brandon Voss
I love what it says in James that Elijah was a man just like us and he earnesty prayed that it would not rain and it did not for 3 and 1/2 years that is a stinkin powerful prayer and that is just the tip of the iceberg so to speak.
loved the post
blessin’s
FMtWR
Trey, I appreciate the post and will focus this week on praying as you encourage.
Glad you are back.
By the way, hope you enjoyed your break.
Trey, I think I must have prayed the first four so much that God is still answering those prayers! I am scared to ask for any more.
In other words, I feel broken, led, stretched and searched. And it isn’t THAT bad.
And on the used issue. It is always interesting that when I get in my head one way God is going to use me, he does it differently and sometimes it takes me a while to catch on that God IS using me.
I offered my perputrator the opportunity to choose these options but he opted for the darkness. I am sad. I really wanted to see him repent and to see God restore him.
I fear he is one of those that God is going to say, “I never knew you.” And he was a pastor. That is so grievous.
Di