I like to pray dangerously. It is very hard to do sometimes, but it is something God has been teaching me to do for the past year. Through dangerous prayer, I have been pushed to the brink many times and have learned how to persevere through academic situations, show love in difficult relationships, and stop selfishly caring what others think.
God answers bold prayers, and while his process of doing so may not be enjoyable, it will serve a great purpose in the long run.
I have learned that it is too easy to sit around in life and ask God for our own glory when we want to be honored for our strengths. Why aren’t we asking him to challenge us for our weaknesses? He is more than happy to expose who we really are so we can have a stronger dependency on him.
The more we fulfill ourselves, the less we ask of what God desires.
As I mentioned in my Get to Know Me post, this mindset of praying dangerously started four years ago when I began challenging God to “bring it on” in my life. I had grown to the point where I was tired of living only for myself so I began asking God to use me however he saw fit. Since then, I have wanted to be in difficult spots that will push me to grow, and I have learned how to embrace them as they come along.
Through tough situations I realized it is important to pray for the future and not just the present. God will use our current difficulties for his future glory. It sounds like Paul was thinking about the same thing, when he wrote about present suffering and future glory to the Romans:
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
There is a classic example of people being grapes that eventually have to go through God’s winepress. We are all destined to become wine, but we first have to be broken down and crushed before we can age and develop to a peak point of quality. If God wants to mature us into wine, why are we constantly asking him to become sweeter grapes?
It is easy to seek a comfortable life without conflict, but sometimes we need to get over ourselves to experience what God wants to show us. Sadly, we all want to survive on our own and not have to realize that we are utterly helpless in doing so. When blessings are evident, we think we are in control. But when everything falls apart, we soon discover that God can be in the driver’s seat or on front of the tandem bicycle. (Other bike nerds will get that analogy.)
Intense moments are where God speaks to us. He will question, challenge, and apply us in different ways, and through moments of pain he will reveal truth in our lives. The trees that endure the strongest storms may not be the prettiest, but they will grow the thickest and sturdiest roots.
Looking back on my past, I can reflect on many situations that were miserable at the time but have helped me out so much. Now with my newfound perspective on prayer, I find myself craving more of them. Many times they seem unfair, but it will be so worth it in the end after the sharpening process.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and fruits are starting to pay off from praying dangerously, but I am not going to give up because God has so much more to teach me. Dangerous prayers have called me to the World Race, so I am excited to see where it will take me next year and I will keep praying dangerously about it.
Dangerous prayers will teach us how to be better followers of Jesus and lose our so-called lives for the purpose of something greater:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. (Matthew 16:24-27)
Remember, God will answer our prayers, just not always in the ways we want or according to our ideals of immediacy. He will not just give us the answers; he is the answer.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." (Matthew 7:7-8)
There is so much in the Bible about the power of prayer and it can be too easy to take for granted. However, it will radically strengthen our relationships with God and other people. Ask, seek, and knock, and in return you will recieve, find, and have doors opened. The greater the risk you do this with, the greater the reward will be in the long run.
Don’t just be comfortable in life. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
