SESSION NOTES:

We had a great workout today. First cold weather of the season! We did our trail run, leapfrog’s in the velodrome, push-ups, and core work.

WOD:

Dangerous Prayers

When we pray, even though our prayers vary, I would imagine that most of our prayers revolve around one simple request:

God, do something for me.

Now there’s nothing wrong at all with those prayers. Everyone should pray to God for miracles in our lives, for healing, for God’s peace. We should seek the Lord for ALL our needs.

But if we stop there, we are missing out on A LOT.

You see, the content of our prayers tells us a lot about our relationship with God. What we pray reflects what we believe about God. For example, if most of our prayers are for ourselves or what matters to us then that is pretty much saying that God exists primarily for US.

Let me give some perspective on it – You have access to the creator of the universe, the beginning & end, the all-powerful and ever-present God of creation and you’re pretty much asking him to help keep you safe and have a good day.

I hate to say it, but God wants more from us than that.

Think about what could be different if you prayed bolder. If you dreamed bigger. If you risked more. If you were more open to what God might do in you rather than what He would do for you.

What if instead of asking God to do something for us, like we do 99% of the time we asked God something dangerous? What if we prayed a self-denying prayer to our heavenly Father?

What if we prayed the most dangerous prayer in the bible?

“HERE I AM LORD, SEND ME.”

Isaiah prayed such a prayer to God:

And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am Lord! Send me.” (Isaiah 6:8).

He didn’t ask for any details. He didn’t know God’s plan. He didn’t know where or when. He simply said “God, USE ME”.

That’s stunning, life changing prayer. And it is dangerous. Its like writing an open check to God.

I know this firsthand, because I prayed that prayer in July of this year. That prayer is tattooed on my bicep. I didn’t ask God any details, we didn’t work out an agreement first. I simply said, “Here I am Lord, I hear your voice.. USE ME FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE AND LET YOUR WILL BE DONE.

I don’t need to know the benefits, or if it will be easy (its not), or if I will enjoy it (its the most pain I’ve ever experienced in life). I surrender my will to You, God, and I trust You.

That is how dangerous prayer works.

If you are tired of living for things that don’t matter, tired of safe, predictable lukewarm prayers, then its time to change the way we pray.

Its time for you to abandon the safe, comfortable, easy to pray prayers. Its time to pray with courage, to risk and to open yourself up to different path to a better destination. If you want to make a difference on this earth, if you want your life to matter then its time to leave those safe, comfortable prayers and pray big, bold, audacious prayers. Dangerous prayers. Seek God and dare to dream big.

Its time to leave that safety and venture out, to trust God and believe. Your life will not always feel safe, mine sure doesn’t. But you can do it, if you have faith. Becuase without faith its impossible to please God.

So go out there and pray for God to send you, take that risk, and pray the dangerous prayer..

Here I am, Lord.

Send me.