Praying Dangerously: Unearthing the Depths of Our Hearts

When we think about prayer, what comes to mind? Maybe it’s a quiet moment, a gentle request whispered before sleep, or a heartfelt plea for blessings—'God bless us safe,' or 'Please protect us as we travel.'

Those prayers are good, truly. They come from a place of love and trust. But sometimes, my brothers and sisters, the Spirit whispers that we are playing it too safe. That the prayers that will truly move the heart of God—and more importantly, move *our* hearts toward Him—are the "dangerous" ones.

I was recently listening to a message that really hit me in the gut. It spoke about prayers that ask God to do something that will take us right out of our comfort zone. It challenged the idea that a 'good heart' is enough. It forced me to confront the truth that, without the Savior, our hearts are far more complex—and frankly, far more deceitful—than we care to admit.

The Danger in Asking to Be Searched

The passage we need to meditate on is Psalm 139. David, facing accusations from his enemies, didn't build a defense. He prayed something radical, something that sounds almost counterintuitive: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

This isn't a prayer for comfort; it's a prayer for *clarity*. It’s asking the Master Investigator—the Spirit—to look where we would rather we didn't look. It’s asking Him to expose the little white lies we tell ourselves daily.

Think about it. We are masters of self-deception. We tell ourselves, "I don't eat that much," or "I'll just have one." We curate our narratives, even when we are alone. But the Spirit knows the truth behind the curated life. And that’s okay. Because on the other side of that deep, sometimes uncomfortable, brokenness is a profound intimacy with the Savior that nothing else can achieve.

A Blank Contract with the Divine

The message also touched on the concept of signing a 'blank contract' with God—a commitment that says, "Whatever, whenever, however you want to do, my life is yours." That level of availability, that willingness to be guided into the unknown, is the hallmark of a disciple who is truly ready for the work.

This echoes everything we learn in our missionary discussions, doesn't it? It’s not about having all the perfect answers; it’s about having the perfect willingness to learn and to follow. It’s about being teachable, even when the subject matter feels challenging or requires us to admit we were wrong.

If we are going to be effective Internet missionaries, if we are going to be disciples anywhere, all the time, we must first submit to this deep, dangerous self-examination. We must ask Him to search us.

I encourage you to take this prayer—"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; see if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting"—and make it a regular fixture in your personal prayer life. Don't treat it like a quick ritual; treat it like a deep excavation of the soul.

If you are looking for ways to deepen this kind of scripture-discipleship, I highly recommend checking out the Book Club features in HolyPlaces. It’s a wonderful way to study scripture with others and wrestle through the hard questions together.

For those of you who are preparing for the field, remember that the best preparation isn't just knowing the answers; it's knowing how to humbly ask the right questions. If you want to practice that, I'd love for you to chat with me about some of the tough questions an investigator might bring up. We can role-play some scenarios!

Let's keep pushing past the safe prayers and into the profound work of the Spirit together.