Scary Prayers...

Scary prayers?  I didn't know about such a thing until a few years ago when God began answering Ps 51:10
in very obvious, significant ways.


A "scary prayer" is one that will result in unexpected changes that require growth in our faith, courage and surrender. 

About the age of twelve the above scripture was planted in my heart.  King David prayed this and he was a "man after God's heart".  I wanted to be "after God's heart" too. I decided  this would be a good prayer for me. 

Throughout the years, with varying degrees of passion, I prayed those words not really knowing what I was asking....

As I matured, I realized He answered that prayer by challenging the status quo in my life in ways I didn't anticipate. This was beginning to be some scary stuff!  I was going to have to trust Him more if I really wanted a "clean heart" and "right spirit."

Just as a patient must surrender to the hands of a physician when work is being done on a physical heart, new levels of surrender are necessary when God works on our "heart."  It takes courage and trust in both cases.

God might reveal an attitude or pattern of thought  that needs to change and, well, ...we aren't really sure about the wisdom of making that change. It has worked quite well for us in the past thank you very much.  As we struggle with the benefit-cost analysis we sometimes convince ourselves we are not getting the right message because surely God wouldn't want us to get rid of that thing that works for us, would He?

However, it can be hard to deny when a passage of scripture we've read for years suddenly takes on new life, the sermon at church is on that same topic the next week, your best friend brings it up for no reason and someone hands you a book about the subject. It becomes painfully obvious you are getting the right message.

I have an exercise that helps me move forward.  When God responds to my prayer and begins to reveal the area He wants to "create" and "renew" in my heart I dwell on how much He loves me (John 3:16).  Then I remind myself that the Holy Spirit is here to be my Comforter and teach me (John 14:26).  It gives me courage to remember "I can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens me" (Phil 4:13).  

Holding on to these scriptures helps me lie still on the operating table, so to speak.  Trust and faith in who He is allows me to surrender to "...Him who began a good work in you (me) carry it on to completion...(Phil 1:6).

This exercise changes my perspective so the answered prayer is no longer "scary" but a blessing. May your life be filled with the blessing of answered prayers!

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