5 Dangerous Prayers

5 DANGEROUS PRAYERS

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." (Romans 12:1,2)

Several years ago I was reading a newsletter that our denomination puts out to minister to our pastors. A portion of the newsletter was devoted to prayer, with one article entitled, Five Dangerous Ways of Praying by Bill Hybels.

With the majority of prayer that is presented to the throne of God being me centered, Mr. Hybels listed five words that precede me that could literally change our prayer life and our relationship to God.

When I studied these five Me’s, I found them to be a progressive expedition into the presence of God. As well as a progressive challenge for me to find and be totally submitted to His will for my life and ministry.

It allowed the Lord to expose my innermost thoughts and motives towards Him and others. Birthing in me a new zeal for holiness, commitment and intimacy with Christ.

These five Me’s work in conjunction with our verses in Romans chapter twelve. When prayed from the heart and put into action we can learn what it means to become a living sacrifice and to be used by God for His purpose and pleasure.

SEARCH ME

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting." (Psalms 139:23,24)

"Almost every Christian has times of feeling indignant toward people who rebel against God. David expresses that emotion in Psalm 139, but immediately he stopped and asked God to examine him. In the same way, we must not forget to ask God to point out rebellion in our own spirits" (Bill Hybels)

David’s cry was not unlike many of today’s church members. As he sang unto the Lord his deepest desire was for God. This great king of Israel was determined to follow Him, and in doing so he knew everything in his life that was an offense must go.

It has been my experience that the more I learn about God and His Word, the more I realize just how much I don’t know. The closer I get to the light of His holiness, the more the Holy Spirit allows me to see areas of my life that are still not fully surrendered.

The words of David in Psalm 139 come from the heart of a worshipper. For believers, worship opens the door to the heart and presence of God. It draws our focus to how much we love Him and need Him. Worship causes God to respond to our affection. James 4: 8 commands us to, "Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you...". How? In my own experience, I have found this to take place during my time of worship. During the worship portion of our services is usually the time the Lord manifests Himself through the gifts of the Spirit.

Christians who long for more of Jesus’ heart and presence are impassioned worshipers. The music is no longer entertainment, it becomes a vehicle to Heaven’s throne room. Their physical expressions and words of adoration are not meant to fulfill some type religious ritual, but to demonstrate their extreme love and admiration for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Because their heart has been drawn to Jesus, they are constantly aware of any and all hindrances to their glorifying Him. Worshippers are sensitive to His voice and touch they will not tolerate anything that interrupts their intimacy. Their prayer is like Solomon’s. "O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes." (Song of Solomon 2:14,15)

To the Lord, the worshipper is a vine. This vine in the hands of God can be nurtured and lovingly pruned to bring Him glory. That glory is derived from the tender fruit which the vine should bring forth in due season.

According to John and in the thirteenth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, our life must be committed to bringing forth fruit. It is the proof of our relationship with Christ. The fact that we are Christians is not determined by our titles or degrees. It is not based on the works we have done or the awards we have won. It is the fruit, the attributes and nature of Jesus Christ flowing through us. The closer we move towards Him the more of His glory is revealed in us.