Do your prayers scare you?

[Daniel Robinson]

Recently a prayer warrior of a church I attend named Reda came back from a prayer conference where she stated “The Holy Spirit told me that if my prayers aren’t scaring me they sure aren’t going to scare the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy”. It made me think. Each night I prayer with my six year old; thanks to Jesus for all He has given us that day and for God to help each of the people in our lives who bless us and who need blessings. But I wonder, is that a prayer that would scare the powers that would seek to destroy the light that I try to bring to the world?

 In today’s world it’s almost as if the faith we have has become an afterthought. I can’t count the number of times in the recent past that I have been in discussions simply trying to prove that the Bible is an actual historical document (let alone a God inspired word of truth) and not just a book of fairy tales, as the mass media would lead us to believe. Each day as I look to God to guide me in my life I often ask for direction in how I should raise my family and how to open up our lives to those who would be in need of His saving grace. But I wonder, are my prayers the prayers of a man who is trying to see mountains moved or are they the prayers of meager Christian who hasn’t yet gained the faith to actually move mountains? And the biggest question is: do I even know how to pray to see those mountains moved?

The funny thing is, I’m scared to pray a prayer that would scare me. In this life I have seen prayers answered. In fact, my salvation was the answer to twenty-one years of prayer by my mother. I know that if I pray in such a way that would scare the one that comes to steal, kill and destroy not only would it be answered but it would be answered in a way that would give me the faith to pray an even mightier prayer. And that is what I’m scared of. My faith has been built through struggle, heart ache and pain. A struggle, heart ache and pain that was healed by the saving grace of our Father in heaven. So I guess it’s back to my original question. Are my prayers the prayers that would scare evil forces or are my prayers laughed at? I guess the only way to find out is to pray a prayer that would scare me and have faith that my Father will hear it and use it for His glory.

 So, Jesus, give me strength to ask questions that will cause me to want to grow. Give me the wisdom and knowledge to know what those questions are. Give me strength to be more scared of not inviting someone to know you than to be laughed at or worse for inviting someone to know you. Give me strength to lead my family into Africa, knowing that I can’t control what will happen when I get there. Give me strength to have a faith that can only be moved by you as it grows. Help build in me a light that cannot be put out. And make me fear only those things which would separate me from your love. May your will be done and may you and you alone be glorified. Amen.