I’m convinced that weak prayer is one reason the North American church is not making much difference. If you want your church to be a threat to the enemy, I challenge you to consider praying some of these really hard prayers today.
- “Lord, if you don’t forgive the people I lead, blot me out of your book, too.” Moses’ prayer of Exodus 32:32 for his rebellious, idolatrous people is an expression of leadership love hard to achieve. Who is that rebellious person you must love intensely in this way?
- “I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. I have done evil in your sight.” All of us know we must confess our sin, but I suspect that not many of us deeply grieve our sin like David did in Psalm 51. What sins must you lament and confess to God today?
- “Father, I consecrate myself so that others may be sanctified in truth.” Jesus’ words in John 17:19 were His commitment to go the cross so others might follow the Father fully and faithfully. Do you so walk in holiness today that if others modeled their life after yours, you would be pleased to stand before the Father?
- “Lord God, answer me, answer me, that the people may know that you are God.” That’s the risky, passionate prayer of Elijah when he confronted the prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 18:37—and it’s a prayer of faith that challenges us. What’s the issue in your life for which you must ardently plead with God to make himself known?
- “I could almost wish to be accursed if that’s what it takes for ________ to be saved.” That’s Paul’s expression of his heart in Romans 9:1-3. Whom do you love with that depth of love? Whose name would you put in the blank?
- “Here am I, Lord, send me.” No evidence in Isaiah 6:8 suggests that Isaiah yet knew how hard his mission would be, but he nevertheless volunteered to be God’s spokesperson. Apparently, seeing the holiness of God makes one willing to do anything He demands. Are you willing to say, “Lord, send me” even if He doesn’t give you all the details?
- “Please bless ________, who has mistreated me.” Again, you fill in the blank. Obedience to Jesus’ words in Luke 6:28 means that we love our enemies and pray for those who hurt us. Who’s that person for you today?
- “God, I thank You for this never-ending, always aching, ever-before-me thorn in my side.” Paul showed us in 2 Corinthians 12:10 why we need to pray this prayer—it is in our weakness that God is most glorified as our strength. Do you delight in the thorn in your life today?
- “Not my will, but yours be done.” This is the Luke 22:42 “blank check” prayer that says, “God, I’m yours, whatever that means, wherever that takes me, no matter the cost.” Can you really give God a blank check today and be a leader who follows Him with abandon?
- “Even so, come Lord Jesus.” The Bible ends with this prayer of John in Revelation 22:20. Knowing all that Jesus’ return means—not only our being with Him eternally in heaven, but also our standing before Him to answer for our lives—can you genuinely pray this prayer today?
Spend some time with the Lord today. The North American church needs leaders who have knees worn out by prayer.
Hello Chuck, Thanks for this. In my opinion #7 is absolutely the hardest; it’s ok when emotion says go, but it’s really difficult to suppress flashbacks and recurring feelings of injustice or even hatred. New believers and seasoned believers both experience this challenge although it’s not something often discussed. Blessings, David
Thanks, David.
Chuck, these are deep prayers. One can’t pray them haphazardly because if God were to answer them and they were not ready for the answer, or were just praying words it would be a great shock to them and others round about them. Out of these 10, numbers 6 and 9 I have prayed in the past. I found out that in order for God to answer my prayers I had to get self out of the way. Also I had to be broken.
When I prayed “Here am I, send me,” I had no idea where God would send me and what He wanted me to do. The latest time that He spoke and told me what He wanted me to do I argued. I was already involved in doing ministry through music and I argued that I was reaching people through the music. He agreed, but then He said, “I want you to preach also.” When I quit arguing and surrendered to His will it was a wonderful time of letting go. A door to the preaching ministry didn’t open immediately, in fact it took about 11 months for a church to call me as their pastor. During that time I did a lot of filling in both in music and in preaching..
Since 2011 I haven’t had a church to serve on a regular basis. I developed and problem with my heart, and have had 6 stents put in. (Not at the same time, but over the period of 6 years.) in April I had my latest stent put in and my cardiologist told me not to be doing any preaching or singing, not even in the choir. Last Friday I went to him and he has told me to come back in 6 months for some routine tests. I didn’t ask him specifically but I am taking this to mean that I can resume singing and preaching. What a joy it was last Sunday to sing in our church choir, and the song was a setting of Psalm 3, “Thou O Lord.” Tears flowed during and after the choir sang. Thank you for letting me share and thank you for your daily blogs.
Blessings on your work, John.