Dangerous Prayers

May 13, 2020 | Ali King

About the Author: Ali King is the Executive Director of Youth for Christ (one of ZPC’s supported missions) She recently moved to Haughville, an urban neighborhood in Indianapolis, to live out God’s calling for the underserved and often forgotten people in our city. Prior to this move, Ali lived and ministered for many years in Zionsville schools with Campus Life. She is also the proud mom of two grown daughters!

Youth for Christ shares the life changing message of Jesus Christ to 11-19 year olds in our schools, neighborhoods, and juvenile facilities all while helping them navigate difficult situations from the typical pressures of teenage years, to teen pregnancy, to inner city street life, to incarceration.  

Today's Scripture: Psalm 139

Psalm 139: 23-24
Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
 See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

I have not enjoyed being alone for the past couple of months! And now just the mention of Zoom makes me twitch a little; however, I have tried to hang on to a phrase for this season…“grow, not get through.”

Like many of you I have found comfort in the Psalms, but I also know I have to dig a little deeper if I want to let God refine me during this time. There is a reason the Lord is slowing us all down and I don’t want to miss it, so for a couple of weeks I have stayed in one place in Psalms–chapter 139 verses 23 and 24. It's a “dangerous” prayer. Repeating those verses and inviting the Lord into every part of my life. Daring to say: I want to see what you see; I want you to deal with the sin; and I want you to restore me. And then sitting with pen and paper in hand and waiting on the Lord to reveal himself to me each day, as I sit with these requests.

Lord Search me

Lord break me

Lord show me – what do you want from me? For my family? for my ministry?

God send me

So today I encourage you into this deeper water with me, because the Lord meets us there, knowing that if we are willing to take a risk, he WILL be found faithful.

Activity:

Find a few empty pages in a journal and write one of the four requests on each page and just start writing what comes to mind and, in time, consider sharing God’s insights with a trusted friend.

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