Praying Dangerously
What Prayers Are We Not Praying?
Stevens County Times, Pastor’s Perspective
(Not published, ran out of time, but a better version)
September 2025
By Pastor Tim White
Have you ever thought that there may be prayers that God is waiting for you and me to pray? Jesus taught His disciples to “always pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1) and direct those prayers to the Father in Jesus’ name (John 16:25-26). And then in James 4:2 we read, “You have not because you do not ask God.”
So, I ask the question again, “Are there prayers God is waiting for you and me to pray? Stated another way, does God have “answers” waiting for us that we are not seeking? Let me assure you, I am not referring to “answers” that focus on how we can get wealth and prosperity as some promote through their ministries.
I am talking about prayers that some have called “dangerous prayers.” Those kinds of prayers where we offer ourselves in service and surrender to the purposes of God in the Church wherein, we worship, and the region where we live. Prayers that sound more like Isaiah’s, who said to the Lord, “Here I am, send me.” (Isa. 6:8).
Is it possible to miss out on what God has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10) simply because we do not seek Him for it?
The content of our prayers reveals what we believe about God’s abilities and the extent of His power. In Pastor Craig Groeschel’s book, “Dangerous Prayers,” he writes: “If most of our prayers are for ‘ourselves’ or ‘what matters to us,’ then the content of our prayers communicates that we believe, deep down, that God exists primarily for us.” (p. 155, Kindle version).
With that quote in mind, it was in 2000 that Bruce Wilkinson wrote a wildly popular short book, “The Prayer of Jabez,” based on 1 Chronicles. 4:9-10. Jabez was “an honorable man” who had been “birthed in pain,” and so his prayer was “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.”
Christians across the denominational spectrum were buying this little book, praying this prayer, and finding much comfort in its words. I did too. These kinds of prayers have their time and place in the believer’s life, but they cannot be the sum total of their prayer focus. Jesus has a job for His Church to do.
When we recall Jesus’ last words to his disciples, we note that they are not at all about being free from harm or pain; on the contrary, the mission He called them to was for each to be ready to lay down their lives, if necessary (Matt. 16:24). There is nothing inherently safe or financially prosperous about the Great Commission. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mark 16:15-18)
Years ago, I heard a message by Paris Reidhead that jolted me out of a “me-centered” Christianity. He said: “Christianity is not about how much we can get out of God, but about how much God can get out of us.” (Recorded message on Sermon Index’s website, entitled, “Ten Shekels and a Shirt” – you will not be the same once you hear it.)
So, let’s ask ourselves the question Pastor Groeschel asks in his book: “If God said yes to every prayer you prayed in the last seven days, how would the world be different?” (p.156). Or would it be different at all?
What prayers are we NOT praying? Groeschel goes on to say, “I had access to the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. The Great I am. The Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End. The all-powerful, ever-present, all-knowing God who can send fire from heaven, shut the mouths of hungry lions, or calm a raging storm. And all I asked him to do was keep me safe and help me have a good day.” (p. 157).
It’s time for the Church to pray “dangerous prayers.”
In Acts 4, after Peter and John’s release from jail, they came to the place where the early Church had gathered to pray for them. These two told the gathered believers of the threats made by the Jewish ruling council (Sanhedrin) to not speak in the name of Jesus or of the resurrection, “or else.” And then, they prayed – dangerously.
Their dangerous prayer included, “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Act 4:29-31 NIV84).
They did not pray for protection or safety – they prayed for more boldness and for healings, signs, and wonders in the name of Jesus. They asked God for more of the same that had led to Peter and John being imprisoned. Later on, in Acts 19, Paul’s ministry to the Ephesians was dangerous to the idol-making trade because so many were coming to faith in Christ. A riot ensued, but the Church grew and spread throughout the province of Asia over the next two years.
Our region, state, and nation need an emboldened Church that believes God has already promised to care for her daily needs and concerns, so that she can seek Him for the boldness and gifts to be the most effective witness possible. That is what it means to pray “dangerous prayers.”
What dangerous prayers is the Lord waiting for His Church to pray today? Let us lift our daily needs to Him as we should, and seek God boldly, individually and corporately, as we offer ourselves to His service, no matter the cost, desiring that God will be glorified through us right where we live.