Dangerous Prayers
Dangerous prayers are those which release control over the situation and invite answers from God that may take us down paths we did not anticipate, want, or even appreciate. The only thing that makes these prayers dangerous, however, is our own sense of what is right and good. So, in reality, there is nothing dangerous about handing the reigns to God, who only works good for us… the best for us. In fact, the only danger is to not offer these prayers.
April 18, 2021 – “Grant Me Humility”
The danger in praying for humility comes in the painful extraction of those things on which we have based our value and significance. Because we have attached so much of our identity to that which is recognized by others, the answer to this prayer feels like we are losing a part of ourselves. Humility also takes us out of “first place”, in priorities, decision-making, and thinking, and puts others ahead of ourselves. While the destination is worth the trip, the road to humility can be bumpy.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 22:4 The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.
Luke 14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3-11 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.
Matthew 23:10-12 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Mark 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.”
Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
1 Corinthians 1:28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
Matthew 18:1-4 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Luke 18:9-14 9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Proverbs 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.
