Pray Scary Prayers

Here’s what I mean: you aren’t patient, so you pray for patience. Trust me, this could get interesting. God won’t magically give you the most patience in the world at that moment. Nope, He doesn’t work that way.

He’ll give you a whole bunch of opportunities for patience. For someone who needs to work on patience, this will really push them. It’s “scary” when God answers these prayers. We love comfort, and He makes us uncomfortable.

Well, I made this “mistake” recently. I asked the Lord to show me my sin. We had a great discussion in my small group about mourning our sin and what to do about it. Sin is terrible; we should want nothing to do with it – ever.

But we become comfortable, and it’s important to ask the Lord to show us our sin so that we can do something about it. What’s that something? See it for what it is, and by the Spirit’s power, turn away from the sin and toward Jesus Christ.

Jesus died for that sin after all. Is something Jesus had to suffer for worth holding onto? No. It is not.

It wasn’t until the next morning that I realized God had answered my prayer. The time after I had prayed was pretty tumultuous for a regular week night. I ran some emotions I don’t normally run. Said some things I shouldn’t have said. It took twelve hours for it to hit me between the eyes. “I asked God to show me my sin. He did.”

Then, it was time for repentance. Going to the Lord, agreeing with Him about the sin in my life, confessing it to him, and asking Him to forgive it. After that, trusting that Jesus Christ has paid the penalty for that sin and resting in Him. Lastly, going to those that this sin has affected and asking their forgiveness as well.

It’s a terrible process for the sin – it kills it dead! It’s a hopeful process for the sinner. This sin has no hold on me if I give it to the Lord. Praise His Holy name!

When you are convicted of a sin, run to the Lord, not away.