Vital Signs: Monday, April 21, 2025

Why Your Prayers Need to Be Dangerous

Like so many people, I struggled to pray consistently and effectively for years. Even with good intentions, I’d often get distracted or even bored when I prayed. For too long, I tolerated faithless prayers—but I knew God wanted more for me, and I wanted to know Him more intimately.

We serve a God who can do more than we can ask or imagine. So it’s time to stop playing it safe. We weren’t created for a life of comfort. We are passionate and powerful, charged with changing the world in radical ways!

As I study the Bible more, I’ve marveled at the variety of prayers spoken by God’s people. Not only did they pray about things that were incredibly personal—to conceive a child, for instance (1 Sam. 1:27)—but their prayers were also often practical: for food and provision (Matt. 6:11), or escape from their enemies (Ps. 59:1–2). Sometimes they gently whispered to a loving God. Other times, they yelled at Him in agony and frustration. Their prayers were honest. Desperate. Fiery. Gutsy. Real. And there I was, praying that God would keep me safe and bless my burger and fries.

Maybe you can relate. It’s not that you don’t believe in prayer—you do. But you’re stuck in a rut. You pray about the same struggles and the same requests. In the same way. At the same time. If you even try to pray at all. You probably know you should pray more. And with more passion. More faith. You want to talk to God and listen to Him—to share an intimate conversation like you would with your spouse or best friend. You really want to, but you’re not sure how. So your prayers remain safe. Flat. Dull. Predictable. Stale. Boring.

When we’re seeking to communicate with God in real, vulnerable, and intimate prayer, He’s not wrapping us in a bubble of spiritual safety. Instead, He bursts our what’s-in-it-for-me bubble and invites us to trust Him—even when we don’t know what He will do next. Some days we feel blessed. Other days, we face challenges, opposition, and persecution. But every moment of dangerous prayer will be filled with His presence.

Are you ready for more? Are you sick of playing it safe? Are you ready to pray daring, faith-filled, God-honoring, life-changing, world-transforming prayers?

When you start to pray things like “Search me, break me, send me,” you may experience valleys. Attacks. Trials. Pain. Hardship. Discouragement. Even heartbreak. But there will also be the joy of faith, the marvel of miracles, the relief of surrender, and the pleasure of pleasing God.

It’s time to stop praying safe. It’s time to start talking—really talking—and really listening—to God. It’s time for dangerous prayers.

“I asked the Lord to give me this boy, and he has granted my request.”—1 Samuel 1:27 (NLT)