Dangerous Prayers: Because Following Jesus Was Never Meant to Be Safe

by Craig Groeschel

David was called “a man after God’s own heart” (see 1 Sam. 13:14 and Acts 13:22). He was devoted to God’s will and worshiped passionately, gave extravagantly, and led courageously. Yet he still made mistakes—big ones. Like you and like me, he was tempted to sin and didn’t always make the right choice. Even after he knew the goodness of God and had walked with him for most of his life, David still blew it. And that’s why he prayed this dangerous portion of the prayer: “Search me, God . . . know my anxious thoughts. . . . See if there is any offensive way in me” (Ps. 139:23–24). Show me if I am doing anything that offends or hurts your heart. Hearing God’s response to this portion of the prayer can be challenging. It’s not easy because most of us are masters at rationalizing our wrong actions. If you’re like me, you’re good at accusing others, and equally good at excusing yourself. I can point out your faults but have a perfectly good explanation as to why I do anything that you might consider inappropriate. I’m good at doing what Jesus warned against in Matthew 7. I can point out the speck of sawdust in your eye all the while ignoring the log in my own eye.