Scary Prayer

Acts 3-4

After Peter and John were released by the Temple Guard for healing the lame man at the Beautiful Gate in the name of Jesus, they gather with the other disciples and prayed that God would give them boldness in proclaiming the name of Jesus. But they also prayed something else... they prayed that God would "Stretch out your hand with healing power; may miraculous signs and wonders be done through the name of your holy servant Jesus."

Too often when we pray we stay away from the scary prayers... those that our faith isn't big enough to allow us to proclaim with boldness. Notice that the disciples did not qualify their request with "if it be in your will" or "in your time." They simply brought their request before the Lord. The thought that God might not answer their request didn't seem to be a part of their belief. It was the same way with Peter and John at the gate. The lame man asked for alms and they instead boldly told him to get up and walk, and then leaned over to help him up. It didn't seem to occur to them that the lame man's legs wouldn't support him, they fully expected God to work right then to heal the man.

Why is it that we don't pray with that level of belief? Many Christians today don't even believe that miracles are still a part of God's plan... entire denominations refuse to accept that God is still in the miracle business. Perhaps we should not be too surprised that the atheists around us think of us as pitiful... an ignorant group clinging to myths from long ago. As a whole, we don't really seem to believe what we claim. True faith ought to step out with scary prayers... not to test God, but rather to be the voice of God manifested in a life in tune with God's perfect will.