Lifestyle of Courageous Prayer

Our foundation of prayer that we build in our life means that when things get tough, and they will, we know exactly how to respond - with prayerful submission to a God who hears - (Psalm 139:4, 1 John 5:14, 1 Peter 3:12).

The world that Daniel and his friends were immersed in was (on the surface) impossible to engage with while still holding to their identity as children of Yahweh. To believe in only one true God was completely counter-cultural. At some points in Daniel’s life, it meant he was not merely an outcast, but subject to great persecution.

This was not only in the Old Testament but also in the New, Paul explains this to Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-7.

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth.
- 2 Timothy 3:1-7

We want people’s understanding of prayer to expand beyond what they have thought prayer is. For many people, their muted prayer life directly correlates to their muted knowledge of God’s character and his intentions for partnership with us in his redemptive plan. Prayer is not just talking to God when we feel like it, praising him when things are good, or asking for help when things are tough. Prayer is the foundation of any fruitful life with God. Courageous prayer is a lifestyle - no matter what is happening around us we know the God who is all-powerful, whose dominion lasts forever and his kingdom endures from generation to generation (Daniel 4:34).

Prayer for today

Lord, I thank you that I will be established in your truths, with a consistent prayer life that prays courageous prayers no matter what is happening around me. That my life would be anchored in who you are and in the trust that when I cry out you hear me and will answer me according to your will.