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The Most Dangerous Prayer
Do you truly want to make a difference in this world? Do you want generations to be different because you knew Christ? Do you want to lead a church that will impact your city, state, and the world? Do you want your preaching to awaken dormant spirits, stir complacent hearts, convict wayward sinners?
Then pray this prayer: “God, please break me.”
He will.
And when He does, you’ll be ruined—in the best sort of way.
- Your heart will ache for those without Christ.
- You’ll despise spiritual complacency.
- You’ll see the darkness of your heart clearly.
- You’ll be bothered deeply by things you used to easily overlook.
- You’ll cry often and easily.
- You’ll know Jesus more intimately.
“Break us… Oh, Lord! Break us!”
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Craig,
Everytime I’ve prayed for God to move in my life I had to make major adjustments. I gave God my classic 66 Mustang & it was stolen an hour later. I gave God my job & our entire sales team was let go 3 days later. My wife joked & said to quit praying that way. I prayed that my children would see God work in our lives & now we are living finacially by faith-something I never wanted to do. The last 4 months my kids have experienced God providing for our family. You are right-be careful how pray.
About 2 years ago…my world was rocked and God broke my comfortable little social “church bubble” to pieces and my life was turned upside down. There are emotional down sides to being broken. By now being more aware (not oblivious) …I find that I have become more introverted, selective, and less “casual” social. Also, righteous anger captures me and stays with me longer …by trying to swim upstream while the crowd is floating down …it can be lonely at times and a battle to keep moving. I’m curious to know if this is common.
I prayed a similar prayer last summer, not long after reading Holy Discontent by Hybels. He’s been breaking me since August 2007. I’ve learned two things from this: 1) watch what I pray for and 2) before asking God to break me, remember that this He does in His own timing so I need to brace myself.
a song i wrote back in 2003 during a time of brokeness…
break me Lord, break me Lord
then put me back together and fill me with Your love
break me Lord, break me Lord
keep me on my knees and always looking up
i found that being on my knees in prayer was the best place for me to be.
Jon, powerful song.
Jenn, I am guessing what you’ve expressed is very common. Maybe some others can share portions of their stories and perspectives addressing your question.
love the use of the words social ‘church bubble’ by jenn
yes, it can be a bit lonely swimming upstream and you may be very misunderstood by those that were in the church social bubble with you. there is complacency absolutely everywhere in the church today - but the beauty is that when you see a blooming flower in the form of a God loving, risk taking, wild at heart kinda Christian, the smell of the bloom is SO SO sweet and refreshing
stop and touch/smell and become intamate with the blooms and the evergreens - they will help pull you thru as they cover you with their strong branches and they smell good ,too!
“Lord, break me.”
Not only the most dangerous prayer, but also the hardest.
To be honest I can’t pray that prayer right now. Maybe it’s because I know I have a ways to go yet, maybe it’s because I am just on the other side of a huge health battle - that really was more of time of breaking than any thing else or maybe it’s because I don’t really know that my loving heavenly father will carry me through.
Just my honest thoughts…that’s where I’m at right now.
Brandon Duff, that level of honesty makes me uncomfortable. Would you please just chime in with a “yeah, I want to be all broken too” like the rest of the sheep? Thanks. (grin)
Jenn, I will add my observations and hope they are helpful to you. Being broken changes you - forever. And it changes you in ways that others may not, or will not, understand. That alone makes the journey lonelier. You will look at life differently, you will be purified of attitudes that others may not see as sinful, and because you have most likely been hurt you will probably be more cautious - and hopefully you are wiser. I have found that for myself, I love more deeply, but care less what others think. That has been a more peaceful place to be for me.
I find that most people don’t really understand what God is doing in my life, but my best friends are supportive even if they have not had that experience to go with it. (I also found that I have less really close friends than I thought I did which hurt me) In an odd way I felt like God used this period of brokenness in my life to help me “Grow up” in Him, as a leader, as a minister, as a Believer. Having the scales knocked off your eyes is nothing less than completely sobering. You simply approach life differently.
It has taken courage to walk alone at times. Sometimes the work God does in our lives is intensely private and we have to walk through certain valleys just us and God. Those times are hard and rich all at once.
Blessings to you as you journey with our Savior!
[...] Posted by mrclm on April 10, 2008 From LifeChurch.tv’s Swerve Blog: [...]
C,
I can certainly understand the hesitancy that Brandon expressed. I would have to say I am there also. For so many years it was just touch and go in the ministry for me. The pain seemed to outweigh the gain. Just when it seemed like I was “getting ahead” something slam-dunked me. I am enjoying my ministry here and I hate to admit it but sometimes I wonder when the other shoe is going to fall. But then I am reminded again of something I read this morning in Psalm 20:7: “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” I reckon I have to pause and ask myself “in whom/what do I trust?” It does no good for me to look into the future and wonder. God has called me to live today in His power. Anyway, thanks for listening. Prayers Brandon. Don’t give up.
billgrandi.com
it’s a difficult thing to do because it forces us to take some risks, to do things that people think are crazy, and it moves us to be radically devoted to the cause of Christ…I first prayed that “break me” prayer about 9 months ago and I haven’t been the same since…the truth is, I want God to continue to break me…I want him to continue to give me a heart for the lost—to give me a heart that doesn’t settle for mediocrity or watered down Christianity—I want a heart worthy to have HIM in it—I just want to honor God, and the best way I can do that is for him to break me and empty me, and fill me with more of HIM!
I have prayed that prayer often but so far He has let me be comfortable. Is he sparing me because he knows that I am not ready? Maybe I am just saying the words and don’t truely mean them?
“God, please break me.”
Is it really a risk to willingly put ourselves into God’s hands? Just thinkin’.
Jen, I feel the same loneliness at times and thanks to your post I now realize why. God calls us to find the lost and bring them to the light and once being lost myself it was a dark and lonely place to be. For me if I am comfortable among my friends it distracts me from seeing those who are in need of being found. Thank you for focusing my eyes on what I need to be seeking.
“If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.”
This is quite a famous excerpt from an Ernest Hemingway book. It has always stuck with me and I did not realize why until these posts. God breaks us, or allows us to be broken, because that is when we reach the end of us. The 51st Psalm says that God does not want our sacrifices, He wants “a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart,”
Robin, I would say that it is not a true risk to put ourselves in God’s hands. However, all of our senses would tell us otherwise. The most important thing we can do is to let God in so that, in the end, we will be “strong at the broken places.”
Brandon
My experience of brokenness was not the result of my asking for it. I know Bob Pierce’s prayer, “Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” I’ve known it for years.
I didn’t ask to be broken. I did commit to Jesus Christ as Lord. And I’m not saying that those who haven’t been broken haven’t committed to Jesus Christ as Lord. I’m just saying for a hardhead like me to commit to Jesus, well, I guess God just wanted me to know deep in my own mind whether or not I meant it.
I’ve seen some responses of people who say, “I’m not ready to say that prayer.” Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to.
Oh, I have a cardiology exam this week. I have three scheduled workouts a week; I have a routine. Last week, I failed one of my workouts. I’m 39.
Perhaps the big guy’s not done breakin’ me in.
I can remember praying this prayer a couple of years ago. I was mowing the lawn and listening to some Switchfoot. There’s a part on the song Beautiful Letdown where he says that he wants easy living and easy dying to take him off their lists – that he wants to be disappointed by the world and wants to yearn for the kingdom come. Well, as I was listening, I recommitted my life to following Jesus no matter what the cost. Although I knew that it would be difficult for myself and my family, I knew it was the call of Christ to forsake the world and take up my cross.
Before that day, I was feeling pretty secure. Self esteem was “healthy” and finances were enough. We wanted to adopt (even though we have two biological kids), and we were trusting God to provide the resources, even though it was completely beyond our means.
Since then, it seems like all of the crutches of our life have been kicked out from under us. Nothing earth shattering has happened (we all have good health, and I’ve got a great job), but those things that I was trusting in – namely financial security and personal ambition – have totally fallen apart. I’ve often wondered how to get through the next financial crisis, and I’ve seriously doubted my ability as a leader. Security issues that I thought I had dealt with back in college have come crawling back into my life. I’ve had to rebuild my understanding of my worth coming completely from Jesus – not on my ability to perform in ministry.
Fortunately, I have a wife who is amazing. She’s been an unbelievable support during this time, and she’s encouraged me when I’ve been tempted to quit. God has enabled us to stay close as a family, despite the pain.
If you’ve ever been rappelling, you know there’s an awkward moment when you first get started at the top. You have to lean all of your weight into the rope, and it’s a very unnatural and unsettling feeling. I think we have to do the same thing when we’re going through a time of breaking – we have to lean into the pain and trust God to uphold us. It’s awkward and unnatural, but it’s the only way to experience the fullness of the love of the Father.
I don’t think the breaking is over yet, but I can see how God is using it to unmake me and reshape me. I just pray that He will keep me faithful to the end, because I know I can’t make it on my own.
I am currently in this breaking process and it is hard. Harder than I imagined. But I know that there is no better place I could be. God is using this to clean me out and rid me of myself so that I can go where He has called me to go and do what He has called me to do. I thank God for and ask for his strength in it.
[...] I desire authenticity in my life, and I tend to be pretty transparent, but I hesitate to post this because it is so raw and real in my life right now. It is a post from LifeChurch’s Swerve Blog: [...]
“I think we have to do the same thing when we’re going through a time of breaking – we have to lean into the pain and trust God to uphold us. It’s awkward and unnatural, but it’s the only way to experience the fullness of the love of the Father.” Kyle, what a remarkable quote. I understand this and yes, you have described it so aptly. I am going to hang it on my wall, along with all of these questions Craig has been challenging us with. I think at some point we have to literally embrace the pain and ask ourselves how God can teach us and shape us as we wrestle with it and finally rest in God’s love. This was the hardest moment for me.
Thank you, this is very challenging.
For me to be broken I had to step out of my comfort zone and do something really uncomfortable for God. I did not expect to be broken, but it came - big time. I am a different person on the other side of it.
This type of prayer rocks me every time I pray it. I’m at a place right now where God is breaking me into pieces and I’m seeing how the pieces are coming back together with each moment I spend in the Word. The type of inventory I do on myself these days is becoming intense. The moment you have a sense of urgency for the lost and you recognize that Christ will return as a thief in the night, it makes me question how i use my time (even the “my” time.) I thank God for LifeChurch.Tv. I also thank God for Craig’s passion and obedience. Even if just the people who posted comments on this page were the only ones who prayed this prayer, the aftermath would leave a hole in the earth.
Excellent Craig. I continue to learn that being broken helps your soul reach its potential. Brokenness can be emotional, physical, relational, or even financial, but it goes down to the deepest part of you. With brokenness I have had new levels of growth and especially in the area of character. Loved your post, will share on my blog if that is okay with you and I will be sure to give you credit for it. PS The difficulties in life are not certainly used by God to make us strong, therefore what is meant for evil God uses for good. (Gen. 50:20)
[...] The Most Dangerous Prayer by Craig Groeschel [...]
I just posted this on my site. I hope it is okay with you. Actuaally my first time to share another post on my blog but I believe my readers will be as touched by it as I was. Thanks, I put your name with it.
After 8 years of being away from the ministry as a Pastor because of this prayer a year ago I am now back pastoring a Church. The Lord have a way of breaking us. Honestly is painful. But if you just let Him break you He will show you great things that you do not know. He always have the best in mind for us. I am living proof and the Lord is not done with me yet. I testofy so you can be encourage and not afraid to pray this prayer for yourself. Amen!
[...] Groeschel wrote about being broken this week. This post on the most dangerous prayer was my [...]
LOVE it! Definitely have prayed before…and yikes…this little lady has become the biggest baby. Everything hurts my heart…and many things just make me angry! Good place to start, I suppose…
I live in a college town and at the beginning of the school year, we had prayer every night. Everyone was fired up. I prayed that God would break us. He broke me, for sure. I didn’t know that meant that I would cry myself to sleep. I didn’t know that meant that I would learn what the real peace of God was. I didn’t know that was the best prayer I could pray because I learned more about God’s character than I could have ever learned without it. I was angry at God and comforted by God. I didn’t always appreciate it at the time, but as I look back it will probably be one of the most important times of my life.
You nailed it. I heard a message that basically said the same thing 9 years ago. I was scared to pray that God would “break me”. I finally prayed it 7 years later (2 years ago). My life has never been the same.
[...] I might become like one of my online neighbors: Craigie! Aw come on, admit it. If you live anywhere in Oklahoma, you know the 800lb. gorilla in the OKC [...]
If God is doing the breaking, is God the author of these destructions (the losses of job, the health crisis, the suicides)? Surely, this is not just a coincidence that all of these “life difficulties” occur shortly following this prayer of brokenness. Just a sincere question from a seeking heart…
Two words that are so easy to read, yet so hard to speak… Thank you, Craig. Your words make me accountable.
[...] read a great post by Craig Groeschel that is gnawing at [...]
[...] A great, yet scary prayer, “God, please break me.“ [...]
asking God to break you is the hardest thing to do.Ihave never asked him to(i will later)am just afraid what he will do to me…What if you are in a crisis at this point and you are praying for a revelation to your problem and the revelation is long time coming ,asking him to break you is difficult.
Thanks to all for posting. Perry Noble mentioned a couple of Sundays ago that he prayed God would just wreck his life up. I feel like I am 8 months ahead of him and the Lord has brought me to a place of complete and utter dependence on Him. I have found myself praying scripture more and it helps me make it through the day. It is still hard for me to just really realize what to do though, but I believe that God will open doors and shut doors in my life. That is my prayer. Philippians 4:6-7 in The Message has been a verse I am praying over in my life. I believe that “God’s sense of wholeness” is coming…
Making the decision to live for God via Jesus Christ, as an adult, starts the “breaking” process in and of itself. To be broken is to be Out of God’s Way, i.e., to be so dead to self that it’s all about Him. Living life in accordance to His will/Word.
To be properly raised on God’s Word (rarely happens) from a child is the easiest route - children have no point of reference, no pains in giving up “self.” They may stray as adults, we all have our moments, but they bounce back easier and faster. Adults coming to Christ can be worst than whining babies (I had my moments) in not wanting to get out of God’s way - obey Him/His ways.
Eventually (God is VERY patient), said reality ushers in God forcing us (His children) into submission by allowing the devil to have his way in certain areas in our lives. The Bible says that God loves us enough to chastise us - no different than natural fathers. And the pain is usually based on our individual levels of resistance/rebellion. During the “breaking,” which is different for each person, all that one is holding on to, that does not fit or is put before God, will be shaken - self, money, loved ones, positions in life, etc. The “shaking” removes (temporarily, sometimes permanent) and/or repositions situations and/or persons in our lives that are God Blockers - things that we’ve put before God, things that are keeping us from really seeing, hearing, doing what God wants.
From experience, it’s best to willfully break/submit, than for God to force it. Neither way will be easy, but it’s best to just let Him have His way. He has our best interests at heart. He sees what we don’t. He is an awesome Father/Lord/God, in Jesus name.
His Servant
[...] but I hesitate to post this because it is so raw and real in my life right now. It is a post from LifeChurch’s Swerve Blog: Do you truly want to make a difference in this world? Do you want generations to be different [...]
It seemed like it was all a giant conspiracy… I look back with regret but how else could it have been… me, with breathtaking visions/insights of God’s love… yet one thing after another crushed me… I hate the statement ‘God will not give you more than you can bear…’ I think He’s got my name mixed up with someone else!! If He’s trying to show me my utter corruptness..enough already… I surrender… I say with Paul there is nothing good in me… the only good in me is Christ in me… and I still see evidence of His love shining through me for others… but it is hard to encourage and teach when everything possible to go wrong has done so in an erratic but perfectly timed sequence… like standing on the rung of a ladder and have each rung give way in sudden erratic spurts… What’s going on Lord? Are you going to grind me into a fine dust before you mold me into the likeness of your Son?
I am ashamed of myself and angry at God… was I that bad?
My favorite books are:
Birthright by David Needham
The Rest of the Gospel by Dan Stone & David Gregory
Grace by Lewis Sperry Chafer
what makes God listen to our prayer. Why is HE answering some prayers fast than other prayers?
[...] of prayer some time back, I ran across this very thought provoking post by Craig Groeschel at LifeChurch. Is having a closer walk with Him worth taking the risk?read the rest of the story [...]
six years ago i had a massive heart attack . the doctors said that all my artires were blocked they couldn’t even do open heart surgery on me . i through a clot through the front of my heart. the doctors said i was going to die but god said no she will live and live i did . but i learnt to put god first in all i do and i learnt tocry like a baby then one year later i was told i had breast cancer. god healed me of that to.when you taqlk to god he allways listen.
The Three Trees
Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: ” I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I’ll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!” The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it’s way to the ocean. ” I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I’ll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don’t want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they’ll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.
Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, “This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. “Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!” the first tree said.
The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, “This tree is strong. It’s perfect for me.” With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. “Now I shall sail mighty waters!” thought the second tree. ” I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!”
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. “Any kind of tree will do for me.” He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter’s shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. “What happened?” The once tall tree wondered. ” All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God…”
Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. “I wish I could make a cradle for him.” Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. ” This manger is beautiful.” She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She new she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, “Peace.” The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.
One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man’s hand to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God’s love had changed everything. It had made the third tree strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God. That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.
The moral of the story is that when things don’t seem to be going your way, always know that
God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, he will give you great gifts. Each of the
trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they imagined. We don’t always know what God’s
plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, But His ways are always best.
I’m so glad this list resulting from praying that prayer best describes what I’m going through! I was beginning to wonder if I was going slightly insane!!