When Daniel faithfully fell to his knees in the foreign land of Babylon, it was no safe task to which he set himself. Prayer is dangerous.

Dangerous perilous; risky; hazardous; unsafe.
able or likely to cause physical injury

Daniel determined to keep his God before all others. Disciplined, he prayed daily and often to the Lord. Even to spite a royal decree, Daniel held firmly the faith he professed. In so doing, he set himself up for a dangerous set of circumstances.

We must recognize that, just like Daniel, we dwell in a land not our own. When this side of creation fell into the depravity of sin, humankind became foreigners in a strange and hostile land. As Christians, ambassadors of the truth, we bear a great weight from every attack of the evil forces. And yet, greater still, as Christians, we claim victory in Jesus against every force wielded in opposition to His glory.

As a fellowship which sends workers into the harvest fields of God, World Mission Prayer League remains vigilant to the security of those who serve the Kingdom cause. We care for the safety of our fellow worker. Prayerfully and procedurally, we aim to keep our missionaries and those with whom they work from any harm. Yet, at the end of the day, we must resign ourselves and every other to the One who has ordained and oversees His work in this world. In a world fraught with danger, we are simply subjects of His mercy.

It might seem odd, yet, when I consider the consequences, I am prone to want that every follower of Jesus might encounter, at least in one brief moment, some great danger because of the faith they profess. Throughout this world, our brothers and sisters suffer for the name Jesus. Whether in body, mind, or spirit, they are driven to depend upon the graces of God. When we have felt the weight that presses upon these, our kin – that which pressed even upon our Lord – we shall know a greater oneness across the oceans of time and space that separate us now.

May we remain faithful to He who is faithful to us. No matter what royal decree descends. Dangerous prayer.

Shining Cross

UaMV, 2013

But, let us not only caution ourselves against the powers of darkness. There is a kind of danger in the light. Consider David’s sin of the census and his encounter with the armed angel of the Lord at the threshing floor of Araunah. Is it not a dangerously beautiful thing to fall into the hands of the living God? Let us not lose the fear of God, for it shall keep us humble and devoted. Mighty and great is He … and good. As C.S. Lewis told defenseless Lucy regarding Aslan …

“Safe? … Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

And as Darius proclaimed many years earlier …

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you. I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. For He is the living God, and steadfast forever; His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed, and His dominion shall endure to the end. He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions. (Daniel 6:25-27 NKJV)

To come before the throne of God is dangerously beautiful, I tell you.

May we, then, with confidence, draw near. For Jesus is our advocate and our haven. His mercy, love and grace shall keep us this day and forevermore.

Reflect On Daniel 6:25-27
Hebrews 4:16
Praise God that He is mighty to save.
Offer Thanks for your deliverance and that of the brethren.
Confess any cowardice of faith.
Ask God to grant you boldness in the face of evil and in the presence of Him.
to safeguard His children who live in a hostile land.
Comment: Do you think all Christians are called to dangerous prayer?
Have you experienced any dangerous conversations with God?

Other posts in this Prayer series:
Now This Is Prayer • Difficult Prayer • Wild Prayer • Inquisitional Prayer • Revolutionary Prayer • The Sin of Prayerlessness