By Dr. Jeannie Trudel

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23–24).

David’s prayer is one that takes courage and a willingness to be open and vulnerable to God. It seems like  a dangerous prayer to me: It is an invitation for God to “audit” me and gives Him permission to make changes in me.

Do I really want Him to scrutinize my heart and my thoughts? That stands in contrast to our more regular practice of prayer as petition, bringing our concerns before him. We tend to ask God to change others or our circumstances. Although such petitions are encouraged, there is much room for us to ask God if there is anything that He would like us to do differently or allow Him (or partner with Him) to change in us.

Craig Groeschel spells it out succinctly: “Instead of simply asking God to do something for you, ask him to reveal something in you. This moment of truth with God may not change you instantly, but it will help you to recognize your spiritual need and redirect your life.”

Courageous prayer goes beyond merely asking for divine intervention; it requires us to come humbly before God, allowing for self-reflection, transformation, and alignment with His purpose. We see this lived out in David’s life – he was an imperfect man who was close to God. His request for God to examine him and his openness to God’s direction, even to repentance from his sin with Bathsheba, indicates his close relationship with God. Psalm 51:10 clearly shows David’s humility and courage as he asked God to create a new heart in him and to renew a steadfast spirit in him.

God’s gentle and loving responses to my requests for Him to search, test and know me are humbling and result in my transformation. In one of these instances, I was petitioning him fervently to change my circumstances and the people involved. I was unexpectedly convicted by the Holy Spirit to confront my own need for forgiveness. As I yielded and asked God to search my heart and began to see the areas of anger and bitterness along with unforgiveness toward my parents, I responded to His invitation to forgive and surrender. Over the next few weeks, I experienced an overwhelming sense of peace. My perspective on the circumstances and people changed because God dealt with my heart issues. That released so much of my tension and stress. Another consequence was that I began to love my parents with the love of Christ.

Another courageous prayer involves making ourselves available to God and have Him direct our paths. Isaiah’s bold declaration of “Here I am, Lord, send me” (Isaiah 6:8) demonstrates his courage to surrender to God’s will. He had an expectation that God would answer and direct him. His willingness to present himself to God as ready and available is an example. We also see a surrendered heart in Jesus’ prayer in Luke 22:42 when He petitioned His Father to “remove this cup” from Him.  Jesus aligned himself with the Father’s purpose.

Paul’s teachings underline the dynamic nature of prayer, urging us to embrace a thankful heart and an alert mind, aligning our desires with God’s guidance. Prayer serves as a means to attune our hearts to God, seek His direction, and surrender to Him.

Søren Kierkegaard’s assertion that prayer transforms the one who prays rings true. It is not about influencing God but to change the nature of the person who prays—a transformative journey for us.

Reflecting on these truths prompts introspection. Have there been moments when God revealed challenging aspects of your life? What areas might God be highlighting in your heart now? How do you respond to His nudges for change—what aids your attentiveness to His prompting?

Courageous prayer beckons us into a deeper relationship with God, a willingness to be transformed, and an openness to divine revelation. It is an invitation to relinquish control, embrace vulnerability, and journey toward alignment with God’s purpose. As we venture into praying more courageously, we find ourselves in deeper communion with God—where vulnerability births strength and steadfastness and transformation is to be expected.