Bold Prayers

I was sitting on the beach this morning reading day 10 of Mark Batterson’s “The 40-Day Prayer Plan” (companion to his book, The Circle Maker). Day 10 talks about how Jesus honored the prostitute who crashed the party at the Pharisee’s home. Jesus honored the 4 friends who dropped their crippled friend through a ceiling. He honored the crazy woman who wouldn’t stop knocking on the judge’s door. Jesus honors BOLD prayers.

I first heard about these “bold prayers” about 3 years ago while I was watching a YouTube video of a women’s ministry conference. The speaker kept talking about how we must come BOLDLY to the throne and ask Jesus to work miracles in our lives. We must not hesitate.

Three years ago, this idea of being BOLD really resonated with me in a way that changed me. You see, my children were at the mercy of the court system and as a parent, knowing that the welfare of your children is completely out of your hands is probably the most helpless feeling in the world. I was down to nothing. Everything that mattered in my life was out of my control.

It was in that moment of knowing there was nothing I could do is when I realized that I had to have crazy faith and I had to pray BOLD prayers. Because God was the only one who was in control of this situation and praying the BOLD prayer of asking Him to protect them was the only hope I had.

I can’t tell you how many times I prayed bold prayers as I walked up those steps to the courthouse. Too many to count. But as I prayed those prayers I knew I was not alone. I knew that God was walking up those steps with me. I was not fighting for “my” children, I was merely the vessel that God was using to fight for HIS children and I believed that by His grace they would be protected.

Most of the time it’s easy to get caught up in our own self-reliance and we forget that God is in control and he’s waiting for our BOLD prayers so He can honor them. I didn’t want to forget to pray boldly when I prayed so I got it tattooed on my wrist. People often ask me: “What does that ‘bold’ tattoo mean?” And I get to tell them…

Hebrews 4:16 says - So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

“Bold prayers honor God and God honors bold prayers.”