In a former church I met a woman in her early 50’s who appeared quite cautious. Joan was typically quiet, always conservatively dressed and polite to a fault. As she shared her story, I discovered she had been widowed in her late 30’s and had never remarried.

In conversation one day, Joan told me her husband had a motorcycle when he was alive, and he used to take her on breath-taking rides—rides she absolutely adored. With a sudden fire in her eyes, she described how she would wrap her arms around his waist, hold tight, and shout over the wind, “Faster! Go Faster!!” “I loved the thrill of the speed!” she said with a coy grin. It was then I realized this prim and proper lady had a side she rarely showed—a part that liked to take risks, to live a little dangerously.

I wonder if, deep down, you might also like to live on the edge. If so, I invite you to pray a dangerous prayer. It has changed the lives of countless millions of people. It’s so potent, it should never be prayed casually. But if things have gone a little flat and you want to put some octane in your spiritual life, this is the prayer for you. It’s just two words. Use me.

It fits perfectly in God’s larger plan. From eternity past, God decided not to transform the world with a miraculous snap of celestial fingers. Instead, God’s plan is to use a Divine instrument, the new community formed by God’s Holy Spirit. We call it the church.

Even more specifically, God chooses every day, ordinary people who are willing to follow his Son, Jesus, and pray this prayer, “Lord, use me. I’m not sure what special gifts or talents I have. I don’t even know how or where I could be of use to You. But I am available. Use me in whatever way You desire to transform Your world.”

That’s a dangerous prayer. If you pray it, it will change your life.

You don’t have to live in the land of bland. Go faster. Feel the wind of the Spirit. Live on the edge. Become an instrument in the hands of God to make an eternal difference. It’s what your life was meant for.

When you’re ready, just pray these simple words from your heart: Use me.

Glory to God, who is able to do far beyond all that

we could ask or imagine by his power at work within us.

Ephesians 3:20 (CEB)