Break Me - Dangerous Prayers

Broken and Poured: Praying the Dangerous Prayer “Break Me”

Scripture References

• Mark 14:3
• Mark 14:22
• Luke 22:19

Overview

Craig Groeschel continued the “Dangerous Prayers” series by challenging the church to pray, “God, break me.” He warned that this is the hardest of the three prayers—far from the “God-make-my-life-better” version of Christianity—but it can open the door to deeper intimacy with Christ. Using two back-to-back scenes in Mark 14 and personal stories of loss, conflict, and illness, he showed that God often turns life’s greatest breakings into His greatest blessings.

Context

Last week’s prayer was “Search me.” Next week will be “Send me.” Today’s focus—“Break me”—sits in the middle and, according to Craig, is “by far the most dangerous.”

Main Points

1. The Most Dangerous Prayer

• “Break me” does not feel safe; many believers refuse to pray it.
• It clashes with a comfort-centered Christianity but positions us for profound spiritual change.
• Craig’s mentor, Gary Walter, told him, “God will break you,” just before Life.Church launched—an anchor warning that proved true through early setbacks.

2. Story 1: A Prostitute’s Extravagant Worship (Mark 14:3)

• First-century prostitution carried crushing shame; perfume was a year’s wages and her marketing tool.
• She broke the alabaster jar and poured every drop on Jesus, declaring, in effect, “My past and future now belong to You.”

• Broken and poured.

• The disciples objected to the “waste,” yet her self-emptying became a model of wholehearted devotion.

3. Story 2: Jesus at the Last Supper (Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19)

• Jesus broke the bread: “This is My body.”
• He offered the cup: “My blood is poured out for many.”
• Luke adds Jesus’ command: “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
• Some scholars—and Craig—see more than a ritual: followers are invited to live broken and poured-out lives, dying to self so Christ can live through them.

4. Why God Breaks Us

• Life’s greatest breakings often lead to God’s greatest blessings.
• We impress with strengths but connect most deeply through brokenness.
  • Story: Launch-year crises, staff cuts, financial strain, loss of meeting space—each “road bump” deepened dependence on God.
  • Story: Close friend Jay fell into sin, conflict erupted, and he later took his life. Craig confessed his anguish to the young church; that shared grief turned “a crowd into a church.”
  • Story: Workout partner John developed severe tinnitus, can’t sleep, yet says, “I’ve never been closer to God or my wife. I just have so much love in my heart.” Their 22-year friendship moved from gym talk to tearful spiritual depth.
• God never wastes a hurt; those He uses most are often those He has broken most (e.g., Peter’s denial and Pentecost sermon).

5. Stepping Into the Prayer

• Not everyone will (or must) pray “Break me” today.
• A starting version: “Break me of _______” (pride, anger, lust, self-sufficiency, impatience, etc.).
• Expect ongoing—not one-time—breaking as God shapes us.
• When life collapses, fall on the Rock rather than run from Him; full dependence invites healing and blessing.

Key Truths

• “Broken and poured” describes both true worship and true discipleship.
• God often turns our deepest pain into His greatest platform for ministry.
• We impress people with strengths, but we bond through shared weakness.
• The gospel is an invitation to die to self so that Jesus can live through us.
• Without Christ we are already broken; only the Great Physician can heal.

Response

• Pray daily: “God, break me,” or specifically, “Break me of ______.”
• Surrender every area—past, present, and future—as the woman surrendered her perfume.
• When hardship comes, choose to break open before God instead of holding yourself together.
• Share your broken places with trusted believers; let tears connect eye to eye.
• Look for God’s blessing and new intimacy on the other side of breaking.

Closing

Craig urged the church not merely to admire the idea but to risk the reality:

“Life’s greatest breakings often lead to God’s greatest blessings.”
Some lifted hands to pray the dangerous prayer; others began with one area needing surrender. He reminded all that Jesus’ body was broken and His blood poured out so that our broken lives could be made new.