Facebook Prayers

"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you." -Matthew 6:6

So I have had a lot of mixed feelings on my mind this morning. For those of you who did not hear, a City of Aiken police officer was shot last night and died in the hospital. The situation is extremely unfortunate especially around this time of year; however, that is not what I am addressing in this blog. Here's what this blog is about...it is about why we wait until the bad things happen to pray, it is about using Facebook as the new "prayer request board" (aka gossip column), it is about making intimate prayer a public action.

First subject of discussion. It is short and simple. Why do we wait until the atrocities happen to start praying? 1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to "pray without ceasing." I am just as guilty as the next person on this one. I cannot do not try hard enough to have a continuously prayerful mindset. Anyways, that's the end of that. Challenge #1-Don't just pray when things get hard. Pray continuously.

This may be a bit controversial, but I have a problem with seeing "praying" or "thoughts and prayers," etc. on Facebook over a certain subject. For example, my news feed this morning was crammed with notifications about the police officer in Aiken. Every single one (no exaggeration) had the word "pray" in it somewhere. Do I have a problem with prayer? Of course not! It is the strongest tool we have a Christians. Here's what I do have a problem with...how many of those people considered that Facebook status their "prayer" for that family? Just for clarification, Facebook statuses do not equal prayer and a news feed is not a prayer request board. I have a feeling that God could really care less about Facebook. He knows what we post, but He doesn't sit around reading it all day like we do. If the point of prayer is talking to God, Facebook is taking the wrong route anyways. We didn't have it 10 years ago, and we got along just fine in our prayers. Lastly, I have a feeling that if people were actually praying every time they put that "praying" as their status, this world would be a very different place. Prayer can produce results, and the results speak for themselves. If you ever notice, very few "prayer warriors" go around flaunting the fact that they are praying. They may tell the person they are praying for but that's about it. The results of their prayers are enough for people to know that they were, in fact, praying.

Third is the idea of prayer is a very personal thing that can be done in groups, but is often much more intimate if the talking is just between you and God. There is no need to let the whole world to know what  you are doing. Just do it. The verse at the top is in contrast to the religious leaders of Jesus's day. They would pray out on the street corners so all could hear. Facebook has become our street corner. Instead Jesus said "go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen." Prayer is between you and God and needs no intermediate of Facebook. Does this mean that if something happens to me that I do not want people writing "praying for you" on my wall??? Yes...yes it does mean that. No need to tell me, if prayer is actually being done, the results will be apparent.

Now for a gutsy challenge that many of you will not do simply because you want the world to know your every move...I challenge you to not post on Facebook that you are praying, instead, go do it!

*Sorry if I sound very anti-prayer (or anti-Facebook). By no means is that the case, and I do understand that social networks can be a tool of information and can be used for good. Just consider everything you write before you hit post. In addition, this is not just brought on by the cop being shot in Aiken, it has been on my mind for a while. God Bless and Merry Christmas.