I’ve been on Facebook and Twitter for a while now and there is one thing that has been nagging at me lately. It has to do with people praying through their statuses.
Let me give this example:
“God, help me be your servant today so everything I do honors you.”
In itself, it’s not bad. It’s sincere, it’s prayerful, it’s a good prayer all of us should probably have on a daily basis – but is it necessary to tweet? Has God switched like the rest of us to mobile? Is social media the only way He’s hearing us now? And does everyone else have to hear along with Him? And must our prayers now fit under 140 characters?
Today is the National Day of Prayer and there will be groups of folks all over our country and probably our world who will be meeting together, seeking God for His favor and His provision, honoring Matthew 18:20 that says “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
But is it the same when we’re voicing our prayers over Facebook? What’s the real purpose for me to sit at my computer and write out a prayer to God on Twitter if it’s not to let other people know I’m praying right now? Why not just say “I’m praying right now”? Or why not say what might be more appropriate, “please pray with me for my aunt who is having surgery” or “please pray that I can get everything done today I need to.”
I have said prayers over Twitter myself, but after awhile I started feeling pretty convicted over why I was doing it. Why did I have to let others know? Why not just pray and leave it between God and me? If I were standing in church, would I really start praying out loud in some random fashion? Not likely.
Social media has a lot of wonderful potential for reaching others for Christ but it also can be one more way to exalt the messenger rather than the message. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:6 – ” 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.”
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I like what you said about writing “please pray with me about…” rather than just writing your prayer. It is good for 2 or 3 (or more) to agree together. I guess the thing to keep in mind is–as you say–”Am I exalting the messenger or the message?”
I think asking for prayer on FB and the like is fine, but not to actually pray it. I know sometimes on my blog, I close in prayer, and that is prayer that I hope other people will join in. But Matthew 6:5,6 says… “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. 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.” so, even scripture seems to frown upon it.
This makes a lot of sense. I agree that asking for prayer is not a bad thing. I believe what Matthew 6:5,6 say. I think that what you pray should be between you and God. Not to say that if you decide to send someone a prayer on FB or Twitter is wrong but just send it to that person alone. I am not very good at putting my thoughts into words. I am always afraid that I will come off as rude or obnoxious. If I have offended anyone I do apologize.
i am fine with asking for prayer over facebook and i LOVE when people post bible verses as their status but prayers really should stay private.
rarely do we post whole conversations with friends online and since God is our closest friend, the conversations we have with him don’t need to be posted either.
I don’t mind at all when I see something like what you said…
“God, help me be your servant today so everything I do honors you.”
I think a lot of those are for themselves but also what they are praying others will do as well.
Like sticking Post it note reminders of scriptures around. Now there are Post It TwitScrips (ha, little pun for twitpic) So I love scripture coming thru tweetstream.
I will say that I follow a LOT of christians. One thing I do not like is when its ALL they tweet.
Or on Facebook the same thing, or where is always like almost looking for pity comments/reactions.
That sounds terrible! But I am talking about the ones who post ALL the time to pray for them or what terrible thing they are going thru today, yesterday and tomorrow. You start seeing a trend.
Hope that came out right!
Noelle
I think we don’t pray enough! Now the format depends on the situation, who it is for, if it was asked of you, and the motive behind it. on Twitter, there is not much space for that, maybe something to ponder, might be more appropriate. On fb, again the people, and situation dictate that. ON the devoted woman page, many people ask for specific prayer, and in that format,it is not only acceptable, but good to do, right then and there Like if someone has a problem, and you say,” I’ll pray for you”, then walk away, and hopefully add it to your list of people to pray for. Isn’t it better to say,”Lets pray right now!” and follow through. It lets the person know that you care and really want to pray for them. They see that you are not just saying you will pray, but are willing to stop and lift them up now. If the heart is right, I don’t beleive that God puts limits on when and where we pray. He sees our motives and that is all that really matters. Victoria Durall
I'm kinda on the fence w/ this. It can be looked at several different ways.
I understand what you're saying in your entry totally!
I know a couple strong Christian ladies who sometimes put like a prayer or maybe a Scripture quote on their status. I know for them it isn't about yelling thru a megaphone how Christian they are b/c they're praying on a public forum. I think they are just compelled to share Him w/ us & maybe make us aware of what they are currently facing (good or bad).
I guess it's determined by the heart of the poster. If they are sincere & don't have any ulterior motives.
Not sure any of that made sense!
I sometimes feel guilty when I see all of these prayer requests and don’t start praying. I feel like I would need a 10,000 page prayer journal to journal all of the requests. So, I tend to pray when I am compelled to, and give the rest to God.
Had to respond to Gaye! Because Gaye isn’t that the truth about our 10,000 page prayer journals! Which brings us to Victoria’s comment.
I have started stopping right then and saying a prayer. These are not long drawn out prayers. God knows the person, most of them I do not even know them well.I pray for what I do know and rest it in His hands.
I think is important when we say we are praying for someone to follow through. So thats why I do not wait! I cant write all in a journal and try to keep up. Thats unrealistic for me. But! I am so thankful that I am in some peoples journal! Praise God we can pray for each other from anywhere, at anytime!
Thanks, Gaye and Noelle for your recent comments. I know I am on a prayer team, along with my other prayer requests, and then there is family and country. Sooo prayer is a very big part of my day, I am not complaining, as God has put it on my heart to do this, but putting more requests off for later, makes for that 10,000 list journal. Then and there just makes sense, and hopefully no one gets left out. I think it is not the least we can do for one another. As Paul says in Ephes. 6:18.. praying with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perserverance and supplication for all the saints..Paul exhorts us again in 1Tim.2:1 with the same message, for all men. There are more of these, but I won’t belabor the point any further. I say “pray about it!” and see what God would have You do. He is the one that makes the standard. Blessings to all! Victoria Durall