There are some commenters who think I should not pray on my blog. This, however, is part of who I am. I, personally, get tired of people who ask for prayer for this or prayer for that and never get on their knees and pray. Don’t ask for prayer — PRAY a prayer instead. So, instead of listing things, I pray prayers online for several reasons.
#1 We can pray in agreement.
As fellow Christians read these prayers, they too can pray in agreement. This has a promise.
Matthew 18:19
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
This is the power of prayer blogging! We can focus and pinpoint our prayers and then watch God work! This is why God has called me to blog to help focus prayer for missionaries!
I was feeling discouraged yesterday, when Bry posted a comment on one of my posts, He said:
…I have enjoyed all your posts since I discovered it a few weeks ago. May God bless you as you keep the Missionarys the focus of you blog.
I needed a reminder that people do want to focus on the missionaries. I had just been doubting God and wondered if I shouldn’t just write some generic Christian “inspiration” rather than focusing on missionaries. God used Bry to remind me of my calling! Thanks, Bry!
So when you read the prayers, I ask you to pray them in your heart and pray in agreement, of course adding as God has you to pray. Do this IF and only IF you agree!
#2 We have a history of people praying in writing!
Thank goodness for David in the Psalms who prayed his prayers in writing.
Psalm 143:1
[ A Psalm of David. ] Hear my prayer, O LORD,Give ear to my supplications! In Your faithfulness answer me, And in Your righteousness.Psalm 4:1
[ To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. ] Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
Throughout the Psalms you will see the word Selah. The definition of this word is:
Selah ( Hebrew, Salah in Arabic Language:סלה) meaning “pause, reflection”, within the context of a prayer or psalms, is similar in purpose to Amen in that it stresses the importance of the preceding passage.
Many of the Psalms are prayers. Thank goodness for David and the other Psalmists baring their heart. I want to be a woman after God’s own heart. If David and Jesus Christ could have their prayers documented then I want to emulate them!
#3 We should write our prayers so that all medium will praise God with the praise He deserves.
I am in awe of the communication method of blogging. One can find people lambasting or praising most any topic.
Psalm 150:6
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.Praise the LORD!Luke 19:40
But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
I believe every medium on earth should be used by Christians to praise the Lord. Shame on us if someone searches for any topic and cannot find a kind, loving, Christian perspective on it.
Some Christian bloggers need to learn that we do not insult a person to Jesus Christ! That is not what He did and not what we should do. The people who Jesus was harsh with was the religious leaders, not the unbelievers! We have a lot to learn about being the light of the world – myself included!
Caveats to Prayer Blogging
There are a couple of caveats to praying publicly in any way. These cause me to pray and to blog with fear and trembling knowing that I must give account for every word I say in this life.
Remember:
#1 We must never pray for pretense.
Before Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross, He gave a long list of warnings to the Pharisees and religious leaders, including this one:
Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
This is a heart thing. The God who sees all can and will judge our hearts. We must be very careful how we pray. I fearfully and carefully pray (and blog.)
#2 We must make sure we are right with God.
Proverbs 28:9
One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.
There are people who run from and refuse God. For them, the prayer He will hear is that of repentance and asking for salvation. The floodgates then open to the greatest, most peaceful, wonderful life that no one can comprehend. I must listen to the convictions of the Holy Spirit!
In Conclusion
Can Jesus hear me when I pray alone? Yes
Why do I find it necessary to post my prayers? Because I feel it is scriptural and what He has called me to do. I believe there is additional power as we pray in agreement!
Does it make me unpopular? Yes. Jesus wasn’t popular, how can I expect any less.
Does it make me better than anyone? No! He who has been forgive much, loves much. I am surely the worst of people as I have turned my back on God in my life. But His reconciliation is the sweetest. His love is the greatest! His peace passes all understanding! No sin is to great that He will not forgive! No one is gone too far that He cannot bring them back! Nothing is too hopeless that He cannot restore hope!
Is Jesus Christ calling you to return to Him today?
Dear Lord, let me be right before you. Forgive me for pretense and when I turn away from You. Help me to be salt and light and let all other Christian bloggers be so as well. Let us be kind to all who inquire and question us. Forgive us when we fail you. Bless our missionaries today and guide them as they work. Guide us as we work for Your kingdom also. In Jesus name. Amen.