If you spend any time on Twitter, Facebook, GooglePlus, or other social media, it has happened to you. Someone tweets or posts about a need they have, a trial they are facing, or a tragedy they are going through. Your heart goes out to that person, and, like many others, you promise to pray.
But then, most of the time, you forget. Until you see an update on that person’s situation, and you promise to pray again. And then, well, you often forget again.
Maybe it’s just me, but conversations with others tell me such a scenario is fairly common. And it makes us feel horrible—guilty and ashamed.
But the answer to that problem is so simple and easy. In fact, I will give you four short words that will transform your social media interactions and save you such guilt and shame in the future. Ready? Here they are:
“Lord, hear our prayer.”
If you’ve ever worshiped in a church that employs liturgical prayers, you’re familiar with the phrase. It is a way of uniting the congregation in specific prayers that are spoken by a pastor or reader. After each line the church will agree, saying, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
That phrase translates perfectly to social media. An old friend asked for prayer for his job situation. I could have done as many others did, and promised to pray—though I may later have forgotten to do so. Instead, I paused long enough to type, “Lord, hear our prayer.” It turns out I also remembered to pray later that day, but praying those four short words in that moment were as sincere and effectual, I believe, as my later prayer.
READ MORE: CONSIDER AN ONLINE PRAYER MINISTRY
That simple phrase is helpful even when the need is private or the request is vague. A friend on Facebook recently posted, “Urgent prayer request right now.” No more information, but the need was clearly acute. So instead of typing, “I’m praying,” I wrote, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
I offer them to you. They’re not copyrighted or trademarked. They take only a moment to type and they work in a variety of situations, turning your social media interactions into a frequent place of prayer.
