'tis so Tweet to trust in Jesus?

My Dad brought up a good thought Wendesday night during my baby-boomer-crash-course-on-Twitter when he said something along the lines of “what do you think God wants us to do with social media?” I’m willing to guess that many Christians are forgetting to include God on this part of their lives. Personally, I only recently started pursuing how to use all the new mediums available out there effectively and for God’s glory.

And the result is that my eyes have been opened to the advantages of social media for spiritual growth. I am now subscribed to the blogs of John Piper, Donald Miller, and Josh Harris to receive their thoughts on relevant issues (and for some good clean entertainment). I also receive weekly prayer/news e-mail updates from TearFund, 24-7 Prayer, and World Vision. On my Facebook profile, I am a “fan” of several Christian musicians; BlueTree, Chris Tomlin, Shane & Shane, Jeff Johnson, and Jared Wood. The newest addition, Twitter, is providing me with real-time updates (both ministry-related and random) on Kiva, World Vision, Shane Claiborne, Derek Webb, Rob Bell, The Mentoring Project, Matt Chandler, and more.

So what can I do with this? Well, in just a week, I have found four new book referrals that I didn’t see before, I got to feel as though I was there for parts of The Leadership Summit 2009 (#tls09), I’ve learned about new organizations and, perhaps, potential opportunities for future support/involvement. In addition, I feel as though there is now one more way for me to speak the name of Christ and share what God is teaching me (authentically, of course) with the world.

Now, there can be some controversy to tweeting during a church service. For instance, here are the reactions I received on Facebook in four hours (some serious, some sarcastic):

Josh Harris blogged about it, then John Piper jumped onboard… did I mention TIME Magazine too? I’ve come to the conclusion that, yes, God can use anything for His glory – even Twitter. And yes, it might be a distraction if you see your neighbor send a quick tweet in the middle of a sermon, but isn’t our world already full of the distractions of car alarms, sound equipment squeaking, vibrating cell phones, crying children, and old men who sniff too loudly? Not long from now, Twitter will be “old news” and some other media source will be all the rage. So, not to be too harsh, I think we need to suck it up and take a nice splash of reality on the topic. This is how our country (and the world) is communicating now. Shouldn’t we join in and use it to speak of the Lord? I certainly hope that I will and that most of my tweets will focus on God and not mindless updates on indigestion, dirty diapers, or the scores of the game. :-)

“But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” Philippians 1:18, NIV

1 Corinthians 10:13-14, The Message

No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; He'll never let you be pushed past your limit; He'll always be there to help you come through it. So, my very dear friends, when you see people reducing God to something they can use or control, get out of their company as fast as you can.

Being weather dependent, farmers can't control hail or drought or flood, so they manage risk with insurance and listening to forecasts. Unfortunately, there are times when there is nothing a farmer can do but sit and wait out the storm, surrendering control the forces of nature. For instance, the hailstorm that tore through corn and soybean fields in Iowa on Sunday morning caused damage that is expected to be in the millions. The majority of farmers carry some form of hail or storm damage insurance, but a storm like the one Sunday means a year without profit and thus without extra capital for expansion or improvements. This is, ultimately, the definition of helplessness for a farmer.

I was praying for my relatives in Iowa today – their crops were destroyed in the storm – and began to think about this helplessness that must be inevitable during this time. I hope those Iowa farmers have more wits than I do because the devastation of losing everything I’d worked on (purchasing, planting, tending, etc) would cripple me.

What situations strip control from you and create panic? Is it financial stress or a reprimand at work? It be a car accident or family emergency that catches you off guard. Whatever the event or emotion, no one likes their control being taken away from them.

I think we do this with God. God is beyond our control and yet we insist on controlling even Him at times. We don’t pray big prayers because we want specific answers that don’t surprise us or because we underestimate what God is actually capable of. When God tries to move us out of our comfort zone, we deny the nudge and make excuses to keep things comfortable. Then, other times, we doubt that God is of any use and become self-reliant. When we become the people who “reduce God to something we can control” – we’re the very people that these verses say to avoid. I don’t know about you, but that’s not where I want the person I want to be.

We are blessed to have a God who is always with us, without fail. He doesn’t play the games with us that we attempt to play on Him, He doesn’t push us further than He’s willing to catch us and He doesn’t let us down. Do you know this God? He’s my God and my life exists because of Him.

John 14:13-14, The Message

"From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I'll do it. That's how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I'll do."

Pray for big things. Pray confidently for big things. Don't be brazen and selfishly "name it and claim it" -- remember the reason that we're alive is to glorify God (not necessarily get a raise, new car, bigger house, perfect body, good health, etc.). But also, don't be timid, doubtful, or afraid to ask for anything.

If we followup each request we make to God with "if it's Your will" then aren't we just giving Him a way out or a hall pass in case He doesn't answer it? More importantly, doesn't that phrase reveal a lack of faith in us? What's wrong with praying the big prayers?

I think a critical difference is between praying for something "if it's God's will" and then praying for something "in accordance with God's will." Let me clarify. I can timidly ask God to give me a boyfriend "if it's His will" and then, when I find myself still single the next day, I can console myself with the fact that it must just not be God's will for me to be with someone. On the flip side, I can boldly ask God to bring a man into my life because I believe that, in accordance with His will for me to serve Him all my days, He doesn't desire for me to be alone and has a partner in mind for me. And, if I wake up the next day and find that I'm still single, I pray again.



Maybe that wasn't the best example. But anyway - make a list today of things that you desire in order to serve God better. Ask Him for them. Boldly and with faith. Keep an open heart and attentive spirit to how God might answer that prayer.

Luke 15:20-24, New Living Translation

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began."

"When God Ran" by Shaded Red:

Almighty God, the great I Am

Immovable Rock, omnipotent, powerful, awesome lord

Victorious Warrior, commanding King of kings, mighty Conqueror

And the only time, the only time I ever saw Him run

Is when He ran to me, took me in His arms

Held my head to His chest, said "my son's come home again"

Looked at my face, wiped the tears from my eyes

With forgiveness in His voice He said "son, do you know I still love you"

It caught me by surprise, brought me to my knees

When God ran

The day I left home, I knew I had broken His heart

I wondered then if things could ever be the same

Then one night, I remembered His love for me

And down that dusty road ahead I could see

I saw Him run to me

It caught me by surprise

Brought me to my knees

When God ran

1 Peter 4:7-8, The Message

Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything.

John Piper call prayer, “wartime communication”:
"Life is war. That's not all it is. But it is always that. Our weakness in prayer is owing largely to our neglect of this truth. Prayer is primarily a wartime walkie-talkie for the mission of the church as it advances against the powers of darkness and unbelief. It is not surprising that prayer malfunctions when we try to make it a domestic intercom to call upstairs for more comforts in the den. God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. . . Prayer is the communication with headquarters by which the weapons of warfare are deployed according to the will of God. That's the connection between the weapons and prayer in Ephesians 6. Prayer is for war."

Honestly, I have a hard time praying. I get distracted or I forget or I end up saying the same things. I enjoy the worship music on Sunday nights at church because I feel like it helps me pray as I sing the words. It helps me to focus for a few minutes and turn my thoughts to the Lord.

I think what is missing in my life is the realization of this urgency of prayer. If prayer is for war, I'm a pretty crummy soldier. I need to remember that prayer changes me and prayer is my active and effective weapon in an everyday battle. It's time to join in the ranks and pray for big things and praise my big God.