Social Media Prayer

 

I had to type this prayer out for myself in early summer 2020. Social media was overrun with people disagreeing and arguing, and doing so with words that spewed hate. It was a divisive year of differing views on politics, social matters, medical opinions, and so much more. There were times I’d type out a response to a post and then hit the backspace button, close the app, and set down my phone. I had to keep a check on my heart, and that meant keeping a check on my mouth (or hands that typed what my mouth wanted to say). I don’t always get it right, online or in person. I actually get it wrong more than I want to admit. I’ve said a lot of wrong things, or things that were said in a wrong tone with a wrong heart. What I speak and type has to be checked every time I get ready to open my mouth or hit reply to a post. I have to ask myself— are the words coming from God that I’m to boldly speak, or are they my own words coming from a prideful heart?

This week I read this psalm from David, and it convicted me and reminded me of the prayer I typed in my notes app almost a year ago.

Psalm 141:3-5

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil so that I take part in wicked deeds along with those who are evildoers; do not let me eat their delicacies.

Let a righteous man strike me—that is a kindness; let him rebuke me—that is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it, for my prayer will still be against the deeds of evildoers.

There’s a lot to unpack in this psalm, but here’s one small aspect of it: David prays for his mouth not to lead him into sin. What comes from the mouth comes from the heart. He doesn’t want to be drawn to what’s evil and participate with those who are doing wrong. He asks for someone to correct him if he is wrong. Gulp— that’s hard to ask for and to accept. David acknowledges that to be lovingly corrected is an act of kindness. Let’s focus today on praying like David, asking to have our mouths and hearts guarded and to be open to godly correction.