I read something pretty interesting yesterday morning that could explain the condition of the Church today. Every day, 66% of evangelical Christians are looking at Facebook, 39% are looking at YouTube, and 32% are opening their Bibles. In other words, a lot of Christians aren’t opening their Bibles today. Instead, they’re looking at social media. That just might be the problem with the Church today.

I don’t know about you, but there is not a day that goes by that I don’t take a look at Facebook. Sure, I post a Bible verse on my page every morning to just prompt thought and to be sure that the Word of God is seen.  But then I usually proceed to scroll the posts just to catch up on what is going on out there in the world. There are lots of interesting things that people post. Some people like to let the world know every detail of their life including when they are not going to be home so that thieves are able to go to their respective homes without giving it a second thought. Some of the pictures that are posted are hilarious, including some of the craziest selfies. People who stand in front of a mirror striking a pose with their lips pooched out are one of my favorites. Do they realize what they look like? There are interesting things about animals, huge construction equipment, and silly stunts gone bad. I come across some interesting quotes that make me think and some make me laugh. I am able to keep up with old college friends as well as friends from years past and their kids and grandkids. We read about people who are sick and in need of prayer or encouragement as well as people who are celebrating milestones and events in their lives. Before I realize it, I have spent 30 minutes or more just scrolling and reading.

If only 32% of Christians are opening their Bibles each day, I have to believe that the same can be said about prayer. What is the percentage of Christians who pray each day? It might be slightly higher because some “pray” for their food. We probably do pray more than we read the Bible because when we pray we often find ourselves asking God for something. “God, please help me find a good parking spot.” “God, please help me to get this done.” “God, please watch over my kids today.” “God, please let me get a good report from the doctor.” “God, please …God, please …God, please…” Too often we treat God like a genie in a bottle or maybe a bellhop in a hotel. If you rub Him a little bit or ring Him up, you expect Him to be there. When you pray like that, are you really talking to God? Really?? The amazing thing is that He is always there to hear you, when you want to talk to Him.

When does He talk to you?  When do you listen? Is it just on Sundays? Do you read His Word? Do you have any interest in what He has to say? Do you really care about what He has to say? Those are legitimate questions. If you want to find out what is going on in the world or if you want to get the latest scoop of gossip, it is nothing to spend 30 minutes scrolling though Facebook. You do that because you want to know! You are interested! Does your interest in the Word of God even come close to your interest in the latest on Facebook. You might say, “I don’t have Facebook!” Good for you. Pray for the rest of us who do. Maybe your time is spent watching the news or sports or the Voice or Hallmark or the Bachelor. Where are you spending your time? What is it that you will not miss? What is it that you have your DVR set to record every day or every week? I am not some legalistic nut-job who condemns all of this. I am guilty of the same. After all, March Madness starts tomorrow and I really enjoy it. The question is, do I have that same interest in spending time in the Book?

I have found that if you spend time in the Word of God, it will change the way that you pray. You will find yourself really talking to God because you have gotten to know Him better as you read the Book. You will realize the importance of prayer in your life as well as the lives of those who you are praying for. Wouldn’t it be cool to really pray with power? I mean to be totally in tune with the will of God and to pray His way rather than yours. A couple of days ago, I read a portion from Max Lucado’s book When God Whispers Your Name. He is talking about the unseen heroes that we just might encounter every day. Check out what he writes:

A hero could be next door and you wouldn’t know it. The fellow who changes the oil in your car could be a hero in overalls. Maybe as he works he prays, asking God to do with the heart of the driver what he does with the engine. The daycare worker where you drop off the kids? Perhaps her morning prayers include the name of each child and the dream that one of them will change the world.

I know—those folks don’t fit our image of a hero. They are too, well, normal. Give us four stars, titles, and headlines. But we seldom see heroes in the making. And we seldom recognize heroes, but we’d do well to keep our eyes open. Tomorrow’s great preacher might be mowing your lawn. And the hero who inspires that person might be nearer than you think — maybe in your mirror.

How do you pray like that? By knowing the heart of God. How do you know the heart of God? By reading His Word. Pretty simple, right? No, it is not. Satan will do all that he can to keep you from reading the Word of God, which will then keep you from praying with power centered in the will of God. Pray for me as I pray for you and let’s commit to spending more time in the Book!

Romans 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.