Pretending you Prayed

I don't pray enough.

I'm not sure how much IS enough (as though you could get too much Jesus) but I know I'm not there yet.
But what's even worse is when I start lying about my prayer life. I'm not even joking, when was the last time you said one of these things, even if they weren't completely true?



1.) "Well, I prayed and thought about it, and I really think that this is best decision."

Did you really pray? Or did you THINK about praying? Listening to Christian music while fantasizing about what your life would be like if you made the decision the way you want to doesn't count as praying ...or does it?

2.) "Oh that's great that you're feeling better, I've been praying for you."

Whoever is saying this is essentially trying to take some credit for something that God did. "ya, that wouldn't have happened if I hadn't prayed for you, I'm such a good friend"
The neat thing is that if you use this one enough you can actually trick yourself into thinking that you DID pray, and that when God answers your prayers, it's really like you solved the problem yourself.

3.) "I'll pray for you"

This one is a little different, because you're actually promising to do something that you know you are very unlikely to actually do. One of my favourite bloggers writes more about this on his site:
http://www.jonacuff.com/stuffchristianslike/2008/09/remix-53-saying-ill-pray-for-you-and-then-not/
 
4.) "Good, I'll continue to pray for you"

Here we have a nice combo that includes double trickery. Not only have you not been praying for this innocent bystander, but seeing as you haven't been, chances are pretty slim that you're suddenly going to start.


These are all wonderful Christian type things to say that make us feel all warm and fuzzy inside, but are we really being honest? Were we actually praying, or were we pulling the "God know everything that I'm thinking and wanting" card? Can you imagine what our world would be like if we actually prayed as much as we claim to?