the desire to rant (on facebook)

I have recently become more aware of my strange desire to rant (on facebook) about meaningless things.  It is really complaining, camouflaged in the guise that if others 'like' it, I am justified in my position.  Or it is judging, condemning, and ungracious.

What do I hope to achieve by posturing my negativity?  validation? (others like it, agree with me)  YES! I am right, correct, upheld!

Does that ever really make a problem better?  If I'm facing something that needs to be resolved, with a friend or family member, does it end our disagreement?

Does calling a third party to ask if I'm right help?

Oh my, isn't it funny how silly that sounds when postulated as a process of resolution?

I would like to propose an alternative: prayer.

Prayers, offered up to the Lord, of the concerns of my heart.  The heart break, the grievances, the injustices.  The big & the small.  What feels ridiculous, always is best taken to the Lord, before anyone else.

Next? then the injured/offending party (or) a trusted counselor.

Sometimes, the mental replay of small offenses make them feel BIG and important, when really, it isn't. I am so grateful for clarity & peace from prayer.

Even when it feels so hard to pray about some things.  I try to just blurt it out loud.  unpretentious.  unrehearsed.  ugly, but honest.

My Lord hears me & I can walk through.  Freed from the mental repeat in leaning on him.  Will I have to do it again tomorrow, or the next day?   yes.   But I will pick up my manna daily.  Fed by the mystery.  emptied & filled all at once.

Thank you Lord for helping me control my tongue.  (not that I have mastered this- I fail more often than succeed)  Thank you Lord for hearing me- in anything.  Even the simple, stupid things that just bug the heck out of me.  Thank you for taking the weight, making my mind light, even without me noticing right away.

Also?  Lord please help me speak words that encourage, bring life, build up, point to you.  online.  to my kids.  to my husband.  to my family.  to my friends.  to my neighbors.  to strangers.  Season with salt these words, let more of my words bring salt & light.  Thank you Lord, amen.

***In addition: I love how the Lord aligns the sermon at church on Sunday mornings, with things that he is working out in my own heart.  Our worship leader & pastor, Brian Wages gave a sermon (7/6/14) that you can find here, based out of Romans 12, but applied as a 'how to' conduct yourself online.  He used the idea, that you can apply the principles of how to conduct yourself as a Christian person in life, the same as you would online.  He also touched on the things that we feel so 'offended' by & what reminded me of my own desires to rant!  Check it out, and be encouraged.  or Read through Romans 12, and add (on facebook) to the end of Paul's exhortations to us on our behavior.

My personal favorites:

"Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world (on facebook), but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think."  

Romans 12:2 NLT

"Don't think you are better than you really are (on facebook).  Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves..." 

Romans 12:3 NLT

"Don't pretend to love others (on facebook).  Really love them."

Romans 12:9 NLT

"Bless those who persecute you.  Don't curse them (on facebook); pray that God will bless them."  Romans 12:14 NLT

"...and don't think you know it all! (on facebook)"

Romans 12:16 NLT