Praying Technology

I actually wrote this post a while ago but in the last few weeks so many tragedies have struck, from the natural disasters to the massacre at Las Vegas. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people affected and their loved ones. Sometimes it's hard though to feel like you're praying with someone who's far away. That's why this post seems fitting for today.


Prayer. It’s an amazing gift. To be able to approach with boldness the throne of the one and only God and present our requests to Him. Not because of anything we’ve done but of the sacrifice of Jesus.

But Jesus doesn’t just leave it there. He goes a step further and says in Matthew 18:20 “Where two or three gather in my name, there I am with them.” I’ve always taken great comfort in this verse and, though I recognizing that prayer can be an intensely personal task, I know there’s something truly special when believers come together to pray because Jesus is there too.

However distance can make this a problem.

How do you pray with someone when you’re in Texas and they’re in Asia? Welcome to the wonders of modern technology.

You can pray over a text message.

Lord, please be with my friend today. You know that she’s not feeling well and I just lift her up to you, asking you to bless her and give her a great day today.

You can pray over email in much the same format and even make it longer or maybe add on to what you would’ve sent over text.

Please help her to feel better soon so that she can accomplish the things that need to get done but also help her to get some rest so her body can heal.

Praying over the phone I find particularly helpful because then I can hear the other person’s response and they can pray alongside me.

Thank you Lord, for this friend who prays for me.

There’s lots of apps that uses audio messages or where you can broadcast videos and either of those are avenues that you can use to pray with or for someone.

Typically I keep my general prayers, like prayers for the nation, or prayers that are likely to upset people, private. However when I want to pray for someone while I’m talking to them but I can’t see them in person this is a great method that can be used. I know it’s not literally the same thing as gathering together but there’s still something powerful about praying with someone even from a distance.

Just something to think about next time distance keeps you away from those you care about and pray for.