Are Internet Prayers Effective?
Prayer Requests, Prayer Chains, Pausing for Prayer, Sending Prayers - How Often Do You Really Mean It?
I see prayer requests regularly in email, on Facebook, various forums I participate in, and I'm sure many of you experience the same. I'm usually quick to respond with a 'prayers sent, pausing for prayer, sending prayers your way' or something similar. But have I done so? Were my words empty? Did I tap out the words in a few seconds without thought, or worse, without prayer?
Guilty.
I know there have been times where I've seen a prayer request and fired off a response to acknowledge it, but haven't actually fulfilled my obligation to pray at that moment. I said I was praying, didn't I? Isn't that enough?
No.
Then why do we do it?
The fast pace of the internet dictates that we respond to things immediately or they will be lost as soon as the page is refreshed. My friends on Facebook update so frequently that it sometimes takes only minutes to have a post get pushed to the next page. I get emails from family, friends, and many varied activities and if I didn't respond to something when I first saw it on the screen, it would likely be forgotten the moment I opened a new email.
Is that how something as intimate as prayer should be treated?
I won't be so bold as to tell you how you should pray, because we each talk to God in our own way. Some people prefer the prayers they learned as a child, some converse with God like they would a friend.
So how can we work past sending words without meaning? It can be tackled in two ways. First, you could pause at that very moment to pray, then mean it when you send the response that you've done so. Second, you could jot it down and pray for that request at a later time when you are more focused.
If you're reading about a prayer request while at your computer, it is easy enough to open Word, Notepad, or some other word processing program and tap a few keys to make note of the prayer request. If you write in a journal or notebook, keep it nearby and pen it in. A slip of paper used as a bookmark in your Bible might be a good choice, handy also to jot down prayer chains learned of during worship or other church activities.
Just as there are many ways to keep track, there are as many effective times for prayer. You might set aside time each day for devotionals, or you may be less rigid and commune with God whenever the thought strikes you. I enjoy crocheting and find it very relaxing; for me that's the perfect time to have a chat with God. For you it might be while sipping your first coffee as the sun comes up, before the hustle and bustle of the day starts.
It doesn't matter how or when or where you pray. It matters that you do.
Published by Marie Anne St. Jean - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
A Top 1000 Content Producer for the last three years, Marie Anne is a retired U.S. Marine MSgt whose weapons of choice are now crochet hook and pen. When not writing for Yahoo! sites such as YCN! Voice... View profile
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36 Comments
Post a CommentBeautiful piece, Marie! I try to always pray immediately and then follow-up if I pledge to, in any form. It's the heart that matters more to God than the media. Glad I found your content!
I'm always amazed by the power of prayers but, I know it's something that works.
Much much pause for thought here. What I do is this - I add people's names (with their permission) to my holy altar and then each month, with the full moon, I do a healing altar for them. That way, when I say I'll pray, I mean it. Just my way, not that everyone would/could/should do it.
Great article. I find myself saying a few quick words of prayer instantly and then focusing a more detailed conversation with God during my prayer time at the end of the day. Thank you for making us more aware of what the power of even a simple prayer can do.
Nice article, Marie. I found that when I intended to do it later, I often forgot. So now I do it immediately - sometimes even before I hit enter on my keyboard. If it is something that I feel a special burden for, I may *also* write it down to spend more time later - but I at least give it some prayerful attention immediately.
Good article Marie! I take prayer seriously, even in cyberspace- so I lift a prayer when a friend asks for them online. It doesn't take but a minute or two to pray for someone in need. Often I also add them to my daily prayers if I feel there is a need such as a grieving friend online.
I do like Sheryl - online if someone has a prayer request I lift a prayer right then, I also keep a prayer journal but have a note pad document on my desktop 'Prayers' - I copy paste the request into that then review before logging off for the night. As I hear 'answers' to the prayers I say a quick thank you to Jesus for the answered prayer then take it off the list. I am thinking of changing this and keeping those so I can look back and see all the 'answered prayers'. I do think internet prayers work like any other prayers, have seen them answered many times over the years. We just need to pray when we say we are going to :)
Really enjoyed this article-can't believe I haven't read any of your articles since I've seen you in the forum so much. I really needed the reminder-Love Linda's suggestion that we type out our intercession so it's like the we are right their with the person & praying for them and although I sometimes do that and/or your suggestion to lifet a prayer right then-I also like the addl idea you suggested-that we use a notebook or word doc-made me realize-why not pray now & later as well (I completely understand you aren't talking about the chain things that say something bad will happen if we don't.....or something wonderful will happen if we send this to x # of friends)
Praying at that very moment, whether someone asks for prayer on the Internet or in person, is a much better solution than just saying "I will" - great reminder.
God hears all of our Pryaers, short or long and I believe We can all Pray for a minute at our computers for someone!
Great article and Thanks! Makes us all aware that We need to do better! :)