Many people today communicate more easily and frequently by text messaging than calling or emailing. My son, for example, who is hard to reach by phone most days, will respond fairly quickly to a text. And a pastor friend of mine recently upbraided me for actually calling him on the phone. “Who actually uses the phone for talking anymore?” he said.
If you’re one of those people who texts often and well (or even sometimes exchanges book-length messages with friends), you might want to consider trying a new prayer technique: texting your prayers.
I sent my first text prayer in June 2009. Seriously. I added “God” to my contact list in my phone and assigned Him my own phone number. That first text said, “Forgive us our messes, as we forgive those who mess with us.”
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My most recent text, earlier today, said, “Save me from stupidity. Mine and others’.” I don’t do all (or even most) of my praying on my phone, but I have found that texting my prayers has several beneficial effects:
1) It “de-formalizes” the conversation.
Texting my prayers helps me to approach God naturally and conversationally.
2) It helps me get straight to the point.
My texted prayers are never verbose or rambling.
3) It reminds me that God is immanent.
That’s just a fancy word for “right here.” He is not distant or hard to reach.
4) It helps me to pray at times when other ways of praying may be difficult.
Like in a business meeting or while waiting in line at the bank or in the airport.
5) It “catalogs” my prayer texts.
I can scroll back to see what I have prayed. And, while God hasn’t yet texted me back, I have often experienced answers to those texted prayers, which prompts new prayers of thanks and praise!
I realize texting is not for everyone, but for many—particularly those people whose smart phones have become an appendage—texting prayers can become a new and helpful way to pray.
