Using Prayer View mode — a MyPrayers tutorial for iPad

Using Prayer View mode

The third and final tutorial on how to use MyPrayers on an iPad

Coming before the Father is not to be done lightly. Scripture makes it very clear that we are to approach Him in reverence, without rash, longwinded, showy, or vain repetitious prayers (Ecclesiastes 5:2; Matthew 6:5–11). This is why preparing our heart and mind is so much a part of the MyPrayers process. In our previous tutorials we have been through that process. Now we come to how MyPrayers can be a help in our prayers.

Prayers should be from the heart, not an app. Prayers should not be by rote and heartless, which the use of an app could become. However, it isn’t an app or any tool that makes our prayers lifeless; it’s a problem of our minds. That’s why, in the design of MyPrayers one of it’s major functions is the preparation process. However, it can still be a useful tool during our prayers as a prompt.

What we hope to cover

While we have a few functions that we wish to demonstrate that will help you use MyPrayers in Prayer mode, our main purpose will be to give you a few tips on how it can be used in a way that supports you in your prayers.

If you have been going through our previous tutorial on Prayer Review mode, you will have been introduced to the Summary screen with its big blue Start Prayer button. This is the access to the Prayer mode. 

But, before we tap on that button, let’s look at a few things that will help.

First, we have a summary of all that we have selected during our Prayer Review process. That helps us get in mind the order and matters we wish to talk with God about.

But there are a couple of other things we should look at before we proceed.

Light and Dark modes

Just above the summary of our selected Categories, Items, and Notes is the Light and Dark mode buttons. 

By default, the mode is set to Light, so, you have already experienced what Light mode is. Let’s try the Dark mode:

It’s a matter of what you prefer. 

You may set Light mode for daytime prayers, and Dark for evening prayers. Once you set either Dark or Light mode for a particular Prayer, whenever you come to the Summary page and subsequent Prayer-mode pages, they will always appear in that mode. So, what this means is, you could set your prayers like this:

• Morning prayer: Light mode
• Midday Prayer: Light mode
• Evening Prayer: Dark mode

Printout of your Prayer

Another feature is that you may like to use is the Print function.

You may be used to using a paper-based system for putting your prayers together and find it difficult to use a mobile or tablet. This feature, then, is for you!

If you haven’t used a printer function on an iPhone before

If you haven’t used the iPhone printer function before, the example you may like to follow Apple’s own tutorial on how to do this.

If you have used and set up a printer on your iPhone

Tap on the Share icon at the top right of your screen.

Scroll down until you see Print

Tap on Print

Set up the number of copies, and other options required.

Then tap on Print (top right), and voila!

If you would like to use your iPhone for your prayer, just tap on the Start Prayer button on the Summary page.

Oh! Just a quick tip: If you are using MyPrayers on an iPad for your prayers, you may like to do two important things before you hit the Start Prayer button:

• Turn your sound off so you are not interrupted by noisy alerts in the middle of your prayer
• Turn your phone onto airplane mode so you aren’t interrupted during prayer time.

If you are one of those people that have set up multiple alerts for all sorts of reasons, or allowed websites and services to send you push notifications, then you may like to consider two options:

• Ensure that any alerts that are set for certain times don’t clash with your prayer times
• Turn off or unsubscribe to any alerts you now consider unnecessary. Life is too full of interruptions as it is, let alone during your precious time with God.

Page layout

So you tap on Start Prayer, and you will see a familiar page. First up is what you designated first (in my case, Praise), with all it’s Items and Notes. 

What you have is a nice and clean prompt list that’s readable at a glance. While your Notes may be many and, if necessary, detailed, your iPad can become a non-intrusive prompt. If you have done a good job of preparing your mind and thoughts in the Prayer Review process, you may need to look infrequently at the screen. It’s only there if you need it. Your main priority is being conscious of the Holy One into whose presence you are privileged to come.

 But, there are a few practical things we should consider. Even these practical things have been designed with non-distracting ease-of-use in mind.

Navigation

If your page has many Items that go below the bottom of the “window”, you simply swipe up (or down) to scroll the page.

You have an indicator (bottom left) of what page you are on and  how many pages you have to go.

You can cancel the process by tapping on Cancel (top left) on any page. 

But, how do you move on to the next page? There is no Next at the top right like we had in the Prayer Review mode.

You swipe from right to left. Try it.

This means that you can move on or even go back should you need. This is by design. You’re not looking for a Next link, you simply swipe across, allowing you to concentrate on what you are saying, not on functions.

Concluding your prayer

When you have come to the last page and concluded your prayer, tap on Conclude (top right).

It is important that you do this before you close out of MyPrayers, as it tells MyPrayers to move on to the next group of Items in any Categegory you have set to Consecutive Order Type for the next time you pray.

It also automatically brings you to the Home page ready for your next prayer.

So this concludes this tutorial on How to use MyPrayers in Prayer mode. It also concludes our series of tutorials on setting up and using MyPrayers on an iPhone. 

We hope that this tutorial has been helpful.

Feedback

If there is anything in the tutorials that was confusing or incorrect, then, please let us know.