How To Pray For The Media

The term “media” refers to the many different means of mass communications used to communicate to a vast audience. In this modern age, some of the media that we commonly know are televisions, radios, newspapers, and the internet. All of these means of communicating are collectively known as “media”. Media is powerful; it not only reaches a vast audience, but it can also influence people. The entertainment shown through the media also has serious influence. Take a TV show, for example. Sometimes, if we see something that we like in that TV show, like an actor’s clothes or even a haircut, we begin to want to emulate that. Media is a double-edged sword. It is undoubtedly a handy tool for good and just causes. We can use it to help bring awareness to people regarding specific problems that we have to address. You can also use it to efficiently convey information that would help people know what to do in times of emergency. Of course, you can also use it to reach out to the lost and use it for the advancement of God’s kingdom. However, people can also use the media for evil purposes. People can use it for propaganda to spread lies and disinformation; worldliness also gets promoted through the content that people consume from the media. That is why we have to pray for the media because they are one of the key sectors in society that significantly influences the people. It is similar to praying for our nation’s leaders. We pray for our leaders because we know that they have a significant impact and influence on our country. It is the same with praying for the media. The Bible tells us to make prayers and supplications to all people, including those involved in the realm of media.

1 Timothy 2:1

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

How do you pray for the media?

To know what you ought to pray for the media, you must first know about issues regarding the media and address those issues in your prayer. One of the common issues known about the media is that sometimes they don’t care about the truth. That is mostly regarding news outlets, radio stations, and newspapers that bring news and information to the public. Greed and self-interest sometimes prevail over the truth. They will augment whatever the truth is as long as it serves their interests. The reason why they distort the truth varies. Sometimes it is so that they can get higher ratings, and sometimes it is because propaganda is being spread. Whatever their reason for distorting the truth, it does not change the fact that we should pray for them to care more about the truth than themselves. You should always include that when praying for the media sector.

Proverbs 13:5

A righteous man hateth lying: but a wicked man is loathsome, and cometh to shame.

Proverbs 19:9

A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.

Father in heaven, You are the God who does not delight in lies, but in the truth. I pray for the media in our country, especially those companies who have significant influence over the public with the news they broadcast. I pray that they never distort the truth for their gain or benefit. Instead, they shall be ethical in their work and continuously broadcast or publish the truth. I pray that our news outlets, radio stations, newspapers, and other media outlets shall never circulate lies, but only the truth. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As mentioned, media is not just about the news. It is a collective means of communicating with people. Some things being communicated to people using the media are commercials, where companies promote their products, while others are entertainment. Entertainment uses the media to broadcast its shows, movies, and other content to the people. These shows, movies, and other content greatly influence the audience. Sadly, what most of these shows, movies, and other contents demonstrate is evil in the sight of God. Just take a look at most romantic shows and movies out there; most of them show sex before marriage. Other sinful things are displayed in these shows and films like drugs, homosexuality, adultery, violence, and so much more. Watch a music video of any famous secular singer, and you will almost certainly find some of those things. Sins are not even portrayed as taboo in shows and movies, but as a norm in society. That is why we have to pray for the content being broadcasted or communicated by the media. It has a significant impact on people, but it is not positive. One of the negative impacts is how it influences children into experimenting with ungodly things. Given this, there are several things you can pray for concerning the entertainment shown in the media. 

You can pray for God’s grace upon the producers, directors, and anyone else involved in the making of shows, movies, or any content, that they shall not promote or put ungodly things into the entertainment they produce. A good show, movie, or piece of content does not have to promote themes of sex, drugs, adultery, homosexuality, and other sins to be a great show. There are many shows and movies out there that do not have those, but are outstanding pieces of entertainment. Another thing you can pray for is grace for the shows, movies, and other content they produce to never be allowed to be politicized. There are many cartoons where characters are homosexuals, and children watch these shows. That is one example of a show being politicized with gender ideologies. Shows, movies, and content meant for entertainment are somehow being used for politics, and the ideologies they promote are evil in the sight of God.

Psalm 5:4

For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Ephesians 5:11

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Heavenly Father, you are a holy God who does not delight in evil. I pray that You will give grace towards producers, directors, writers, and people involved in the making of shows, movies, and other content for entertainment that they shall always be moral in the works they produce. I pray that they shall make good shows and movies without including anything sinful. I also pray that they will not use entertainment to promote evil ideologies in your sight. Be gracious to them, Father, and do not let evil take hold of them. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The most important prayer we can offer the media is for the people working there to get to know Jesus and for the Gospel to propagate there. When they get to know Him, believe who He is, understand His work on the cross, and repent from their life of sin, they will only desire and strive to always share the truth in the news and information that they communicate. It is also where directors, producers, writers, and other people involved in making shows, movies, and content can ban ungodly things from being included in their shows and films. Instead, they should portray values or virtues that are godly. All these things are rooted in the desire to obey God and delight in the fear of the LORD, which only happens when people’s hearts get changed by the Holy Spirit as they hear the Gospel. 

Romans 6:6

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

1 John 3:9

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Holy Spirit, You are the One who leads us into the truth and changes hearts. I pray for all the employees and executives in the media sector to get to hear the Gospel, believe in the person and work of Christ, and repent from their sinful lives. Soften their hardened hearts and open their spiritual eyes. I pray that their faith will be evident in their work by being the salt and light in the media sector and ridding it of lies and the ungodly things shown in TV shows, movies, and other content. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

For the Gospel to propagate in the media sector and for employees and executives to hear the Gospel, Christians working in the media sector should rise and be bold enough to preach the Gospel to their workmates. Indeed, anyone outside the media sector can preach the Gospel to the people working there. However, Christians already in that sector are more effective and efficient in reaching out to the lost within the media sector. Therefore, we must pray for Christians in the media sector to be the salt and light and be bold in preaching the Gospel. They will do everything in their power to keep evil from abounding in the media, such as making sure the news and the information being communicated are truthful, or making sure that no ungodly things are included if they are in the entertainment.

Matthew 5:13-16

13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Romans 1:16

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Holy Spirit, You empower us as we witness Christ to the world. I pray for the Christians working in the media sector that they shall rise and expand God’s kingdom in that sector. I pray that they shall always be the salt and light where you have placed them and that they shall point people towards the real light of the world, which is Christ, and preserve that which is good. Give them the boldness and courage to preach Christ to the lost and never be ashamed of it. Give them also the grace to not only preach the Gospel, but also for it to be evident in the way they live their lives. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Praying for the media is a means of praying for one of the strategic sectors in society. In the end, what we ultimately pray for in the media sector is the propagation of the Gospel, in which Christians working in that sector should obey the mandate to make disciples. If they know the truth, which is Christ, they will eliminate the ungodly things present in the media sector.