Answer hub

Christian app blocker

A small morning rule for the phone: before the scroll, Scripture.

Direct answer

Prayer First is a Christian app blocker that holds distracting apps during your active lock rule until you open a Bible app, complete a physical Bible timer, or write a short journal line. Android has the firmest blocking path, and iOS follows Apple's Screen Time APIs.

How it works

Pick the apps, then put Scripture first.

Choose the feed

Select Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Facebook, Snapchat, Threads, or any other app you want held during your morning window.

Reach as usual

When a chosen app opens during the lock window, Prayer First shows its shield instead of dropping you straight into the feed.

Open the gate

Spend time in a supported Bible app, use the physical Bible timer, or write a short journal line. Then the gate opens for the day.

Who it is for

For Christians who want a quieter first reach.

Prayer First is for people who already use a Bible app, a physical Bible, or a simple journal practice, but keep losing the first minutes of the day to feeds. It is meant for self-directed attention and habit formation, not for monitoring someone else.

It can fit morning routines, Lent experiments, small groups, or personal rules like "no social apps before prayer." The product language stays gentle because the goal is ordered attention, not shame.

Limitations

A gate, not an impossible lock.

Prayer First can be bypassed. You can turn off permissions, change the app list, shorten the lock window, or uninstall the app. Some Android devices require extra settings for reliable shielding, and iOS behavior is shaped by Apple's Screen Time APIs and entitlement approval.

Prayer First is not a medical device, addiction-treatment service, counseling product, or replacement for spiritual direction. It is a personal tool for making Scripture the easier morning reach.

Privacy & trust

Local first, with platform permissions explained plainly.

On device

Journal entries, photos, the lock rule, selected app list, and unlock decisions are designed to stay on the phone during normal use. Optional Power Pack requests send only selected text or photos after consent.

Android

Android uses Accessibility Service and Usage Access to detect a chosen foreground app and show the Prayer First shield. It does not read screen content or capture keystrokes.

iOS

iOS uses Apple's Screen Time path. Opaque Screen Time tokens stay on device; the public iOS release depends on Apple's entitlement approval.

See the full privacy policy and terms for the complete wording.

FAQ

Common questions.

Is Prayer First another Bible app?

No. Prayer First sends you to your Bible app, a physical Bible timer, or a short journal line. It is the gate before the feed, not a replacement Bible.

Which apps can it block?

On Android, Prayer First is designed to hold ordinary apps you choose, including social feeds and video apps. The app list is yours to configure.

How do payments work?

Purchases happen through Google Play or the App Store when in-app purchase is available for your platform. The website is for launch updates, not checkout.

Is it available now?

Android has a published Google Play path. iOS has a published App Store path and follows Apple's Screen Time APIs, with full public behavior still shaped by entitlement approval.

Last updated

June 1, 2026.

Author/founder: Prayer First is built by BeforeScroll Studio, the independent studio of Brian Tan. Contact: radiansnail@gmail.com.

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