Is praying his code word?

Context: "The reason he's going to behave himself is not because I have to write a letter, but I'm praying, I'm praying in my secret time." —Hank Kunneman bragging that he's been using prayer to "restrain the power of evil" that Omaha, Nebraska's Democratic mayor John Ewing, Jr. would otherwise do

Is "praying" his code word for "masturbating" —?

Because that's what men usually do during their "secret time".