Does Prayer Have To Be Out Loud Or Silent? Find Out Here.
Prayer is so important in the life of a Christian. It is during those times of fellowship that spiritual growth occurs and our relationship with God grows.
The question many ask is should prayer be out loud or silent?
The Bible says that God knows our thoughts even before we have thought them. Since that is the case, He can hear what we think.
Therefore it makes the argument that prayer can certainly be done silently. There is absolutely nothing wrong with praying in silence as long as our heart motives are correct.
Sometimes there are circumstances that do not allow for an audible prayer. Perhaps you're on the subway and you see someone who looks like they could use some prayer. Praying silently might be the best option in that specific moment.
Praying out loud is of course the other option when we pray. Jesus instructs us to go to our closet and pray in private.
What I believe He means is go to a place where we won't be distracted and we can pray with the right intent in our heart.
A place where we can praise and worship God.
Wherever that place may be, praying silently or out loud is up to us.
More times than not, most people pray out loud. There is a certain connection that comes from using our voice to speak to the Lord.
Using our words forces us to finish our thoughts and make our points as we fellowship in prayer.
Truthfully, whether we are praying silently or out loud, it's important to train ourselves to remain engaged and focused.
It's important to note that prayer is a two-way conversation so we should not be doing all the talking.
We should stop praying from time to time and allow God to show and teach us things. He wants us to have a fruitful life.
We should also read His Word and allow Him to lead us to and through scripture that is applicable to the things on our heart and on His.
It is likely that most of our prayers will be out loud. It's hard to keep silent when we want to lift our voice to praise and worship Him for His goodness.
Not to mention that life can get emotional and, more times than not, we will want to be vocal as we speak to Him about the situations we are in.
All in all, God is always listening to our prayers. He cares and He will watch over His Word to perform it in our life.
We should always allow Jesus to be our example of how to pray. Throughout scripture we see how intimate prayer to God was for Him.
Prayer was an important daily thing for Jesus. It was what He longed for every day. He is the one we should look to when it comes to how to pray.
Praying to God, whether silently or out loud, is up to us. We need to make it a priority and put our whole heart into it.
It's up to us.
When we pray in faith God hears us and it is through prayer that He will complete what He started in you.
Is it OK to pray in silence?
Yes, it is certainly okay to pray in silence. If prayer was always to be done out loud then God would speak to us audibly all the time. However, more times than not, He speaks softly within our hearts. Silent prayer can be just as powerful as audible prayer.
Can God hear my prayers?
The Bible says that God is able to hear faithful prayer. It's important that the prayer is genuine and the motive is correct. We have scripture that promises that He hears our prayers so we can put our faith on that. If we pray according to His will, He hears us every time, whether we speak out loud or silently.
Do prayers have to be vocal?
No, you do not need to speak out loud when you pray. Most people do pray out loud but, there are situations where that is not an option. Prayer is about your heart and what matters most is believing that God hears your prayers, even if you are praying within your heart. And for those who say you must pray out loud, they have to confront the question of why Jesus said that if a man has thought of a woman in his heart he has committed adultery. What goes on inside of us is important.
What does the Bible say about praying out loud?
1 Samuel 1:13 - Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
John 14:13-14 - And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 Corinthians 14:17 - For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.
Matthew 6:5-6 - And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
1 Corinthians 14:16 - Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?
Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Matthew 6:5 - And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Mark 11:22-25 - And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
1 Corinthians 14:14 - For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.
Psalms 142:1 - (Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.) I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication.
Luke 18:1 - And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
John 15:7 - If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
James 5:13 - Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
Mark 1:35 - And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Mark 11:25 - And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Romans 10:9 - That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 - Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Can you pray in your mind?
Yes, it possible to pray within your mind. You can pray in your thoughts for anyone or about anything. Prayer is powerful and it can be done even when we do not speak out loud.
Can God hear thoughts?
Yes, God can hear what you are thinking. The Bible says that He knows your thoughts before you have even thought them. Scripture even reveals that He knows what you will say and do before you've done it.