How should we pray

[Guest man]

Where doesn't it state in Scripture that we are free to shout unto God,

You stated that it matters that we do both, pray out loud and in silence. If it matters, show me the verse.

In Luke 11:1, His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. He gave them, and us, the way in which we should pray. He never mentioned that it should loud or quiet, but if you look at Matthew 6:6, He says we are to pray in secret. Again, no mention as to whether it should be done in silence or out loud.

He does however, state that He doesn't want us out in public making a spectacle of ourselves and Him. I truly believe He turns a deaf ear to the words of the people who do that.

I love the way David spoke to AND WITH God---freely, in shouts of praise, with loud wails of despair, shouts of adoration, dancing for joy (using His body!),

Do you pray like that in public?

Jesus Himself spoke to His Father in private, but He spoke out loud as well, and in public, too.

There are reasons for the way Jesus conducted Himself. You ever notice that when things got serious, He went off by Himself and prayed.

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As long as one stays in obedience to the Word, it doesn't matter how one prays.

[ColleenLovesMischief]

There was also a story where a woman was assumed drunk because there was nothing coming out of her mouth.

[Floatingaxe]

You stated that it matters that we do both, pray out loud and in silence. If it matters, show me the verse.

In Luke 11:1, His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. He gave them, and us, the way in which we should pray. He never mentioned that it should loud or quiet, but if you look at Matthew 6:6, He says we are to pray in secret. Again, no mention as to whether it should be done in silence or out loud.

He does however, state that He doesn't want us out in public making a spectacle of ourselves and Him. I truly believe He turns a deaf ear to the words of the people who do that.

I said it matters that we pray in both ways to God--aloud and in silence. He loves to hear our voices lifted to Him. Why do you think He gave us voices?

I love the way David spoke to AND WITH God---freely, in shouts of praise, with loud wails of despair, shouts of adoration, dancing for joy (using His body!),

Do you pray like that in public?

Often, in concert with hundreds of other prayer warriors.

Jesus Himself spoke to His Father in private, but He spoke out loud as well, and in public, too.

There are reasons for the way Jesus conducted Himself. You ever notice that when things got serious, He went off by Himself and prayed.

-------------------------------------------------

As long as one stays in obedience to the Word, it doesn't matter how one prays.

Jesus talked to His Father in loud voice as recorded in Gethsemane. Loud travailing.

What matters is that one prays. Out loud or silent? It matters that we don't deny either. It matters.

[nebula]

Where doesn't it state in Scripture that we are free to shout unto God,

You stated that it matters that we do both, pray out loud and in silence. If it matters, show me the verse.

In Luke 11:1, His disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. He gave them, and us, the way in which we should pray. He never mentioned that it should loud or quiet, but if you look at Matthew 6:6, He says we are to pray in secret. Again, no mention as to whether it should be done in silence or out loud.

He does however, state that He doesn't want us out in public making a spectacle of ourselves and Him. I truly believe He turns a deaf ear to the words of the people who do that.

I love the way David spoke to AND WITH God---freely, in shouts of praise, with loud wails of despair, shouts of adoration, dancing for joy (using His body!),

Do you pray like that in public?

Jesus Himself spoke to His Father in private, but He spoke out loud as well, and in public, too.

There are reasons for the way Jesus conducted Himself. You ever notice that when things got serious, He went off by Himself and prayed.

-------------------------------------------------

As long as one stays in obedience to the Word, it doesn't matter how one prays.

Not understanding the fuss here.

Jesus prayed in public and out loud at Lazerus' grave, too.

But the question of the OP isn't about public vs private prayer. It is about whether you actually verbalize your prayers or think your prayers.

As far as making a public spectacle, though . . . check out the things the prophets in the OT did.

[Guest man]

Not understanding the fuss here.

I don't see a fuss.

But the question of the OP isn't about public vs private prayer. It is about whether you actually verbalize your prayers or think your prayers.

Exactly.

Floatingaxe said it mattered. She couldn't answer the poll because it mattered as to how we pray.

I don't think it does matter whether we pray out loud or in silence.......do you?

As long as we are obedient to the Word, it doesn't matter.

As far as making a public spectacle, though . . . check out the things the prophets in the OT did.

Matthew 6

5

[ParanoidAndroid]

What does it matter, as long as we are glorifying God? If we start acting as the Pharisees and hypocrites and start praying loudly on street corners in order to be seen and praised, then there is a problem. But it depends on where the heart is.

I think someone mentioned it earlier, but how many people tell others, "I'll pray for you"??? Once they say this, do they really pray for them? I get this image of people saying that they'll pray for them to appear either kind/compassionate, or to appear godly, but then when they go home they don't pray at all. Not saying that everyone's like this, but there are some, I'm sure. The thing about hypocrites is that most of the time they blend into the crowd so they appear as if they are doing the right thing.

So silent prayer, or prayer aloud, it matters not. Keep the focus on God and not on our own piety and it should be all good.

Thanks for the question,

~ PA

[Shachia]

NO. no, no There is no right way or wrong way to pray. I pray allday long for all. I pray for the person in line ups that are rude to servers, etc. I pray whie driving, I pray in the shower, I pray quietly, loudly, with tears running down my face. I pull over while driving. I pray ...well there is no right way or wrong way. Just not with the eyes closed while driving. Only rule I have. I like to talk and pray allday long to Him. Keep those lines open for our chats.

[Floatingaxe]

NO. no, no There is no right way or wrong way to pray. I pray allday long for all. I pray for the person in line ups that are rude to servers, etc. I pray whie driving, I pray in the shower, I pray quietly, loudly, with tears running down my face. I pull over while driving. I pray ...well there is no right way or wrong way. Just not with the eyes closed while driving. Only rule I have. I like to talk and pray allday long to Him. Keep those lines open for our chats.

AMEN! Exactly! I agree wholeheartedly. My only pause is that for us to say it doesn't matter, nonchalantly believing that God couldn't care less whether we use our voice or not to speak to Him is not right. It matters that we communicate with our God with every means at our disposal. Even in silence, listening for His voice is part of prayer, that two-way conversation we experience with Him that is so important. Shouts of adoration, calls of pleading, and singing in praise are all ways we communicate with Him. All are acceptable by Him, and all are recommended.

[Guest man]

I love the way David spoke to AND WITH God---freely, in shouts of praise, with loud wails of despair, shouts of adoration, dancing for joy (using His body!),

Do you pray like that in public?

Often, in concert with hundreds of other prayer warriors.

So you actually go out into the streets and do this?

[nebula]

Not understanding the fuss here.

I don't see a fuss.

I do.

But the question of the OP isn't about public vs private prayer. It is about whether you actually verbalize your prayers or think your prayers.

Exactly.

Floatingaxe said it mattered. She couldn't answer the poll because it mattered as to how we pray.

I don't think it does matter whether we pray out loud or in silence.......do you?

As long as we are obedient to the Word, it doesn't matter.

It depends on what one means by mattering.

Do I think it matters in the long run? Not really.

Do I think it matters in any particular situation? Sometimes it does matter if we vocalize the prayer, and sometimes it matters not to vocalize the prayer.

It all depends on the situation.

As far as making a public spectacle, though . . . check out the things the prophets in the OT did.

Matthew 6

5 “And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

7 And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

The key word to your quote there is "prophets". I don't see too many walking around these days.

You are missing the point of what Jesus spoke of.

He wasn't saying it is a sin to make a spectacle of yourself in prayer - only if you are doing so to seek attention and win brownie points from others.

After all, like I mentioned, Jesus made a "spectacle prayer" outside of Lazerus' tomb!

Now if Jesus could make Himself vulnerable like that, why can't we?