How should we pray

[ayin jade]

[nebula]

Would you please tell me just what it is you have against audible prayer??????

Nothing. I have nothing against praying out loud.

I just believe there's a place and a time for it, and out the middle of a crowd isn't one of them.

But as for what I said, you are are grossly misinterpreting what I am saying.

What's to misinterpret?

You said sometimes it matters, sometimes it doesn't.

I just simply asked, when does it matter?

I gave an example.

Did you not read it?

Consider this, if you are somewhere out in public, and you come across a need to pray, which is riskier - to pray to yourself or to pray out loud? Sure, I would much rather pray quietly in my head so no one notices me. But if I pray out loud, someone might notice my praying and mock me - or expect a result to happen, and if the result doesn't happen I make myself vulnerable to criticism or more mocking.

It's not only you that gets mocked and critisized.

Think about it.

Ah . . . so I should chose fear over faith?

[irishcowboy]

when I pray out loud, i feel more confident in my words, I am claiming my words, silently, i can almost dismiss my words with out a second thought... but out loud, they are spoken and can not be retrieved....

in all we speak, we need to be very mindful of our words, for when we speak them they are gone and can not be gathered up, or amended, they can come back to haunt us though....

praying out loud, just like studying, we speak, and hear our prayers, not just speaking them..... if we have a prayer journal, we also write and see them... we use 4 senses to pray using a prayer journal..... two senses if we speak them out loud, one if we are praying silently......

just something to think about

mike

[Floatingaxe]

When we speak out loud we speak to the powers of the air. We have authority in Christ over them. silent prayers the devil doesn't hear.

I don't pray to the devil. I don't need the devil to hear me.

If you believe the only way to defeat the devil is through audible prayer, you need to study the Word.

It is not us who has power over satan. It is the Spirit of God working through us. We are nothing without that Spirit.

I don't PRAY to the devil either, but he had better hear me when I talk to him and tell him to move, because I speak to him and his agents with the authority of Christ.

We must stand our ground and move his forces back as any army would do. We are soldiers in a battle, remember.

You won't have any power in Christ over Satan if you don't use what is given you.

[Floatingaxe]

when I pray out loud, i feel more confident in my words, I am claiming my words, silently, i can almost dismiss my words with out a second thought... but out loud, they are spoken and can not be retrieved....

in all we speak, we need to be very mindful of our words, for when we speak them they are gone and can not be gathered up, or amended, they can come back to haunt us though....

praying out loud, just like studying, we speak, and hear our prayers, not just speaking them..... if we have a prayer journal, we also write and see them... we use 4 senses to pray using a prayer journal..... two senses if we speak them out loud, one if we are praying silently......

just something to think about

mike

[nebula]

2. When a friend asks you to pray together with her over her need. When your leader asks you to pray for a need of the group in the group setting. When the family asks you to pray the blessing over the meal in the restaurant you are eating at. When you meet a person and they express a need, you ask if you can pray for him then and there, and he says yes. When the entire group is praying over many needs openly in symphony.

Can these prayers not be silent?

What's the difference between an audible prayer and a silent one?

How can someone agree in prayer with you if you are praying silently?

[nebula]

I do pray out loud.

I just don't it around other people.

This is why.

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.

8 Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

I have nothing against audible prayer.

But when people say there is a time when it is "required" and that it does "matter", I want to know where in the Word it says that.

If it's required and it matters, show me.

That's all I asked. It's not that hard of a question.

Man -

There is a difference between someone who just happens to be in a crowd when he prays audibly and that of someone who seeks to show off his spirituality by praying in front of others.

Jesus was speaking against the latter, not the former.

Jesus commended those who are not ashamed of Him before others and rebuked those who were ashamed of Him before others.

Are you ashamed of your relationship with Him in the presence of other people? Do you hide your light? Do you refuse to glorify the Lord audibly among those that do not know Him?

Ps 35:18 - I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.

Ps 108:3 - I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

[Guest HIS girl]

Man, I don't know if you have heard it this way, but I have...the "room/closet" Jesus is talking about CAN also be interpereted as being in your own private "space", centred on Him and that could be while you are in the midst of a crowd...like being in the "zone" with Jesus/God with your prayer/petition.

That's just another angle to look at. : )

[Guest man]

Yup, I agree.

[ColleenLovesMischief]