- Dec 26, 2007
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I knew one older lady who prayed aloud in King James English. True story.
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I've never prayed in public, but I have the opposite problem when it comes to praying.
When I pray silently, I find myself very easily distracted and at a loss for words. But when I pray out loud, I find it much easier to focus, and the words come easier.
I've always had this strange problem whenever it comes to prayer. When it comes to silent prayer, I can go on and on and have no issues what's expressing on my heart to say. It comes natural to me to pray silently, even around other groups of people. However, when it comes to praying out loud and specifically leading people in prayer, I can't ever think of what to say, even when I get prayer requests it's still a struggle. I would just kind of stumble through the prayer until I hit everything on the list. I was always told "The more you do it, the better you get at it", but I lead prayers weekly for a year as my fraternity's chaplain and it still didn't get better. It's not an issue with public speaking, I'm in front of a classroom of students talking every day at work.
I just don't know what it is, I always avoid try to avoid leading prayers and praying out loud because of this. I see other these other Christians, in fact, it seems like every other Christian I know has no problem praying their heart out loud, but I just can't seem able to do so. Does anyone else have or had this problem? What helped?
I believe we ALL got that problem PTI actually have to pray out loud most of the time in order to focus well. When I pray silently my mind goes squirrelly, like, "Dear Lord, please watch over us and keep us safe and..... I really need to get the grass cut... i wonder why she said that yesterday... help us to hear your guidance and.... oh that's a pretty bird... i should see how Laura is doing.... "....
You see my problem
Having a structure in group prayer helps such as (here)- Padre Pios novena.
(leaving out a few of the bits that might upset protestants! -choose your request.
Write one or two headings on a piece of paper.
Agreed, this is why I think it is so awkward for many or why so many don't seem to feel God the same as in privacy. I think worship is great as a group and public, but prayer is supposed to be private and individualized.
I recommend making a habit of praying aloud more.
This would be a problem "IF" I was trying to make prayer "pretty" and sound good to others. That is what would cause me discomfort. But therein is the problem that: are you wanting it to sound good? and be powerful "sounding" as to please another man or woman?
Do you have difficulty reciting the Lord's prayer out loud? If not, try paraphrasing it.
In a rather inverted situation: A local church that was experiencing a revival and coming out of a rather synchretistic background asked me to come and help them. At the first meeting I attended I was blown away when the 'pastor' asked everyone to stand for prayer together. Everybody (over 100 men and women) started praying out loud at the same time! I couldn't concentrate to pray myself I was so disoriented
I'm sure you are not alone. I often think that the same thing will happen to me, although it rarely does. What I hope not to do is come forth with that kind of rambling, colloquial prayer that you hear so many laypeople give at invocations or the like--"We come here today, Father, thanking you Father, for keeping Joe and Mary safe on the road. And we ask you Father to make it rain tomorrow, Father, something something in Jesus name."I just don't know what it is, I always avoid try to avoid leading prayers and praying out loud because of this. I see other these other Christians, in fact, it seems like every other Christian I know has no problem praying their heart out loud, but I just can't seem able to do so. Does anyone else have or had this problem? What helped?
I find it beneficial to pray out loud, and here's why: we have no indication that Satan and the other demons can read our thoughts. So I pray aloud so that they can hear my prayers for mercy as I call upon the Holy Name of the Christ, invoke the most Blessed Trinity, and pray as Christ has taught us ("Our Father who art in heaven...").
I'd agree it is harder to pray out loud. I think partly that's our sinful flesh not wanting to confess Christ when others may hear us, but I think it could be attacks from the demons trying to prevent you from prayer (going along with the idea that they are not mindreaders).
Just my $0.02
Waw, I like the first bit you said about praying out loud so that evil can hear you calling on Our Lord.
Does someone really think my post was funny? It wasn't meant to be!
It struck a cord with me! Why not pray out loud? Or, not just in ones thoughts.
I've always had this strange problem whenever it comes to prayer. When it comes to silent prayer, I can go on and on and have no issues what's expressing on my heart to say. It comes natural to me to pray silently, even around other groups of people. However, when it comes to praying out loud and specifically leading people in prayer, I can't ever think of what to say, even when I get prayer requests it's still a struggle. I would just kind of stumble through the prayer until I hit everything on the list. I was always told "The more you do it, the better you get at it", but I lead prayers weekly for a year as my fraternity's chaplain and it still didn't get better. It's not an issue with public speaking, I'm in front of a classroom of students talking every day at work.
I just don't know what it is, I always avoid try to avoid leading prayers and praying out loud because of this. I see other these other Christians, in fact, it seems like every other Christian I know has no problem praying their heart out loud, but I just can't seem able to do so. Does anyone else have or had this problem? What helped?
Does someone really think my post was funny? It wasn't meant to be!
It struck a cord with me! Why not pray out loud? Or, not just in ones thoughts.
Praying out loud is against Jesus Christ the Lord and must be totally forbidden.
Jesus said, pray secretly in your room behind closed doors.
Only such prayer will be heard and accepted by God.
The theatrical prayer out loud for other people to hear is directed at people, not at God, and Jesus said, there will be absolutely zero reward for such a sinful, hypocritical mockery of a prayer!!!
The intention is what matters here. Why are you praying aloud? When I do so, like I said before, I'm not doing it so other people can hear. I try to be quiet and whisper under my breath. I don't shout and rend my garments intentionally for others to see me and think, "Wow, he's so pious!" That's the opposite of what I want to happen.
I pray aloud so that the demons hear me. If my neighbor hears me, then so be it; may God use this error and even my sinful deeds to guide others to the knowledge of Christ. But many times, I'm praying aloud by myself (when I'm home alone, in my room before bed, or when I wake up, etc.).
If someone prays aloud specifically so that others notice them, then your critique is spot-on. However, Christ never instructs that prayer be silent, rather he condemns prayer for the sake of garnering attention.