Does what we wear when we pray matter?

I don't think there's anything in Scripture that makes our clothing a critical issue in prayer. Our attitudes, yes, but not the clothing itself.

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? If our clothes have a tiny stain, burn mark, tear, that sort of thing, does God reject our prayer? Do we even have to wear clothes to pray? I know it would probably be disrespectful to pray in dirty clothes (not as in wearing them all day, as in having dirt, more than just a tiny speck of food, that sort of thing on them), but just how much does God care about what we wear?

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I think you should not be naked or in some unappropriate position/action. But I do not think that something else matters.

No. I even have been known to wear a hospital gown as I pray.

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? If our clothes have a tiny stain, burn mark, tear, that sort of thing, does God reject our prayer? Do we even have to wear clothes to pray? I know it would probably be disrespectful to pray in dirty clothes (not as in wearing them all day, as in having dirt, more than just a tiny speck of food, that sort of thing on them), but just how much does God care about what we wear?

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The rules specifically for praying. As long as your heart is to God as you pray in private there are no rules on what you must wear when you pray to him outside of not praying with your head covered for men(1 Cor 11:4,7) and not praying with your head uncovered for women(1 Cor 11:5-6).

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? If our clothes have a tiny stain, burn mark, tear, that sort of thing, does God reject our prayer? Do we even have to wear clothes to pray? I know it would probably be disrespectful to pray in dirty clothes (not as in wearing them all day, as in having dirt, more than just a tiny speck of food, that sort of thing on them), but just how much does God care about what we wear?

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Let's let the Scripture answer the question.

Then Joshua tore his clothes, and fell to the ground on his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening, he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, “Ah, Lord GOD! Why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all, to hand us over to the Amorites so as to destroy us? Would that we had been content to settle beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned their backs to their enemies! The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and surround us, and cut off our name from the earth. Then what will you do for your great name?” Joshua 7:6-9 (NRSV)

Funny you should say that. A little while back when i was having a shower, a voice spoke to me giving me a verse to read. This was in response to a prayer request i had made. Well I tend to talk to God anytime, without even thinking about where I am or what im wearing. You've raised a good question there. Only I really don't know the answer to it.

God does not look on the outward person, but on the inward one.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

God made us. Its what we wear on our heart and soul that matters.

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? If our clothes have a tiny stain, burn mark, tear, that sort of thing, does God reject our prayer? Do we even have to wear clothes to pray? I know it would probably be disrespectful to pray in dirty clothes (not as in wearing them all day, as in having dirt, more than just a tiny speck of food, that sort of thing on them), but just how much does God care about what we wear?

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No.
Paul says that it is God's will that we pray at all times, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. That means, while gardening, at work, in the bath, on the beach, in bed or wherever.
If someone were seriously ill in hospital, the chaplain came round and offered prayer, neither he/she, nor God, would expect that person to get fully suited and booted so that God could honour the prayer.

In the OT, when Samuel went to anoint one of Jesse's sons as king, he saw those who were strong and handsome and thought "the Lord has chosen this one". But God told him that "man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart", 1 Samuel 16:7. God's choice was David, who had just come in from the fields where he had been minding the sheep.
David used to pray and worship while minding the sheep.

This was a real concern of mine also. But finally realized It doesnt matter because we're to pray without ceasing. I Thess 5:17

We could be dressed in our "Sunday best" and on our knees but still not really 'there."

God is more concerned about our hearts and minds.

Anyone who is more concerned about their apparel when in the presence of God needs to rethink their prayer life.

God is love and mercy. He loves us however we dress etc.

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? ...

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We are all naked under our clothes, so I would say it doesn’t matter much to God. But, it can matter to us. For example, our focus may be lost to something irrelevant.

7Cobalt said:

If someone prays to God in private, does it matter what we wear? If our clothes have a tiny stain, burn mark, tear, that sort of thing, does God reject our prayer? Do we even have to wear clothes to pray? I know it would probably be disrespectful to pray in dirty clothes (not as in wearing them all day, as in having dirt, more than just a tiny speck of food, that sort of thing on them), but just how much does God care about what we wear?

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When we come before God, regardless of what we wear, we come before God as naked sinners, beggars, with open hands of faith and all that we receive is the gift and mercy of God. It is God who clothes us, not with clothes of fabric or linens, but with the clothing of Christ's righteousness, as we read, "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." (Galatians 3:27), we have been clothed with Christ; so that our nakedness is no longer.

We do not come to God as fit; but rather God comes to us to make us fit. It is God who comes to us, comes down, and clothes our nakedness. That we are found to be the righteousness of God; not with a righteousness that is our own, but rather that righteousness which is from God as a gift, the righteousness which is through faith--that is, Christ Himself who is our righteousness.

So that when we come before God in prayer, naked in our sins and as beggars; we have clothing from God which clothes us; we have the riches of God as grace; we have Christ our High Priest and Advocate who has given us all good things which are from God as pure gift. So that even as naked beggars, we are kings and priests of God forever.

That which adorns our bodies is not what matters; what matters is the garments of mercy with which we have been clothed in Jesus Christ, such that though beggars, those who were formally hostile toward God, are nevertheless brought into the household of God, gathered and seated at His Table, and heirs of His promises. Ours is the Feast that is to come, of which we are partakers even now by the loving kindness of God in Jesus Christ.

-CryptoLutheran