I have a fear of praying outloud

[Evie]

I can not pray outloud when others are around. I don't know what my problem is. I pray with both my boys and seperatetly with my husband. Sometimes I pray outloud with my kids in the car on the way to school in the morning,but I can not get mysrelf to pray around adults. Especially those who are so good at praying infront of the church. I even told my pastor. Now,I have asked God to help me with this fear,I get this aweful feeling in my stomach when I'm asked to pray. I have actually said" I'll pass". They usually respond with"that's fine Evie". Any advise?

 

[Blessed2003]

Hey Evie,
I used to have that same fear, and my advice is do it anyway, until you conquer this fear because the best way to DEFEAT fear is to face it head on. Don't worry if you don't 'sound' 'good' enough, just know that it will help you. Speaking the word outloud helps it to soak into you better. (remember that speaking things that are not as though they are is powerful, and WORKS.)
God BLess You Evie,
B groupray: )

 

[RJ1]

I agree. Face your fears head on.

I speak and write in very simple language. No pretty words or beautiful phrases coming out of here. LOL! But I am sincere and I know God knows what I am trying to say. That's what it's all about. Prayer is between you and God, whether others are listening or not. Just talk to Him and don't worry about how you sound to others. To Him, your prayer sounds terrific. I keep that in mind when asked to lead a prayer in our women's group and it has helped me to overcome my fear of praying outloud in front of others.
God Bless You!!

 

[rocklife]

Evie, I understand, I have felt that same way at church prayer meetings. Just like you, I pray with my kids and with the immediate family, at first it was a little bit awkward, but after a while, talking to God with others in prayer has gotten easier, I just keep my focus on God and not on the hearers.

Maybe it seems like it's more of a performance in front of others or something, but keep close to God, He knows your heart, even if you don't publicly pray eloquently.

Now, learning how to share your faith, especially with nonbelievers, is a skill every Christian should learn and overcome fear of man for. There are great resources to learn how to do that. Start with some tracts, and build your confidence by studying how to evangelize. We should all be sharing our faith, this corrupt world is going to hell, it is morally right to try to save souls and snatch from the fire. I am learning how to do this, God is graciously allowing me to so far evangelize to old friends and family through letter writing, I learned how to share the entire Gospel after listening to Kirk Cameron's preaching of "Soundly Saved" on Way of the Master web site. He teaches the whole Gospel in a way that completely makes sense to everyone (as God opens the understanding of the hearer). I am also giving tracts and bibles. One Christian from long ago says tracts are the first baby step to spreading the Gospel. I am totally on this step, I have shared the Gospel with several neighbors, and also with a door-to-door salesmen with the help of my mom, but mostly I give tracts. There are some really great ones around, find one you would feel comfortable giving away. A great one is "Are you good enough to go to heaven?" from Living Waters with Ray Comfort, an associate of Kirk Cameron's. It completely shows sinners what sin is, and what God intends to do about it (all liars will have their part in the lake of fire Rev 21:8, etc). Evangelism is such a great work to share God and to truly love your neighbors as yourself.

 

[Clayman]

I too had the same issue. What I had to do was to realize that when I pray I am talking to my best friend and that I can't be concerned with what others think. It was a hard hill to climb but now I am preparing for my first sermon (Lord help me) on October 10.

I will be praying for you.

 

[SteadyRock]

You said that the others were better at praying. It doesn't matter what others think! Your talking to God and doing it for the benifit of yourself and God not for others! I'm not good at praying infront of others. But it really isn't about what they think.
Live only for God!

 

[throwingbones]

I have the same problem and I have been facing it head on for 13 years and it really hasn't gotten any easier for me.

 

[TheMainException]

Face your fear...that's what I did. I faced my fear, and as horrid as it was to do it...I vollonterred (wrong spelling, I know) and after a couple of times, if began to get easier and I did it more and more until now, I can do it just about any time necessary.