Praying out loud

[Tinydancer19]

I guess you could say i'm still new to praying. Even though I pray every night I for some reason am unable to allow myself to pray out loud. It's the same way with singing/worshiping. I don't know what i'm afraid of. I guess maybe i'm just scared of doing it wrong. Anyone have any suggestions?

 

[tuv]

First off, Welcome to the family (of Christ that is)!!!
I remember when i was first confronted with fear of prayer and worship, I'll try to help you based on my own experience.
First, recognize that the enemy is a liar and he is going to try to attack you in any aspect of your life you are not confident in (worship and prayer included). The fact that satan is trying to scare you into not worshiping can also be to your atvantage because although he is doing this, God is still in control. God wants to see how your going to react, He wants to know that you put Him above this fear. In a way its a blessing to have the oppertunity to overcome this problem cus in the end God will be so pleased you defeated your advisary.
A fear of praying aloud is an attack on a pride issue, Who do you live for now? Jesus, so praise Him and rejoice that He has saved you. Fall to your knees and if you feel embarassed or scared tell God while your still in prayer, confess to Him that you need the holy spirit to fill you with confidence in Christ, that you may not be scared to praise Him.Try saying breath prayers throughout the day just small prayers that only take one breath to say like "I recieve you Lord", or "Give me the confidence Lord".
On the matter of worship, Pray on it, and try to listen to worship music outside of service this may help you get used to singing aloud (to yourself ofcourse), soon you'll be glad to worship before your congrregation. Also get to know the members of your church this is your new "immediate" family they should love you and be welcoming, share your feelings with them I promise all Christians have gone through these issues, they will help to make you more comfortable. Never feel that you may worship wrong there is no wrong way to worship, If you know in your heart that you love Christ, that in itself is an act of worship.
Stay in the word, pray, and rememeber your new covinent with Christ, He loves you,
(The book "A Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, might be a great book for you, it has alltypes of things about worship and prayer.

 

[The Midge]

Welcome to the boards TUV .Good advice.

Don't worry about getting things wrong Tinydancer19, we old hands still blunder about on our spiritual walk as if we have put our shoes on the wrong feet and tied the laces together at times. Besides there is no commandment that says "Thou shalt pray out loud".

If you are a new Christian then you are like a baby in some ways. Mummy and Dadday dote on all Babiesr efforts at learning to talk even if the noises do not make any sense. Just remember that prayer is talking to Abba (Daddy) God and we have to learn how to speak a spiritual language too but He loves our efforts all the same.

Pray in anyway you feel comfortable. God will listen. You may like to try using formal prayers or liturgy. The Lords prayer is a model of prayer that is included in many liturgies. Try reciting that to start with if you want to pray out loud. There are also many prayers in Psalms and through out the Bible. You can use them.

I sometimes find it helpful to go for a walk in the woods and pray. There is no set way to pray. Indeed wordy prayers said out loud so that everyone can hear how super spiritual you are do no good what so ever. So just do whatever feels right for you.

 

[seangoh]

I guess you could say i'm still new to praying. Even though I pray every night I for some reason am unable to allow myself to pray out loud. It's the same way with singing/worshiping. I don't know what i'm afraid of. I guess maybe i'm just scared of doing it wrong. Anyone have any suggestions?

Hi Tinydancer19, personally i feel comfortable praying aloud when i'm alone on my bed before i go to sleep when the lights are out. I just lie flat on my back and open my eyes while talking to the ceiling. I make it seem like i'm talking to a friend.

On what to say in prayer, i came across this amazing book with "model prayers"
It's called "Prayers to Move Your Mountains" by Thomas M. Freiling

 

[TomUK]

http://www.christianforums.com/t670997

 

[Niz]

i used to hate praying at the table. I would feel embrassed and stuff. But i would think how bad I would feel if he found out i was embrassed by him, so i had my best friend make me prayer to her every night out loud to make me get over it =]

 

[allieisme]

I guess you could say i'm still new to praying. Even though I pray every night I for some reason am unable to allow myself to pray out loud. It's the same way with singing/worshiping. I don't know what i'm afraid of. I guess maybe i'm just scared of doing it wrong. Anyone have any suggestions?

I used to be the same way, and sometimes it is hard for me to pray out loud, but I can tell you what it probably is...the devil is telling you each time you think you want to pray out loud he tells you that you will sound stupid or dumb, he doesnt want you to do another thing for God, and he wants to keep you silent.. you cant pray wrong, even if its just in your car, just talk to God..then eventually it will turn into prayer, and it will sound natural to you

 

[Bartimaeus]

I guess you could say i'm still new to praying. Even though I pray every night I for some reason am unable to allow myself to pray out loud. It's the same way with singing/worshiping. I don't know what i'm afraid of. I guess maybe i'm just scared of doing it wrong. Anyone have any suggestions?

Tinydancer19,
I think for a lot of people, it is a fear of sounding dumb, or maybe ssaying something "dumb" to God. Well, the good news is that God knows your heart, and He's more than glad to hear you pray out loud. He doesn't care if you talk to Him like a friend...in fact He *WANTS* you to talk to Him like a friend.

Hope that helps.