Let’s talk about praying out loud. For many Christians, when it comes to prayer, spiritual insecurities seem to come out of the woodwork. Praying out loud is a practice that many Christians feel insecure and even embarrassed. I know some people who sweat bullets every time they are in a small group fearing that someone will call on them to pray out loud. Even in their personal prayer time, many Christians choose to pray silently, because of their fear of praying out loud. What about you? Are you a silent prayer, or do you lift your voice up to the Lord out loud?
There is nothing wrong with praying silently. There are times when praying silently may be the best and only option. When Nehemiah was questioned by the king in Nehemiah 2, he said a quick, silent prayer before he answered.
Hannah was a woman who was in deep distress because she couldn’t bear a child. In 1 Samuel 13, she was praying with great intensity. However, the Bible says that even though she was praying with all her heart, only her lips were moving. She was praying silently to the Lord.
So although there is nothing wrong with praying silently, praying out loud is a wonderful and fulfilling practice to develop.
If you don’t pray out loud regularly, here are six reasons you should make praying out loud part of your prayer life.
1. Jesus Prayed Out Loud
There is no question that Jesus had a robust and empowered prayer live. The disciples saw Jesus do many things, but in Luke 11 after seeing Jesus pray, the disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. I can almost hear the disciples saying, “Wow, I want to pray like He prays.” Throughout the gospels you see Jesus interacting with God the Father. We know He prayed aloud because the gospel writers recorded what He was praying.
2. Praying Out Loud Engages Your Mind and Heart
Have you ever been praying silently and had your mind drift off to something completely different? For some reason, every time I pray silently I suddenly remember all the things I need to do. In the midst of my prayer, I remember I need to have the car’s oil changed, or I need to pay a bill or make a call.
Sometimes it’s hard to concentrate as you pray silently. When you pray out loud, you hear yourself praying, and it keeps your mind focused on your prayer.
Praying out loud also helps us to be more candid and honest in our prayer. Sometimes I hear myself praying and I think, “I’m just saying spiritual words, my heart is not really engaged in what I am saying.” Praying out loud helps engage our heart as we pray.
3. Praying Out Loud Reminds You Who You Are Praying To.
Relationships are about conversations. When we pray silently, we can sometimes think we are just talking to ourselves. When we pray out loud, it’s easier to remember that we are actually speaking to a real person. We are “lifting our voice” up to the Lord. The Bible says in Exodus 33 that Moses talked with God the way a man speaks to a friend. When we pray out loud, we pray to our Father who is with us. We can speak to Him as we do any other friend.
4. Praying Out Loud Makes confessing Sin More Real
There is something about confessing our sin out loud that changes things. When we hear ourselves confess our sin, it reminds us of just how offensive our sin is. To confess a sinful action or attitude out loud seems to make confession more real. Sometimes I hate to even say out loud the attitudes or thoughts I have had. Confessing my sin out loud helps me understand just how terrible my sin is and how much I need to repent.
5. Praying Out Loud is a Declaration to the Spiritual World
As I pray out loud I am declaring to the spirit world my faith in Christ. The kingdom of darkness trembles when a Christian kneels to pray. As I verbalize my prayer and faith in Christ, the spirit world around me hears that I am calling on Christ for my strength and protection. As I ask for God’s help and favor, Satan and his demons listen in and tremble as I express my faith and trust in Christ.
6. Praise is Always Out Loud
Praise is always audible. Look through the Bible, and you see praise always declared. As you read through the Psalms you see words like shout, speak, sing, declare, speak. 95% of the Psalms use or invite audible praise. It’s hard to praise the Lord with your mouth closed. Praise requires that we lift our voice in singing, or declaring the goodness of God.
As you learn to pray out loud, I think you will find new levels of fulfillment, concentration, and enjoyment. You will feel a deeper connection in your prayer life. You will be speaking to the one who has invited you into His presence as His child.
I’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences on praying out loud. Be sure and post your comments below.
Thank you Billy. I have always said my prayers in silence or in a whisper. Why? I won’t dwell on the reason, I’m going to change and start praying, praising and talking to God, my Fathet out loud. (One of my resolutions this year is to act, not sit and ponder or procrastinate.). Have a great day
I pray more silently than aloud, and I agree that praying aloud is powerful and fully engaged mind and heart. I dear friend prays openly aloud with nearly everyone he meets. I am jealous of his boldness to pray with others including people who serve him at restaurants, stores, coffee shops, everywhere. I know pride prohibits my prayers. I desire to prayer with intention and aloud more in 2018.
I agree with you. I am praying God gives you a new boldness in your prayer in 2018.
Thank you for speaking on this. It really help me , because I really thought the opposite of how I pray out loud. I had believe if I pray out loud the devil will hear my prayer and try to steal it before it get to the Father. Others reason is the devil will take it and used it for his bad reasons. Billy, this is so so Good. It’s more tasted than Campbell Soup. I thanks God for using you as one of his vessel. God Be With You. Amen.
The Father hears your prayers before they leave your lips. Satan can’t touch your prayers. He can’t use your prayers against you. This is privileged communication between a child and their loving Father. I am glad this is a blessing to you.
Thank you for this post Billy! I completely agree with you that prayer is very powerful when spoken out loud. I feel connected to my Heavenly Father and at that same time that I am putting Satan on notice that he has already been defeated no matter what he is plotting or planning. Death and life are in the power of the tongue so I “speak” life through my prayers. Praise God for His goodness and mercy and loving kindness toward me. Thank you for all you do to keep the name of our Lord lifted!
I never thought about the fact that Praying should be out loud! It makes sense, since Satan and his demons can’t read my mind how else will they know I am talking to my Savior? Thank you for this article Billy, I needed this information, I plan to pray out loud!
I would love to hear how things go. Let me know your experience.
Somebody said that is better to pray in your mind because if you pray aloud Satan could listen and Block your prayer. I kneww that person was wrong. That bottered me for a long time.
It’s amazing how many people believe this. Our Father is not going to let Satan stand between Him and His children. Satan is a defeated foe. He has no power over the child of God.
I generally always pray silently. I’ve always been a quiet, reserved person. I am going to make the change to pray out loud. I want to honor God in my prayer life.
I agree when I pray silently I do drift away and the same thing happens when I read the word of God in silence my mind be all over the place but when I do these things out loud I am more focus. Your article just confirms that I need to open my mouth and speak to God more often. Thank you for sharing
Practice praying when by yourself so that you will overcome your fears.
I can connect with prsying out loud. When I do most times I am unable to even stop myself I feel a sense if relief. Things suddenly starts to shift. I will BLESS the LORD at all times and HIS PRAISE shall continually be in my mouth
So appreciate this reminder to pray out loud…I usually read the Bible out loud, I will now begin to pray out loud, thank you !
Awesome!! Saying things aloud uses our breath and gives life to them. Praying aloud gives life to our confession and praise! Praying God’s actual Word which is already living is so powerful. It affects the very atmosphere!!
I pray out loud on my way to work,
Hopefully people think I’m on the phone but it doesn’t really matter. I usually pray out loud in my prayer closet too. Beginning with praise, I then ask and sometimes cry out. I have felt God move in my life and I wondered if it is because I was so transparent, raw, and authentic in my prayers. Thank you so much for sharing this! God Bless you
I believe in praying out loud. Because God wants us to release whatever is troubling our spirit unto him.
This has always been my desire to pray out loud but I am timid anot knowing the right word to say. I don’t have that gift and I am praying that God gives me this gift this 2018. Why not now God please. In Jesus name
You’re right on this one,I need to share this with my mother. I used to pray in silence and would get distracted in the middle of prayer or even fall asleep. But ever since I started praying out loud,my prayer life has greatly improved, I feel more connected to Daddy now. Praise the Lord!
Thank you for what you do. God bless you
I do pray out loud. I am not timid or shy about it because I suppose I was just wired that way by God. He gifted me with boldness and courage. I watched many others do it with no shame or fear. Once I started it became more and more comfortable. It was not easy at first. But I kept hearing step out of your comfort zone. Everything you said rang true for me too! Great article! God does not want us to be puffed up with pride. I too remember times when Jesus had to get away in his secret prayer closet. God just whispered in my ear today don’t pray to be seen by man, but pray to me that I may see you. He wants to view me openly talking only to him in my weakness, humility, and a heart to know Him. I’ve learned God wants to make a beautiful exchange. He wants us to rush to him first and put our head on his shoulder. He wants us to be comfortable in His love. It’s all about the relationship. We are declaring our confidence is in him & we cannot do life with out him. Plus the icing on the cake is when we pray it changes us inside and shuts the devil’s mouth! It’s spiritual warfare! I choose God’s side! Satan is already defeated and with God who can be against us? Pray changes the atmosphere. There is a shifting to God’s glory and we benefit! Prayer changes our circumstances, our outlook, it changes us, and our hearts! Thanks for this! Keep on keeping on in Jesus’ name!
I love praying out loud. i never used to pray out loud. But looking back my own father prayed out loud and l=glorified God’s Blessing for himself and his family. So I pray out loud because I am comfortable now praising my God that way. I am prayerfully hopeful that God will be graceful to me for praying out loud and will never find fault with my loud Blessings of his name. Hallelujah