When Should I Pray Out Loud

When we are taking our first steps in prayer, it is super helpful to be around people who have been doing it a long time. Attending a prayer meeting regularly helps us to learn how others approach talking to the Father, and we get to see the different types of prayer up close and firsthand. 

But sometimes, taking that big step of praying our first (or second or third) prayer out loud in a meeting can seem very difficult. 

Although we love being around older saints who are used to praying, it can feel a little bit intimidating. Like you are bringing your finger painting to the final episode of 'Portrait Artist of the Year'. Or lining up to race in the Epsom Derby on a donkey that you found. 

Why pray out loud at all? Doesn't God answer prayers that we pray silently in our heads? Doesn't the Bible say that your heavenly Father knows what you are going to ask for before you speak?

Well, here are some great reasons to take the risk of looking new and pray out loud:

1) It will really encourage those older saints who are in the meeting. Believe you me, they have been longing to have a chance to shut up and allow someone else to take the floor, and they would rather say 'Amen' to someone else's 'billy basic' prayer than spend another hour praying on their own. 

2) There is power in agreement. The Bible says that when two or more of you agree about anything on earth, it will be done by your Father in heaven. For some reason, God has set prayer up so that it works best when you are in company with other saints who can agree with you. 

3) It gets easier every time.  No one at that prayer meeting is going to judge you as you take your first 'baby steps' in praying out loud. Expect a very loud and rousing 'AMEN!' from them all when you finish stumbling through your first nonsensical attempt at intercession. You will make mistakes, and it might not even be doctrinally correct, but at the start, that just doesn't matter. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose by praying out loud. 

4) Maybe you are robbing someone else of healing, peace, or financial blessing because you are too afraid to pray out loud and get the agreement needed to push it through.

So I challenge you, if you have never taken the leap into corporate prayer, then make this week the time that you do. We have prayer in all our meet-ups as well as two formal prayer meetings that top and tail the week. Friday evenings with no agenda other than music and praise and Monday mornings more reflective and guided.

Make this the week that you pray your first ever prayer out loud. Write it down first if you are worried.

In later blog posts, I will go into how to know what to pray and some other helpful guidance. But (as with so much in the Christian life), the best thing is to just take the plunge and get on with it. We can sort out the theological stuff later.

Much love - Ian