Praying Out Loud

What are some of your fears about praying out loud?

Why Should We Pray Out Loud?

John 11:41–42 ESV

So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

We pray for the benefit of others, that they may see our faith.

What other benefits can we receive from praying out loud?

We can reveal ideas or truths that others may have missed.

Others can see our humility and imitate it.

Our courage will help others have courage to pray.

It promotes unity in the Holy Spirit when we gather together and pray out loud.

What Not to do

Next, we will look at an example of what not to do:

Luke 18:10–14 ESV

“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

We don’t know for sure if this Pharisee was praying out loud, but either way, this is NOT the way we should pray.

Instead of talking about all the things we have done for God, we should approach the throne of grace with humility and acknowledgement of our shortcomings.

Praying out loud the areas where we fall short will help others to see that they are not alone in their struggles.

Now it’s time to pray out loud together