A while back, a good friend of mine approached me and said this:
“Sharita, I love when you pray out loud. Your prayers are so moving and real and you don’t seem nervous at all. How did you learn to do that?”
I said thank you (and still give God all the glory) then I pondered for a moment and answered the best I could on the spot. But really, a loaded question like that takes awhile to answer in full, so of course I wanted to shed some light on the topic with all of my loverly blog followers.
Disclaimer: I am by no means an expert. God is still shaping and molding me, deepening my prayer life day-by-day as I walk with Him. And He is ready to do the same for you.
So here are five truths about praying out loud. (For even more info on prayer, check out “A Little Big Conversation” and “Praying as a Leader.”)
Truth #1. There is no right or wrong way to pray out loud. As long as you are praying sincerely and from the heart, it doesn’t matter if you say “um” or “uh” or pause or repeat yourself. It doesn’t matter how long or short it is, what type of vocab you use. Just lift up those prayers and do it with your whole self.
Truth #2. Practice, practice, practice. Just like everything else, praying out loud takes practice. The more you do it, the more confident (and in tune with God) you become. I remember when I first started praying out loud. I was so nervous you would think I was giving the State of the Union address to an entire nation. But over time, as I have practiced and allowed my relationship with God to grow, I have become more comfortable and even excited to pray for folks, out loud, silent or otherwise. Start practicing around a small group of people you trust, like your family or a close friend. Keep at it and soon you will be comfortable enough to lead prayer in a church small group or with a stranger on the street.
Truth #3. Stop caring what other people think. This is a biggie. Who the heck CARES what other people think? If they requested you pray out loud (or shoot, even if you volunteered) you shouldn’t care what they think. After all, you aren’t praying TO them… You are praying to God. His opinion is the only one that matters. And as long as you are approaching His throne with a sincere heart, He will be ever-so-pleased with you! (See Truth #1.)
Truth #4. Be in the word. Some of the most moving, sincere and heaven-shaking prayers I have listened to oftentimes have God’s word seamlessly woven throughout. But the only way to share God’s faithfulness through His Word via out loud prayer is to be in the word. You have to know it before He can bring it back onto your heart during those sometimes intense or emotional prayer moments.
Truth #5. Don’t fear silence. So many people are terrified of silence. It makes them feel awkward and they want to fill it with sounds or words. But don’t be afraid of silence when you pray out loud. Before you begin, take a deep breath and wait a few seconds to get your heart and mind connected with God. (It might feel like a decade to you, but to everyone else it is only a flash of time.) In those silent moments, God will empower you to speak and maybe even give you edifying words in your prayer that encourages someones heart.
On a scale from one to ten, how comfortable are YOU when it comes to praying out loud? What tips and tricks have you discovered to help grow your prayer life? I would love to hear all about it in the comments. (If you are reading this via email, click here.)
I pray that these short, simple truths give you courage to grow your out loud prayer life. It’s not an easy journey, but addressing God out loud can be SUCH a blessing… to others AND yourself.
Praying continually,
“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” ~Luke 11:1
PS: Don’t forget to swing back by tomorrow (Thursday) and join our new “Everyday Jesus” link up. Anything faith, Everything Jesus is welcome. It’s open for 6 days! Can’t wait to see you there. #EverydayJesus
