There are times when I think of someone, and I may silently, to myself, pray for their salvation. But mostly I hear people pray out loud. Now I wonder, since God knows our thoughts and intents, is it mandatory to pray out loud? Will a silent prayer be just as effective? Is there a scripture that says that prayer must be out loud to be effective? Wondering…
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Verbal prayer vs silent prayer
- Thread starter Steven Bobb
- Start date
Intercessor
Beloved of All
The main thing about prayer is that it isn't a wish but a prayer to God in faith knowing he will answer.
We also have written prayers and recorded verbal prayers in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Those prayers are always to God in faith, especially in the Old (David utters an impromptu prayer to turn Agithophel's counsel to foolishness when he is on the run from Absalom, Elisha utters another when surrounded by the Assyrian Army, "Lord, strike this people with blindness", Elijah another, "If I am a Man of God, let fire fall down and consume you and your fifty....")
In the New Testament, Paul and Jesus have specific prayers they pray, again, Paul writes them out for instruction on how to pray for churches Rom 15:13, Eph 1:17-20, Eph 3:14-20, Phil 1:9-11, Col 1:9-15 (etc), and others wrote out what Jesus taught verbally on how to pray (For God's glory [His Name to be honored, Kingdom to Come and Will to be done] and our needs [provision, forgiveness, relationships with others through mutual forgiveness and repentance, protection from sin and evil]). Both Jesus and Paul pray for the entire population of Christians, and Jesus prays for those who will become Christians in future generations (John 17). There are hardly any personal prayers in the New Testament so most of our prayers should be for the entire Christian Church around the World, Government leaders (1Tim 2:1-8) and then for our needs. Funny, most of today's prayers are only the third category since we are rather unversed in the Bible, sadly to say...
Main thing on prayer is that it is not a wish but a request to God in Faith that it will be answered.
We also have written prayers and recorded verbal prayers in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments. Those prayers are always to God in faith, especially in the Old (David utters an impromptu prayer to turn Agithophel's counsel to foolishness when he is on the run from Absalom, Elisha utters another when surrounded by the Assyrian Army, "Lord, strike this people with blindness", Elijah another, "If I am a Man of God, let fire fall down and consume you and your fifty....")
In the New Testament, Paul and Jesus have specific prayers they pray, again, Paul writes them out for instruction on how to pray for churches Rom 15:13, Eph 1:17-20, Eph 3:14-20, Phil 1:9-11, Col 1:9-15 (etc), and others wrote out what Jesus taught verbally on how to pray (For God's glory [His Name to be honored, Kingdom to Come and Will to be done] and our needs [provision, forgiveness, relationships with others through mutual forgiveness and repentance, protection from sin and evil]). Both Jesus and Paul pray for the entire population of Christians, and Jesus prays for those who will become Christians in future generations (John 17). There are hardly any personal prayers in the New Testament so most of our prayers should be for the entire Christian Church around the World, Government leaders (1Tim 2:1-8) and then for our needs. Funny, most of today's prayers are only the third category since we are rather unversed in the Bible, sadly to say...
Main thing on prayer is that it is not a wish but a request to God in Faith that it will be answered.
Brother James
Beloved of All
Prayer should also include thankfulness and praise to God knowing and believing it will be accomplished
Whatever you say to God, He will listen and will answer according to our need. He will never ever fail us. Sooner or later the answer will be right there with you. Believe, have faith and it will happen.
Intercessor
Beloved of All
Martha Buthelezi
Servant of All
I share the same feeling with you. Most of the times when I'm experiencing dry prayer season I find myself praying silently. Then I wonder if God is hearing my silent prayer. Answers from God come back. When I was in a car accident recently, I hit a pole and I could feel my car starting to overturn on my side. I was very calm and shaken. A thought crossed my mind, saying my God my car is overturning. Then suddenly it stopped, like somebody held it... I'm still amazed!!! God gave me a Divine cover and protected me. The car was written off. God of miracles is always present in our time of need.
