Praying out loud in front of people?

Question

do you have a hard time praying in front of other people? I sure do! I don't know if it is just anxiety or if it is pride. I feel like I don't sound as eloquent as others who pray. I feel like my prayers sound stupid. Does anyone else struggle with this.

Please, no mean comments or remarks. This is serious.

Answer 1

With family or friends not so much but to lead a prayer would be awkward to a certain degree and this is understandable fer sure especially if you are the type of person who doesn't like to be the focus of attention and certainly doesn't want to "sound" insincere or "out of practise". However, lemme tell ya what...when you pray...you are there in the presence of God. That is truely what the term worship means...to "come into the presence of.." at least in the Bible where it pertains to the one true God anyway. So, also you have heard it said by Christ that where ever two or more are gathered in His Name He is there also...I believe that, and He understands that we sometimes struggle with the right things to say so how did I manage to overcome it? By confessing it in front of the people I was praying with..."Dear Father, I'm here now before you with these people and you know, Father how I struggle to find the right words so let me just say to you from my heart..." and so forth...speak to Him about the people you are all concerned with, each other, thank Him for blessings, etc. Mostly though...talk to Him as if you were addressing a good friend...a respected, admired, adored friend...maybe like how you would a mentor or someone that you greatly esteem being of course on your best behavior but at the same time be sincere and really know that this is God you are talking to and all He ever wanted was to be with us...and this is your time to give Him. Don't let the Devil concern you with distractions such how you sound to others, with nervousness and silliness or whatever. Just bow your head, take a deep breath, maybe pause for a moment in silence and then begin talking to Him. It takes some maturity to lead others in prayer...to guide someones thoughts to the things we humbly are in need of...but remember...God already knows..He just wants to hear from you, hear your voice. Just think, there will be a time when you can walk and talk with Him everyday. Love in Christ, ~J~

Answer 2

Praying Out Loud

Answer 3

This is worrying too much about what other people think and not enough about what God thinks.



Think about it - praying while worrying about what the listeners think is like talking AT one person in a group, while actually trying to impress someone else who is standing nearby.



When I have to pray in front of a group of people, I first say a silent prayer that God will help me to know what the people I am praying with/for need. Then I say the prayer, talking TO GOD.

Answer 4

I am one of the prayer ministry leaders at my church, and I can tell you that this is a very common concern for a lot of people, and this keeps people from coming to prayer meetings- one thing that I tell people who have this fear is that- you do not have to pray out loud- you can pray silently in a group and agree with the others as they pray. However, I also tell them not to be concerned with what others think of your prayers- the "eloquence" of what you say is not what pleases God- it is the heart of the person who prays. Don't worry about how you may sound to people- that helps others that I have shared this with- and again, do not feel obligated to pray out loud either.

Answer 5

Praying aloud is not for everyone. Just remember that God hears your prayers whether they are spoken or not. And there is no wrong way to pray - flowery words do not impress the Lord. It is the state of our hearts that matter.



It took me a long time to get comfortable praying aloud in front of others. It's best to just say what's on your heart and keep it short and sweet when you first pray aloud. You'll get more comfortable with it as you go along.



Or, if you don't want to, just don't pray aloud in front of others. It's not a requirement for salvation.



Take care & God bless!

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

Praying out loud in front of people?

do you have a hard time praying in front of other people? I sure do! I don't know if it is just anxiety or if it is pride. I feel like I don't sound as eloquent as others who pray. I feel like my prayers sound stupid. Does anyone else struggle with this.



Please, no mean comments or...

Answer 7

I often have a hard time in front of people, praying, teaching, giving talks on a religious matter and all for the same reasons too.



Yes it is anxiety and pride. Some of the prophets, have been afraid of what to say. Like Isaiah, and yet now after the Lord helped him he is quite an eloquent writer - if you can understand his eloquence or the lack of the eloquence of those who translated his writings.

Answer 8

I have never felt the need to pray in front of people. It is kind of like having people eaves drop on a private conversation. Maybe that is why it makes you uncomfortable. Your prayers are real conversation and not a presentation for an audience?

Answer 9

Dear friend:



I know the feeling. I used to feel this way as a Jr. Usher when I took up the offering. Just understand that you are not praying for peoples entertainment, you are praying for their blessings. If you need to just visualize yourself as speaking to a best friend or a dearly love relative, for in fact this is what you are doing. Forget all those around you, they should be either praying silently with you.

Answer 10

I love it! I love to intercede for others.



It takes some time, but I just ask the Holy Spirit to lead my prayer and He answers that prayer. I honestly don't think about the others present anymore. The key is to pray from the heart and let the Holy Spirit lead you.



Praying that prayer keeps my focus on Him..........



Pray about praying with others.....it's a powerful way to pray because the Bible says that "where 1 can put a thousand to flight, two can put ten thousand." Corporate prayer is very powerful.



I'll ask God to help you!

Answer 11

I used to feel that way when I would pray out loud at youth groups and the like. I would always think about the other people that were watcing me rather than paying attention to God. I wanted to make sure that I was sounding okay for the other people around me. Pay attention to God. You are talking to him. When I remembered that, then I lost my pride and my anxiety. I remembered that no matter what, my prayers are beautiful to God.

Answer 12

Jesus says our prayers should be kept in private, he says do not as the heathen which stand in the streets and pray but to go into your home into the most private room you have and there pray to God. In church we all pray aloud and for help learning how to pray you can always look up the Lord's prayer this is Jesus' example on how to pray.

Answer 13

These patented show prayers have no substance anyway.



We pray to say thank you and to ask for guidance. Then we be still and listen for the answer.



Listening is the most important aspect of praying.



God wants to talk to us but most of us are too busy asking for things to listen.



When you pray get your talking over as soon as possible, and just listen.



There is no one that God is not talking to, there are just people who are not listening.



Love and blessings Don

Answer 14

I think a verse in Matthew suggest Christians avoid praying in public: In fact, it even proscribes how to pray.



Matthew

6:1 “Be 1 careful not to display your righteousness merely to be seen by people. 2 Otherwise you have no reward with your Father in heaven. 6:2 Thus whenever you do charitable giving, 3 do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in synagogues 4 and on streets so that people will praise them. I tell you the truth, 5 they have their reward. 6:3 But when you do your giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 6:4 so that your gift may be in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 6



Private Prayer

6:5 “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues 7 and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. 6:6 But whenever you pray, go into your room, 8 close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you. 9 6:7 When 10 you pray, do not babble repetitiously like the Gentiles, because they think that by their many words they will be heard. 6:8 Do 11 not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 6:9 So pray this way: 12



Our Father 13 in heaven, may your name be honored, 14



6:10 may your kingdom come, 15



may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.



6:11 Give us today our daily bread, 16



6:12 and forgive us our debts, as we ourselves 17 have forgiven our debtors.



6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, 18 but deliver us from the evil one. 19



6:14 “For if you forgive others 20 their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 6:15 But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.

Answer 15

Ty sister for being honest here on the forum. What you experience is something that is so common amongst us as believers. There are some of our brothers and sisters who are more eloquent and know more about the Lord and the word as they pray, but I think that the Lord is not listening to what the mouth is saying only.. I believe He is seeing where the source of that prayer is.

Heres a verse for us " not so confident " prayers to consider.

Eph 6:18

But means of all prayer and petition, praying at EVERY TIME in spirit and watching unto this in all preseverance and petition concerning all the saints"



Sometimes the prayer that comes from our spirit is so simple. Its not how much we say. Sometimes in our prayer we want to " teach God' or " tell God what to do" without learning to first touch Him inwardly in spirit and in truth.

Sisters, many times we pray prayers that are not prayers because the source is not from our spirits.

We can pray in the mind and according to the emotions but not according to the groaning interceding supplicating Spirit of God in our spirits.( Rom 8:26)



From experience sweet sister.. its the short sentences that hit the bullseye for God. The prayers that were inward before the Lord, where you were are in fellowship with the Lord, seeking out His heart's desire and His will inwardly as you pray in spirit, THEN what comes out of your mouth is something that will be so simply to the point that comes from your spirit that it actually accomplishes what is in the heavens, on the earth ( Matt 16:19).



Don't be so concerned with eloquence. Be concerned sweet sister about praying in the spirit. We have a spirit inwhich God the Spirit dwells. One of our spirits' main functions is to pray. Our praying spirit is able to accomplish for God on earth, what Christ as our High Priest is praying for in the heavens.( Heb 6:20)



Remember the Pharicee and the Tax collector who prayed in the temple in Luke 18?

Who went away more blessed?



yes sister.. its the one that humbled himself and realized that outside of God he could be or do nothing ( John 13:34). God was this man's way truth and life. He was His sufficiency (2 Cor 3:5).

Lets take all the examples in the word and not the standards man will impose upon us.



Our prayer should be personal. Between us and the Lord. And then it should be Corporate.

We need both.

But our peronal one is crucial if we want to learn how to pray and be before the throne of Grace.



Praise the Lord that He is always willing to teach us when we humble ourselves before Him ( Luke 1:11)



Your sister and fellow learner in prayer

sandy

Answer 16

It can be hard at first. Like anything, it just takes practice. Don't be discouraged. God isn't anymore inclined to listen to the eloquent prayer than the short, stumbling prayer. Just let Him hear your heart. It may be hard to block out distractions at first, but that will come in time. I know God will honor your effort.

Answer 17

Yes public expression of intimate feelings can be a delicate thing. Consider one angle here, some suggest God does not need us to make public prayer. If so, you could be feeling a sense that it is not right for you, as opposed to you having a personal weakness. Loving God is never wrong.

Answer 18

Its human. Just remember that your praying to God, not for people. Those people who spend a lot of time being fluffy and verbose are often praying for your ears, not HIS.

Answer 19

Read the story of the Pharisee and the Publican. Google it, I do not know the name of the book of the Bible in which it is found but it is a good lesson on praying

Answer 20

I don't pray at all. And I don't see why anyone would need to pray out loud.

Answer 21

If your prayers sound stupid then they are probably ok. I am serious. I hate rehearsed prayers and prayers that sound like poetry. Impressive prayers does not impress me.

Answer 22

what is the purpose of praying out loud in the first place? shouldn't your prayer life be between you and your god? anything other than that is just for show

Answer 23

sounds like your a fearful of being judged by others

Answer 24

i dont always have a problem but just have more confidence and faith god will reward you when you are not shy of showing your belief and are not ashamed

Answer 25

prying is politically correct schhzophrenia



BB

Answer 26

Probably because it is condemned in your bible. Maybe you should read it.