When is the last time you prayed out loud? This is a practice I have been using recently. And, to be completely honest, it was pretty strange at first. But, the more I have been doing it, the more natural it has been feeling.
The first time I prayed out loud, it was quiet. Some might even have called it a whisper. It felt awkward and unnatural. It was almost as if I was worried someone else might hear or see me and think I was a little off and just talking to myself!
But I didn’t stop. Day after day, I kept praying out loud.
You know what happened?
Each day, my voice got louder and louder. My prayers turned into songs of praise and pleas for help.
Out Loud.
Sometimes our dog, Molly, comes over to check on me and make sure I’m not talking to her. But now, she is getting more comfortable with it, too.
No longer am I afraid to shout to the Lord! Whether it is in times of joy and gratitude, or moments of pain and distress. I know He can hear me no matter what the volume of my prayers, but I love speaking with Him on a daily basis.
Did people pray out loud in the bible?
All throughout the book of Psalms, David (and other Psalmists) pray out loud to God. Both in times of trouble or joy, they spoke to God. I can just imagine David, in his anguish, pleading with God to save him. And then, when he realizes God is on his side, crying out with happiness as he sings His praises!
In the gospels, there are many instances when Jesus prayed out loud as well. Whether blessing food, or people, or asking for help, Jesus spoke to God. He wasn’t ashamed of speaking to his Father. Why should we be any different? After all, God is our Father, too.
Perhaps one of the most compelling examples to me is in Romans 10:9. Paul wrote about how we should proclaim with our mouths that “Jesus is Lord” in order that we may be saved. While I believe there is more to becoming a disciple than this proclamation; saying – out loud – that Jesus is Lord, is certainly one of the things we are instructed to do.
Through studying this out, I realized there were a couple of phrases that were most frequently used. Here are some I found.
“I cried out to you…”
I tried to search how many times these words were used in the bible. Google came up with myriad verses, but I couldn’t find the exact number. (If you know it, or where to find it, please let me know!) In my reading through the book of Psalms, I found this phrase (or one very similar) in seemingly every chapter.
David cried out to God – out loud – in prayer!
O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent.
Psalm 22:2 niv
Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer – it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Psalm 17:1 niv
But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you.
Psalm 88:13 niv
I have found that I, too, cry out to the Lord. And, when I do it out loud, it is comforting. I know He hears my voice. I am confident that He is listening. So, when I am troubled, and I ask Him for help, it is so reassuring to know He hears my pleas.
Praise the Lord
As I read through the book of Psalms, it was very encouraging to see how God answered prayers. And, when God answers prayers, what should we do? Praise the Lord! I have no doubt He would love it if we praised Him out loud!
Many verses throughout Psalms also speak of praising the Lord and rejoicing in His goodness.
I will give thanks for the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.
Psalm 7:17 niv
Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.
Psalm 28:6-7 niv
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the Lord, the King.
Psalm 98:4-6 nv
I’m sure I could list hundreds of verses in which a psalmist praised God out loud. I encourage you to read through some as well. It definitely helps to see how powerful God is and how He can – and does – get people out of extremely difficult situations.
Following my studies of gratitude, (as in Grateful for Gratitude and Gratitude – Normal or Not), I have found it so much easier to have praises in my mind and on my tongue. It has changed my focus to search for my blessings and ways in which God always works things out for the best! In those times when it is hard to find reasons to Praise God, I am more able to flip the switch in my brain. Instead of seeing all the negatives, I actively seek out the positives. This helps me be more aware of how good God is – even when certain situations tend to cloud my thinking.
Jesus prayed out loud
Even though Jesus was God’s son, and every thought was known to Him, Jesus prayed out loud, too. There were many examples of this in the gospels. And, I’m sure it happened more frequently than was recorded.
When feeding the 5,000, Jesus prayed and blessed the few items the disciples could round up.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.
Mark 6:41 niv
Jesus commanded demons to leave by praying out loud to heaven.
He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means, “Be opened!”)
Mark 7:34 niv
After the return of the 72 he sent out to villages he would later visit, Jesus praised God.
At that time, Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
Luke 10:21 niv
Jesus also showed his disciples how to pray by teaching them to say The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. He prayed it out loud as an example for them to follow.
Prior to Jesus’s crucifixion, he prayed out Loud to his Father three times.
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible, the hour might pass from him. “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.
Mark 14:45-46 NIV
Finally, on the cross, Jesus prayed out loud again.
About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” – which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Matthew 27:46 NIV
If Jesus prayed out loud, and he was the example we are to follow, then why shouldn’t we?
What I learned, and am still learning…
I am not afraid of what people might think if they happen to walk by my house and see me praying out loud. I am not afraid to pray in public. I am not afraid to pray with my brothers and sisters.
I have a new relationship with my Lord! Praying out loud has made Him feel closer to me. When I pray, I know He hears me. I am understanding one of my favorite hymns so much more lately –
What a friend we have in jesus
Your thoughts?
Do you pray out loud? I would love to hear your ideas about praying out loud and if there are any specific psalms or other verses that come to mind. I can’t wait to hear from all of you!
