There is a sense in which praying is a very personal matter – an honest and intimate conversation with the one who knows everything about you. So, it’s understandable that some struggle with praying in public. Here are six suggestions to help you when you’re asked to pray in public.
Why Pray in Public?
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matt. 6:5-6).
Why should I pray in public at all, you might ask. Didn’t Jesus say to pray in private only?
Not exactly.
Jesus was making a larger point about the attitude toward prayer. The three big spiritual practices for first century Jews were: almsgiving, fasting, and prayer.
Because the practice of all three was considered a marker of spiritual maturity, there were some who made sure everyone knew they were practicing them. They wanted everyone to know when they were fasting. They would make a grand ceremony of placing their money in the offering coffers. They would pray loud and flowery prayers.
Jesus was attacking this spiritual arrogance. He wasn’t speaking against public prayer. He was correcting the self-aggrandizing motives for the public display of giving, fasting, and praying.
Introverts Unite!
What do you do when you’re more of an introvert and really don’t feel comfortable praying out loud?
First, don’t feel bad.
You should never feel pressured to pray out loud. I’d rather not, is an acceptable answer when asked to pray out loud.
If you never pray in public it will not make you any less spiritual than the person who regularly prays in public.
That was Jesus’ point in the Scripture passage above – praying a beautiful, flowery prayer in a loud voice doesn’t mean you are super spiritual – in fact, it may mean the opposite (if you are doing it to show off).
Second, consider venturing out of your comfort zone to pray in public.
This may be an important growth experience for you.
The lion’s share of your prayer life should be private. However, there is an important place for praying out loud, in public.
- The Tax-collector prayed out loud in the temple and Jesus praised him for his prayer (Luke 18:13-14).
- The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and he prayed out loud (Matt. 6:9).
- Jesus broke bread and prayed out loud (Matt. 26:26).
Praying out loud in public does three things:
- Models prayer for others.
- Blesses those who hear your prayers.
- Unifies the Body of Christ.
Six Helpful Suggestions
Here are six suggestions to help you pray out loud.
1. Let the Holy Spirit do the work.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Rom. 8:26).
The Apostle Paul promised that when you can’t find the words the Holy Spirit would help you.
2. Keep it short.
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words” (Matt. 6:7).
Jesus was not saying that you can never pray a long prayer. His big point was that the quantity and quality of words you use is not a reflection of the spiritual depth of the prayer.
Peter prayed, “Lord, save me!” (Matt. 14:30). A quick and powerful prayer just before his head went under water.
Jesus prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me” (Matt. 26:39). There’s another quick, gut-wrenching, tearful, and powerful prayer.
The length doesn’t contribute to the quality. A short heartfelt prayer is better than a long, show-off prayer.
3. Focus on need.
This, then, is how you should pray … Give us today our daily bread” (Matt. 6:9, 11).
It’s actually easier to pray for other people. Everyone always appreciates people praying for them. It’s fun to pray for people.
Don’t worry about trying to use the right words. Just pray for people by name and you can know that your prayer is a good one.
4. Be yourself.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (Matt. 6:5).
The word hypocrite means “an actor, or stage player.”
Jesus was saying that when you pray, don’t play-act – don’t pretend to be something you’re not.
Be yourself
5. Remember who you’re talking to.
This, then, is how you should pray: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name …” (Matt. 6:9).
Jesus reminded his disciples that when they prayed, they were talking to their Father in heaven – the one whose name was Holy and was worthy of worship.
I love the story of the woman who critiqued the grammar of the pastor’s public prayer, to which the Pastor replied, “I wasn’t talking to you!!”
When you pray out loud, you are not talking to the people in the room. You are talking to God. The people in the room get to listen in, but they are not the primary audience.
6. Keep practicing.
… pray continually …” (1 Thess. 5:17).
It’s possible that the Apostle Paul wasn’t saying that we should be praying 24/7, but rather that we should never stop practicing prayer.
Prayer is a spiritual discipline, and like any discipline, it only gets better and easier with practice.
Whether you pray in public or private, the Spirit of Jesus is constantly calling you to pray. It is one of the highest callings of the Christian life and the lifeblood of the work of Jesus on this earth.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Eph. 6:18).
