AM I PRAYING TOO LOUD?
Am i doing too much?😔
Like many others, especially those who grew up in a charismatic Pentecostal background, I’ve asked myself this question countless times: “Am I praying too loud?” Sometimes the answer is “No,” and other times, it's “Yes!” In this newsletter, and the next, we will explore the reasons for my different answers.
The truth is, there is nothing wrong with praying loudly as long as the prayer is heartfelt. Prayer is simply an act of communication and fellowship with God, primarily engaging both our hearts and minds. The emphasis on our hearts and minds is important because, without focusing our minds on the Lord and aligning our hearts with His will, we risk praying amiss. Whether praying silently, loudly, or even writing out your thoughts to God, the essential factor is that your heart is connected to the Lord, because He cares about the heart.
"But the LORD said to Samuel, 'Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.'"
1 Samuel 16:7
“The heartfelt and persistent prayer of a righteous man (believer) is able to accomplish much [when put into action and made effective by God—it is dynamic and can have tremendous power]. ”
James 5:16b
According to James 5:16, the prayer that works is the heartfelt one. However, this doesn’t mean we should neglect the various ways we engage in prayer. Silent prayers, long prayers, or writing out your thoughts (often called journaling) all have their place and advantages in the ministry of prayer. These practices are not for God’s benefit but for our own, just as fasting doesn’t change God but helps us align with Him. For this newsletter, however, we will focus on praying loud prayers.
PRAYING LOUD PRAYERS
There are many differing opinions on praying loud prayers, but as believers, the Word of God is our final authority. Our perspectives, points of view, and way of life must be subject to the Word. Just as we appreciate when our loved ones understand our 'love languages,' God also has His 'love languages,' which are clearly outlined in the Bible.
We do not have the right to decide how we want to serve God, as He has already established how He is to be served.
One of the places in scripture where Jesus outlined how we ought to serve Him was when a teacher of the Law asked him about the greatest commandment.
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38
In this commandment, we see that we are to serve the Lord with our emotions fully invested in His service. When we do this sincerely, there will be moments in prayer where we pray loudly, even if it's not all the time.
Some people find it irritating when they see others praying loudly, especially in church, but this attitude is wrong. Another group believes praying loudly makes them look overly spiritual or ‘spiricoco,’ which reflects pride. God, who knows the heart’s motives, will judge rightly. Then there are those who attribute their reluctance to pray loudly to their temperament, saying things like “I’m melancholic.” Yet, these same individuals can be the loudest when discussing a popular TV show, Netflix series or supporting their favourite football team. This inconsistency often points to misplaced priorities. They may ask, “Is the Lord deaf?” or compare prayer to speaking with earthly parents, saying, “When you talk to your parents, do you scream at them?” These questions don’t justify passiveness in prayer. God sees the heart, which our earthly parents cannot, so the comparison doesn’t apply here.
Throughout Scripture, we see instances where people prayed loudly, and God never told them to quiet down. Below are three examples:
(1) The Upper Room Experience:
Acts 2:1-13 tells us how Jesus instructed His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they were filled with power. About 120 of them were in the Upper Room on the day of Pentecost, praying and speaking in other tongues. Something important to note is that the Bible records people dwelling in Jerusalem—devout men from every nation under heaven—heard them praying. A good question to ask is, how could they have heard the disciples of Jesus if they were not praying loudly? Clearly, they were praying loudly, and God had no issue with them doing so."
(2) Paul and Silas in Prison:
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas prayed and sang hymns to God after being imprisoned for casting a demon out of a girl. Their prayers were not silent, as the other prisoners heard them. Clearly, they were praying loudly.
"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them."
Acts 16:25
(3) The Garden of Gethsemane:
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed to the Father during a crucial moment before His crucifixion. The writer of Hebrews tells us that He didn’t just pray, but He prayed loudly, crying out to God.
"While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God."
Hebrews 5:7
If Jesus, God in human flesh, prayed loudly at a critical moment in His earthly life, you shouldn’t feel bad for praying loudly. Likewise, don't make others feel like they're doing too much if they pray loudly during prayer meetings.
Thank you so much for reading! In the next newsletter, I’ll discuss why people pray loud prayers and why you can, too. We will also cover instances when it might be better not to pray loudly, even if you want to. Don’t forget to like, comment, and share this newsletter with your family, friends, and relatives.
Have a wonderful day,
Smart’s Insights 💡