"But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly."
Matthew 6:6
Prayer is an essential part of a spiritual life, and the act of praying out loud can bring a deeper sense of connection with God and strengthen our faith. Whether you are praying alone or with a group, speaking your prayers out loud can have a powerful impact on your spiritual growth.
But praying out load is uncomfortable for some people. Their words get jumbled, they feel anxious or awkward, or they get self conscious (especially when praying out loud in front of others). But with practice, this spiritual discipline can have a big impact on how close you feel to God.
Here are five reasons why praying out loud can be beneficial for your connection with heaven.
Increased Focus and Clarity: Praying out loud allows you to focus on the words and meaning of your prayer, rather than just thinking them in your head. It also allows you to hear yourself speak the words, which can help to clarify your thoughts and intentions.
Greater Sense of Connection: Saying your prayers out loud can create a greater sense of connection with God and a stronger feeling of being heard and understood.
Increased Sense of Community: When praying out loud with others, it can foster a sense of community and shared belief. Praying together can also help to build a sense of accountability and support within the group. This is especially important in family settings where it exemplifies speaking with God is a family priority.
Improved Memory: Speaking your prayers out loud can help to solidify the words and intentions in your mind, making it easier to remember and reflect on them later.
Increased Emotional Impact: Saying your prayers out loud can have a greater emotional impact than just thinking them. The act of speaking them can bring a deeper sense of humility, gratitude, and awe.
Praying out loud is a powerful way to connect with God and strengthen our faith. Perhaps our Heavenly Father encourages us to pray in our closets, with the door closed (see Matthew 6:6), because he wants us to find enough privacy to speak to him out load.