I watched one of Mike Donehey's old vlogs, and it was about prayer. I'd advise you to watch said vlog. When he mentioned that bit about praying out loud, I felt really convicted. It takes faith to pray out loud. It takes a belief that God is real and present. How little faith do we really have, love? Do you realize how much faith it takes to pray aloud? The first challenge that comes to mind when I contemplate this is my insecurity and my pride. What if someone thinks I'm talking to myself? That's weird. I won't do that. It would lower other people's opinions of me, because they would be thinking something that I don't want them to.
But does it really matter what people think of us? We're already not of this world, right? And if we are no longer darkness, but light (Ephesians 5:8), then should we worry about what darkness thinks of us, love? No we shouldn't.
And are we really talking to ourselves? Sometimes it feels like it. It takes faith to pray out loud alone. When I did, I felt for a while like I was just talking to myself. I'm so used to having people around, and for the prayer to be picked up by someone once I'm finished. But when it's just me and God? What if He sees my flaws, hears me stumbling over my words? What if He hears my silence? What if He speaks and says exactly what I don't want to hear? It's scary, but it's great for growing your faith.
When you pray out loud, you exercise the belief that God is omnipresent and is, in fact, close enough to hear you. That isn't always something that's tapped into. But when it is, it's powerful. And it's pretty cool.
