Make Up Your Mind to Pray (Part Two)
“And when He had gone a little farther, He fell on His face and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’” Matthew 26:39 (NKJV)
There is a third powerful truth about the prayer life of Jesus that you cannot overlook. Jesus prayed out loud. This matters more than most believers realize.
There are times when praying out loud in public would not be wise or appropriate. At work, in a quiet setting, or in certain environments, silent prayer is the right response. And here is good news. There is never an inappropriate time to pray silently. Anywhere you are, you can lift your heart to God. But do not miss this. A vibrant, growing prayer life requires more than silent thoughts. Prayer is not thinking. Prayer is asking. Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you” Matthew 7:7 (NIV). Asking requires words. If you are not asking, you are not praying.
One reason many believers struggle in prayer is because their prayers never leave their minds. When prayer stays silent, distraction creeps in. Your thoughts wander. Your to-do list shows up. Your focus drifts. But when you pray out loud, something changes. Your mouth engages your heart. Your words take authority over your thoughts. Your focus sharpens. Scripture makes it clear that Jesus prayed verbally. Matthew tells us that He “prayed, saying.” Jesus did not just meditate on His prayers. He spoke them. He voiced His surrender. He audibly declared His trust in the Father.
When you pray out loud, the atmosphere shifts. Calling on the name of the Lord out loud releases power. Worship spoken with your voice steadies your mind and strengthens your spirit. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (NKJV). Words matter.
There is also something deeply formative about others hearing you pray. When a home hears prayer, faith takes root. When children hear a parent pray, it leaves an imprint that lasts a lifetime. This is one reason the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray” Luke 11:1 (NIV). They had heard Him pray. And they knew there was something different.
You do not pray out loud to impress people. You pray out loud to engage heaven. And you do not need to fear the enemy hearing your prayers. When you pray in the name of Jesus, God sanctifies that space. Heaven responds. The name of Jesus carries authority that darkness cannot withstand.
So make up your mind. Have a time to pray. Have a place to pray. And learn to pray out loud.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to pray with boldness and faith. Help me use my voice to honor You and align my heart with heaven. Let my prayers change the atmosphere of my life and my home. I trust the power of Your name and the authority You have given me as Your child. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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