Out Loud

This whole group devoted themselves to constant prayer with one accord: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), Judas (son of James), a number of women including Mary (Jesus’ mother), and some of Jesus’ brothers.

Acts 1:13-14 (The Voice)

 

 

When the early church prayed in one accord, as the New Testament records, it was necessary to pray out loud so they could pray in conversational agreement, which is only possible when one knows what another is praying. It’s sort of like sitting at the dinner table with family and friends. In order to have a conversation with each other, you have to voice your words. Only then can you have a conversation or a discussion on a certain topic.

 

Importantly, when our prayers are voiced, the Holy Spirit speaks out loud through us. Have you ever thought about that?

 

Because the Holy Spirit indwells believers, when we come together to pray and speak our prayers out loud, we give Him an opportunity to use us to encourage and strengthen each other. His voice, so to speak, is heard from one to another's ears as He prays through us, through our own personalities, our own box of thinking.

 

Another important thing about praying out loud is not only are you thinking your prayers, your own ears are hearing your prayers. That’s a powerful thing, especially if you are praying out loud the Word of God.

 

But, I think one of the most important things about praying out loud is our enemy is hearing our prayers that we are sending over his head as prince of this world to the King and Ruler of the universe. This is one thing I love about the ministry of Moms in Prayer International. The Lord God uses this ministry to teach us to pray out loud scripturally and specifically in one accord conversational prayer. And He uses this ministry to multiply prayer across the face of this earth by gathering women to pray together.

 

Think about that. You are one person praying for your child in your personal prayer time. You are putting your prayers before the Throne. But, when you gather with other women who join you in praying for your child (and you for theirs), you have just increased the prayers for your child by at least double. And not only are those prayers before the Throne, they are in the ears of your child’s enemy who has no choice but to bow to the will of the King of the universe concerning your requests.