By Eldean Kamp
Eldean Kamp is the Prayer Mobilizer for Classis BC North East, of which Willoughby Church is a member. In her January 2012 “Prayer Paper” she writes:
“Last week I met with a wonderful lady who said she had been to a prayer gathering with some friends and she was “high” from praying with them. So later when I asked the four of us who were meeting together to close our time in prayer, she said, “ Oh, I don't pray out loud in small groups.” “I get all nervous and can't think so I just pray silently but I appreciate praying with my friends.” I'm not saying my friend's silent prayer is not valid, but I think all of us benefit from hearing the prayers of others.
I'm sure that many of us can relate to my friend. There are many reasons why some feel uncomfortable praying aloud.
Here are some suggestions if you or your group struggles with your time of prayer:
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Ask God what He would have you do to grow in praying together.
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Face the question of praying aloud together and have people state their fears, etc.
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Accept the fact that everyone does not need to pray aloud each time we pray although they may indicate agreement when someone else prays by saying “yes” or “amen.”
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Keep prayers short. Sentence prayers are helpful in getting us started in praying together.
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As a leader or group person suggest sentence beginnings for prayers: Lord, I praise you for..... Lord, I thank you for... Lord, I ask you for…
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Some of us need time to think about how we will pray. Offer a few minutes of silence before you begin.
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Take a favorite Psalm and use it to pray using the ACTSS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, Submission) acrostic. “
Let’s “raise our voices together in prayer to God. “ (Acts 4:24)