People need to return to being silent instead of loudmouth attention seekers. Being silent removes distractions, humbles our thoughts and takes away the show. When we pray, we should spend most of our prayer time in silence by ourselves, one-on-one with God. I am not into big corporate prayer where the masses are entertained through a single person saying a prayer over an entire audience. Is there anything biblically wrong with this type of prayer? No, but let’s look at the examples that Jesus gave us as laid out in the Bible. More often than not, Jesus talked to the father when he was alone.
The purpose of a silent prayer is that when you are alone and no one is near, there is no one to impress with your words. Your words become a reflection of your heart and God is the only one that knows your heart. Not always, but more often than not, public prayer reveals less of the heart than a prayer only heard by God. The prayer is not as intimate because the person praying might choose to leave details out or avoid using particular words as to not offend someone. A silent prayer is more raw, rigid and genuinely all cards on the table type of prayer.
Focus on being silent like Jesus showed us.
Look at Matthew 6 and see what this passage tells us about giving and prayer. Both giving and prayer is better served in silent because we are not seeking to impress other people. When I give money to others or kingdom causes, I often give cash as I intentionally do not want others to know what I am giving. I don’t give money so that I can receive a tax write off either. Giving in this manner makes the gift between myself and God. It is nice to surprise someone with a kingdom gift without seeking any kind of recognition for what I have done. When no pat on the back is required, it makes you feel different about the gift that you have made.
Here is the passage from Matthew that I mirror my giving and prayer life after. Silence has more of an impact on my life than any boasting or recognition will. When you act in a silent manner, you eliminate most gossip and nosiness from the Christian crowd. The typical Christian measures people by the money they donate and the prayers that roll off of their lips. Be like Matthew by praying in silent and giving silently.
Matthew 6 New American Standard Bible 1995
Giving to the Poor and Prayer
6 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise, you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.
2 “So, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
5 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.