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5 Reasons You Should Be Praying Out Loud

And how to get started without being awkward

praying out loud, benefits of praying out loud

Does the thought of praying out loud fill you with anxiety? Even just thinking about it makes your heart beat faster, you start sweating, or you become overwhelmed with fear. You think to yourself, I’m not very good at praying, I don’t know what to say, or my prayers are too short.

Can you relate?

Being uncomfortable praying out loud is really common. But did you know praying out loud, in groups or even with a friend, can exponentially grow your faith? All it takes is some practice and motivation, so here are some reasons why you should pray out loud and how to start.

External declarations can change your internal dialogue. When we pray for things out loud, we change our internal dialogue and posture. Praying things like, “Jesus, You are enough” or “God is greater than my grief” will build your faith and help change the way you view things.

Keeps you awake. Jesus reminds us, “Our spirit might be willing, but our flesh is weak.” If you’re prone to falling asleep during prayer, like Jesus’ disciples did in Mark 14:37-38, praying out loud will help you stay awake. You’re more likely to stay awake through prayer when your brain is listening to what your mouth is saying.

Practice for when you are called upon in public. Like anything, we practice behind the scenes to get better for those moments we’re in public. It’s uncomfortable to be asked to pray for people and not know what words to say. Praying out loud privately helps us get comfortable with the sound of our own voice. Repetition gives us the confidence to approach God in public.

Sets the standard in your house. If we want our household to serve the Lord, we must set an example through our relationship with Jesus. Kids need to hear us praying outside the church walls. The same is true if you live with an unbelieving spouse, parent, or friend.

Encourages each other. Praying in a community of people draws the Lord in and builds our faith. In the book of Matthew, Jesus tells us there is power when we pray in groups, and there’s purpose when we make declarations out loud.

Praying out loud is a bold move in your faith. When you unashamedly confess Jesus as your Savior, the enemy’s grip on your problem loses its power. Praying out loud is an internal decision speaking a bold declaration that Jesus sits on the throne, high above your struggles.

prayer changes things, prayer changes us

So where can you begin?

Start when you’re alone. This may seem awkward at first so try it behind closed doors where no one is listening or when everyone has left the house. You can even do this in the car on your way to work or the grocery store.

Whether this is your first time or you simply hit a rut in your prayer life, all it takes is practice. It gets easier and more comfortable the more you pray out loud.

Here are some cues to kickstart your out-loud prayers:

Use an outline for your prayer. One way to pray follows the A.C.T.S. model:

  • Adoration: Praise God for who He is.
  • Confession: Confess your sins and ask for His forgiveness.
  • Thanksgiving: Thank God for His protection and provision.
  • Supplication (an appeal to God): Make your requests known.

Create a prayer list. It can be immensely helpful to write down what you want to pray about before you get started. Use a journal to keep track of your prayers. To encourage your faith, take it a step further and mark the date your prayer is answered or follow up with an entry about God’s alternate plan.

Read Scripture out loud. David wrote many of the Psalms as prayers, so it’s a good place to start. Here are a few of our favorites: Psalm 30, Psalm 51, Psalm 63, Psalm 91, Psalm 139, and Psalm 145.

Keep it short. We can get caught up in the length of our prayers and struggle to come up with words to fill the silence. There is no rule on how long your prayer should be. There is no benefit to babble. God sees the heart of your prayers. Stretching them out for the sake of filling time is unnecessary.

Pray like you. God created you to communicate in a unique way. Don’t get caught up trying to say the “right” things, using “fancy” Christian terms, or praying like someone else. Prayer is meant to be a personal conversation with God. Like you would have between friends, family, or a mentor. Let go of how you think you should pray and just be you.

Put on worship music. Let the lyrics take the place of your words when you have nothing to say. As you learn the lyrics, begin to sing them out loud as prayers.

Prayer changes things, but it changes us more. Prayer can pivot a problem faster than a phone call to a friend. Praying out loud can transform what we believe and how we act when trouble comes. When you pray out loud, you are declaring victory by faith.

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Your Promise Land Is On The Other Side Of Your Pain

You must persevere to get to the other side

promise, 145:13, God is faithful, God's promises

Fresh into our first year of marriage, my husband and I were arguing over laundry, dishes, the dog, and everything under the sun. Fight after fight, fear had me questioning God and His promise for my future. I couldn’t help but feel disappointed that God wasn’t doing what I assumed a good God would do.

Have you ever had your hopes dashed, a devastating thing happen, or a situation never seems to get better? Fear has an awful way of exaggerating our reality. Worry can snowball a small situation into a much larger problem.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

God designed a place for His children to prosper. It’s a Promise Land where you and I can experience the most abundant life in store for us; a renewed marriage, restored health, a refreshed calling, released from the chains of addiction. God’s desire is for His children to dwell in this Promise Land free from fear, anxious thoughts, or negative thinking.

Just like the Israelites who stood at the cusp of Canaan, their Promise Land,

we might be standing one step away from our Promise Land and fear has us thinking of turning back.

They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.” Numbers 13:27-28 NIV

It took 40 years of walking the wilderness to find this Promise Land and now God’s children are letting fear make them want to throw in the towel. The Israelites are fearful of what they’ll find on the other side of this one last mountain to climb, but they’re soooooo close!

Isn’t it crazy what fear will have us doing?

Concerns overworked in our minds become worry. Worry digs up doubts that this situation will get better or that God will intervene. Doubts morph into dread and unbelief as we stand at the foot of our Promise Land. 

You might be ready to cash in 40 years or even four months of marriage. Maybe you’re thinking of running back to life as a slave to sin because you haven’t seen the harvest of your hard work just yet. Panic will produce all kinds of irrational thoughts as an attempt to control the situation.

Don’t give up yet, you’re almost there!

It takes perseverance to step into the Promise Land.Psalm 145:13, God is faithful, God's promises

It’s difficult to see from where you’re standing, but the situation isn’t as big as your fear wants you to believe. God is much bigger and your Promise Land just on the other side is much better. You’re at the foot of your Promise Land, don’t turn back now.

The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Psalm 145:13b NIV

When we open God’s Word, we’re assured He’s working out His purpose here for our ultimate good and His glory. Fear may have you facing a delay or even defeat, but this is not your final destination. Your Promise Land is just on the other side of the mountain.

Whether your circumstances change or not, hold onto this eternal hope: Jesus is still on the throne, our Father is faithful, and His promises are true for you today.

I promise you!

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The First Decision Is The Most Important

Scriptures to back up every decision

building a house, making decisions, start with Jesus, Proverbs 24:3-4, by wisdom a house is built,

Building a house requires a lot of important decisions. What kind of kitchen should we have? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? What about the backyard?

Having children also comes with making a lot of choices too; should we use a daycare or stay home when the kids are young? Will we homeschool our kiddos or enroll them in public schooling?

Maybe you’re leading a group of people and wondering how to talk about a problem, or, perhaps you’re thinking about making an expensive purchase.

No matter what your question is, the first decision is the most important.

Once you figure out the foundation of your decisions, the rest will fall into place.

For my husband and I, that foundation is God’s Word, the Bible.

Searching the scriptures, my husband and I found the Lord had much to say about open doors and hospitality, creating a sanctuary of peace, and taking care of widows, orphans, and the poor. As we made our choices for this new space, we dreamed up audacious possibilities of fellowship and providing refuge for a community in need of Jesus.Isaiah 41:10, fear not, I am your God, I will help you, I will uphold you,

My husband and I also thought about the legacy we were leaving with the hands and hearts of those working on our home. We claim to be ambassadors of Christ so it was a conscious choice to advocate for Truth even in our absence. We chose scriptures to bear witness to the saving grace of Jesus and scribbled this testament over the floors and beams of our new home.

Where do you begin when making your most important decisions?

It’s easy to take action when you have the answers. Jesus is always the answer.

Your options are opportunities to declare Jesus is the One you seek and serve. What could this look like in your life? Maybe you start with prayer over your meals in public places. Perhaps you post your favorite bible verse in a public place, like your office.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

When we believe this Truth, it’s easy to make God’s Word our first choice. 

Ps. I dare you to allow your imagination to run wild with all ways His Truths will be accomplished – its super fun!

Wanna see pictures of our artwork and know what scriptures our family chose to graffiti the foundation of our new home? Click here and use it for your own!

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What to do with what frustrates you the most

Living with the superpower of patience

Have you ever felt like you had the “right” to revenge? To get even? To have your say? To confront someone? Maybe it’s with your kids, your spouse, a friend, or someone at work who frustrates you. Emotions can make it difficult to make wise decisions. When we’re consumed with what we “deserve” to do, our thoughts cloud what God’s Word says we should do.

In the Bible, we see some great men of God, like Samson and David, prove that impulsiveness is rarely the right reaction. Both men made choices in the moment out of pride and lust that snowballed into more and more sin. We find that waiting on God could have prevented a lot of pain.

Demonstrating a little patience now can save us a lot of problems later.

patience now, less problems later

It’s easy to love other people when life is going our way, but what happens when the kids take too long getting ready in the morning or our boss asks us to stay late again? When someone tests our last nerve, the way to walk out patience in the moment is to:

  • Remember God’s purpose
  • See the situation from His perspective
  • Put others first

Remember God’s Purpose

The purpose of everything is to lead us to God. Even the devil unintentionally fulfills this truth. When Satan tempts us to react in frustrating situations, God is giving us the opportunity to focus on the One who settles it all. These difficult situations offer the perfect place to turn to God for the strength to endure this circumstance and to see things as He sees them.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 NIV

God’s ways might be difficult to understand, but His character is not. Above all, He is God Almighty. He is just. And we can trust Him completely because His character never changes and His word never fails. Becoming more patient means gaining a better understanding of God’s sovereignty so that we can let go of the situation. It also means acknowledging that God loves us no matter what.

See the Situation from His Perspective

Whenever you face trials, you can remain steady in a storm and patiently endure the hardship because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. James 1:3 NIV

When someone is selfish or rude or maybe just mistaken, we can look past the pain and stand patient in our love for others because of our love for God. Adopting God’s perspective is the key to becoming more patient with people, with ourselves, and even with God Himself.

Put Others First

Once we understand God’s purpose in all things and we gain God’s perspective, the last piece to living with more patience is to put others first.

It’s easy to think if we put others first then our actions suggest they must have done something “right.”

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God … Romans 3:23 NIV

None of us deserve the radical grace God extended to us through the death of His only son, Jesus. The truth is that obeying God’s commands means you’ll live life differently, just like the life of Jesus.

Instead of reacting to humanity’s failures or out of your own struggles, what would your life look like if you submitted to God’s purpose, His perspective, and put others before yourself? There is a secret superpower in becoming more patient; you are becoming more like Christ. For His glory.

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Make The Most of Your Days

More than just once a year

wisdom, number our days, Psalm 90:12, make the most of your days

Saturday’s are short, life is short. And though we make our own plans, many details are still so uncertain. We like to mark the years with our birthday, but we would probably be wiser to number our days. One day a year isn’t enough when we have 364 more chances to make the most of every opportunity God gives us.wisdom, number our days, Psalm 90:12

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 NIV

Living in light of eternity makes every day significant—no matter how many days we have on earth.

Your thoughts have tremendous power. Your day will follow the course of your thoughts. When you live with an attitude of faith and expectancy, you will be strengthened and empowered by the Spirit of God.

Take inventory of your thoughts and replace them with declarations of your faith.

When the storms come, be assured that these trials are refining your soul to produce a purer version of you. You are better having gone through it; that is how God works.

The beginning of wisdom is knowing that He is God, and you and I are not Him.

I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust! Psalm 91:2 AMPC

You can make the most of even the hard days because God honors a heart of faith.

If you’re bold enough to speak it, God is bold enough to do it.

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Faith is…

The gaze of a soul upon a saving God.

A.W. Tozer, Tozer, faith is, saving God

A.W. Tozer, Tozer, faith is, saving God

It’s pretty simple. The God of heaven, who made the sea and dry land.

The God of the storm and our oasis.

The God of our strength and every weakness.

The God of our only saving grace, His son, Jesus Christ.

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What to do when you don’t know what to do

obedience, eternal gain, small steps

What to do? Most likely, it’s a question you ask often. I do.

I’m convinced when my mind understands the eternal calling here on earth, then my earthly calling will be fulfilled in eternal ways.

In other words, when you grasp that God put you here to experience mercy in the face of emotions, to extend grace when situations fall short of expectations, to flood the nations with Jesus’ love and compassion, then what you should ‘do’ is exactly this.

Our ‘calling’ can sound daunting when we hear “nations” but see only our neighborhoods.obedience, eternal gain, small steps

Start with your next step. Small steps in obedience to God’s desire for your life leads to an eternal gain.

Are you fighting selfishness? Pray for the welfare of others before you begin prayers for yourself. Are you consumed with concerns of a comfortable life; more money, more time? Then say ‘yes’ to the company of others and give away what you have all the more.

In whatever way you share Jesus with others, that is what God has called you to.

The skills, talents, and resources God has gifted you with to carry His compassion to even just one soul, that is your calling.

God’s will is that you do this with a thankful heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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Prisoners of Hope

Zechariah, Zechariah 9:12, prisoner of hope

Zechariah, Zechariah 9:12, prisoner of hope

We are Prisoners of Hope!

We look at our circumstances and expect Jesus to enter in. We don’t panic in the storm because He gave us a promise. He is our Strong Tower, our stronghold in the storm.

The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Our days are not dictated by the moods of other people. God is here in our midst and calms us with His love.

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Is Fear A Sin?

Just ask Jonah

fear, sin, jonah,

We don’t discipline our children for being afraid. When we flip back through the pages of scripture, we don’t see fear showing up as one of the Seven Deadly Sins. So is living afraid even bad? Is fear a sin?

“Do not fear” is one of God’s most frequently repeated instructions in the bible. Have you ever considered why?  

When fear takes the lead in our lives, it often causes us to disobey God’s Word.

If fear leads to disobedience, is fear a sin?

Jonah’s story is a testament to what fear will lead us to do. God told Jonah to go to Ninevah and tell the city that God is bringing His judgment on their wickedness. Jonah’s fear took control and he ran from God’s request. Jonah’s paralyzing fear led him away from his purpose, God’s calling on his life.

Our choices have significant consequences. The emotionally uncomfortable, conflicting feelings of fear can keep us from the high calling God has placed upon our lives. We might struggle with the fear of commitment, the risk of being hurt, and so we hold back emotionally and stay away from relationships. We might be afraid of the expectations of others so we refrain from speaking the truth.  

Fear disrupts faith and becomes our biggest obstacle to trusting and obeying God.

Moses let fear make a few decisions in his life. Being a slave to fear can keep us from an opportunity to discover that God can be trusted.

When we feel called by God to act, our fears can hold us back. Fear can keep us from acknowledging reality, from speaking the truth, from being authentic with others, from admitting struggles, sharing our pain, and standing up for what is right. When we focus on our fear, we end up elevating our feelings above God’s ability and ultimately, we forget all about God’s faithfulness.

Fear might be the number one reason we are tempted to run from what God has called us to do.

If fear leads to disobedience, is fear a sin? Trust and fear are constantly battling for our decisions.

If you live in fear, you will never experience the potential that God has placed in you.

When you choose fear, you lose the opportunity to discover that God can be trusted. Any kind of growth inside you is going to involve risk, and risk always involves fear. You will have to face your fear, act even when you are afraid if you intend to do what God has created you to do.

We will all have moments when we must choose between trust and fear. Where is Jesus asking you to step out, step up, step into the face of fear? What is holding you back? There are good fears that keep us from reckless choices, but your ‘no’ because of fear shouldn’t keep you from saying ‘yes’ to faith.

Use your fear and fight back in faith. Click here for a tool I created to help your faith grow the next time a fear presents itself. 

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The single worst day in history and God said it was good

death, sting, King, Jesus, His death brought goodGod wrote “good” on the single worst day in history. There is not one day, or week, or month, or year of suffering… not one trauma, loss, or pain with which God cannot write “good” over you in Christ Jesus too. All it takes is the belief that His blood covers all of you; in the past, the present, and what is to come.

In God’s presence, pain has no place, sickness has no place, weariness has no place, depression has no place.

At the cross, we find all our answers.

In what Jesus lived for, in what Jesus died for, that is the meaning to life.