[Biblemat] Silent prayer (question/answer)

[Don Martin]

Hello Louann,

Thank you so much for your question and for making use of Bible Questions.
Please do so again. http://www.biblequestions.org  Please check out Bible
Truths http://www.bibletruths.net  Go to the archives section of these sites
for material and also go to the archives search page and type in any subject
or word you wish to explore. New material is constantly being added to both
sites. Any help you can give us in telling others of these sites will be
greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in really learning more about the Bible, there is an
online Bible study course located in Bible Truths. While on the home page,
scroll down and enter.  While on the Map Site Page, click on "Online Bible
Study Course" in the table.  Click on http://www.bibletruths.net to go
there.

You asked:

When we pray, does it matter if we pray silently or audibly?  Does God hear
both?

Reply:

First, as you have observed, God knows what we think - He can "read our
minds".  Consider Matt. 9:4; 12:25; 1 Cor. 3:20; Acts 8:22; 1 Cor.
13:11; and 2 Cor. 10:5.  Not only does He hold us accountable for what
we say and do, but also for what we think, even if we don't act on it
(e.g., Matt. 5:28).

On the other hand, the examples of prayer in the scriptures generally
seem to be vocalized or expressed in some manner.  An exception to this
general rule is 1 Sam. 1:13 which records an example of an acceptable
prayer in which the person's voice was not heard.  Although even in this
case, there still seemed to be at least some organization to her
thoughts (not just random ideas).  As one of our archived articles says
in part:

   "Expressed prayer as opposed to unexpressed "thought" or "silent"
prayer. The scriptures do not teach the popular practice of what some
call "silent" prayer (Ps. 64: 1, 66: 19, 77: 1). The example of Hannah
would come the closest to silent or thought prayer, but even "her lips
moved, but her voice was not heard..." (I Sam. 1: 13). As I understand
the scriptures, prayer is more than just an isolated, random thought.
Prayer involves the organizing of our thoughts and an "expression" of
the same."

To read the material in full, simply go to http://www.biblequestions.org
and click on the "Archives" button.  Select the letter "P", scroll down
to the topic of "Prayer", and click on the article entitled "What the
Bible Teaches about Prayer (BT)".  The articles marked with a "(BT)" can
also be accessed from the Bible Truths website.  You can get to them
directly if you go to http://www.bibletruths.net and enter through the
door at the bottom of the home page.  While on the Site Map Page, click
on "Archives and Index" in the table and then click on the desired topic
in the subject/alphabetical index on the Archives page.

Thanks again for your good question and for your interest in spiritual
matters. I recommend that you print out this email for future reference (web
addresses, etc.). You may print out any material you desire in both Bible
Questions and Bible Truths (see the copyright provision at the bottom of the
home page in Bible Truths).

Cordially,
Don Martin