The devil can't read our minds or know what we're thinking.. how would he be able to tell if we are praying inaudibly? Can he feel the power of God when trying to interfere?
[quote author=TITL link=topic=9503.msg117065#msg117065 date=1280160302] The devil can't read our minds or know what we're thinking.. how would he be able to tell if we are praying inaudibly? Can he feel the power of God when trying to interfere?
I always thought that the devil can read our thoughts. He tempts us primarily with thoughts, some of which come out of nowhere and without a tangible stimulus.
As far as the initial question goes, I think praying out loud is better because that leaves you more with the feeling that you're talking with God. Even when praying inaudibly, it's probably better to mouth the words so that it's not the same as normal thoughts.
the church through the sacraments actually teaches us to do both!
depends on the place and the surrounding, if I'm with a group of people in church, and i go inside the Altar to pray, am I going to speak out loud to God?! if I do that I'm not considerate of others, and I really might be a stumbling block... or if I'm at work, am i going to lay a rug and pray out loud, to make sure people know I'm talking to God?!
and if I'm home in my room, while its dead quite, am I going to pray quietly, so that my thoughts go all over the place?! even the agpeya has a tune to be prayed in, from our fathers the monks who use to pray out loud... so prayer out loud is, personally, preferred, but make sure you do it in the right time and place!
but the main point is pray... whether its from your heart or from your mouth... just keep communication with God!
The devil can't read our minds or know what we're thinking.. how would he be able to tell if we are praying inaudibly? Can he feel the power of God when trying to interfere?
of course he cant... but when you pray, you are in the presence of God... so the devil is very limited by God's permission!
its the same as if you memorize a psalm, and repeat it in temptations, the devil becomes very limited in his fights!
I know these monasteries where they have a prayer type which is accompanied by fasting. It starts with 3 days and goes on to 7 and 15 days and so on. In these days u shall not even utter a single voice from ur mouth. It is considered that u completed perfectly if u keep in silence and pray in heart till the third day. If in any reason at all a word or even a single shout come out of ur mouth then u failed. There is a reward also for those who finish this which is manifested spiritually like in a dream or answers to their questions. By the way this is an Ethiopian monastery. This was my starting point for my Qs. Is there any better value given to silence prayers ???
+ Abouna quoted this verse: "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer." -Psalm 19:14
well first when you pray inside of you .. sometimes you start going off topic and think other stuff .... but when out loud , it is very hard to start thinking about other stuff. i suggest praying out loud .
pray at all times on all occasions. btw the demons can't read our thoughts. also it doesn't matter if they know we are praying. james says 'submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.' so, submission means doing God's will and prayer is a big part of that. it's less important if u pray out loud or quietly.
Comments
Typically when I'm alone I like to pray aloud because I tend to get distracted when praying in silence
Praying in Silence .... No one hears
Q. Which one is more effective?
A. The one with the right prayer and sincere heart
The devil can't read our minds or know what we're thinking.. how would he be able to tell if we are praying inaudibly? Can he feel the power of God when trying to interfere?
I always thought that the devil can read our thoughts. He tempts us primarily with thoughts, some of which come out of nowhere and without a tangible stimulus.
As far as the initial question goes, I think praying out loud is better because that leaves you more with the feeling that you're talking with God. Even when praying inaudibly, it's probably better to mouth the words so that it's not the same as normal thoughts.
depends on the place and the surrounding, if I'm with a group of people in church, and i go inside the Altar to pray, am I going to speak out loud to God?! if I do that I'm not considerate of others, and I really might be a stumbling block... or if I'm at work, am i going to lay a rug and pray out loud, to make sure people know I'm talking to God?!
and if I'm home in my room, while its dead quite, am I going to pray quietly, so that my thoughts go all over the place?!
even the agpeya has a tune to be prayed in, from our fathers the monks who use to pray out loud... so prayer out loud is, personally, preferred, but make sure you do it in the right time and place!
but the main point is pray... whether its from your heart or from your mouth... just keep communication with God! of course he cant... but when you pray, you are in the presence of God... so the devil is very limited by God's permission!
its the same as if you memorize a psalm, and repeat it in temptations, the devil becomes very limited in his fights!
neshkor Allah, akhadna el baraka!
I know these monasteries where they have a prayer type which is accompanied by fasting. It starts with 3 days and goes on to 7 and 15 days and so on.
In these days u shall not even utter a single voice from ur mouth. It is considered that u completed perfectly if u keep in silence and pray in heart till the third day. If in any reason at all a word or even a single shout come out of ur mouth then u failed.
There is a reward also for those who finish this which is manifested spiritually like in a dream or answers to their questions.
By the way this is an Ethiopian monastery.
This was my starting point for my Qs. Is there any better value given to silence prayers ???
but when out loud , it is very hard to start thinking about other stuff. i suggest praying out loud .
btw the demons can't read our thoughts.
also it doesn't matter if they know we are praying.
james says 'submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.'
so, submission means doing God's will and prayer is a big part of that.
it's less important if u pray out loud or quietly.