If the only pictures of prayer in your mind are of muted, quiet, serene—even silent—scenes, brace yourself. While there are good times and places to pray silently, there are also instances when it’s appropriate not only to vocalize your prayers (see my post on that subject here), but also to shout them.
To be fair, Jesus told His followers not to “show off” in public prayer, as the Pharisees of His day were prone to do; He said instead to pray in solitude rather than on the street corner or town square. Whether you’re praying in a private place or in public worship, however, there are good reasons and good occasions to shout your prayers. Here are six:
1) Shout for Joy
The psalmist told God’s people, “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 98:4, NIV). So shout your joy. Laugh loudly. Leap, if you want to. And shout a joyful prayer to God.
2) Shout a War Cry
When David faced Goliath on the battlefield, he defied the enemy and loudly proclaimed his faith in God (see 1 Samuel 17:45-47). We can do that, too, in prayer, as we defy our enemy and shout a battle cry.
3) Shout a Confession
God spoke these words to the people of Israel through the prophet Isaiah: “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isaiah 58:1, NIV). There are times when a confession should be silent and moments when it is best shouted, so whether it’s a corporate or personal confession, shout it, don’t hold back, raise your voice like a trumpet and expel your confession with as much force as you can summon.
4) Shout a Promise
In the days of King Asa, the people of God gathered in Israel and “took an oath to the Lord with loud acclamation, with shouting and with trumpets and horns” (2 Chronicles 15:14, NIV). So do as they did, and shout a promise to God. (If you have a horn handy, blow it too.)
5) Shout Your Praise
When Jesus told 10 lepers to go and present themselves to the priests (for a clean bill of health), they were all healed as they obeyed His words. “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice” (Luke 17:15, NIV). Being healed of leprosy is a great reason to shout a prayer. As is being healed of anything. Or being forgiven. Cleansed. Awakened. Strengthened. And more.
6) Shout Your Victory
Have you been promoted? Blessed? Had a prayer answered? Experienced a breakthrough? The psalmist sang, “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout unto God with a voice of triumph” (Psalm 47:1, Berean Study Bible). So clap and shout your victory, every chance you get.
These are not the only reasons to shout your prayers, but they’re a start. What prayers do you shout?
