S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

The Bible may not specifically mention praying silently, but that does not mean it is any less valid than praying out loud. God can hear our thoughts just as easily as He can hear our words (Psalm ...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Kilian Kean Supporter Telecommunications Engineer (Retired)

I like it that God hears my silent prayers and nobody else can, including the enemy. Praying silently in my mind and spirit allows me to intercede on the behalf of others in the world, our nation, our government leaders and so on without the enemy knowing. I find there are less distractions to my prayers when I do it in my heart and mind where only God hears them. 

In Ephesians 6:18, it is the culminating powerful tool given to us to use in the Armor of God. Romans 8:26-27 says the Spirit interprets our prayers to God according to His will. How awesome is that? When we groan due to the conditions of our world and the rejection of God in peoples lives, it is presented before God according to His will.

October 06 2014 • 3 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Cherie Mitchell Supporter

I think talking to God, audibly or silently, is biblical. 

I think praying audibly is a better choice for many other reasons, such as: keeping one's mind from being too distracted; "hearing" the words of faith; being able to pray in agreement with someone (you want to know what you're agreeing with); and so on. Praying the scriptures aloud builds up your faith, too.

Silent prayer has its place. There are situations and places that only lend to a silent prayer. For example, praying in a public setting (other than religious or church), praying while talking to someone, praying when witnessing to an unbeliever, and so on.

One story found in the Bible about a close-to-silent prayer is in the encounter of Hannah with Eli.

"Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk."
1 Samuel 1:13-15

Hannah was praying in her heart. However, when she moved her lips and her voice wasn't heard, Eli thought she had been intoxicated.

October 18 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

N S Supporter 4th-generation Bible-believing Christian

Nehemiah 2:4-5 strongly suggests that silent prayer was Nehemiah's method of praying in this particular situation: The king asked Nehemiah an important question, and Nehemiah had to answer immediately, so he prayed before answering! No doubt he prayed silently, and very briefly. Probably something like "Help, Lord!" Then he opened his mouth and replied to the king's question.

July 08 2019 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Danny Hickman Supporter Believer in The Gospel Of Jesus Christ

For the purpose of examination, let's suppose silent prayer to be "unbiblical." Does that make silent prayer sin? Jesus said we were to not be ashamed of our relationship with Him, so the question might be inferring that silent prayer is praying ashamedly. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels" (Mark 8:38). 

Or, are we to reckon silent prayer to be not heard by God? The prophet Habakkuk complained about God not hearing him: Oh Lord, how long shall I cry for help and you will not hear? Or cry to you "violence," and you will not save? God spoke through the prophet Zechariah and said He wasn't listening to the people because the people weren't listening to Him: "As I called and they would not hear, so they called, and I would not hear" (Zech 7:13). But I can't find where God complained that the people weren't speaking in an audible voice. 

When the question is whether a practice is "biblical," is that a way of asking if the practice is "lawful" for believers? I ask because if it refers to things that weren't told to us by the bible to be done, the list is almost inexhaustible. I'll stay in context: praying on the phone with a friend, praying while driving, while jogging, at the dentist office (lol), on an exercise bike, during take-off and landing.... Are these prayers respected by God? These conditions didn't exist during the time of the writing of the scriptures, so are they "biblical"? 

"Biblical" according to Webster: Of or in the bible. The story of Nehemiah being sad before King Artaxerxes, and being asked why he had a sad look on his face, has been used as a footnote on "silent prayer." The bible says Nehemiah became afraid when asked this by the King, and that he prayed. It says it in one breath, as if Nehemiah was put on the spot and had to offer a quick unplanned prayer to God. I don't know if that's what we're being told. 

When the King asked him why he was sad Nehemiah told him why. The king asked what he could do to help (Neh 2:4). "So I prayed to the God of heaven." It might be that he didn't answer the King on the spot. Often, the bible doesn't tell "blow by blow" what was done and said. After he prayed he answered the King, is what we're encouraged to learn. He might have offered a quick silent prayer, or he might have had time to pray and got back to the King some time later. The bible isn't chronologically written. When it's imagined to be understood that way it is usually misunderstood. 

(1Tim 2:11) Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. I take this to mean if she prays "in church" she is to do it silently and not in a way to draw attention to herself. 

The words of the wise heard in quiet is better than the shouting of of a ruler among fools (Eccl 9:17). 

Finally - When Zechariah, John the Baptist's father, was told by the angel Gabriel that his wife Elizabeth would "bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great before the Lord," instead of Zechariah rejoicing, he questioned the authenticity of this good news. His reply was, "How shall I know this, for I am an old man and my wife is advanced in years?" He was sentenced by the angel Gabriel to be "unable to speak until the day these things take place." (See Luke 1) 

Was this priest, who was made mute by the power of God, unable to pray "biblically" for nine months? What we do know is that when John was born "they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted [John] to be called." He wrote on a tablet "His name is John." And immediately his tongue was loosed and he spoke, BLESSING GOD. (Emphasis mine) Then Zechariah prophesied (vs 68 - 79). Maybe he had nine months of prayer penned up inside..

We're told to pray without ceasing (1 Thes 5:17). It doesn't say you must move your lips...

April 13 2020 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Is silent prayer biblical?

Yes, silent prayer is biblical and recognised as a valid form of communion with God. While the Bible often depicts vocal prayer, it provides examples of silent, internal prayer—such as Hannah's petition in 1 Samuel 1:13—and highlights that God knows thoughts, listens to the heart, and hears unspoken prayers (Psalm 139, Romans 8:26-27). 

Biblical Example for Silent Prayer:

Hannah's Example: Hannah prayed silently in the tabernacle, with only her lips moving, and God answered her prayer (1 Samuel 1:10-13). 

God Knows Thoughts: God is omniscient and does not need vocalised words to know our needs or hear our hearts (Proverbs 15:26, Psalm 139:23). 

The Spirit's Intercession: When we cannot find words, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with "groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26). 

Meditation and Reflection: The Bible often encourages internal reflection and meditation, which are forms of silent, heartfelt prayer (Psalm 19:14, Psalm 62:1). 

Thinking also about Jesus before he resurrected people, he prayed silently, and he did so before he cured people.

Jesus frequently withdrew to deserted places to pray alone, separating himself from crowds and ministry to connect with the Father. 

Deepened Intimacy: It allows for a deeper, more personal relationship with God, treating silence as a sacred space to experience divine love, trust, and presence.

Regular silence before God can help us withdraw from the noise in our own minds and embrace both the struggles and aspirations of others.

Remember Jesus words when he saw the Pharisees praying in the streets? Matthew 6: 5-6 ESV: "5 And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites: for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, 'They have received their reward.' 6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thine inner chamber, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret, and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee."

Jesus did not rule out all public prayers, for he himself prayed audibly in the presence of others. (Matthew 14:19) But Christ was showing that it is wrong to pray in public solely to be seen and heard by others and to receive their praise.

Conclusion:

Do you always have to pray out loud? Or can Jehovah hear you if you pray to yourself?— We can learn the answer from what happened to Nehemiah.

At times, we may need to pray quickly for God's help. On one occasion, Persian King Artaxerxes noticed that his cupbearer, Nehemiah, was gloomy. "What is this that you are seeking to secure?" asked the king. At once [Nehemiah] prayed to the God of the heavens. Nehemiah could not linger in that apparently silent prayer. Yet God answered it, for Nehemiah received the king's support to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. (Read Nehemiah 2:1-8.) Yes, even a brief, silent prayer can be effective.

11 hours ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report