How Do You Pray in Public, Without Performing?

Ask Pastor John
Episode: 931

[louellacalindas]

even praying for a small group is daunting for me... i am more concerned if i said the right words and it consumes the sincerity of the prayer as i try harder.... thank you so much, pastor John

[johnbreitmeier]

Prayer was never intended to require a miracle or even be difficult. It is just talking to God, your Father, who loves you. I do it all the time every day throughout the day and I don't have to rehearse it. God knows what I need before I ask. He just likes to hear from me.

[thehardertheyfall]

I'm HOMELESS and I struggle everysingle Day so I worship him outside and most of time people Can see me driving by I don't apologise for that. Maybe I can inspire them to seek him but that's how I stay strong during my struggles is worshipping in song when I'm walking or waiting on a bus.

[kuzykn]

this world would be a better place if there were more pastors like you! Thank you for your deep reflection

[ricklamb]

Jesus said go in your prayer closet and pray, or close your eyes and give thanks without being observed.and God will hear your prayer.

[APoeticPariah]

This was profound and exactly what I need to hear

[onlineversion]

There's so much more pressure in praying in public and it's not only worrying about the right words to say but also having to fight off the devil (which I don't want to express outwardly). When I'm praying in private, of course the devil still attack or distract me but I can stop and rebuke it and go on praying but c'mon... why would I wanna do something so crazy like that in public and scaring some people.

[augustine.c]

take heart from the Valley of Vision. books of prayer can build up others as well

[playatmytimeakakillzone]

1 Corinthians 14:16 KJV

Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest?

[johnbreitmeier]

You would think that occasionally Pastor John would actually read the Bible. He keeps quoting I Cor 14:6 as referring to PUBLIC PRAYER. He is dead wrong "16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, [a] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying?".

First the word prayer is not there but rather Praising of God which is not prayer.

Secondly, a look at the context shows Paul is not focusing on prayer al all but rather why publicly speaking in tongues is improper. "13 For this reason the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that they may interpret what they say. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. 15 So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 16 Otherwise when you are praising God in the Spirit, how can someone else, who is now put in the position of an inquirer, [a] say “Amen” to your thanksgiving, since they do not know what you are saying? 17 You are giving thanks well enough, but no one else is edified.
18 I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." Paul is NOT saying you should be praying publicly out loud. He is saying there is no point at all in speaking in tongues out loud in church because church meetings are for edification or education and not words no one can understand. What we say in meetings is to build up the body not to talk to God who can hear us anywhere all week.

Third, if you are at all concerned about what the congregation or bystanders are hearing you are talking to them rather than to God and you really are not praying at all. Just speechifying under the guise or pretense of prayer. If you want to preach or give a speech of course you need to consider your audience and speak so they understand. If you are speaking to God who already knows your heart, it is not a big concern about grammar or fine speech.

[joshsmith]

It says in jude to pray together. It says to pray in the spirit . It says to do it often to protect ourselves. The spirit prays through us . I think we get confused here . How do we heal people if we can't pray in public. He intercedes for us he prays through us for the healing of his people. we pray in secret and we pray for others to be healed in public when there's other people around .there's power in prayer in public. In prayer we let the spirit move through us and it's for his glory, it's for his kingdom it's for his people.I want to let the Lord do, I want him to heal us, I want him to move through us, and I want the power of the holy Spirit to pour out on us.we praise God for what he's doing how he's moving and who he is . he's amazing God we can pray for people and we should . we shouldn't get caught up, we should let him flow through us . We are the light bearers.

[ricklamb]

lovers. Down if you can, look straight ahead, give God and His Son Jesus thanks, and then continue whatever you are doing.

[ricklamb]

My phone is jacked up.I didn't put lovers on there it did.i actually said sit down, look straight ahead and pray.

[jordanbeck]

1 peter 2:18-21 talks about slaves submitting and being patient. Why did God say that and not tell them to fight to be free

[diannerussell]

Didn’t Jesus say don’t let people see you praying. Go into your room to pray.🌟

[PMA]

Also it's not good when people dissect and criticise over lunch anything anyone said in the meeting earlier.

[carlabunn]

I am being criticized for praying on youtube for our President and his wife. Am I wrong ?

[playatmytimeakakillzone]

This pastor is flat out lying and first Corinthians 16 Isn’t referencing prayer. This pastor is wrong. Don’t let him send you to hell.