Is there such a thing as silent prayer?

Question:        Is there such a thing as silent prayer?

 

Answer:          The phrase silent prayer is used quite often in church circles.  Prayer primarily means: to speak or talk to God as a form of worship coupled with supplication or petition.   When one prays, he has to use words in order to petition God.  If you eliminate words, it isn’t prayer: it’s called meditation.  When one meditates he’s in a state of intense thinking concerning spiritual matters.  No words are involved while meditating; only thoughts.  We are to make our thoughts known; Phi. 4:6, “…..let your requests be made known unto God.”  Thoughts cannot be made known unless you literally say what you are thinking;

            Throughout the New Testament, it is clear that one have to ask for the desires of his heart; James 4:2, “…..ye have not, because ye ask not.”  Again, Jesus declared that what ever you say; Mark 11:23, “…..whosoever shall say…..those things which he saith…..he shall have whatsoever he saith.”  Even God used words during the creation of the world; Gen. 1:3, “…..God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

            Jesus also said that he will hear the prayers of the righteous; 1 Peter 3:12, “…..and his ears are open unto their prayers.”  Something have to be said before it came be heard.”  Thoughts or meditation is silent; not heard.

            The implication throughout the Bible is that a prayer has to be spoken and not silent.  Some will say Hannah prayed a silent prayer; 1 Sam.1:13, “…..she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard…..”  Hannah was in engaged in effectual fervent prayer.  She began praying using words, but because of her heaviness of heart, words no longer flowed from her mouth; 1 Sam. 1:11, “…..she vowed a vow, and said….”  Later in the chapter, it is obvious that she did ask God for a son; 1 Sam 1:27, “…..the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him.” 

            There are others who think they are keeping Satan from intercepting their words when they pray silently.  The answer to this dilemma is to speak in tongues.  When you speak in tongues, Satan does not know what you are saying, because you don’t even know what you are saying; 1 Cor.14:14, “…..if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful.”  Even an unknown tongue is making an audible sound.  Reflect back on the words spoken by James 4:2, “…..ye have not, because ye ask not.”  He did not say, “you have not because you think not.  I am under the impression that if you pray silently, then the answer will be unfruitful, because the prayer was never heard.