Prayer: Silent or Spoken

Must Prayer be Audible?

First, we don’t know whether every prayer recorded in the Scriptures was spoken audibly or not. Some of Paul’s prayers, for example, are written down. We may presume that he spoke them aloud, but we simply do not know.

Second, we are told that God knows our thoughts. Here’s one example text: “As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him wholeheartedly and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts.” (1 Chronicles 28:9a NASB20)

John recorded that when Jesus was on earth, “He did not need anyone to testify about mankind, for He Himself knew what was in mankind.” (John 2:25 NASB20)

Third, in Matthew we find “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:8 NASB20)

God does not require audible or even verbal communication.

In fact we are told “the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NASB20)

Perhaps the communication of things too deep for words may have been on David’s mind when he wrote “Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls; All Your breakers and Your waves have passed over me. The LORD will send His goodness in the daytime; And His song will be with me in the night, A prayer to the God of my life.” (Psalm 42:7–8, NASB 2020)

Be at peace. Father hears your silent prayer just as surely as He hears those you speak aloud.