Is praying in secret a lost art?

I grew up with the privilege of attending a private primary school owned by an Anglican vicar and Educationists - Ven & Mrs Adenugba of Blessed Memory - and of course I have my parents to thank for that. 

The school, situate in a very large compound with an annex, had bourgeois and generous architecture. I remember we pupils had the privilege of spiritual nourishment in the mornings - with morning devotions which included prayer sessions and singing of hymns, sometimes held even at the chapel of the Anglican Church situated in the compound of the school. Ven. Adenugba sometimes would minister and we learnt a lot, but most did not know enough to value it.

One of the things I recall learning is that when we were praying, the Venerable will tell us to pray in our hearts because God is in our hearts and he hears our prayers no matter how silent. Apart from the shouts of Amen!, prayer sessions were usually times of quiet and peace. This (is/was) proper Anglican doctrine as we were taught the same things in Sunday School at the Anglican Church we attended. Praying silently is similar to reading silently, the content was for you only. Only that, God dwells in your heart and could hear as well. 

Fast forward to Secondary Education, I was privileged again to attend a Baptist Secondary School. The same morning devotions were provided for us and we grew thereby. Prayer was also silent, with the occasional shouts of Amen. However, things began to change around 2003, a more senior student, who seemed to be 'spiritual' and acknowledged so by the teachers then, would lead prayer sessions sometimes. What I remember clearly was that during his prayer sessions, he would speak forth prayer points and would shout: PRAY LOUDLY! At the the end of a prayer point, he would shout.".... What are you waiting for, scatter!" speaking of course to the evil people from 'the village'. 

I always was uncomfortable with praying loudly, because I was taught differently.

University was also similar in that now even in fellowships, praying loudly in public places was the norm and at some point, I adopted that method as well. 

Of recent however, I have come to question this art of praying loudly as against praying silently, especially when I read this portion of relevant scripture:

‭Matthew 6:5-6 NRSV‬

[5] “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. [6] But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

https://bible.com/bible/2016/mat.6.5-6.NRSV

Here, Jesus preached secrecy during prayers. He lived as he preached and you will find in various parts of Scriptures that he would go to a quiet place to pray. He showed that prayer was actually a time of intimacy with the Father and not a time of showing who is the greater prayer warrior to our fellow members.

I remember once I was praying loudly in a church and when we were done praying, people were looking at me approvingly, like... yes!, what a mighty man of valor. I felt good, I can't even lie, but I didn't have the presence of mind to check if my prayer had been answered or perhaps that good feeling was my just reward. 

Many times, even in the Anglican Church, ministers will call out a prayer point, and if the church is quiet, the minister would say, 'You are not praying, pray louder!' Naughty me would think to myself  "maybe it is psychologically comforting to hear people pray loudly to a prayer point, you feel you have landed a blow on the evil ones... 😅" 

My Argument:

When people defend praying loudly, they quote this scripture:

James 5:16b  The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Fervency was the yardstick. Praying loudly was equated with Fervency. Which is correct but not only so. For instance: Hannah prayed fervently but quietly. See:

1 Samuel 1:13-18  Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.

And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.

Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.

Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=bible.kingjamesbiblelite

God answered Hannah's prayers abundantly ICYMI. 

Even Elijah, when he prayed for fire to come down, prayed loudly (which was good showmanship to convince the Israelites that the prophets of baal were shit) and God answered his prayers, but when he prayed for the rain to come down, he did not pray loudly. He put his head in between his knees and talked to God. And God answered his prayers. 

Praying loudly in the privacy of your room is okay - the thing is no one needs to know the content of your prayers - so your type of accommodation matters. But, when amongst a group, the next person don't need to hear what you are asking God for.

Praying in your heart is 

1) intimate, 

2) fervent 

3) effectual. 

4) It also helps us to have the consciousness that God is in us. Which can help regulate our behavior and faith. 

5) meditative

6) helps us wait for God's response while praying. 

7) cures a form of loneliness (because of the consciousness of God it instills,... you are truly not alone in there! ) 

With this few points of mine... 

Bring Back Praying Silently!!! 

Ciao. 

'Ladi Obidairo.

Altar Server, All Saints Anglican Church Ikosi-ketu, Lagos