And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7

When this verse was written, the public prayers were flowery and void of substance. They actually wanted to be noticed for what they said and how they said it. Those kinds of people exist today so this verse is certainly more relevant to them. Still, we can all learn from it.

A long time ago I was called upon to pray aloud in church.

That meant praying out loud in front of people.
It meant wording my prayers so as to not say something stupid or out of line.
It meant that if I couldn’t think of anything else to say, I’d have to end the prayer, often in the middle of a thought.

Or did it mean any of those things?

So what if I got all tongue tied and forgetful when praying in front of 50 or 60 people? Who would care?

Praying alone and praying corporately are two very different tasks. One is as a public speaker because that’s technically what you’re doing, and the other is being able to say what you want or nothing at all.

The argument can be made that your public prayers should be the same as private prayers because you’re not doing it for the people but for God. However, you’re still being asked to speak in front of people, which just happens to be the number one fear in America (public speaking). Technically the words are between you and God, but realistically, there are others eavesdropping in on your prayers.

Regardless, I’ve found that simple is best in prayer. No need for unwanted verbiage or $50 words when ten cent words will do just fine.

It’s okay to be nervous when praying in public with others listening. God knows your intent and motives. Often, and depending on the setting, people have zoned out anyhow so they may not even hear what you’re saying.

So, pray the way you want without fear or intimidation. As my friend used to say when I got up to preach or make an announcement, “Don’t worry. If you mess up, it’s not as if they’ll stone you or anything like that.”