Praying Out Loud

"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."             
                                                                                             Romans 8:26


Are you comfortable praying out loud?   I am most definitely not!  I am always afraid that someone will laugh at me or make fun of me for the way in which I interact with God.  
          I once read that when you are praying you should talk to God as if you were having a face to face conversation with Him.  The writer said that you don't have to be formal with Him. Just talk to Him as if you were talking to anyone.  I thought that sounded like it made a lot of sense and took it up as a practice.  
       When I pray, I have a conversation with God.  Much like when I write this blog, I try to do it as if I were speaking to you in person.  It is not uncommon for me to say to God "hey Man" or "but Dude"  after all God is "the Man", He is "the Dude" and that's not meaning any disrespect.  It's a two way conversation.  I talk and I also listen.   I am very comfortable praying silently for people even when I am right there with them, but I wince at the thought of having to pray out loud.  On occasion, if moved by the Spirit I will offer up some verbal words, but on my own I would rather not.
         Dear Lord, please give us the ability to listen to You as we pray for others.  To follow Your guidance and not our own.  Sometimes we let our fears get the best of us.  Help us to not let that happen but to trust in You and to follow Your lead.  Sometimes the one being prayed for needs to hear the words and sometimes not.   You know.  You always know. Just help us to do as You wish us to.  Thanks.