Whats the difference between Vocal prayer and mental prayer?

Question

Remember anyone can say words out loud but there is more to it then that.....

Answer 1

In vocal prayer you are usually speaking for all the people in the audience, so you are saying a community-type prayer involving everyone. Whereas, in a mental/silent prayer you can say personal things to God just for yourself & not have to worry about how you say it or what you say. Both should be sincere though.

Answer 2

Vocal Prayer

Answer 3

I think they are both the same, but Mental prayer, is when you concentrate hard before you say your Prayers,I can feel the presence of the Lord, around me. Vocal Prayer is when you say your Prayers out loud, and sometimes I can actually feel that God is with me.

Answer 4

when u rightfully believe in the presence of GOD next to u or always around u and feel your closeness to HIM a reality, your mental prayers are good enough to keep u in touch with him....when u pray for others, or when u pray with others the above feeling turns into a vocal representation because it becomes necessary to reassure the self as well as the others that the prayer is an united and joint effort for a common cause.

but whatever be the way, HE always receives and accepts the prayer if it is straight from the heart, because HE has HIS own unique ways of distinguishing between a prayer, a complain, a plea, an excuse or simply a submission.

Answer 5

In Seminary, we studied various forms of prayer, and essentially, they broke down into these two categories: Oratory prayers (orations or prayers spoken out loud) and Meditatory prayers (meditations and contemplations). Both of the prayer types serve different purposes. And some sorts of prayers can only be one or the other. For example. Petitions and travails must by their nature be orations, but meditations (obviously) and contemplations are silent.

However, these are technicalities, and the reality is that any prayer, said from the heart, whether verbalized or not, is still heard before the throne of God. It ultimately comes down to your comfort level in conversing with the Almighty. Some things need to be said with a shout...and others never need be said aloud at all. God understands.

Answer 6

In my colony we have a ladies group that meets every Thursday for prayers, singing of Shabd/kirtan and Ardaas in true Sikh tradition. All this requires us to be vocal and the whole atmosphere is filled with such positive vibrations that even those who cannot understand a word of it feel the loving energy and are filled with awe and wonder. I feel vocal prayers are meant more for the benefit of the masses so they can feel as one.

The mental prayer is the one that I say when alone and it requires a certain degree of concentration. If I am not able to muster that, I resort to vocal prayer even when alone so I can hear myself and benefit from it.

For God, its one and the same.....so I believe.

Answer 7

Only the noise that comes out of your mouth. Mental prayer is just as good as vocal prayer.

Answer 8

Hi Rena,I believe some individuals contain certain gifts from God.One of these gifts can be mentally praying. To ask the lord for directions, to receive data,To adventure on a new calling. Guided to a person. Vocal prayer is used more for everyone.To pray for forgiveness or for the well fare of others .To raise people to the light.

Answer 9

I'm sure everyone who prays has an individual preference about this. My preference is mental prayer, prayer from my whole being. If I am caught up in something with a group of people, it has a strong effect, no doubt, but it does not have the effect of a prayer coming from me.

Answer 10

Mental prayer is a direct telepathic link. Vocal prayers, especially certain rhythmic and repetitive ones cause vibrations within the body that can help tune in to the spiritual wavelengths in the brain, activating the pineal gland (third eye, center of spiritual enlightenment.)