A practical guide
Make room for private prayer without performing
Start here
Choose a quiet moment and pray without preparing words for an audience. Matthew 6 offers a starting point for reflecting on sincerity.
Read Matthew 6:5–8
Jesus warns against praying to be seen by others and against relying on many words. Notice the concern with the purpose of prayer, not simply the length of a prayer.
Sources: Matthew 6, World English Bible
Remove one audience
For this practice, set aside the idea of sharing the prayer afterward. Put the device on a less distracting setting if useful, or choose paper. Ask what you want to say when no one else needs to approve the wording.
Write the ordinary version
An original opening is: “God, I do not know how to say this neatly.” Continue with the concern you actually have. You can keep the prayer short or take more time; neither length proves sincerity by itself.
Common questions
Does this mean every shared prayer is wrong?
This passage criticizes praying for public attention. Do not turn that warning into a conclusion about every form of shared prayer.
What if my surroundings are noisy?
Use the privacy available to you. The exercise does not require a perfect room or complete silence.