When the believers heard about the ordeal that Peter and John had just gone through with the religious leaders, “…they raised their voices together in prayer to God…” (Acts 4:24).

I used to know a lady who would occasionally say, “All we can do is whisper a prayer.” I suppose that some prayers are best whispered. But some prayers are more properly prayed with your voice raised.

Think of some of the prayers offered up by Job and David. They had some difficult questions for God, and it seems that they asked him these questions under great stress, dealing with deep emotions. I can’t imagine that they always whispered in their conversations with God. Surely they prayed with their voices raised.

When I think about some of my most memorable talks with God, I remember praying to him with my voice raised. When I heard about a friend who had suffered a serious heart attack, I prayed for him…but I didn’t whisper. When I was rushing to the hospital to check on a friend who had been struck by a car, I prayed for him…but I didn’t whisper. When a man was working diligently to divide the leadership of the church where I served, I prayed for the church…but I didn’t whisper.

When is the last time you actually raised your voice in prayer to God? When might be the next time?