BD.6012
July 30, 1954

SILENT PRAYER, PUBLIC CONFESSION - LOUD OR SILENT PRAYER?

Let those who worship Me do so in spirit and in Truth. That which comes from the very bottom of the heart alone pleases Me and also reaches My ear. I therefore look only into the heart of man and do not regard the word spoken by the mouth, when the heart does not participate. If you can fully cut yourselves off from the world in order to hold dialogue with Me, then you already praise Me without words, through your willingness to enter upon a connection with Me; then a silent prayer which you direct to Me in thought is already the right worship, which brings in a rich blessing for your soul, as the connection with Me puts you in possession of power and grace, which the soul perceives as help for maturing.

This kind of inner prayer is the prayer well pleasing to Me, because then you have voluntarily approached Me more closely, so close that the power of My love can touch you, drawing you ever more intimately toward me.

If you want to speak to Me, then the speech of the mouth verily is superfluous, because this can easily try to hide or hush up something, which I detect indeed but may not be obvious to fellowman, whence the latter is easily deceived and then proceeds himself to adopt such form of prayer.

Enter upon your closet when you want to pray. Withdraw into utmost silence; there you shall find Me much more readily, and relate to Me like a child to its Father. And you shall tell Me everything without fear and in child-like trust. And you shall find a hearing for your pleas because your prayers then reach My ear, as I promised you with the words: "Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

On whoever comes to Me thus, I make My promise come true, more obviously in proportion to approaching Me trustingly; the more inwardly he forms his union with Me an entrust himself to Me in silent dialogue. Let the speech of the speech of the mouth serve you for communication among yourselves.

I need not words because I know all, I look into your heart and read your thoughts, and hence you cannot deceive Me with ever so beautiful words, just as words are not needed for praising and exalting Me either, because silent thanks, a humble call to Me, a life according to My will, a faith made alive through love, verily please Me and include praise and glorification as well.

Yet confessing Me to your fellowmen you shall do with your mouth. Where it comes to your position on faith, you shall confess Me freely and openly and not fear the consequences of your zealous witness. Because this witness inturn is to spurn your fellow-men who still are weak of faith; and it is proof at the same time that you are with the Truth, that you are not trying to outwardly project an appearance that does not harmonise with your inner thoughts and convictions.

You should be steadfastly true and set Me and My name above all else, where this confession is demanded of you. But whatever you may have to tell me, same you can present to me silently and secretly, because I want to hear the voice of the heart, not just words which the mouth prattles when the heart does not participate. And mighty power such prayers have if intoned in union with Me, where men get together to beseech Me in a certain matter, when all ask the same from the depths of their hearts, sending the same prayer up to Me even if it is nothing but a brief call. I shall hear it and accede to it so soon as they pray to Me in Spirit and in Truth.

AMEN