The Answer

I agree that prayer is vital. And encouraging others to pray is our duty. If you want your prayers to be effective do it in a way that is pleasing to God. Each prayer should be from the heart of each of God's children. What scripture are you following when you pray publicly? And as a group? Please see Matt 6:5-6.

While I believe that the point you are making probably varies from denomination to denomination, I do understand what you mean. Matthew was refering there to placing yourself forward by praying publicly to gain attention. There are numerous verses throughout most of the books of the New Testament that refer to public prayer and praying in groups. Jesus prayed quite often in public, as did the disciples. By their example, and specifically, in the chapter later in Matthew, I think it's 18:18, regarding forgiveness, it states that whenever two of us come together and make it a prayer God will act on it, and when two or three of us gather in his name, he is there.

Prayer should always be a personal thing and from the heart, as this was. I hope you have a blessed night.