The 15 Best Bible Verses about Prayer

Dec 10

Prayer is an essential part of our relationship with God. It is the means by which we commune with God’s Spirit. The following Bible verses about prayer teach us the meaning of this important spiritual discipline for the Christian faith.

Through prayer we bring our requests and concerns to God, giving Him thanks for his many blessings, and praise Him for His glorious attributes. Through prayer, we can draw closer to God and receive a deeper understanding of His will for our lives.

According to scripture, the keys to effectual prayer are faith (Matthew 21:21-22), righteousness (James 5:16), persistence (Luke 18:1-8), and surrender (Psalm 139; Luke 22:42). Faith is believing that God will answer our prayers according to His will. Persistence is continuing to pray even when we don’t see immediate results. And surrender is trusting that God’s plan for our lives is greater than our own.

The Bible contains many examples of prayer that can inspire us and encourage us to pray. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, the apostle Paul teaches the early church to “pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

We can also look to Jesus for examples of prayer. The night before he was arrested and crucified, Jesus cried out to God, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done" (Luke 22:42). Through his prayer, Jesus models surrender to God's divine plan.

Prayer is an incredibly powerful spiritual discipline that brings us closer to God, helping us to experience peace and comfort. These Bible verses about prayer remind us to keep our faith in God, to trust in His will, and to be thankful for His provision and love.

Bible Verses about Prayer

Psalm 145:18

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

Matthew 6:6

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Matthew 21:22

And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.

John 15:7

If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

Romans 8:26

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

Philippians 4:6-7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working

Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

1 John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

Nathan | Editor | Bible Lyfe

A graduate of Asbury Seminary, Nathan co-founded Christ Community Church with a fervent mission to serve the poor while making disciples of all nations. In 2017, he started Bridgetown Ventures, a ministry that empowers the marginalized to be architects of change in their own communities. In his transformative book, Storm the Gates, Nathan invites readers to embody the core values essential to fulfilling the Great Commission, serving as a clarion call for compassion, faith, and global discipleship.