20 Bible Verses about Prayer
Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer in the U.S. and all week here at FaithGateway we are featuring articles by popular Christian authors and verses about prayer to provide you with encouragement to pray for our nation and your local communities. To kick off our commemorations, we’ve collected a list of 20 Bible Verses about Prayer. As you read through these scriptures about prayer, be encouraged. It is our prayer for you that God will help you understand more fully the depth of His love for you and His great desire for you to walk with Him daily in prayer.
God invites the followers of Christ to boldly approach Him with their praises, thoughts, needs, hurts, hopes and requests. ─ NIV Quickview Bible
Bible Verses about Prayer – God hears our prayers
Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the Lord hears when I call to him. ─ Psalms 4:3
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. ─ 1 John 5:14
Bible Verses about Prayer – Lay your requests before God
Listen to my words, Lord,
consider my lament
Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray. In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly. ─ Psalms 5:1-3
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ─ Philippians 4:6-7
Bible Verses about Prayer – How to pray
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. ─ Colossians 4:2
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ─ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. ─ Matthew 26:41
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. ─ 1 Timothy 2:8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. ─ Matthew 6:7-8
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’ ─ Matthew 6:9-13
For more reading on how to pray, check out this article from John Eldredge about how prayer works.
Bible Verses about Prayer – Jesus’s example
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. ─ Mark 1:35
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. “Abba,Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” ─ Mark 14:35-36
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ─ Luke 6:12
For further reading about praying in Jesus’ name, check out our blog post from Ann Spangler about praying the names of Jesus.
Bible Verses about Prayer– Confession and Forgiveness
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. ─ Mark 11:25
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ─ James 5:16
Bible Verses about Prayer – Give Praise to God!
On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. ─ Acts 4:23-24
I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus. ─ 1 Corinthians 1:4
Bible Verses about Prayer – Pray for peace and for our leaders
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ─1 Timothy 2:1-2
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you! ─ Psalm 122:6
Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! ─ Psalm 118:25
Your Turn
We hope these Bible verses about prayer have inspired you to start a meaningful conversation with the Lord. After all, that’s what prayer is all about, isn’t it? Do you keep a prayer list at home, perhaps something you write in a journal or on a chalkboard or another place where you have a daily visual reminder? Do you go back and look at past prayer requests and record answered prayers? Leave a comment and let us know the importance of prayer in your walk with the Lord. If you want to learn how to set up a specific place for prayer, read this helpful article from Anne Graham Lotz excerpted from her book The Daniel Prayer about making a prayer space in your home. ~ FaithGateway