What the Bible says About Prayer

The Bible has a lot to say about the believers prayer life, here is  a list of verses about prayer that can give us as believers a deeper understanding about the power of a dynamic prayer life.

1. Matthew 6:9-13 – This passage is where Jesus shares the Lord’s Prayer with His disciples, teaching them not just to pray, but how to pray. It emphasizes acknowledgment of God’s holiness, submission to His will, and reliance on Him for daily sustenance, forgiveness, and guidance away from temptation.
2. Philippians 4:6 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” This verse encourages believers to replace anxiety with prayer, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and open communication with God.
3. James 5:16 – “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” This highlights the power of prayer in the community of faith, linking it with healing and the confession of sins.
4. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.” A short but profound instruction to continually engage in prayer, suggesting that prayer should be a vital and constant part of a believer’s life.
5. Jeremiah 29:12 – “Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” This promise was given to the Israelites during their exile, assuring them that God is always ready to listen if they turn to Him in prayer.
6. Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” It teaches about the power of faith in prayer, encouraging believers to trust in God’s ability to answer prayers.
7. Luke 18:1 – “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” Here, Jesus emphasizes perseverance in prayer, encouraging believers not to give up but continue praying with determination.
8. Acts 2:42 – “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Reflecting the early church’s commitment to communal prayer along with other forms of fellowship and teaching.
9. Psalm 145:18 – “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” This verse assures that God is accessible to those who genuinely seek Him in prayer.
10. Colossians 4:2 – “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.” Paul’s instruction to be persistent and watchful in prayer, accentuating the role of gratitude.
11. 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” This is a call for repentance and spiritual renewal through prayer.
12. John 17:15 – “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one.” Part of Jesus’ prayer for His disciples, highlighting prayer as a means for seeking divine protection.
13. Ephesians 6:18 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Paul teaches about the necessity of prayer in the life of a believer, particularly in the context of spiritual warfare.
14. Psalms 32:6 – “For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely in a flood of great waters they shall not come near him.” This suggests that prayer connects us to God’s protection and presence, especially during times of trouble.
15. Luke 6:12 – “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Demonstrates Jesus’ own commitment to spending substantial time in prayer, serving as a model for believers.
16. Romans 12:12 – “Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.” This verse encapsulates the attitude believers should have towards life’s challenges and the role of prayer in sustaining them.
17. 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.” It invites believers to approach God’s presence confidently, assuring them of His readiness to provide mercy and grace through prayer.
18. Matthew 26:41 – “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Jesus advises vigilance and prayer as defenses against succumbing to temptation, acknowledging human frailty.
19. Acts 1:14 – “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.” This portrays the early believers united in persistent prayer, highlighting the importance of communal prayer.
20. Psalm 102:17 – “He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer.” A comforting assurance that God pays attention to and values the prayers of those who are in desperate circumstances.