What the Bible Says About Prayer
7 Bible Verses About Prayer
The Bible gives us directions on how to pray, tells us what attitude to have in prayer, and what happens when we pray.
Prayer is an integral part of the Christian life. It is an intimate way for us to correspond with our Lord.
In prayer, we can express our gratitude and rejoice in the goodness of the Lord. In prayer, we can pour out our hearts and express all of our feelings to our Creator. In prayer, we can worship God for all that He does and all that He is.
Understanding what the Bible says about prayer is important to shape how we pray.
Here are 7 Bible verses about prayer to help strengthen your prayer life.
1. Matthew 6:6
Jesus gives us directions on how we ought to pray: “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 6:6, ESV).
Jesus says that we are to pray in private, meaning that when we pray, we should not be looking for the praise of man, but humbly approach God seeking His approval alone.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Paul tells us further how we ought to pray: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, ESV).
Praying without ceasing does not mean that we are to pray 24 hours a day 7 days a week, but that we are to be in a mindful attitude of prayer and in constant communication with God.
3. Philippians 4:6
Philippians 4:6, ESV, tells us to pray with thanksgiving: “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”
Praying with thanksgiving not only stirs up joy in our hearts but diminishes our worries. Paul tells us that when we take everything to the Lord in prayer and make our requests with thanksgiving, we will have no need to be anxious.
4. 1 John 5:14-15
The Lord hears all our prayers: “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” (1 John 5:14-15, ESV).
God hears every word of our prayers. If every person on earth prayed at the same time, God would still hear and understand every breath that left our lips. So pray with confidence that the Creator of the universe hears you and that He will not leave your prayers unanswered.
5. 1 Timothy 2:1
We should be praying for others: “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people” (1 Timothy 2:1, ESV).
Making requests to God for others is an excellent way to love them. But Paul doesn’t just say that we should pray for our friends and family, he says for all people. Lifting up anyone who needs prayer is a wonderful practice for believers.
6. Matthew 5:44
We should pray for our enemies: “But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44, ESV).
Just as Paul told us to pray for all people, Jesus tells us that “all people” includes our enemies. It is hard to hate someone you are continually praying for. Jesus is saying that by praying for your enemies, you are loving them and treating them in a Christlike manner.
7. James 5:16
There is power in prayer: “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” (James 5:16, ESV).
Here we see that when believers pray, great things can happen. The sick can be made well. Families can be mended. Not because of anything they have done, but because the Lord delights in answering the prayers of His people.
May we let these Bible verses about prayer shape the way we pray, may our prayer lives be strengthened because of what Scripture says about it, and may we never forget the power of our God who hears and answers our prayers.
