Bible verses about prayer

And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.

Luke 11:1

The disciples watched Jesus pray and then asked, Lord, teach us to pray.

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

Matthew 6:9-13

The Lord's Prayer: praise, God's will, daily bread, forgiveness and deliverance, in five verses.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

Matthew 6:6

Pray in private, behind a shut door, to a Father who sees in secret.

But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.

Matthew 6:7-8

No need for vain repetitions; the Father knows what you need before you ask.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask, seek, knock: three verbs and a promise attached to each one.

If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Matthew 7:11

If earthly parents give good gifts, how much more will the Father in heaven.

And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Luke 18:1

Jesus told a parable so that people would always pray and not lose heart.

Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Matthew 26:41

In Gethsemane Jesus told his sleepy disciples to watch and pray, for the flesh is weak.

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

Jeremiah 33:3

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great things you do not know.

The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

The LORD is near to all who call on him in truth.

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

1 John 5:14-15

Our confidence is that God hears when we ask according to his will.

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

John 14:13-14

Jesus promised to do what his followers ask in his name, so that the Father is glorified.

And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

Isaiah 65:24

God says that before they call, he will answer, and while they are still speaking, he will hear.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:26

When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings.

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

Hebrews 4:16

We can come boldly to the throne of grace for help in time of need.

Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:2-3

James gives two reasons prayers go unanswered: not asking, and asking for selfish ends.

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Pray without ceasing, three words that make prayer a way of life.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

Pray about everything with thanksgiving, and God's peace will guard your heart.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Colossians 4:2

Continue in prayer, staying watchful and thankful.

Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Ephesians 6:18

After the armour of God, Paul adds praying always with all perseverance.

Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

Psalm 55:17

David prayed evening, morning and noon.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 5:3

In the morning David directs his prayer to God and then looks up, expecting an answer.

Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

James 5:13

Afflicted? Pray. Merry? Sing psalms. There is a fitting prayer for every mood.

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

James 5:16

Pray for one another; the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

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

1 Timothy 2:1-2

Pray for all people, including kings and those in authority.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Matthew 5:44

Jesus says to pray even for those who mistreat and persecute you.

Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

1 Samuel 12:23

Samuel said it would be a sin against the LORD for him to stop praying for the people.

Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

Matthew 18:19-20

When two or three gather in Jesus' name, he is in the midst of them.

Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Acts 12:5

While Peter was in prison, the church prayed for him without ceasing.

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

John 17:20-21

Jesus prayed not only for his disciples but for all who would believe through their word.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Mark 1:35

Jesus rose a great while before day and went to a solitary place to pray.

And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

Before choosing the twelve apostles, Jesus prayed all night.

Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

Luke 22:42

In the garden, Jesus prayed, nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:

1 Samuel 1:27

Hannah, holding Samuel, said, For this child I prayed.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

Daniel 6:10

Daniel kept praying three times a day even after the king's decree was signed.

And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

Nehemiah 1:4

Hearing that Jerusalem's wall was broken down, Nehemiah wept, fasted and prayed.