Do you spend time in prayer? What a silly question. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you spend time in prayer. Let me ask a more personal question. What was the last specific prayer God answered in your life? I don’t ask to judge you, but to sympathize with you. For years it felt like my prayer hit the ceiling and bounced back without an answer. Today I will share 65 Bible verses about prayer that will change your life as they changed mine.
Can Bible Verses About Prayer Change Your Life?
If you are praying about something, it matters to you. You need God to move in your life, otherwise, you wouldn’t waste your time in prayer. The problem is, if you don’t know what the Bible says about prayer, you won’t know how to pray powerfully, strategically, and effectively.
Knowing Bible verses about prayer can give you the tools you need for a powerful prayer life!
So today we will look deep into scripture and see the following:
- What the Bible said about prayer
- What did Jesus say about prayer
- How to use scriptures about prayer to supercharge your prayer life
- Examples of prayers that changed lives in the Bible
What the Bible said about prayer?
Prayer is important to God and He expects His people to pray. We see that this is what the Bible says about prayer. Pray, pray harder, pray all the time, pray in faith, and so on.
“Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” (Isaiah 56:7 NASB)
The Lord Hears Prayer
What we need to know, first and foremost is that the Lord hears all your prayers. It may not feel like it, but feelings lie! Or to put it as my daddy put it.
Feelings come and feelings go, and feelings are deceiving!
Just do a keyword search in Biblegateway.com on prayer and praying. There are 191 verses on prayer and 35 Bible verses about praying! If God didn’t hear all your prayers, would he have given so many Bible verses on prayer and praying?
Mixed into those, over 200 scripture on prayer we see many types of prayer in the Bible. The main point, however, is not how many types of prayer there are, but that God hears them all!
“The Lord said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your supplication, which you have made before Me;” (1 Kings 9:3 NASB)
“‘Thus says the Lord, “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will heal you.” (2 Kings 20:5 NASB)
“And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand.” (Revelation 8:4 NASB)
Related Post: 200+ Scripture About Prayer To Grow Your Faith
God Answers Prayers
Not only does God year your prayers, but God answers every prayer. Now, we don’t always understand His answer, sometimes the answer is no, not yet, or a redirection, but He always answers. Here are just a few scriptures on prayer to help us see that God answers prayers!
“or they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.” (1 Chronicles 5:20 NASB)
“Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer Nor His loving kindness from me.” (Psalm 66:20 NABS)
“while I was still speaking in prayer, then the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision previously, came to me in my extreme weariness about the time of the evening offering.” (Daniel 9:21 NASB)
“And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.” (Acts 10:4 NASB)
Bible verses about Prayer and Faith
The Bible also has a lot to say about having faith when you pray. Pray while believing that God hears and answers and you will see great things happen.
“In that day you will not question Me about anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.” (John 16:23 NASB)
“rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,” (Romans 12:12 NASB)
One of my favorite prayer strategies is to write out some Bible verses on prayer, hang them in my kitchen to remind me to pray instead of complaining when life is hard!
Related: Hope When Life Is Hard and You Are Hard Pressed on Every Side
Verses About Prayer and Worship
Worship is a word we often misuse, implying that it only refers to the 30 minutes of music each Sunday. In reality, worship is anything done to honor God. Prayer is worship and there are many Bible verses about prayer and worship that prove the point.
“May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” (Psalm 141:2 NASB)
“The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight.” (Proverbs 15:8 NASB)
“While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”” (Acts 13:2 NIV)
Related: To Be Still Praise God in Song When It’s Hard
What Did Jesus Say About Praying?
When there is a biblical topic, I love to know what Jesus said about it. So let’s answer the question, “What did Jesus say about prayer?” A lot. Jesus said a lot about prayer!
Pray in secret
““Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1 NASB)
“But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. 8 So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” (Matthew 6:6-8 NASB)
Keep Praying
I love this passage that says “ask and keep asking, seek and keep seeking, and knock and keep knocking!” Remember that God answers prayer and keep praying!
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7 NASB)
Pray in faith
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 21:22 NASB)
Add fasting to prayer
Adding a time of fasting to your prayer life can bring power and spiritual breakthrough! Learn how to fast and pray in a way that pleases God here.
“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21 NASB)
“Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” (Acts 13:3 NASB)
Hoping to go deeper in prayer in fasting? Check out this new book on fasting and prayer on amazon.
Deal with Sin for Effective Prayer
One thing that strikes me as amazing about God, through the person of Jesus, is grace. As believers, we are forgiven of our sins, but God loves us too much to allow us to continue to ruin our lives in sin. It is the difference between being nice and being kind.
God is not nice. Nice wants to make you feel better about your mess.
God is kind. Kind wants you to grow so your mess changes into holiness.
Grace is kindness, loving us as we are but leading us to change! That is a God who draws my heart in to pray more!
So it makes perfect sense that Bible verses about prayer repeatedly remind us to confess our sins, forgive others and walk in holiness.
““If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.” (Matthew 18:15 NASB)
Unity in Prayer is Powerful
Along with sin that hinders our prayers, is the idea that unity adds power to our prayers. Here are 12 more Bible verses to pray for unity in the Church.
“Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” (Matthew 18:19-20 NASB)
Pray Fervently Bible Verses About Prayer
We’ve seen that God hears and answers prayers. Is it any wonder, that a God who is so relationally driven also wants us to pray often? Prayer is having a conversation with God, growing that relationship with God.
God longs to have an intimate personal relationship with you. That is why there are so many Bible verses about praying fervently!
“Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart,” (Luke 18:1 NASB)
“They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42 NASB)
“Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,” (Romans 15:30 NASB)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;” (Colossians 4:2 NASB)
“Pray continually,” (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NASB)
Pray Boldly
Part of that beautiful, intimate relationship with God, comes the privilege to come to Him boldly with our prayers. We have a unique position with God, as His children, that allows us to talk to Him about everything. And as His, dearly loved children, He answers us, helps us, and comes to fight over us!
“Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24 NASB)
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” (1 John 5:14 NASB)
“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” (James 1:6 NASB)
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13 NASB)
“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NASB)
What does the Bible say about long prayers?
Also, note that the Bible talks a few times about long prayers, prayed in public to impress people. Prayer is a personal intimate conversation between you and God. It was never intended to be used to lord spiritual maturity or self-righteousness over others!
“And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” (Matthew 23:14 NASB)
How to Use Scriptures to Supercharge Your Prayer Life
Now we know what the Bible says about prayer, what Jesus said about prayer, now let’s see how to get our own prayer life rocking. Yes, your prayer life can be supercharged, powerful, and effective to change your life! But how? Learn how to become a strong prayer warrior here! And please note that adding Bible verses about prayer is key.
Famous Prayers in the Bible
I love that God doesn’t just say pray, but He shows us how and lets us know what will happen when we do.
The Lords Prayer is a great example of famous prayers in the Bible!
“Pray, then, in this way:
‘Our Father who is 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 also have forgiven our debtors.
‘And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.[For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’]” (Matthew 6:9-13 NASB)
We see countless prayers in Daniel, but I want to point out that he gave his attention to seek God, regularly!
“So I gave my attention to the Lord God to seek Him by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes.” (Daniel 9:3 NASB)
And then we see several examples where God answers the prayers!
“and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14 NASB)
Bible Verses About Praying for Others
It is also amazing to see Bible verses about praying for others. I love taking them word for word and praying them over those in my circle!
“Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” (1 Corinthians 7:5 NASB)
“I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;” (Ephesians 1:16 NASB)
“With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,” (Ephesians 6:18 NASB)
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men,” (1 Timothy 2:1 NASB)
Scriptures to Use When Praying
Do you want God to answer your prayers with a, “Yes”? Adding scriptures to your prayers is a powerful way to pray. If what you are praying for is in the Bible, it is in God’s will. If you pray according to God’s will, He will answer that prayer with a yes.
Praying Through the Armor of God
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:10-18 NASB)
A Prayer for the Nation
“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.” (1 Timothy 2:1-8 NASB)
The Prayer of the Righteous
“and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:15-16 NASB)
Bible Verses about Growing in Faith
“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,” (Ephesians 1:18-20 NASB)
“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2 NASB)
Scripture to Remind God and Yourself of God’s Faithfulness
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:12 NASB)
“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved me in my distress; Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1 NASB)
“The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, To all who call upon Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18 NASB)
” ‘Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’”(Jeremiah 33:3 NASB)
Adding scripture to prayer is both powerful and strategic!
Related: Complete Guide To War Room Strategy And Effective Prayer
Praying Scriptures Examples
Jesus is the perfect example of a man who prayed scripture. We can look at his prayers and see how they reflect passages from the Old Testament beautifully.
But don’t miss his example of how to pray, regularly, alone, and with faith.
“It was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God.” (Luke 6:12 NASB)
” But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” (Luke 5:15-16 NASB)
See 10 of the Prayers of Jesus here for more on how to pray scripture.
Bible Verses About Praying During Hard Times
Have you seen the theme woven through these Bible verses on prayer? Prayer moves God. When life is hard, when marriage is hard, when parenting is hard, prayer changes everything!
These are scriptures on prayer that I read over and over again to encourage myself. If God heard and moved then, He can do it again!
“and after that God was moved by prayer for the land.” (2 Samuel 21:14 NASB)
“Thus the Lord was moved by prayer for the land, and the plague was held back from Israel.” (2 Samuel 24:25 NASB)
“He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.” (Hebrews 5:7 NASB)
Related: 3 Ways Hard Times in Marriage Are a Blessing
7 Prayers To Pray For Your Children
How To Be Still When Marriage is Hard
Prayer Moves Mountains
I don’t know what kind of hard situation you are facing in life today. But please be encouraged to know that God never changes. He is the same today as He was yesterday. If you are reading this 10 years from now He will not have changed. And God said we can move mountains. How? Through prayer and faith!
“And Jesus *answered saying to them, “Have faith in God. Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him.
Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:22-24 NASB)
The Holy Spirit Helps You Pray
When your circumstances are difficult you have help to pray.
- The job ended with no notice
- Your marriage is in ruins
- Your children are rebelling
- The friendship is rocky
- Your health is going downhill
None of that caught God off guard! He is with you, cares for you, and longs to stand up over you in protection and defense.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27 NASB)
Philippians 4 Bible Verses to Pray
There have been seasons of my life I literally prayed through Philippians 4 every day! Anxiety would overwhelm me from all of the hard things and I needed comfort. Philippians 4 is an amazing guide to find peace when life is hard! Specifically these two.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6 NASB)
” And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 NASB)
Related: Apply Philippians 4:8 to Love God With All Your Mind
Examples of Prayers that Changed Lives in the Bible
There are soooo many prayers in scripture. Prayers prayed in desperation. Prayers prayed in thanks. The most beautiful consistency in all of the prayers we see in the Bible, however, is that they changed lives. Look at these and see how God showed up and showed off in the lives of His people.
The Prayer of Jabez
” Now Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!” And God granted him what he requested.” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NASB)
The Prayer of Jonah
“and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.“For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.“So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
“Water encompassed me to the point of death.
The great deep engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.“I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God.
“While I was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.“Those who regard vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.””
(Jonah 2:2-9 NASB)
Prayers of David
“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.” Selah.But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah.I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
So I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.Arise, O Lord; save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah.”
(Psalm 3 NASB)“To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in You I trust,
Do not let me be ashamed;
Do not let my enemies exult over me.
Make me know Your ways, O Lord;Teach me Your paths.
Lead me in Your truth and teach me,
For You are the God of my salvation;
For You I wait all the day.
Remember, O Lord, Your compassion and Your lovingkindness,
For they have been from of old.”
(Psalm 25, 1-2, 4-6 NASB)
A Sinning Saints Prayer
“Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence
And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation
And sustain me with a willing spirit.”
(Psalm 51:7, 10-12 NASB)
Two Prayers of Paul
” And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11 NASB)
“For this reason, I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,” (Ephesians 3:14-20 NASB)
The Prayer of Moses
“The Lord bless you, and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine on you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance on you,
And give you peace.’
(Numbers 6:24-26 NASB)
How Bible Verses About Prayer Can Change Your Life Today
What are the things you are bringing before the Lord today? I imagine they are important needs and dreams in your life. Have you seen how over and over again, God hears and answers the prayers of His people?
What will you do with these 65 Bible verses about prayer? You can begin adding them to your prayer life to pray more powerful prayers.
Pick one of the scriptures that is already a prayer and swap out the pronouns to make it personal to your situation.
I also highly recommend you journal your prayers, at least as a list. That way, when God answers, you can look back and see how He moved and give Him all the glory!
Related: Step By Step: How To Make A DIY Prayer Journal or War Binder
By adding scripture to your prayers, and meditating on scriptures about prayer you will grow in faith. And we know that when you pray in faith and in accordance with His will, we have what you ask of God.
in HIM,
Tiffany of Hope Joy in Christ inspires Christian Women to grow in faith, live out Biblical Marriage Principles and raise Godly Children. Join the Wives Only Facebook Group here or keep up with her through Pinterest.
If you enjoyed this, you will love these posts:
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- A Proverbs 31 Prayer
- 14 Promises of God You Can Pray to Overcome Fear
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Tiffany! This is an amazing resource. Such encouraging verses about prayer in every situation. I need to copy some of these verses and hang them up around the house. I can become lazy in my prayer life and it’s time to focus.
That is exactly why I began writing the post, because I needed Bible verses about prayer to hang around the house. They help remind me to fight the real battle and not get lazy… which is soooo easy to do.
I love how you addressed prayer and worship together. The two go hand in hand as we seek not only answers but to be closer to the heart of God.
Yes! We see them as a huge part of God’s plan for the lives of believers.
This is so great! thanks for all the scriptures on prayer.
I’m so glad they blessed you, Glenys.