Bible Verses About Prayer
The Bible does more than tell us to pray. It shows us how, and it gives us words to use when our own run out.
Below are some of the clearest Bible verses about prayer, grouped by what you may be facing. Each one is shown in the King James Version, with a short prayer to help you turn the verse into your own words. You can open any verse in other translations, or carry it straight into a personal prayer.
When you are anxious
Scripture does not tell us to pretend we are not worried. It tells us where to take the worry.
Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
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.
Father, I bring You what is weighing on me instead of carrying it alone. Guard my heart and my mind with Your peace that goes beyond my understanding.
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1 Peter 5:7 KJV
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Lord, I hand You every care I have been holding. Thank You that You care for me, and that I do not have to carry this by myself.
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Psalm 55:22 KJV
Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Lord, I cast this burden on You. Hold me up and keep my feet from slipping.
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Asking in faith
Jesus invites us to ask, and to ask believing. These verses show the confidence we can bring to prayer.
Mark 11:24 KJV
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Father, I bring my request to You and I believe that You hear me. I trust You with the answer.
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Matthew 21:22 KJV
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.
Lord, strengthen my faith as I pray. Let me ask with a heart that believes You are able.
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Matthew 7:7 KJV
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Father, I keep asking, seeking and knocking, because You invite me to come to You.
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1 John 5:14-15 KJV
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.
Lord, I want to pray what is on Your heart. Thank You for the confidence that You hear me when I ask according to Your will.
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John 15:7 KJV
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
Jesus, keep me close to You and let Your words live in me, so that my prayers grow out of Your words.
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John 14:13-14 KJV
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.
Lord Jesus, I ask in Your name, so that the Father is glorified in all You do in my life.
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Praying without ceasing
Prayer is not only for emergencies. These verses call us to a life of prayer, thanksgiving and watchfulness.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Father, teach me to rejoice, to keep praying, and to give thanks in every circumstance, because this is Your will for me in Christ Jesus.
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Luke 18:1 KJV
And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
Lord, keep me praying when the answer is slow, and do not let me lose heart.
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Colossians 4:2 KJV
Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Father, keep me watchful in prayer and thankful while I wait on You.
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Ephesians 6:18 KJV
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Holy Spirit, lead my prayers. Help me to pray for all Your people and not grow weary.
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Romans 12:12 KJV
Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
Lord, fill me with hope, give me patience in hard days, and keep me faithful in prayer.
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When you do not know what to pray
There are days when words will not come. God has not left us alone in those moments.
Romans 8:26 KJV
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.
Holy Spirit, when I have no words, pray for me and through me. Thank You for helping me in my weakness.
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Matthew 6:6 KJV
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.
Father, I come to You in the quiet place, away from every distraction, because You meet me there.
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Matthew 6:9-13 KJV
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.
Our Father, let Your name be honored in my life. Give me what I need, forgive me as I forgive others, and lead me in Your way.
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God hears you
Every one of these verses answers the same quiet question: is anyone listening? He is.
Psalm 145:18 KJV
The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
Lord, You are near to all who call on You in truth. I call on You now, with an honest heart.
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Jeremiah 29:12 KJV
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
Father, thank You for the promise that You listen when I pray. I come to You with my whole heart.
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Jeremiah 33:3 KJV
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Lord, I call to You. Show me what I cannot see on my own.
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Isaiah 65:24 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.
Father, thank You that You hear me even before I finish speaking.
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Psalm 34:17 KJV
The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
Lord, You hear the cry of Your people. Bring me through every trouble I am facing.
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Psalm 17:6 KJV
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
God, I call on You because You answer. Turn Your ear to me and hear my prayer.
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Hebrews 4:16 KJV
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Father, I come boldly to Your throne of grace. Thank You for mercy and help in my time of need.
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Praying for others
Prayer reaches beyond our own needs. These verses call us to pray with and for the people around us.
James 5:16 KJV
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.
Lord, help me to be honest with others and to pray for them. Bring healing where it is needed.
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Matthew 18:20 KJV
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.
Jesus, thank You for being with us when we gather in Your name. Unite us as we pray together.
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1 Timothy 2:1 KJV
I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
Father, I lift up the people around me, and I thank You for each of them.
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2 Chronicles 7:14 KJV
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Lord, I humble myself and seek Your face. Forgive us, and bring healing to our land.
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Questions about prayer
What is the most powerful verse for prayer?
Many believers turn to Philippians 4:6-7, which calls us to bring every request to God with thanksgiving and promises His peace in return. Mark 11:24 and 1 John 5:14-15 are also loved for the confidence they give: God hears the prayer that is offered in faith and according to His will.
How do I pray with Proverbs 3:5-6?
Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust the Lord with all our heart and not lean on our own understanding, and promises that He will direct our paths. Pray it by naming the decision in front of you, telling God you trust Him with it, and asking Him to make the next step clear.
What is Ephesians 6:18?
Ephesians 6:18 comes at the end of the passage on the armor of God. It calls believers to pray always, in the Spirit, with every kind of prayer, staying alert and praying for all of God's people. It shows that prayer is how we stand firm.
What are 7 powerful prayers in the Bible?
Seven prayers often studied are the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), Solomon's prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3:9), Hannah's prayer for a child (1 Samuel 1:11), the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10), David's prayer for a clean heart (Psalm 51:10), Jesus in Gethsemane (Luke 22:42), and Paul's prayer for the Ephesians (Ephesians 3:16-19).