Bible Verses about Prayer

Prayer is our solemn way of communicating with God. We can bare our souls to our Creator and Redeemer through prayer even while we intercede for ourselves and others. While some may disagree about how to pray and how often to pray, nobody can deny the power of prayer and the fact that we serve a prayer-answering God.

The Bible is filled with countless invitations to approach God's awesome throne in prayer, powerful testimonies of answered prayers, and even sample prayers that we can repeat. Today, I want to share with you some of my favorite verses that remind us of the power of prayer.

1. “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.” 1 Peter 3:12 KJV

The Lord watches over his people, and he hears and answers our prayers. However, the wicked cannot say the same. Psalm 34:15 corroborates this claim that God is inclined to hear and answer the prayers of the righteous. As we pray, we need to ensure we avoid evil as we are warned by the psalmist, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Psalm 66:18

2. “Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 KJV

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God made a solemn promise to the Jews living in exile in Babylon, and it is very relevant to us today. God promises to answer our prayers if we seek Him, and Matthew 7:7 tells us that if we ask in prayer, we will be given what we request, and if we seek, we will find. Our prayers are not answered when we pray half-heartedly. God wants us to say "all in" as we seek him in faith, and he will respond to our supplications.

3. “And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” John 5:15 KJV

What a blessed assurance for the saints of God! When we know God, we can be confident that he hears our prayers and will answer according to his will. How do we know that he hears? "Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:” Isaiah 59:1 When we pray in God’s will, we can be sure that he hears and he will answer accordingly. The answer may not come when we want it, but we can be content that he will respond in due time.

4. “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.” 2 Chronicles 7:14

This verse is an all-time favorite at national events, and political campaigns as leaders often declare that the people need to repent in order for God to solve the national scourge at the time. Indeed, God declared it during a national address at the dedication of the temple.

As Solomon invited God to dwell in the man-made temple, God responded with a conditional offer that is still valid today. If we seek him in humility and repent of our sins, he will deliver us and heal our lands. Like the publican, in Mathew 18:13, we need to humble ourselves before God and seek his forgiveness for our sins.

5. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” James 1:5

A prayer for wisdom is one prayer that we can be confident that God will answer. Proverbs 14:12 tells us, "There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof [are] the ways of death."

This means that we cannot trust our own instincts and cannot depend on ourselves to choose the right way. In our humanity, we are prone to make foolish decisions, but God is standing by to guide us if we only choose to trust him will all our hearts. Will you ask him for wisdom today?

6. “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 KJV

Many children and even adults are drawn to the fairy tale concept of a genie in a bottle that grants your every wish. God is definitely not a genie, but he has assured us that prayer is the key that unlocks heaven's storehouse.

Prayer is the powerful tool that allows you to receive anything that you request in Jesus' name. Of course, the fine print stipulates that our prayers will be according to God's will. 1 John 5:14 reminds us: "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us."

7. “And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.” Mark 9:29 KJV

We should never underestimate the power of prayer, more so prayer paired with fasting. As the disciples grappled with expelling a demon in the book of Mark, all their exorcism techniques failed. As they sought Jesus, he advised that only prayer and fasting would accomplish their purposes. Faithful prayer can move mountains as we shift the focus from ourselves and our skills to the Almighty one.

Only when we abide in prayer will some of the stubborn obstacles be removed from our paths. Prayer is the powerful means by which we twin our frail humanity with God's supernatural divinity, and nothing in this life can trump the power of that collaboration.

8. “And Cornelius said, four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.” Acts 10:31 KJV

This verse was Cornelius' testimony of the power of prayer. Through prayer, God was able to bring Cornelius, a Roman centurion, and Peter, a Jew together in one place.

As God heard and accepted Cornelius' prayers, he informed Peter, who was hundreds of miles away in a vision, that He had broken down the walls of the division. As Paul stated in Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." When we pray, God can do mighty things through us and for us, even the breaking down of segregation and discriminative barriers.

9. "Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit. " James 5:18 KJV

These verses highlight the power of prayers done by an ordinary man, better known as Elijah. As we read of this miraculous act of the rain being withheld for three and a half years before returning, we may be tempted to think that could only have happened with Elijah.

This is why the author hastened to emphasize that Elijah was only an ordinary man. Therefore, it shows that the power of prayer is not dependent on the one who does the praying but on the one to whom the prayer is directed. The power of prayer rests in the power of God.

10. “Be careful for nothing; but in everything 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 KJV

What a beautiful promise! God invites us to use prayer as the tool to unburden and release all our and anxiety, and in return, he has promised us peace that extends beyond our understanding. Talk about the power of prayer. Prayer brings about the kind of peace that led the psalmist to declare; "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

When we pray, God is able to fulfill his will in our lives and take care of our needs. Prayer is the power that activates God's providence and provisions. It is easier said than done, but when tempted to worry, pray!

11. “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” Ephesians 6:18 KJV

Have you ever been in a situation where you are too sad, tired, or depressed to pray? Many of us have been there, but we thank God for those who prayed for us. God loves to hear when we intercede on behalf of his people, and he is eager to answer our prayers.

Just as the Spirit helps us when we can't even find the words to express ourselves, we too need to bring the petitions of our fellow believers to Christ. We need to be mindful of the needs of others. Never pray selfish prayers. Be deliberate as you pray for others, then stand still and watch God move.

12. “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” 1 Timothy 2:1 KJV.

In this text, Paul emphasized the need for prayer by using four words which are all synonyms for prayer. More importantly, however, he stressed the need to pray for everyone, and he went on in further verses to mention leaders in different circles.

We should not neglect to pray for our leaders because “to whom much is given, much will be required.” Luke 12:48 The truth is that the devil is constantly seeking to deceive the leader at the head because he knows that many members will follow suit. Even as we pray for everyone, we need to ensure that intercessions are made on behalf of our leaders.

13. “For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” Colossians 1:9 KJV

Paul assures the Colossian believers that he and Timothy had not stopped praying for them in this verse. He specifically outlined what they had been praying about- a knowledge of God's will, wisdom, and understanding. We often get caught up in criticizing our brethren and complaining about all that is not going well within our church, but we should instead follow Paul's example and pray for each other.

In this text, we see Paul adhering to his own advice in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, "Pray without ceasing." He prayed unceasingly for the brethren, and we should follow suit, even as we make specific requests on behalf of others.

14. “And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.” Job 42:10 KJV

We could write a sermon on the book of Job as we recall his story of great fortune, which was all taken from him in one sweep – family and all his possessions. While we understand that his loss resulted from a discussion between God and Satan and not the result of Job's actions, interestingly, his restoration only happened when he prayed for his friends.

We also know that it may have been difficult to pray for these friends who did not bring much comfort during his dilemma, but Job prayed, and God restored double what he had before. Are you praying for your friends? God wants to restore you, even as he promised the children of Israel in Deuteronomy "…then He will restore you from captivity and have compassion on you and gather you from all the nations to which the LORD your God has scattered you." However, like Job, we need to do our part and pray for others.

15. “Peter, therefore, was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.’ Acts 12:5 KJV

If you are searching for an answered prayer in the Bible, you may encounter this miraculous story. Peter was arrested, but the church never stopped praying for him. God heard their plea and answered their prayer by sending an angel to free Peter from prison.

When we pray for others, God can activate miracles in their lives. When the believers saw evidence of their answered prayers at the door in the form of Peter, they were astonished. However, we do not need to be surprised when God answers our prayers for others as he has declared that "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.” Isaiah 65:24

16. “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” James 5:14-15 KJV

Prayer is the recommended prescription in the event of sickness. This is not just any prayer, but the prayer of faith of the elders of the church. While some may prefer to think that James was talking about spiritual sickness and the forgiveness of sins, this text can also apply to physical sickness.

The bottom line is that when we are sick, we need not hide our illness, but we should allow our brethren to seek God on our behalf, and based on their faith, God will heal us. Our spiritual leaders should also be prepared to pray for ailing members of the faith.

God stands ready to reward the faith of those who stand in the gap for others, even as he did in the case of the paralytic. "When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.” Mark 2:5

17. “Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.” 2 Kings 20:5

King Hezekiah was sick unto death, and he prayed, and God heard his prayer. Isn't that simply beautiful? God sent Isaiah with a word of hope for Hezekiah; God would heal him and add 15 more years to his life. What are you agonizing with God about today?

The psalmist prayed, "Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry for help; do not be deaf to my weeping…." Psalm 39:12 God wants you to know that he has heard your prayer, and he has seen your tears, and he wants to bring you healing. He wants you to know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy will come in the morning.

18. “Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, And He saved them out of their distresses. He sent His word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:19-20

Once sin is present, we will have sickness and distress. Many may be ill because of their own choice of an unhealthy lifestyle, but we also understand that there are persons who seek to take the best care of their body temple but still become sick.

Whatever the cause of your sickness, you can cry out to God in your distress, and he will deliver and heal you. God desires that we will prosper and be in good health even as our souls prosper. 3 John 2 Like Hezekiah, we can seek God in our sickness, and he will reward our faith.

We, however, need to appreciate that our healing may not be God's will, and like Paul, we may have to live with the "thorn in our flesh" while depending on God's grace to see us through.

19. “O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me.” Psalm 30:2 KJV

Here is another powerful testimony of God's healing that many can relate to. Sometimes when we consider sickness, we only think of physical ailments, but mental illness is sometimes overlooked even among the brethren. Some of us need to cry out to God for healing, but we fail to do so because our sickness is not obvious to onlookers.

Fear and anxiety can take a toll on our health which could have been the case with David, who continually fled for his life as Saul sought to kill him. The truth is that God has invited us to cast our burdens on him, and he will provide rest for our minds and body.

20. “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 KJV

Humans need each other. As the popular quote goes, "No man is an island. No man stands alone." In the event of sickness, God does not wish for us to bear our illness alone.

During Bible days, the popular belief was that sickness was a result of your sins, but we know today that sickness is the result of sin in general, and as such, we need not be ashamed when we fall ill.

We can share our distress with others as we "bear each other burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:5 When we fervently pray for each other in sincerity, we can be confident that God will heal according to his will.

Bible stories of answered prayers

The Bible is filled with incredible stories of answered prayers, giving us hope that God will also hear and attend to our supplications. In the Old Testament, we read of Hannah, who pleaded with God for a child amidst her barrenness, and God answered her request with Samuel. (1Samuel 1:9-28) We also read Samson's prayer in Judges 16:20, where Samson requested just enough strength to exact revenge on the Philistines who had gouged out his eyes, and God strengthened him so much that those he killed in that final blow were more people than he had killed in all his life.

Then we felt King Hezekiah's prayer as he turned his face to the wall and agonized with God, and we joyfully read God's answer sent with Isaiah in 2 Kings 20:5. God heard Hezekiah's prayer and granted him 15 additional years of life. Over in the New Testament, we read of Peter praying over the dead body of Tabitha in Acts 9:40, and God responded by bringing her back to life. Finally, we read with awe the story of Peter's miraculous release from prison as the church prayed on his behalf in Acts 12:5.

God wants us to have our own testimonies of answered prayers as he stands ready to grant us the desires of our hearts according to his will. Prayer is the most powerful key available to unlock God's favor and blessings over our lives.

"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 we do not ask, we will not have, so let us tap into the power of prayer today.

25 Christian Quotes about Prayer & the Power of It

 

1. Dear Jesus, You are everything to me. I live to please You. Thank you for saving me.

2. God is about to open that door you have been praying for.

3. God's word for you today: Let prayer be your first response, not your last resort.

4. Help is just a prayer away.

5. Hustle Hard Pray Harder

6. I know I'm growing when my first instinct is to pray for people when they hurt me instead of thinking of ways to hurt them back.

7. I pray that God blesses you with the strength you need to get through each day.

8. INSTEAD OF SAYING, "Lord, I don't know how I am going to do this," SAY, "Lord, I can't wait to see how You do this!"

9. Lord, I pray that You grant me a heart that seeks You above all else.

10. Lord, let them see You in me.

11. May every sunrise hold more promise, and every sunset hold more peace.

12. Mornings are better when you talk to God first.

13. Pray because God listens.

14. Pray like Nehemiah, Obey like Daniel, Lead like Moses, Serve like Martha, Believe like Mary, Fight like David, Educate like Paul, Build like Noah, Love like Jesus.

15. Pray more Worry less

16. Pray when you feel like worrying.

17. Prayer changes everything

18. Prayer changes things

19. Prayers go up, blessings come down.

20. Set goals. Say prayers. Work hard.

21. Sometimes I just look up, smile and say, "I know that was you. Thank you."

22. Spend time praying for people instead of talking about them.

23. To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.

24. What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer.

25. When Satan is working double time, be in prayer overtime.