For several years now I’ve kept a piece of paper in the front of my Bible with verses pertaining to God’s word: its trustfulness, power, sufficiency, etc. Glancing over these verses strengthens my confidence in the value and effectiveness of reading God’s word (things that we naturally begin to doubt if we’re not alert), and is a great aid to my study of the Bible.
Today, as I was struggling to push out distractions and pray, I realized it would be great to have a similar piece of paper of verses on prayer. In those times when I wonder if my prayers are going anywhere or really affecting anything, I’d love to be able to quickly remind myself of all that God says about prayer: that he desires us to pray, that he hears us, that prayer is one of his means for accomplishing his purposes, etc.
So below are some of the most significant verses on prayer. If you’d like to print them out to carry with you, they fit on one piece of paper (front and back) with Times New Roman, size 12 font. Or, you can message me (Derek), and I’ll email you the document.
Verses on Prayer
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. –Philippians 4:6
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. –John 15:7
Pray without ceasing –1 Thessalonians 5:17
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. –Romans 8:26
“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. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” –Matthew 6:6-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” –Matthew 7:7-11
First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. –1 Timothy 2:1-4
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. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. — James 5:16-18
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. –Psalm 34:17
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart…. “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” –Luke 18:1, 7-8
Pray then like this: “Our Father 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 lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” –Matthew 6:9-13
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.” –Luke 6:27-28
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. –Colossians 4:2
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” –Matthew 18:19-20
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
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. –Psalm 145:18-19
The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous. –Proverbs 15:29
But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear. –Isaiah 59:2
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. –Hebrews 4:16
Give ear to my prayer, O God, and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy! Attend to me, and answer me, I am restless in my complaint and I moan. –Psalm 55:1-2
Saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” –Luke 22:42
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. –Romans 8:28
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. –Hebrews 5:7