Prayer

Prayer is speaking to God. This page lists verses on prayer, including Jesus' teaching on prayer, accounts of Jesus praying, and instructions in the Old Testament and the New Testament letters.

Jesus' teaching on prayer

• Matthew 6:5-8
  ⁵And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ⁶But 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. ⁷But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. ⁸Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
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• Matthew 7:7-8
  ⁷Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
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• Luke 18:1
  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
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• Mark 11:24
  Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
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Jesus praying

• Mark 1:35
  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
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• Luke 6:12
  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.
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• Luke 22:41-42
  ⁴¹And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, ⁴²Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
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• John 17:1
  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
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In the Old Testament

• 2 Chronicles 7:14
  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.
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• Psalm 145:18
  The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
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• Jeremiah 29:12
  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
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In the letters

• Philippians 4:6-7
  ⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
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• 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
  ¹⁶Rejoice evermore. ¹⁷Pray without ceasing. ¹⁸In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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• James 5:16
  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.
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• 1 John 5:14
  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
  Show context · Read 1 John 5 →

See also

• Lord's Prayer
• Faith
• Holy Spirit

Notes

1. Verses are quoted in the translation chosen in the Translation menu at the top of the page. See Translations for sources and copyright notices.
2. Each reference links to the full chapter so the verse can be read in context.