Biblical theme · Faith and spiritual life
Prayer in the Bible
Praise, thanks, confession, lament and requests: how people pray in the Bible, how Jesus taught and practised prayer, and what the letters say about it.
Editorial text in English. Scripture is quoted from the version you choose; references stay the same in every version.
Introduction
The Bible is full of prayer: praise and thanksgiving, confession, lament and complaint, requests for others and for oneself. The LORD is near to all who call on him. Psalm 145:18
Jesus prayed often, taught his disciples to pray when they asked, and prayed in anguish before his death. The letters encourage believers to pray about everything. Luke 11:1–4Mark 1:35Philippians 4:6
Central passages
- Psalm 13:1–6
A lament that begins “How long, LORD?” and ends in trust; complaint is part of prayer.
- Matthew 6:5–15
Pray in secret, without heaping up empty phrases; then the Lord’s Prayer.
- Luke 11:5–13
A friend at midnight; “Ask, and it will be given you”; the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
- Luke 18:1–8
A parable “that they must always pray, and not give up”.
- Philippians 4:6–7
In everything, by prayer with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.
- James 5:13–18
Pray when suffering, sing when cheerful, pray for the sick; Elijah is an example.
Across Scripture
Each passage is labelled with why it belongs: central teaching, narrative example, supporting passage, comparison, contrast or interpretive connection.
Praying with the psalms
The psalms are prayers and songs that cover the whole range of human experience, including anger and despair.
- Psalm 13:1–6 Central teaching
A lament that begins “How long, LORD?” and ends in trust; complaint is part of prayer.
- Psalm 51:1–12 Supporting passage
A prayer of confession asking for a clean heart.
- Psalm 100:1–5 Supporting passage
A call to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving.
People who prayed
The stories show people praying in desperation, in public and in private.
- 1 Samuel 1:9–18 Narrative example
Hannah pours out her soul before the LORD so intensely that Eli thinks she is drunk.
- Nehemiah 1:4–11 Narrative example
Nehemiah weeps, fasts and prays with confession before asking the king for help.
- Daniel 6:10 Narrative example
Daniel prays and gives thanks three times a day even when it is forbidden.
- 1 Kings 18:36–37 Narrative example
Elijah prays a short prayer on Mount Carmel that the people will know the LORD is God.
Jesus teaches about prayer
Jesus warns against praying for show or with empty words, gives a pattern for prayer, and tells parables about persistence and humility.
- Matthew 6:5–15 Central teaching
Pray in secret, without heaping up empty phrases; then the Lord’s Prayer.
- Luke 11:5–13 Central teaching
A friend at midnight; “Ask, and it will be given you”; the Father gives the Holy Spirit to those who ask.
- Luke 18:1–8 Central teaching
A parable “that they must always pray, and not give up”.
- Luke 18:9–14 Contrast
A proud Pharisee and a tax collector who prays, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
Jesus prays
The Gospels show Jesus praying alone, praying for his disciples and praying in agony.
- Mark 1:35 Narrative example
Early in the morning Jesus goes to a deserted place to pray.
- Luke 22:39–46 Narrative example
In Gethsemane Jesus prays, “Not my will, but yours, be done.”
- John 17:1–26 Narrative example
Jesus prays for his disciples and for all who will believe through them.
Prayer in the letters
The letters urge prayer in every circumstance and speak of the Spirit helping us when we do not know what to pray.
- Philippians 4:6–7 Central teaching
In everything, by prayer with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 Central teaching
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.
- James 5:13–18 Central teaching
Pray when suffering, sing when cheerful, pray for the sick; Elijah is an example.
- Romans 8:26–27 Supporting passage
When we do not know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us.
Stories that show this theme
- Elijah and the Prophets of Baal Illustrates the theme
James holds up Elijah’s prayers as an example. James 5:17–18
- Daniel in the Lions’ Den
Daniel’s habit of prayer, three times a day with thanksgiving, does not change under threat. Daniel 6:10
People associated with this theme
- Hannah
Hannah pours out her heart to God in the temple. 1 Samuel 1:15
- Nehemiah
Nehemiah prays before acting. Nehemiah 1:4
- Daniel
Daniel’s habit of prayer. Daniel 6:10
Distinctions and questions of interpretation
- Prayer and getting what you ask
- Jesus asks for the cup to be taken from him and submits to the Father’s will; Paul asks three times for his thorn to be removed and is told God’s grace is sufficient. Prayer is not presented as a way of guaranteeing a particular answer. Luke 22:422 Corinthians 12:8–9
- Lament is prayer
- Complaints and questions addressed to God, like Psalm 13 or Psalm 88, are themselves part of Scripture’s prayers. Psalm 13:1–2Psalm 88:13–14
Related themes
- Worship
Praise and thanksgiving are forms of prayer. Psalm 100:4
Life situations
- Worry and Anxiety
Prayer with thanksgiving is the response Paul suggests to anxiety. Philippians 4:6
- Illness
Praying for the sick. James 5:14–15
Questions for reflection
Written by BibleKenya editors. They are not Scripture.
- Which kinds of prayer appear on this page, and which do you pray least often?
- What does Psalm 13 suggest about bringing complaints to God?
- What does Jesus warn against in Matthew 6:5-8?
- How does Jesus pray in Gethsemane, and what does that teach about asking and accepting?
Study guides
- Understanding the Lord’s Prayer
Prayer across Scripture. Luke 11:1
Reading plans
- Learning to Pray
Prayer across Scripture. Luke 11:1
- Exploring the Psalms
The Psalms as a school of prayer. Psalm 13:1–2