Bible Studies on Prayer

The Bible is full of teaching on prayer - we've listed a selection of passages below. Select a passage to study, read through each verse and make note of: 

1. Who is speaking
2. When or why we're told to pray
3. Any instruction on how to pray
4. Any indication of what we may achieve
5. What impacts you about the prayer lives of Biblical characters

Before you begin, ask God to speak to you through the words in the scripture and record anything that impacts you as you read. Dwell on the passage for as long as you have time for, and allow God to meet with you.  

Prayer In the Old Testament:

• Genesis 3:8-13; 18:16-33; 32:22-31
• Exodus 17:8-13
• 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:3; 20:1-30
• Psalm 51:1-17
• Nehemiah 1:4-11; 4:4-9
• Daniel 9:1-14
• Habakkuk 1-3

In the New Testament:

About Jesus praying:

• Matthew 19:13; 27:50
• Mark 1:35; 6:41; 6:46; 7:34; 8:6;
• Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 9:29, 11:1, 22:17-19, 22:32, 24:30, 24:50
• Hebrews 5:7

Recorded prayers of Jesus:

• Matthew 26:39, 27:46
• Luke 10:21, 23:34, 23:46
• John 11:41-42, 12:27-28, 17:1-26

Jesus the Intercessor:

• Isaiah 53:12
• John 14:16
• Romans 8:34
• Hebrews 7:25

Jesus' teaching about prayer:

• Matthew 6:5-13 (see Luke 11:2-4), 7:7-11, 9:37-38, 18:19-20, 21:21-22
• Mark 9:26-29, 11:17, 11:25
• Luke 6:28, 11:5-13, 18:9-14
• John 15:7, 16:23-24 

The Apostle Paul:

• Romans 1:9-10, 10:1
• 1 Corinthians 1:4
• Ephesians 1:16, 3:14
• Philippians 1:3-4, 1:7-8
• Colossians 1:3, 1:9
• 1 Thessalonians 1:2, 3:9-10
• 2 Thessalonians 1:3, 1:11
• 2 Timothy 1:3
• Philemon 4

With thanks to The Praying Church Sourcebook by Alvin J. Vander Griend, CRC Publications 1997, Michigan

Be encouraged to pray the Bible: we've got a webpage with practical ideas.