What does the Bible say about prayer?
Bible Topic · WEB
The Bible teaches that prayer is the believer’s humble, trusting response to the living God, who hears his people and calls them to depend on him continually. Elijah’s prayer in 1 Kings 18:24-39 shows that God alone answers and reveals himself, while David’s prayers in Psalms 5:3, 55:17, 88:1, 88:13, and 143:8 model honest morning, evening, and troubled-hearted dependence. Isaiah 33:2 asks God for daily strength and salvation. Daniel 6:10 and Luke 6:12 show faithful, deliberate prayer, even under pressure. Believers are therefore to pray without ceasing, as 1 Thessalonians 5:17 teaches, resting not in prayer’s power but in God’s mercy through Christ.
Study outline
Curated topical outlines from classic public-domain study works.
Nave's Topical Bible
- MISCELLANY OF MINOR SUB-TOPICS
- Prayer test proposed by Elijah 1 Kings 18:24-39
- Daily, in the morning Psalms 5:3; Psalms 88:13; Psalms 143:8; Isaiah 33:2
- Twice daily Psalms 88:1
- Thrice daily Psalms 55:17; Daniel 6:10
- All night Luke 6:12
- Without ceasing 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- Boldness in
- Enjoined Hebrews 4:16
- Exemplified by Abraham in his inquiry concerning Sodom Genesis 18:23-32
- By Moses, supplicating for assistance in delivering Israel Exodus 33:12; Exodus 33:18
- Secret Genesis 24:63; Matthew 6:6
- Silent Psalms 5:1
- Weeping in Ezra 10:1
- In a loud voice, satirized by Elijah 1 Kings 18:27
- Long
- Of Pharisees Matthew 23:14
- Of scribes Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47
- Profuse, to be avoided Ecclesiastes 5:2; Matthew 6:7
- Vain repetitions of, to be avoided Matthew 6:7
- Tokens asked for, as assurance of answer
- By Abraham’ s servant Genesis 24:14
- Gideon asks for a sign of dew on a fleece Judges 6:36-40
- Rebuked
- Of Moses, at the Red Sea Exodus 14:15
- When Moses prayed to see Canaan, the promised land Deuteronomy 3:23-27
- Of Joshua Joshua 7:10
- Evils averted by Jeremiah 26:19
- Unbelief in Job 21:15
- “;The Lord’ s Prayer,” Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4
- However, see John 17:1-26
- Answer to, withheld
- Of Balaam Deuteronomy 23:5; Joshua 24:10
- Of Job Job 30:20
- Of the Israelites, when attacked by the Amorites Deuteronomy 1:45
- The prayer of Jesus, “Let this cup pass away,” Matthew 26:39; Matthew 26:42; Matthew 26:44
- And Matthew 27
- Answer to, delayed Psalms 22:1; Psalms 22:2; Psalms 40:1; Psalms 80:4; Psalms 88:14; Jeremiah 42:7; Habakkuk 1:2; Luke 18:7
- Answer to, exceeds petition
- Solomon asked for wisdom; the answer included wisdom, riches, honour, and long life 1 Kings 3:7-14; 2 Chronicles 1:10-12
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
Torrey's New Topical Textbook
- Commanded Isaiah 55:6; Matthew 7:7; Philippians 4:6
- To be offered
- To God Psalms 5:2; Matthew 4:10
- To Christ Luke 23:42; Acts 7:59
- To the Holy Spirit 2 Thessalonians 3:5
- Through Christ Ephesians 2:18; Hebrews 10:19
- God hears Psalms 10:17; Psalms 65:2
- God answers Psalms 99:6; Isaiah 58:9
- Is described as
- Bowing the knees Ephesians 3:14
- Looking up Psalms 5:3
- Lifting up the soul Psalms 25:1
- Lifting up the heart Lamentations 3:41
- Pouring out the heart Psalms 62:8
- Pouring out the soul 1 Samuel 1:15
- Calling upon the name of the Lord Genesis 12:8; Psalms 116:4; Acts 22:16
- Crying to God Psalms 27:7; Psalms 34:6
- Drawing near to God Psalms 73:28; Hebrews 10:22
- Crying to heaven 2 Chronicles 32:20
- Beseeching the Lord Exodus 32:11
- Seeking to God Job 8:5
- Seeking the face of the Lord Psalms 27:8
- Making supplication Job 8:5; Jeremiah 36:7
- Acceptable through Christ John 14:13; John 14:14; John 15:16; John 16:23; John 16:24
- Ascends to heaven 2 Chronicles 30:27; Revelation 5:8
- Quickening grace necessary to Psalms 80:18
- The holy spirit
- Promised as a Spirit of Zechariah 12:10
- As the Spirit of adoptions, leads to Romans 8:15; Galatians 4:6
- Helps our infirmities in Romans 8:26
- An evidence of conversion Acts 9:11
- Of the righteous, avails much James 5:16
- Of the upright, a delight to God Proverbs 15:8
- Should be offered up
- In the Holy Spirit Ephesians 6:18; Jude 1:20
- In faith Matthew 21:22; James 1:6
- In full assurance of faith Hebrews 10:22
- In a forgiving spirit Matthew 6:12
- With the heart Jeremiah 29:13; Lamentations 3:41
- With the whole heart Psalms 119:58; Psalms 119:145
Showing the first 40 headings of this outline.
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