Bible verses about prayer: 18 passages for when you do not know what to say

One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say: ‘Father, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’”

The disciples had watched Jesus pray and asked him to teach them. Luke’s version of the Lord’s Prayer is shorter than Matthew’s, a reminder that prayer does not need to be long.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Even Paul admits we do not know how to pray as we should. When words run out, the Spirit carries the prayer with groans deeper than language.

But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

The inner room was the storeroom, the one space in a small house with a door. God is not impressed by many words; he already knows what you need.

Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah

Pour out is the language of emptying a jar completely. God can handle the whole of what you are carrying.

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

The Greek verbs describe ongoing action: keep asking, keep seeking, keep knocking. Persistence is not a lack of faith; it is what faith does.

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Without finding fault means God does not scold you for asking. The King James puts it as he upbraideth not.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Everything is a large word. Nothing is too small to pray about, and the promise is peace, not always the exact thing you asked for.

And this is the confidence that we have before Him: 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 already possess what we have asked of Him.

Praying according to God’s will is not a loophole. It means asking with his heart in view, and trusting that he hears.

Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

Jeremiah received this while confined in the courtyard of the guard. The invitation came when his world was at its smallest.

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long must I wrestle in my soul, with sorrow in my heart each day? How long will my enemy dominate me?

How long is asked four times in two verses. Complaint is a form of prayer in the Bible, and God kept this one in Scripture for us to use.

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

Luke tells you the point of the parable before the story begins. Jesus knew people would be tempted to give up.

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Jesus asked for another way, and then yielded. Honest desire and surrender belong in the same prayer.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Paul asked three times, and the answer was no. What he received instead was grace sufficient for the thing that stayed.

Early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and slipped out to a solitary place to pray.

This follows a long evening when the whole town gathered at the door for healing. Jesus made time for prayer after his busiest day, not only on quiet ones.

In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation.

David lays out his request and then watches for the answer, like someone looking out for a messenger. Morning prayer sets the direction of the day.

Rejoice at all times. Pray without ceasing. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Without ceasing does not mean never doing anything else. It means staying in a conversation with God that is never fully closed.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful,

Watchful and thankful are a good pair. Stay alert to what God is doing, and notice when he answers.

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.

Prayer is not only private. James goes on to remind his readers that Elijah was a person just like us.