Prayer

(Select Readings)

Select readings on prayer Ge 18:23-32; 32:24-30; 2Sa 7:18-29; 1Ki 8:22-61; Lu 11:1-13; 18:1-8; Joh 17:1-26

First mention of prayer Ge 4:26

The universal need of prayer Ps 65:2; Isa 56:7; Lu 11:2

The Holy Spirit aids in prayer Ro 8:26,27

The prayers of the saints are precious Re 5:8

Prayer ascends as incense before God Re 8:3,4

(2) Prayer enjoined 1Ch 16:11; Ho 14:2; Mt 7:7; 26:41; Lu 18:1; 21:36; Joh 16:24; Eph 6:18; Php 4:6; Col 4:2; 1Th 5:17; 1Ti 2:8; Jas 5:13

See Seeking God; Ask; Draw Near to God; Waiting upon God

Prayer answered: Moses Ex 15:24,25

Prayer answered: Gideon Jud 6:39,40; 13:9

Prayer answered: Hannah 1Sa 1:27

Prayer answered: Samuel 1Sa 7:9,10

Prayer answered: Solomon 1Ki 3:12; 9:3

Prayer answered: Elijah 1Ki 18:37,38; 2Ki 6:18; 13:4

Prayer answered: Hezekiah 2Ki 19:19,20; 1Ch 5:20

Prayer answered: Jehoshaphat 2Ch 18:31; 32:21; 33:13

Prayer answered: Ezra Ezr 8:23; Ne 9:27; Da 2:19; 9:22; 10:12

Prayer answered: Zacharias Lu 1:13

Prayer answered: the early church Ac 4:31

(4) Promises of answer to prayer Ps 91:15; Isa 41:17; 58:9; 65:24; Jer 33:3; Zec 13:9; Lu 11:9; Joh 14:14; 15:7; 1Jo 3:22

See Seekers; Ask

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: disobedience De 1:45; 1Sa 14:37; 28:6

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: secret sin Ps 66:18

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: indifference Pr 1:28

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: neglect of mercy Pr 21:13

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: despising the law Pr 28:9

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: blood-guiltiness Isa 1:15

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: iniquity Isa 59:2; Mic 3:4

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: stubbornness Zec 7:13

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: instability Jas 1:6,7

(5) Causes of failure in prayer: self-indulgence Jas 4:3

See Sin Separates; God's Face Hidden; Wicked Rejected

(6) True prayer is heard Job 34:28; Ps 4:3; 18:6; 34:17; Pr 15:29; Mic 7:7; Zec 10:6

See Divine Hearing

(7) Prayer sometimes refused because it is not in accord with the divine will Ex 33:20; De 3:26; 2Sa 12:16; Eze 20:3; 2Co 12:8

See Spiritual Tests

(8) Social and family prayer Mt 18:19; Lu 1:10; Ac 1:14; 4:24; 12:12; 21:5

Conditions of acceptable prayer: contrition 2Ch 7:14; Isa 58:9

Conditions of acceptable prayer: whole-heartedness Jer 29:13

Conditions of acceptable prayer: faith Mr 11:24

Conditions of acceptable prayer: righteousness Jas 5:16

Conditions of acceptable prayer: obedience 1Jo 3:22; 5:14

Notable prayers: Abraham, for Sodom Ge 18:23

Notable prayers: Jacob, at Peniel Ge 32:24

Notable prayers: David, when denied the privilege of building the temple 2Sa 7:18

Notable prayers: Solomon, at Gibeon 1Ki 3:6

Notable prayers: Solomon, at the dedication of the Temple 1Ki 8:22

Notable prayers: Hezekiah, at the invasion of Sennacherib 2Ki 19:15; 1Ch 17:16

Notable prayers: Ezra, for the sins of the people Ezr 9:6

Notable prayers: Daniel, for the captive Jews Da 9:4

Notable prayers: the prayer of Habakkuk Hab 3:1

Notable prayers: the Lord's Prayer Mt 6:9

Notable prayers: Christ's intercessory prayer Joh 17:1

Notable prayers: Paul, for the Ephesians Eph 3:14

See Importunity; Intercession; Crying to God

(a) Examples of brief prayers: Elijah at Carmel 1Ki 18:36,37

(a) Examples of brief prayers: Jabez 1Ch 4:10

(a) Examples of brief prayers: Hezekiah, when sick Isa 38:2,3

(a) Examples of brief prayers: the publican Lu 18:13

(a) Examples of brief prayers: Jesus on the cross Lu 23:34

(a) Examples of brief prayers: the dying thief Lu 23:42

(a) Examples of brief prayers: Stephen Ac 7:60

(b) Brevity in prayer enjoined Ec 5:2; Mt 6:7; 23:14

(12) Special pleas offered in prayer Ge 18:32; 32:9; Nu 14:13; 2Ki 20:3; Ps 71:18; Jer 14:20; Da 9:18

See Remember Me

(13) Bowing in prayer Ge 24:26; Ex 4:31; 12:27; 34:8

(14) Kneeling in prayer 1Ki 8:54; 2Ch 6:13; Ezr 9:5; Ps 95:6; Isa 45:23; Da 6:10; Lu 22:41; Ac 7:60; 9:40; 20:36; 21:5; Eph 3:14

See Humility

(15) Praying on the face before God Nu 20:6; Jos 5:14; 1Ki 18:42; 2Ch 20:18; Mt 26:39

See Humility; Worshippers; Crying to God

(16) Standing in prayer 1Ki 8:22; Mr 11:25; Lu 18:11

Private prayer: Moses De 9:25

Private prayer: Samuel 1Sa 15:11

Private prayer: Elijah 1Ki 17:19,20

Private prayer: Daniel Da 6:10

Christ's command to pray in secret Mt 6:6

Private prayer: Peter Ac 10:9

Private prayer: Cornelius Ac 10:30

See Prayerfulness

Christ's morning devotions Mr 1:35

Christ's evening prayer Mr 6:46,47

Christ's solitary communion with God Lu 5:15,16

Christ's all-night prayer Lu 6:12

Christ praying alone, with only the disciples near Lu 9:18

Christ's prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane Lu 22:41,42

(19) Public prayers of Christ Mt 11:25; Lu 3:21; Joh 11:41; 17:1

See Prayer (18)

(20) Requests for prayer 1Sa 7:8; 12:19; 1Ki 13:6; Ac 8:24; Ro 15:30; Eph 6:19; 1Th 5:25; 2Th 3:1; Heb 13:18

(21) Unwise prayers, examples of Nu 11:15; 1Ki 19:4; Jon 4:3; Mt 20:21

See Prayer (7)

(22) Prayer for food Ge 28:20; Pr 30:8; Mt 6:11

(23) Prayer for the church Joh 17:20; Ro 1:9; Eph 1:16; 3:14; Php 1:4; Col 1:3; 4:12; 1Th 1:2

Importunate prayer: Abraham Ge 18:32

Importunate prayer: Jacob Ge 32:26

Importunate prayer: Moses De 9:18

Importunate prayer: the Syrophenician woman Mt 15:27; Lu 11:8; 18:5

Importunate prayer: Jesus Lu 22:44

Importunate prayer: the nobleman from Capernaum Joh 4:49

Importunate prayer: the early church Ac 12:5; Jas 5:16

See Prayer (6); Divine Hearing

Importunate prayer: Elijah Jas 5:17

See Crying to God; Prayer (10); Prayer (15)

(25) Special exhortations to prayer 1Ki 3:5; Zec 10:1; Mt 7:8; 21:22; Lu 11:9; Joh 14:13; 15:7; 16:24; Jas 1:5; 1Jo 5:14

See Seeking God; Promises Divine