What Does the Bible Say About Effective Prayer?

James 5:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Pray without ceasing,

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Luke 18:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

Luke 11:1-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to 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 ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Brothers, pray for us.

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

Matthew 6:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

Matthew 26:41 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Matthew 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ...

Proverbs 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the prayer of the righteous.

Proverbs 15:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is acceptable to him.

Acts 2:42 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

22 Bible Verses about Effective Prayer

James 5:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Luke 18:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Luke 11:1-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 6:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 26:41 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Acts 2:42 ESV / 2 helpful votes

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22 Bible Verses about Effective Prayer

James 5:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 18:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 11:1-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:41 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Proverbs 15:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:42 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Suggest a Verse

Enter a Verse Reference (e.g., John 3:16-17)

James 5:16 ESV / 15 helpful votes

1 Timothy 2:8 ESV / 8 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 8 helpful votes

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Luke 18:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Luke 11:1-4 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9-13 ESV / 6 helpful votes

1 John 1:9 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:25 ESV / 5 helpful votes

2 Corinthians 1:11 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Matthew 6:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

1 Peter 3:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 4 helpful votes

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Matthew 26:41 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 6:9-10 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:29 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Proverbs 15:8 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Acts 2:42 ESV / 2 helpful votes