What Does the Bible Say About Praying Before Meals?

Matthew 6:1-34 ESV / 6 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. ...

Acts 27:35 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat.

Matthew 15:36 ESV / 5 helpful votes

He took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Ephesians 6:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,

Luke 24:30 ESV / 4 helpful votes

When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.

Mark 6:41 ESV / 4 helpful votes

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all.

Jude 1:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes

But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,

1 John 5:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

1 John 2:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

Galatians 5:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.

Romans 11:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

John 3:16 ESV / 3 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 6:6 ESV / 3 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.

Matthew 6:5-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

“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. 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.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

1 John 4:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 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 John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

James 1:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 2 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.

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Pray without ceasing,

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 2 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.

Ephesians 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,

Ephesians 5:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ...

Ephesians 1:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 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.

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Romans 8:38-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Romans 8:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. ...

Acts 12:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

Acts 10:9-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth. In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” ...

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.

Acts 1:8 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

John 14:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

John 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

Luke 22:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Luke 9:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

Mark 8:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he directed the crowd to sit down on the ground. And he took the seven loaves, and having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and they set them before the crowd.

Matthew 26:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

Matthew 26:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

Matthew 26:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

Matthew 14:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 2 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 6:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“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.

Malachi 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

Daniel 6:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes

When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Psalm 119:148 ESV / 2 helpful votes

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise.

Psalm 66:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

64 Bible Verses about Praying Before Meals

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

Acts 27:35 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 15:36 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:18 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 24:30 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 6:41 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Jude 1:20 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 5:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 5:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 11:36 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

Matthew 6:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:5-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 1:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 1:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 13:5-6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Hebrews 7:25 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Philippians 4:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 6:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 1:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 6:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 1:8-11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 13:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 10:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 12:2 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:38-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:32 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:28 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 8:1-39 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 12:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 10:9-16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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

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

John 14:13 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 22:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 9:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Mark 8:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:26-27 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 26:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 14:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:7 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 6:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Malachi 3:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Daniel 6:10 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 127:3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 119:148 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Psalm 66:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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