Praying Passages of Scripture: Keys to Effective Prayer from Our Most Powerful Resource

Below are many—though far from all—amazing biblical prayer passages worthy of pondering and incorporating into your regular, heartfelt prayer life. Below them are key takeaways from my first “sermon” at our church in Big Timber, Montana, on April 24, 2016. Soli Deo Gloria!

Sermon video: https://vimeo.com/164130815

12 rich Old Testament prayers by various people on various topics, with their starting verses:

Genesis 18:22                                     Exodus 33:12                                      Numbers 6:22

Deuteronomy 9:18                              1 Samuel 2:1                                       2 Samuel 22:1

1 Kings 8:22                                        2 Kings 19:14                                      2 Chronicles 14:11

Ezra 9:5                                               Nehemiah 1:4                                      Isaiah 12:1

~~~Most Psalms~~~

12 rich New Testament prayers by various people on various topics, with their starting verses:

Matthew 6:9                                         Mark 14:32                                          Luke 1:46

John 17:1                                             Romans 16:25                                    1 Corinthians 1:4

Ephesians 3:14                                    Philippians 1:3                                    Colossians 1:3

2 Thessalonians 1:11                           Philemon 3                                          Revelation 22:20

Many prayers in the Bible involve some or all of the following:

   - Expressing humility and anguish in personal or national repentance

   - Acknowledging that sin is over our heads, but not God’s

   - Trusting in God’s mercy and righteousness

   - Keeping a life of disciplined, passionate, humble, and faithful prayer (not just in crises)

   - Resting in God, and going nowhere without Him

   - Growing in God and His Word

   - Awaiting God’s sovereign answer (yes or no) and timing (now or wait)

   - ACTS: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (especially for the things of God)

   - Taking action before and / or after prayer

   - Heeding the warning of Isaiah 31:1-3 and Jeremiah 17:5-8

   - Obeying the command of 1 Timothy 2:1-4

   - Praying for God’s will to be done and for His name and fame to spread

   - Interceding for others without ceasing and with affection

   - Starting and ending with God—because of, and to proclaim, His character and His gifts

   especially Jesus Christ, the cross, and the empty tomb