Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church – If you have ever been unsure what to pray, there is no better guide to bringing requests to God than the book He Himself wrote: the Bible.
Scripture not only teaches us about prayer, it also records many powerful prayers of real people. These five powerful prayers from the Bible can become models for your own prayers. Scripture quotations are from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB).
Almost every book of the Bible contains a plea or request, and page after page shows us why we need a Savior. So when you find yourself not knowing how to pray, turn to God’s Word first.
Although we could list hundreds of prayers, we have chosen five favorites that show how Scripture overflows with ways to call on our great God.
1. The Prayer of Jabez
In a long list of the descendants of Judah, the author of Chronicles draws attention to a man named Jabez, a truly honorable man. If you have ever felt guilty for causing others pain, or if you want to believe that God can do more than you ask or imagine, this prayer is for you:
“And Jabez called out to the God of Israel, “If only You would bless me and enlarge my territory! May Your hand be with me and keep me from harm, so that I may be free from pain.” And God granted the request of Jabez.”
– 1 Chronicles 4:10 (BSB)
2. The Lord’s Prayer
This is truly a classic prayer. Most of us know it by heart and can recite it anytime. But there is more to this model prayer Jesus gave us than recitation. It is a prayer of real power: God’s kingdom coming, His will being done in everything we need each day. God’s power is condensed into a few short lines. So look again and reflect more deeply on what Jesus prayed:
“So then, this is how you should pray: ‘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 the evil one.’”
– Matthew 6:9–13 (BSB)
3. Jonah’s Prayer for Salvation
We may never be swallowed by a great fish, but we can experience the shame and regret Jonah felt after running from God. The prophet’s plea to the Father gives shape to our own prayers of repentance. And remember that God heard and answered this humble, sincere prayer:
“In my distress I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol I called for help, and You heard my voice. For You cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the current swirled about me; all Your breakers and waves swept over me. So I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight; yet I will look once more toward Your holy temple.’ The waters engulfed me up to my neck; the deep surrounded me; seaweed wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank; the earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God! As my life was fading away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit His loving devotion. But I, with a voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the LORD!”
– Jonah 2:2–9 (BSB)
4. David’s Prayer for Deliverance
Choosing this prayer was hard because the Psalms overflow with cries and pleas. If you ever wanted a primer on prayer, you could not do better than this wise book. But we chose this psalm because it offers a concise picture of crying out to God under intense pressure. David’s words in the midst of his battle connect closely to our modern work and life:
“O LORD, how my foes have increased! How many rise up against me! Many say of me, “God will not deliver him.” Selah. But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the myriads set against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah.”
– Psalm 3:1–8 (BSB)
5. Hannah’s Prayer of Praise
When Hannah received the child she had asked God for, the first thing she did was praise the One who provided. She wanted to thank Him for His greatness and salvation. We often pray before we receive, but forget to pray after God answers. Let this prayer guide you in giving thanks to God:
“My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is exalted. My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, for I rejoice in Your salvation. There is no one holy like the LORD. Indeed, there is no one besides You! And there is no Rock like our God. Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed. The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble are equipped with strength. The well-fed hire themselves out for food, but the starving hunger no more. The barren woman gives birth to seven, but she who has many sons pines away. The LORD brings death and gives life; He brings down to Sheol and raises up. The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap. He seats them among princes and bestows on them a throne of honor. For the foundations of the earth are the LORD’s, and upon them He has set the world. He guards the steps of His faithful ones, but the wicked perish in darkness; for by his own strength shall no man prevail. Those who oppose the LORD will be shattered; He will thunder from heaven against them. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth and will give power to His king and exalt the horn of His anointed.”
– 1 Samuel 2:1–10 (BSB)
Praying God’s Word
These powerful prayers are not powerful because of beautiful words, but because they were offered to Almighty God with sincere hearts. Jabez asked for blessing, Jonah repented, David cried for help, Hannah praised. Every situation has a fitting way to pray.
This week, choose one of the passages above and read it as your own prayer each morning. You will find that God’s Word helps you know what to ask and how to ask. That is how the powerful prayers in Scripture become your own prayers.
You may also like: Daily Devotional Time in 5 Simple Steps and 10 Ways to Weave Prayer Into Family Life.
Prayer
Lord, thank You that You hear the prayers of Your children. Teach us to pray like Jabez, Jonah, David and Hannah, with trust, repentance and praise. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Article: Vietnam Evangelical Covenant Church
Adapted from: Crosswalk.com
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