Prayer offers believers a means of acknowledging the character and purposes of God and the opportunity to seek guidance concerning his will for them.
The direction of prayer is upwards towards God
Psalm 123:1–2 See also Psalm 25:1, Psalm 86:4, Psalm 121:1–2, Psalm 143:8, Psalm 145:15
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to You, the One enthroned in heaven. As the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maidservant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes are on the LORD our God until He shows us mercy.
Fellowship with God through prayer
Psalm 73:23–26 See also Exodus 33:11; 1 Kings 8:57–59; Psalm 16:2, Psalm 145:17–20; Matthew 18:20
Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and later receive me in glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And on earth I desire no one besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The habit of prayer
Luke 5:16 See also Nehemiah 2:4 Nehemiah felt so close to God that it was automatic for him to speak to God and the king almost simultaneously; Daniel 6:10–11, Daniel 6:13
Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
Contemplative prayer as a response to God's presence
Psalm 27:4 See also 1 Chronicles 16:10–11 parallel Psalm 105:3–4; Psalm 27:8; Isaiah 55:6; Jeremiah 29:13; Acts 17:27–28; Hebrews 11:6
One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.
Prayer of acceptance in response to God's call
1 Samuel 3:10 See also Isaiah 6:8; Revelation 3:20
Then the LORD came and stood there, calling as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
Prayer of confession
In response to God's holiness
1 John 1:5–9 See also Isaiah 6:3–7, Isaiah 55:7–9
And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
In response to sin being exposed
Psalm 51:1–2 See also Psalm 51:3–12
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me clean of my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Prayer of co-operation in response to God's purposes
John 15:7–8 See also Psalm 119:105–106; Luke 1:38; John 15:16
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples.
Prayer of confidence in response to God's mercy and grace
Hebrews 4:16 See also Nehemiah 1:4–7; Psalm 123:1–2; James 1:5–8
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.