Prayer, as asking God

God wants his people to turn to him in prayer, individually and corporately, in times of need or crisis, and to bring requests to him as a Father.

God's people are commanded to bring their requests to him

Philippians 4:6 See also 1 Chronicles 16:11; Matthew 7:7 parallel Luke 11:9; John 16:24; Ephesians 6:18–20; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Prayer for deliverance from difficulty

Psalm 4:1, Psalm 107:6 See also Psalm 40:2–3; Jonah 2:1–3; Acts 12:5

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David. Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have relieved my distress; show me grace and hear my prayer.

Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress.

Prayer for deliverance from enemies

Psalm 17:8–9, Psalm 35:4 See also 2 Kings 19:9–11; 2 Chronicles 14:11

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plan to harm me be driven back and confounded.

Prayers of individuals in time of crisis

Jacob's prayer

Genesis 32:9–12

David's prayers

Psalm 28:1–9 See also Psalm 4:1, Psalm 5:1–3, Psalm 30:8–10, Psalm 142:1–7

Elijah's prayer

1 Kings 19:4

while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”

Jeremiah's prayer

See also Jeremiah 15:15–18

Jesus Christ's prayers

Matthew 26:39 parallels Mark 14:35–36, Luke 22:42–44

Going a little farther, He fell facedown and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.”

Individual petition to God in prayer

Individual prayer for guidance

Genesis 24:12–14 See also Judges 1:1–2, Judges 6:36–40; 1 Samuel 14:41; 2 Samuel 2:1; 1 Chronicles 14:14–15

“O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. Here I am, standing beside the spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’— let her be the one You have appointed for Your servant Isaac. By this I will know that You have shown kindness to my master.”

Individual prayer for healing

2 Kings 20:1–11 parallel Isaiah 38:1–10

Individual prayer for the birth of a child

1 Samuel 1:10–11 See also Genesis 25:21, Genesis 30:17

In her bitter distress, Hannah prayed to the LORD and wept with many tears. And she made a vow, saying, “O LORD of Hosts, if only You will look upon the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, not forgetting Your maidservant but giving her a son, then I will dedicate him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall ever touch his head.”

Corporate petition to God

Corporate prayer for deliverance

Exodus 2:23 See also Numbers 20:15–16; Deuteronomy 26:6–8; Judges 3:9, Judges 4:3, Judges 6:7–10; 1 Samuel 12:8

After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.

Corporate prayer for restoration

Psalm 44:23–26, Psalm 79:8–9, Psalm 80:4–7, Psalm 85:4–7

Corporate prayer for protection, especially at times of crisis

Ezra 8:21–23 See also 2 Chronicles 20:12–13; Ezra 10:1; Esther 4:16; Psalm 74:18–23; Daniel 2:17–18

And there by the Ahava Canal I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.

The first Christians prayed together when they met

Acts 1:13–14 See also Acts 2:42, Acts 2:46–47, Acts 16:13, Acts 16:16, Acts 20:36, Acts 21:5

When they arrived, they went to the upper room where they were staying: Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. With one accord they all continued in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers.

The first Christians prayed together at times of crisis or important decisions

When threatened with punishment

Acts 4:24–31 See also Acts 12:5, Acts 12:12

When the believers heard this, they lifted up their voices to God with one accord. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “You made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of Your servant, our father David: ‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against His Anointed One.’ In fact, this is the very city where Herod and Pontius Pilate conspired with the Gentiles and the people of Israel against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed. They carried out what Your hand and will had decided beforehand would happen. And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness, as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

When Barnabas and Saul were sent off by the church at Antioch

Acts 13:3

When Paul and Silas experienced persecution

Acts 16:25

Prayers for mercy and grace

Psalm 143:1; Hebrews 4:16 See also 2 Chronicles 6:18–19; Psalm 130:1–2; Matthew 20:30–31

A Psalm of David. O LORD, hear my prayer. In Your faithfulness, give ear to my plea; in Your righteousness, answer me.

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.