Scripture Library · Prayer · KJV
Bible Verses About Prayer (KJV) + How to Pray
“Lord, teach us to pray.” The disciples asked Jesus that question, and these 14 passages from the King James Bible are His answer and more: pray in secret, ask, seek and knock, pray without ceasing, and come boldly to the throne of grace.
14 Bible verses about prayer
How do I pray, and does God really hear me?
Matthew 6:5-13KJV
5And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. 7But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. 9After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11Give us this day our daily bread. 12And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
Pray in secret, without empty repetition: the Lord’s Prayer.Read in context →
Luke 11:1-4KJV
1And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. 2And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. 3Give us day by day our daily bread. 4And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
Lord, teach us to pray.Read in context →
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18KJV
16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in everything.Read in context →
Jeremiah 33:3KJV
3Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Call to Me, and I will answer you.Read in context →
Matthew 7:7-11KJV
7Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 9Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? 10Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Ask, seek, knock; your Father gives good things to those who ask.Read in context →
1 John 5:14-15KJV
14And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.
If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.Read in context →
Romans 8:26-27KJV
26Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
The Spirit helps our weakness and intercedes for us when we do not know what to pray.Read in context →
James 5:16-18KJV
16Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. 17Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous person accomplishes much.Read in context →
Luke 18:1-8KJV
1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Always pray and do not give up.Read in context →
Mark 11:22-25KJV
22And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Believe when you pray, and forgive when you stand praying.Read in context →
Psalm 145:18-19KJV
18The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. 19He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth.Read in context →
Hebrews 4:14-16KJV
14Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
Come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need.Read in context →
Mark 1:35KJV
35And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.
Jesus rose long before daylight and went to a solitary place to pray.Read in context →
2 Chronicles 7:14KJV
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
If My people humble themselves and pray, I will hear from heaven.Read in context →
A prayer to begin praying
Pray it slowly, in your own words if you like.
Father, I want to pray, but I do not always know how or what to say. Thank You that the Holy Spirit helps me in my weakness and prays for me when I have no words.
Teach me to come to You boldly, honestly and often. Help me to ask, seek and knock, trusting that You are a good Father who gives good gifts to Your children.
Let prayer become the first thing I do, not the last. Make me faithful in praying for others, and keep me praying even when the answer is slow. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What the Bible says about prayer
How does the Bible teach us to pray?
Jesus gave the Lord’s Prayer as a model in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4: worship (“Hallowed be thy name”), surrender to God’s will, asking for daily needs, asking for and giving forgiveness, and asking for protection from temptation and evil.
What does “pray without ceasing” mean?
1 Thessalonians 5:17 does not mean speaking prayers every second. It means staying in ongoing conversation with God throughout the day, turning to Him in every situation, alongside regular set times of prayer.
Does God hear every prayer?
Psalm 145:18 says “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.” 1 John 5:14-15 adds that when we ask according to His will, He hears us. God may answer yes, no or wait.
What should I do when I don’t know what to pray?
Romans 8:26 says “we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us.” Pray Scripture, especially the Psalms, or simply tell God what you are feeling. Our Prayer Journal can help you keep track.
More Bible verses by topic
Looking for Scripture on something else? The Scripture Library gathers Bible passages around the struggles and questions people actually bring to God.
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version (public domain).

