What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

One would be hard pressed, even in today’s times, to find many people who are not familiar with the “Lord’s Prayer” as found in Matthew 6:9-13. However, the Bible has more to say about prayer than just these few verses. The Bible teaches what prayer is, why we pray, how we pray, and what happens both personally and Spiritually when we pray. With all of this in mind, What does the Bible say about prayer?

A Model and Definition of Prayer

As just mentioned, Matthew 6:9-13 lists the “Lord’s Prayer” as it is known by most people. However, when you look at the rest of chapter six in Matthew, you will find that the whole chapter is a further explanation of the prayer itself. To start, let’s look at the body of the prayer as found in Matthew 6:9-13 as follows:

(Matthew 6:9-13 KJV) “After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. (10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. (11) Give us this day our daily bread. (12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. (13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”

If you notice in verse nine, Jesus tells us to pray “after this manner.” According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, the word manner means: “Form, method, way of performing or executing, custom, habitual practice, sort, kind. or way.” In other words, Jesus is telling us to pray in this way. He is not telling us that when we pray we have to repeat the same words in order for it to be considered a proper prayer. Unfortunately, some people teach that this is what He was saying, but in doing so they are violating the very words he also spoke in Matthew 6 about repetitious praying as we will see later.

When it comes to praying, we are told in Philippians 4:6, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (emphasis added)” This verse teaches us that there are things to keep in mind and consider when praying. Starting with the phrase “Be careful for nothing” we are told not to be anxious or worry about anything.