Browse our most popular prayer tools, including free PDF downloads, book excerpts, and even full eBooks to find answers to your questions about prayer. Explore new and fresh ways of connecting with God through prayer to continue growing as a disciplemaker.
The Purpose of Prayer
When it comes to relationships, two factors for strengthening them are communication and spending time together. In your relationship with God, this is also true — and prayer is an important part of that.
What is Prayer?
Prayer is the intentional discipline of communicating and connecting with God and can be practiced individually, with someone else, and even in a group. While prayer is often known as the spoken portion in a conversation with God, this is only one aspect of prayer. Listening to God, through His Holy Spirit, is also an important part of connecting with God through prayer. Prayer can involve worship, confession, thanksgiving, and specifically requesting from God what is needed or even desired.
When you begin a relationship with God, your prayers may be focused on everything you want to say and share with God. However, as you grow in this relationship, your prayers may be more about listening and even being with God. This is similar to your strongest relationships, those people with whom you can enjoy being in their presence without talking at all.
Prayer can also involve another person or even a group. This prayer time could be spontaneous or focused around a specific concern or need, such as a prayer time at your local church about the needs of the community. When you pray, whatever it is about, it’s a way to join Jesus in praying for yourself or another. “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” Romans 8:34 (NIV).
Why is it Important to Pray?
Prayer is important because it is a primary way to connect with God. Through prayer, you get to have a conversation with the Almighty God who is both the Creator of all things and the One who cares deeply about you and the concerns of your heart.
While we don’t always see the answers and results of our prayers, Jesus shared with His disciples that when they pray in alignment with God’s heart and in His name, He will always answer those prayers. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” John 14:13-14 (NIV). This is why it is important to pray Scripture. What better way to align with His heart than to pray the truth found in God’s Word!
Prayer is also important because it is a weapon against the enemy of your soul. The apostle Paul mentions prayer as he talks about the armor of God and the invisible battle facing those who follow Christ. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. . . . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” Ephesians 6:12,18 (NIV).
Scriptures About Prayer
- Prayer is calling on the name of the Lord. “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord” Genesis 4:26 (NIV).
- Prayer postures could include raising your hands, prostrating yourself, or kneeling.
- “Moses replied, ‘When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the LORD. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the LORD’s’” Exodus 9:29 (NIV).
- “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground” 2 Samuel 12:16 (NIV).
- “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” Daniel 6:10 (NIV).
- Prayers from a humble and repentant heart can create change across the world. “. . .if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land” 2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV).
- Prayer can be a place where God reveals more of Himself to you. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV).
- Prayer is a connection with God where you can be completely honest with Him. “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble” Psalm 142:1-2 (NIV).
- Prayer isn’t about perfection or performance, but intimacy. “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” Matthew 6:6 (NIV).
- Prayer involves faith. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” Mark 11:24 (NIV).
- In prayer, you can talk with God as Father. “He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come’” Luke 11:2 (NIV).
- Jesus prays for God’s will to be done in His life, His disciples, and even for you. “After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. . . . I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. . . . My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me’” John 17:1,11,20-21 (NIV).
- Prayer is essential for the life of the Church. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” Acts 2:42 (NIV).
- The Holy Spirit prays for us and aligns our prayers to God’s will. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God” Romans 8:26-27 (NIV).
- Jesus is praying for us from His position seated at the right hand of the Father. “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” Romans 8:34 (NIV).
- Prayer is a weapon. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. . . . And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” Ephesians 6:12,18 (NIV).
- Prayer can help combat anxiety and is a place for gratitude. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV).
- Praying for others is called intercession and involves asking God to intervene in their lives. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — ” 1 Timothy 2:1 (NIV).
- Prayer is powerful and effective. “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” James 5:16 (NIV).
- God hears our prayers. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask — we know that we have what we asked of him” 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV).
- Prayers are treasured by God. “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people” Revelation 5:8 (NIV).
How To Pray
Prayer Methods
The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray (Luke 11:1). If you’re asking the same question, here are a variety of prayer tools that give you simple next steps for how to pray.
The Prayer Hand: Five Essential Aspects of Prayer
The Prayer Hand illustration is an easy way to remember five essential aspects of prayer: confession, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise. Use this helpful prayer tool in your personal prayer life or share it with a friend.
PRAY: A Guide for Connecting with God
These four aspects of prayer: Pause, Rejoice, Ask, and Yield, are based on the Lord’s Prayer. This acronym tool provides an easy-to-use guide for your prayers, so you can spend more time connecting with God and less about what to say next.
7 Ways to Pray: Time-Tested Practices for Encountering God
Here are seven ways to pray that draw from the deep well of Christian history. These make praying a habit to enjoy in our crazy, bustling, wearying times:
- Praying with the Bible
- Praying through the Bible
- Practicing the Presence of God
- Hearing God
- Praying with Lament
- Praying Imaginatively
- Praying the Examen
The ACTS Prayer Method
Whether you’re just starting out on your walk with Jesus or have been a faithful disciple for years, the ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) prayer model can bring structure or a fresh perspective to your time with God after years of faithful devotion.
Christians around the world pray in community in a variety of ways. Try these four ways of praying in groups with other believers and explore how these ideas deepen your relationship with God and the body of Christ.
- Praying in groups simultaneously.
- Praying with your body.
- Waiting in prayer together.
- Praying Scripture in community.
4 Ideas for Prayer and Fasting
Fasting can enhance your prayer life by using this spiritual discipline of intentionally going without something to focus on your relationship with God. By using the word “FUEL” as an acrostic (Food; Use Of Time; Entertainment; Listen To), you can take inventory of your fuel through one of these four fasting ideas.
- Food
- Use of Time
- Entertainment
- Listen To
Topical Prayer
Praying the Names and Attributes of God
This side of Heaven, it is impossible for our human minds to fully comprehend God’s infinite and awe-inspiring nature. In the Bible, however, He has shared enough truths about Himself to draw us into faith and worship.
We encourage you to commit five minutes daily over a 30-day period to prayer over these scripture-based names and attributes of God and worship Him in new ways. You’ll be amazed by how much closer you feel to Him at the end.
Prayers for Public Schools
When you’re not sure how to make a difference in the education system in your community, you can always start with prayer. Here are 10 prayers and corresponding Scriptures to get you started in prayer for the public schools in your area and beyond. Consider taking these prayers and combine them with a prayer walk for the schools nearby.
Praying for College Campuses
Do you have a college campus close to where you live? Would you like a simple way to invest in the lives of college students? Imagine what God could do as you step in faith and pray for God’s love, peace, healing, freedom, and wisdom to be present on their college campus through a prayer walk. Use this resource to begin your prayer-walking journey today.
Praying Against Spiritual Warfare
Spiritual warfare is a spiritual battle between Christians and an unseen enemy, who lies in order to keep them discouraged, doubting, and defeated. Use these spiritual warfare prayers to combat this battle with truth from Scripture.
Pray on the Armor of God
In this spiritual battle, God desires to equip you with spiritual armor focused on every part of your life that may be attacked. Learn how to pray on this armor of God, so you can be equipped both offensively and defensively against the enemy who doesn’t want you to believe God is for you, faithful, and full of unfailing love.
Prepare Your Mind
A strategic way to fight the spiritual attack on your mind against Satan’s lies is to replace them with God’s truth. Use the Scripture in this resource as prayers against the enemy of your soul.
A Prayer for Thankfulness
Not only are we called to give thanks to God in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), but practicing gratitude can be a powerful way to transform your day.
Use this daily gratitude prayer calendar as a way to infuse more thankfulness into your life. Try writing down those things you’re thankful for along the way and see how these 30 thankful prayers help you focus on what’s most important.
30 Days of Praying Through Your Neighborhood
Do you want to make a difference in your community? Would you like to build relationships with your neighbors? Even have spiritual conversations with them?
We want to help, by giving you a simple and powerful next step—prayer.
Our Praying Through Your Neighborhood eBook includes three practical resources to transform 30 days and even your neighborhood walks into an ongoing conversation with the Lord about His heart for those who live nearby.
Click the link below to grab your free copy of the Praying Through Your Neighborhood eBook today!
Prayer Ideas
Organizing a Prayer Journal
Have you ever wanted to look back and see how God answered your prayers from the past? Prayer journaling is writing out your prayers and collecting them in one place. Use these five steps to organize a prayer journal and get glimpses of God’s love and faithfulness in your life.
How to Do a Prayer Walk
Focus your prayer time by taking a prayer walk. Pray together with a group or individually. This prayer walking tool was designed for college campuses. Do a prayer walk on a campus near you, or adapt it to pray in your own town, neighborhood, workplace, or school.
Praying Through Scripture
Praying Scripture is a powerful way to intentionally align your heart with God’s and have words for prayer when sometimes it can be difficult to know what to say or how to pray.
In Praying Through Scripture: A Five-Day Reflection on 1 John, you’ll discover that the words to pray can be found as you read and study the Bible. You’ll also find helpful prompts and questions that can be used for passages throughout God’s Word to transform Scripture into powerful prayers.
Books About Prayer
How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People, by Pete Greig
How to Pray is a raw, real, and relevant look at prayer for everyone—from the committed follower of Jesus to the skeptic and the scared. Full of biblically sound wisdom, How to Pray will offer honest encouragement and real-life methods to refresh your spirit and help you practice life-giving and life-changing prayer.
Praying Through: Overcoming the Obstacles that Keep Us from God, by Jarret Stevens
Whether you’re new to prayer, or God seems silent, or you’re grieving a loss, or you need direction, or you’re feeling grateful and don’t know how to express it—you don’t have to let these obstacles keep you from God.
Praying Over God’s Promises: The Lost Art of Taking Him at His Word, by Tom Yeakley
Praying over God’s Promises will break down the strongholds of unbelief that often choke believers and help them discover afresh the greatness of God’s faithfulness.
How to Have a Quiet Time, by Warren and Ruth Myers
If you have trouble maintaining a consistent quiet time, this booklet will help. Learn how to make spending quiet time with the Lord an important priority in your daily life.
The Pray! Prayer Journal: Daily Steps Toward Praying God’s Heart, by Dean Ridings
This prayer-focused journal includes Scripture, a daily Bible reading plan, space to record the names of those you want to pray for, and monthly sections to record insights. With 12 Scripture-based prayer guides, 48 devotional readings, and 12 prayers for your spiritual growth, The Pray! Prayer Journal is a unique way to grow your communication with God.
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