How to pray according to the Bible: what Scripture teaches, step by step
According to the Bible, you pray by coming to God as your Father through Jesus, honestly and humbly, with thanks, asking for what you need and for others, in line with his will, and without giving up. Jesus gave the clearest pattern in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13): honor God's name, seek his kingdom and will, ask for daily needs, ask for and give forgiveness, and ask for protection from evil. There is no required posture, place or length; the Bible cares far more about the heart.
Below: what the Bible teaches about prayer in one table, Jesus' own teaching, how to pray step by step from Scripture, what the Bible says about posture, time, place and "in Jesus' name", what it warns against, prayers in the Bible to learn from, and a full prayer built from these teachings.
What does the Bible say about how to pray? The short version
| The Bible teaches | Where |
|---|---|
| Pray to God as Father | Matthew 6:9; Romans 8:15 |
| Come through Jesus, in his name | John 14:13-14; 1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 4:14-16 |
| Pray in private, not for show | Matthew 6:5-6 |
| Use few, sincere words, not empty repetition | Matthew 6:7-8; Ecclesiastes 5:2 |
| Bring every worry, with thanks | Philippians 4:6-7 |
| Ask according to God's will | 1 John 5:14; Matthew 26:39 |
| Ask in faith | James 1:5-6; Mark 11:24 |
| Keep asking; don't give up | Luke 18:1-8; Luke 11:5-10 |
| Confess sin | 1 John 1:9; Psalm 51 |
| Forgive others when you pray | Mark 11:25; Matthew 6:12, 14-15 |
| Pray for others, including enemies and leaders | 1 Timothy 2:1-2; Matthew 5:44; James 5:16 |
| Pray at all times | 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Ephesians 6:18 |
| Pray together | Matthew 18:19-20; Acts 2:42 |
| The Holy Spirit helps you pray | Romans 8:26-27 |
What Jesus taught about prayer
When his disciples asked, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1, WEB), Jesus didn't give them a technique. He gave them a relationship and a pattern. In the Sermon on the Mount he taught three things before the prayer itself:
- Pray to be heard by God, not people. "But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" (Matthew 6:6, WEB).
- You don't need many words. "In praying, don't use vain repetitions, as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their much speaking" (Matthew 6:7, WEB).
- God already knows. "Your Father knows what things you need, before you ask him" (Matthew 6:8, WEB). We pray not to inform God, but because he invites us.
Then the pattern:
"Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. Let your Kingdom come. Let your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13, WEB)
Jesus also taught persistence. The friend who knocks at midnight (Luke 11:5-10) and the widow who keeps coming to the unjust judge (Luke 18:1-8) both make the same point: "Ask, and it will be given you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened for you" (Matthew 7:7, WEB). And he taught humility through the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:9-14): the man who listed his good deeds went home unchanged; the man who said only "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" went home justified.
Finally, he modeled prayer. He prayed early and alone (Mark 1:35), all night before choosing the twelve (Luke 6:12), with thanks before meals (Matthew 14:19), for his followers and for us (John 17), and in anguish in Gethsemane: "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire" (Matthew 26:39, WEB).
How to pray according to the Bible, step by step
These six steps follow the Lord's Prayer and the teaching around it. You can pray through them in ten minutes.
- Come to God as Father, through Jesus. Begin by remembering who you're talking to and why you're welcome: "Let's therefore draw near with boldness to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace for help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16, WEB). Say it simply: "Father, I come to you because of Jesus."
- Praise him. "May your name be kept holy." Name one thing that's true of God. The Psalms are full of these: "Yahweh is my light and my salvation" (Psalm 27:1, WEB).
- Give your day to his will. "Let your will be done." Name the plans, decisions and people in front of you, and hand them over.
- Ask, specifically and with thanks. "Give us today our daily bread." Paul applies this to every worry: "In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4:6, WEB). Then pray for others by name (1 Timothy 2:1).
- Confess and forgive. "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." Name what you've done wrong; receive his promise that "he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins" (1 John 1:9, WEB). Name anyone you need to forgive and release them.
- Ask for protection, and end with trust. "Deliver us from the evil one." Ask for help with the temptation you know is coming. Close by giving the glory back to him, and say amen: "so be it."
If you'd like this same flow as a four-part memory aid, the ACTS prayer model (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) covers it, with examples.
Praying the Bible itself
The Bible doesn't only teach about prayer; much of it is prayer. The 150 Psalms were Israel's prayer and song book, and Jesus prayed them, even on the cross (Psalm 22:1 in Matthew 27:46; Psalm 31:5 in Luke 23:46). When you pray Scripture, you pray words God has already given.
A simple way: read a few verses, then say back to God what they say, in your own words, adding your life. For example, Psalm 121:1-2:
"I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from Yahweh, who made heaven and earth." (WEB)
Prayed back: "Lord, I look around for help today: the bank, the people at work, my own planning. But my help comes from you. You made heaven and earth; this week's bills aren't too big for you. Help me trust you first."
Good places to start: Psalms 23, 27, 46, 51, 62, 103, 121, 139; Paul's prayers in Ephesians 1:15-23, Ephesians 3:14-21, Philippians 1:9-11 and Colossians 1:9-14 (excellent for praying for others).
What posture does the Bible say to pray in?
The Bible shows many postures and commands none of them. Pick what helps you pay attention and express what's in your heart.
| Posture | Who, where |
|---|---|
| Kneeling | Daniel (Daniel 6:10); Paul with the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:36) |
| Standing | "Whenever you stand praying, forgive" (Mark 11:25) |
| Face to the ground | Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26:39) |
| Lifting hands | "lifting up holy hands" (1 Timothy 2:8); Psalm 141:2 |
| Looking up | Jesus "lifting up his eyes to heaven" (John 17:1) |
| Sitting | King David "sat before Yahweh" (2 Samuel 7:18) |
| Head down, beating chest | The tax collector (Luke 18:13) |
Closing your eyes and folding your hands aren't in the Bible, but they're helpful habits for shutting out distractions. Fine to use, not required.
When and where should you pray, according to the Bible?
When: at set times and at all times. David prayed "evening, morning, and at noon" (Psalm 55:17, WEB); Daniel three times a day (Daniel 6:10); Jesus early in the morning (Mark 1:35). And Paul says "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17, WEB), meaning a life in steady conversation with God, not nonstop words. Most Christians find they need both: a set time to pray properly and short prayers through the day. Our guide on how to pray every day shows a simple daily shape.
Where: anywhere. Jesus told us to pray in an "inner room" (Matthew 6:6) so we're not performing; he himself went to mountains, gardens and "deserted places". Jonah prayed inside a fish (Jonah 2:1). A quiet room, a car, a walk all count.
How long: the Bible gives no number. Jesus prayed all night once (Luke 6:12) and taught a prayer you can say in thirty seconds. If you want a practical answer, see how long should I pray each day.
Why do Christians pray "in Jesus' name"?
Because Jesus told us to: "Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it" (John 14:13-14, WEB). "In Jesus' name" isn't a password at the end. It means we come to God on Jesus' merit, not ours ("there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," 1 Timothy 2:5, WEB), and that we ask for what fits his character and purposes. A request we couldn't honestly sign with his name is a request to rethink.
What the Bible says not to do when you pray
- Don't pray to be seen. Jesus said those who do "have received their reward" already (Matthew 6:5, WEB).
- Don't heap up empty words. "Let your words be few" (Ecclesiastes 5:2, WEB). Long prayers aren't wrong; long prayers meant to earn a hearing are.
- Don't ask for selfish ends. "You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives" (James 4:3, WEB).
- Don't pray while holding a grudge. Forgive first (Mark 11:25); Jesus also says to make things right with a brother before bringing your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).
- Don't pray proudly. The Pharisee who thanked God he wasn't like others is Jesus' example of what not to do (Luke 18:11-14).
- Don't give up. The whole point of Luke 18:1-8.
- Don't treat your marriage lightly. Peter tells husbands to honor their wives "that your prayers may not be hindered" (1 Peter 3:7, WEB): how we treat people affects how we pray.
Prayers in the Bible to learn from
| Prayer | Passage | What it teaches |
|---|---|---|
| Abraham for Sodom | Genesis 18:22-33 | Bold, humble intercession for others |
| Hannah for a child | 1 Samuel 1:9-18 | Pouring out grief honestly |
| Solomon for wisdom | 1 Kings 3:5-14 | Asking for what God values |
| Jehoshaphat in a crisis | 2 Chronicles 20:5-12 | "We don't know what to do, but our eyes are on you" |
| David's confession | Psalm 51 | How to repent |
| Daniel for his people | Daniel 9:4-19 | Confession based on God's character |
| Nehemiah before the king | Nehemiah 1:4-11; 2:4 | Long prayer beforehand, a quick prayer in the moment |
| Jesus for his followers | John 17 | Praying for unity, protection and holiness |
| The church under threat | Acts 4:24-31 | Asking for courage, not escape |
| Paul for the Ephesians | Ephesians 3:14-21 | Praying for others' inner strength and love |
A prayer built from what the Bible teaches
Every line below follows one of the teachings above. Read it slowly, aloud if you can, and change the details to yours.
"Father in heaven, I come to you because of Jesus, not because I've earned it. Thank you that I can come boldly to find mercy and help today.
You are holy. You made heaven and earth, and you know what I need before I ask. Let your name be honored in my home, my work and my words today.
Let your will be done in the plans I've made: the appointment this afternoon, the decision about the move, the conversation I've been putting off. Not what I want, but what you want.
Give me what I need for today: strength for the work, patience with the kids, money for this month. I bring my worry about Mom's health to you, with thanks that you've carried us this far. Be with my pastor, our town's leaders, and Dana from church, who is out of work.
Forgive me for my sharp words yesterday and the pride behind them. I forgive the person who hurt me at work; I let it go into your hands.
Keep me from the temptation I know is coming tonight, and deliver me from evil. Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever. In Jesus' name, amen."
Common questions
Is there a right way to pray according to the Bible?
There is a right heart: honest, humble, trusting, through Jesus. There is a model: the Lord's Prayer. But there is no required wording, posture, place or length. God hears a one-line cry (Luke 18:13) and a night of prayer (Luke 6:12).
Do I have to pray out loud?
No. Hannah prayed silently, "only her lips moved" (1 Samuel 1:13, WEB), and God answered. Praying aloud can help you focus; silent prayer is just as heard.
Should I pray to God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
The usual pattern in the New Testament is to pray to the Father, through the Son, helped by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). Christians also address Jesus directly in prayer, as Stephen did (Acts 7:59). All three are one God; you're not getting it wrong.
Can I use the same words every day?
Yes, if you mean them. Jesus warned against vain repetition, not repetition. Praying the Lord's Prayer daily, with your own words added to each line, is one of the oldest Christian habits.
What does the Bible say about unanswered prayer?
That God hears and answers according to his will (1 John 5:14), that waiting is part of faith (Psalm 27:14), and that even Paul's repeated request was answered "My grace is sufficient for you" rather than with what he asked (2 Corinthians 12:8-9, WEB).
Start tomorrow with the six steps and the Lord's Prayer, one line at a time. If you'd like to be led through it, our daily prayer reads a passage aloud and walks you through praise, requests, confession and trust in ten minutes: play day 1 free, or answer a few questions to build your 40-day prayer plan. More in our prayer guides, including how to pray better.
Sources
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Pages read for this guide: Christianity.com, "How to Pray: A Biblical Guide to Prayer"; Worth Beyond Rubies, "How to Pray According to the Bible"; Bible Hub, "How to Pray" (topical index).