Memorize Scripture

What the Bible Tells Us to Pray For

When you do not know what to pray, scripture tells you. Each passage here names something God’s people are told to ask for, beginning with the prayer Jesus taught.

When to say them. Say one before you pray, then pray it in your own words.

9 passages to memorize

  1. Matthew 6:9–13 So then, this is how you should pray:‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be Your name.Your kingdom come,Your will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our debts,as we also have forgiven our debtors.And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one.’
  2. Matthew 9:37–38 Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.”
  3. 1 Timothy 2:1–2 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered for everyone— for kings and all those in authority— so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
  4. Matthew 5:44–45 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
  5. James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.
  6. James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
    An example of praying it: Father, I lack wisdom, and you have told me to ask. So I am asking. I do not know what to do about this. You give generously to all without finding fault. Give me your wisdom, and help me act on it.
  7. Colossians 1:9–10 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
    An example of praying it: Father, fill (name) with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. Help them walk in a manner worthy of you and please you in every way, bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of you.
  8. Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
  9. Colossians 4:2–4 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful, as you pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may declare it clearly, as I should.

You can pray any of these passages, memorized or not. How to pray scripture.

Questions people ask

Answers from the site that go with these passages.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible or World English Bible, as you choose under “Bible text”. The coach’s voice is computer-generated.