Prayer

Prayer test proposed by Elijah

• 1 Kings 18:24–39

  And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken. And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. …

Daily, in the morning

• Psalms 5:3

  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

• Psalms 88:13

  But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee.

• Psalms 143:8

  Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

• Isaiah 33:2

  O LORD, be gracious unto us; we have waited for thee: be thou their arm every morning, our salvation also in the time of trouble.

Twice daily

• Psalms 88:1

  A Song or Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the chief Musician upon Mahalath Leannoth, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite. O LORD God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee:

Thrice daily

• Psalms 55:17

  Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.

• Daniel 6:10

  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.

All night

• Luke 6:12

  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Without ceasing

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17

  Pray without ceasing.

Boldness in

Enjoined

• Hebrews 4:16

  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Exemplified by Abraham in his inquiry concerning Sodom

• Genesis 18:23–32

  And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked? Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right? …

By Moses, supplicating for assistance in delivering Israel

• Exodus 33:12

  And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight.

• Exodus 33:18

  And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

Secret

• Genesis 24:63

  And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide: and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and, behold, the camels were coming.

• Matthew 6:6

  But 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.

Silent

• Psalms 5:1

  To the chief Musician upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David. Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

Weeping in

• Ezra 10:1

  Now when Ezra had prayed, and when he had confessed, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children: for the people wept very sore.

In a loud voice, satirized by Elijah

• 1 Kings 18:27

  And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.

Long

Of Pharisees

• Matthew 23:14

  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Of scribes

• Mark 12:40

  Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

• Luke 20:47

  Which devour widows' houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Profuse, to be avoided

• Ecclesiastes 5:2

  Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.

• Matthew 6:7

  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Vain repetitions of, to be avoided

• Matthew 6:7

  But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.

Tokens asked for, as assurance of answer

By Abraham' s servant

• Genesis 24:14

  And let it come to pass, that the damsel to whom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shewed kindness unto my master.

Gideon asks for a sign of dew on a fleece

• Judges 6:36–40

  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. …

Rebuked

Of Moses, at the Red Sea

• Exodus 14:15

  And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

When Moses prayed to see Canaan, the promised land

• Deuteronomy 3:23–27

  And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. …

Of Joshua

• Joshua 7:10

  And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

Evils averted by

• Jeremiah 26:19

  Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

Unbelief in

• Job 21:15

  What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

;The Lord' s Prayer

• Matthew 6:9–13

  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. …

• Luke 11:2–4

  And 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. Give us day by day our daily bread. And 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.

However, see

• John 17:1–26

  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. …

Answer to, withheld

Of Balaam

• Deuteronomy 23:5

  Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

• Joshua 24:10

  But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.

Of JOB

• Job 30:20

  I cry unto thee, and thou dost not hear me: I stand up, and thou regardest me not.

• Job 42:12

  So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.

Of the Israelites, when attacked by the Amorites

• Deuteronomy 1:45

  And ye returned and wept before the LORD; but the LORD would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unto you.

The prayer of Jesus, "Let this cup pass away,"

• Matthew 26:39

  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

• Matthew 26:42

  He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

• Matthew 26:44

  And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

• Matthew 26:45–75

  Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. …

And

Matthew 27

Answer to, delayed

• Psalms 22:1

  To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?

• Psalms 22:2

  O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.

• Psalms 40:1

  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

• Psalms 80:4

  O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?

• Psalms 88:14

  LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me?

• Jeremiah 42:7

  And it came to pass after ten days, that the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah.

• Habakkuk 1:2

  O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

• Luke 18:7

  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Answer to, exceeds petition

Solomon asked for wisdom; the answer included wisdom, riches, honour, and long life

• 1 Kings 3:7–14

  And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people which thou hast chosen, a great people, that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? …

• 2 Chronicles 1:10–12

  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great? And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart, and thou hast not asked riches, wealth, or honour, nor the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge my people, over whom I have made thee king: Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.

The disciples prayed for Peter; the answer included Peter's deliverance

• Acts 12:15

  And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

• Acts 12:5

  Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

Answer to, different from the request

Moses asked to be permitted to cross the Jordan River; the answer was permission to view the land of promise

• Deuteronomy 3:23–27

  And I besought the LORD at that time, saying, O Lord GOD, thou hast begun to shew thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand: for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might? I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan, that goodly mountain, and Lebanon. …

The Israelites lusted for the fleshpots of Egypt; the answer gave them, flesh, but also leanness of soul

• Psalms 106:14

  But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

• Psalms 106:15

  And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.

Martha and Mary asked Jesus to come and heal their brother Lazarus; Jesus delayed, but raised Lazarus from the dead

John 11

Paul asked that the "thorn in the flesh" be removed; the answer was a promise of grace to endure it

• 2 Corinthians 12:8

  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9

  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

In Behalf of Nations

Penitential

Of David

• Psalms 51:1–17

  To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. …

Of the tax collector

• Luke 18:13

  And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

Imprecatory

• Numbers 16:15

  And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.

• Numbers 22:6–11

  Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed. And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. …

• Numbers 23:7

  And he took up his parable, and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob, and come, defy Israel.

• Numbers 23:8

  How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied?

• Numbers 24:9

  He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.

• Numbers 24:10

  And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and, behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.

• Deuteronomy 11:29

  And it shall come to pass, when the LORD thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal.

• Deuteronomy 11:30

  Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh?

• Deuteronomy 27:11–13

  And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse; Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali.

• Deuteronomy 33:11

  Bless, LORD, his substance, and accept the work of his hands: smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again.

• Joshua 8:33

  And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.

• Joshua 8:34

  And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.

• Judges 16:28

  And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

• 2 Samuel 16:10–12

  And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day.

• Nehemiah 4:4

  Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:

• Nehemiah 4:5

  And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.

• Nehemiah 5:13

  Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.

• Job 3:1–10

  After this opened Job his mouth, and cursed his day. And Job spake, and said, Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said, There is a man child conceived. …

• Job 27:7

  Let mine enemy be as the wicked, and he that riseth up against me as the unrighteous.

• Psalms 5:10

  Destroy thou them, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions; for they have rebelled against thee.

• Psalms 6:10

  Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly.

• Psalms 9:20

  Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

• Psalms 10:2

  The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

• Psalms 10:15

  Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.

• Psalms 25:3

  Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

• Psalms 28:4

  Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert.

• Psalms 31:17

  Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

• Psalms 31:18

  Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.

• Psalms 35:4

  Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.

• Psalms 35:8

  Let destruction come upon him at unawares; and let his net that he hath hid catch himself: into that very destruction let him fall.

• Psalms 35:26

  Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at mine hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify themselves against me.

• Psalms 40:14

  Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

• Psalms 40:15

  Let them be desolate for a reward of their shame that say unto me, Aha, aha.

• Psalms 54:5

  He shall reward evil unto mine enemies: cut them off in thy truth.

• Psalms 55:9

  Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.

• Psalms 55:15

  Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.

• Psalms 56:7

  Shall they escape by iniquity? in thine anger cast down the people, O God.

• Psalms 58:7

  Let them melt away as waters which run continually: when he bendeth his bow to shoot his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.

• Psalms 59:5

  Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.

• Psalms 59:11

  Slay them not, lest my people forget: scatter them by thy power; and bring them down, O Lord our shield.

• Psalms 59:15

  Let them wander up and down for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied.

• Psalms 68:1

  To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him.

• Psalms 68:2

  As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God.

• Psalms 69:23

  Let their eyes be darkened, that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake.

• Psalms 69:24

  Pour out thine indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them.

• Psalms 69:27

  Add iniquity unto their iniquity: and let them not come into thy righteousness.

• Psalms 69:28

  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, and not be written with the righteous.

• Psalms 70:2

  Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my soul: let them be turned backward, and put to confusion, that desire my hurt.

• Psalms 70:3

  Let them be turned back for a reward of their shame that say, Aha, aha.

• Psalms 71:13

  Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered with reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.

• Psalms 79:10

  Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed.

• Psalms 79:12

  And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

• Psalms 83:13–17

  O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind. As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire; So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm. …

• Psalms 94:2

  Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud.

• Psalms 109:7

  When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.

• Psalms 109:9–20

  Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow. Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places. Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour. …

• Psalms 109:28

  Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.

• Psalms 109:29

  Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.

• Psalms 119:78

  Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

• Psalms 119:84

  How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

• Psalms 129:5

  Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.

• Psalms 140:9

  As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

• Psalms 140:10

  Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.

• Psalms 143:12

  And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

• Psalms 144:6

  Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them.

• Jeremiah 11:20

  But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

• Jeremiah 12:3

  But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.

• Jeremiah 15:15

  O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.

• Jeremiah 17:18

  Let them be confounded that persecute me, but let not me be confounded: let them be dismayed, but let not me be dismayed: bring upon them the day of evil, and destroy them with double destruction.

• Jeremiah 18:21–23

  Therefore deliver up their children to the famine, and pour out their blood by the force of the sword; and let their wives be bereaved of their children, and be widows; and let their men be put to death; let their young men be slain by the sword in battle. Let a cry be heard from their houses, when thou shalt bring a troop suddenly upon them: for they have digged a pit to take me, and hid snares for my feet. Yet, LORD, thou knowest all their counsel against me to slay me: forgive not their iniquity, neither blot out their sin from thy sight, but let them be overthrown before thee; deal thus with them in the time of thine anger.

• Jeremiah 20:12

  But, O LORD of hosts, that triest the righteous, and seest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I opened my cause.

• Lamentations 1:22

  Let all their wickedness come before thee; and do unto them, as thou hast done unto me for all my transgressions: for my sighs are many, and my heart is faint.

• Lamentations 3:64–66

  Render unto them a recompence, O LORD, according to the work of their hands. Give them sorrow of heart, thy curse unto them. Persecute and destroy them in anger from under the heavens of the LORD.

• Galatians 1:8

  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

• Galatians 1:9

  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

• 2 Timothy 4:14

  Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according to his works:

• 2 Timothy 4:15

  Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.

Submission in, exemplified by Jesus

• Matthew 26:39

  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

• Mark 14:36

  And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.

• Luke 22:42

  Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.

David

• 2 Samuel 12:22

  And he said, While the child was yet alive, I fasted and wept: for I said, Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me, that the child may live?

• 2 Samuel 12:23

  But now he is dead, wherefore should I fast? can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me.

Job

• Job 1:20

  Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

• Job 1:21

  And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

Private, enjoined

• Matthew 6:6

  But 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.

Exemplified by

Lot

• Genesis 19:20

  Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

Eliezer

• Genesis 24:12

  And he said, O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and shew kindness unto my master Abraham.

Jacob

• Genesis 32:9–12

  And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. …

Gideon

• Judges 6:22

  And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the LORD, Gideon said, Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.

• Judges 6:36

  And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said,

• Judges 6:39

  And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew.

Hannah

• 1 Samuel 1:10

  And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

David

• 2 Samuel 7:18–29

  Then went king David in, and sat before the LORD, and he said, Who am I, O Lord GOD? and what is my house, that thou hast brought me hitherto? And this was yet a small thing in thy sight, O Lord GOD; but thou hast spoken also of thy servant's house for a great while to come. And is this the manner of man, O Lord GOD? And what can David say more unto thee? for thou, Lord GOD, knowest thy servant. …

Hezekiah

• 2 Kings 20:2

  Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,

Isaiah

• 2 Kings 20:11

  And Isaiah the prophet cried unto the LORD: and he brought the shadow ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz.

Manasseh

• 2 Chronicles 33:18

  Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer unto his God, and the words of the seers that spake to him in the name of the LORD God of Israel, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel.

• 2 Chronicles 33:19

  His prayer also, and how God was intreated of him, and all his sin, and his trespass, and the places wherein he built high places, and set up groves and graven images, before he was humbled: behold, they are written among the sayings of the seers.

Ezra

• Ezra 9:5

  And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my heaviness; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees, and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God,

• Ezra 9:6

  And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.

Nehemiah

• Nehemiah 2:4

  Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven.

Jeremiah

• Jeremiah 32:16–25

  Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the LORD, saying, Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, …

Daniel

• Daniel 9:3

  And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:

• Daniel 9:19

  O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive; O Lord, hearken and do; defer not, for thine own sake, O my God: for thy city and thy people are called by thy name.

Jonah

• Jonah 2:1

  Then Jonah prayed unto the LORD his God out of the fish's belly,

Habakkuk

• Habakkuk 1:2

  O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!

Anna

• Luke 2:37

  And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Jesus

• Matthew 14:23

  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

• Matthew 26:36

  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

• Matthew 26:39

  And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

• Mark 1:35

  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

• Luke 9:18

  And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am?

• Luke 9:29

  And as he prayed, the fashion of his countenance was altered, and his raiment was white and glistering.

Paul

• Acts 9:11

  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

Peter

• Acts 9:40

  But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning him to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

• Acts 10:9

  On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

Cornelius

• Acts 10:30

  And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

Family

By Abraham

• Genesis 12:5

  And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.

• Genesis 12:8

  And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el, and pitched his tent, having Beth-el on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.

By Jacob

• Genesis 35:3

  And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

By Cornelius

• Acts 10:2

  A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

Social

• Matthew 18:19

  Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.

• Acts 1:13

  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

• Acts 1:14

  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

• Acts 16:25

  And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

• Acts 20:36

  And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.

• Acts 21:5

  And when we had accomplished those days, we departed and went our way; and they all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and we kneeled down on the shore, and prayed.

Held in private houses

• Acts 1:13

  And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphæus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James.

• Acts 1:14

  These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

• Acts 12:12

  And when he had considered the thing, he came to the house of Mary the mother of John, whose surname was Mark; where many were gathered together praying.

Held in the temple

• Acts 2:46

  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

• Acts 3:1

  Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour.

Of Jesus

On a mountain

• Matthew 14:23

  And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

• Mark 6:46

  And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

• Luke 6:12

  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

• Luke 9:28

  And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

In the garden of Gethsemane

• Matthew 26:36

  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.

• Mark 14:32

  And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.

• Luke 22:45

  And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow,

The Lord' s prayer

• Matthew 6:9

  After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

• Luke 11:1

  And 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.

However, see

• John 17:1–26

  These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. …

Before daylight

• Mark 1:35

  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

In distress

• John 12:27

  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

• Hebrews 5:7

  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;

In the wilderness

• Luke 5:16

  And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

In behalf of Peter

• Luke 22:31

  And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:

• Luke 22:32

  But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

For the Comforter (the Holy Spirit) to come

John 14:16

After the supper

John 17

Of the apostles

Acts 1:24, Acts 1:25

To idols

1 Kings 18:26–29

Instances of answered

Cain

Genesis 4:13–15

Abraham, for a son

Genesis 15

Abraham entreating

For Sodom

Genesis 18:23–33

For Ishmael

Genesis 17:20

For Abimelech

Genesis 20:17

Hagar, for deliverance

Genesis 16:7–13

Abraham' s servant, for guidance

Genesis 24:12–52

Rebecca, concerning her pains in pregnancy

Genesis 25:22, Genesis 25:23

Jacob, for deliverance from Esau

Genesis 32:9–32, Genesis 33:1–17

Moses, for help at the Red Sea

Exodus 14:15, Exodus 14:16

Moses, at the waters of Marah

Exodus 15:25

Moses, at Mount Horeb

Exodus 17:4–6

Moses, in the battle with the Amalekites

Exodus 17:8–14

Moses, concerning the complaint of the Israelites for meat

Numbers 11:11–35

Moses, on behalf of Miriam' s leprosy

Numbers 12:13–15

Moses, Aaron, and Samuel

Psalms 99:6

Israelites for deliverance

From bondage

Exodus 2:23–25, Exodus 3:7–10, Acts 7:34

From Pharaoh' s army

Exodus 14:10–30

From the king of Mesopotamia

Judges 3:9, Judges 3:15

Sisera

Judges 4:3, Judges 4:23, Judges 4:24, 1 Samuel 12:9–11

Ammon

Judges 10:6–18, Judges 11:1–33

For God' s favor under the reproofs of Azariah

2 Chronicles 15:1–15

From Babylonian bondage

Nehemiah 9:27

Gideon, asking for the token of dew

Judges 6:36–40

Manoah, asking about Samson

Judges 13:8, Judges 13:9

Samson, asking for strength

Judges 16:28–30

Hannah, asking to give birth to a child

1 Samuel 1:10–17, 1 Samuel 1:19, 1 Samuel 1:20

David, asking whether Keilah would be delivered into his hands

1 Samuel 23:10–12

David, asking about Ziklag

1 Samuel 30:8

David, asking whether he should go into Judah after Saul' s death

2 Samuel 2:1

David, asking whether he should go to war against the Philistines

2 Samuel 5:19–25

David, in adversity

Psalms 118:5, Psalms 138:3

Solomon, asking for wisdom

1 Kings 3:1–13, 1 Kings 9:2, 1 Kings 9:3

Elijah, raising the widow' s son

1 Kings 17:22

Elijah, calling for fire to come down upon his sacrifice

1 Kings 18:36–38

Elijah, asking for rain

1 Kings 17:1, 1 Kings 18:1, 1 Kings 18:42–45, James 5:17

Elisha, leading the Syrian army

2 Kings 6:17–20

Jabez, asking for prosperity

1 Chronicles 4:10

Abijah, for victory over Jeroboam

2 Chronicles 13:14–18

Asa, for victory over Zerah

2 Chronicles 14:11–15

The people of Judah

2 Chronicles 15:15

Jehoshaphat, for victory over the Canaanites

2 Chronicles 18:31, 2 Chronicles 20:6–27

Jehoahaz, for victory over Hazael

2 Kings 13:4

Priests and Levites, when blessing the people

2 Chronicles 30:27

Hezekiah and Isaiah, for deliverance from Sennacherib

2 Kings 19:14–20, 2 Chronicles 32:20–23

To save Hezekiah' s life

2 Kings 20:1–7, 2 Kings 20:11, 2 Chronicles 32:24

Manasseh, for deliverance from the king of Babylon

2 Chronicles 33:13, 2 Chronicles 33:19

The Reubenites, for deliverance from the Hagarites

1 Chronicles 5:20

The Jews, returning from the captivity

Ezra 8:21, Ezra 8:23

Ezekiel, to have the baking of his bread of affliction changed

Ezekiel 4:12–15

Daniel, for the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzars dream

Daniel 2:19–23

Daniel, interceding for the people

Daniel 9:20–23

Daniel, in a vision

Daniel 10:12

Zacharias, for a son

Luke 1:13

The leper, for healing

Matthew 8:2, Matthew 8:3, Mark 1:40–43, Luke 5:12, Luke 5:13

Centurion, for his servant

Matthew 8:5–13, Luke 7:3–10, John 4:50, John 4:51

Peter, asking that Tabitha (Dorcas) be restored to life

Acts 9:40

The disciples, for Peter

Acts 12:5–17

Paul, to be restored to health

2 Corinthians 1:9–11

Instances of importunity in

Jacob

Genesis 32:24–30

Moses

Exodus 33:12–16, Exodus 34:9

Elijah

1 Kings 18:22–44

The two blind men of Jericho

Matthew 20:30, Matthew 20:31, Mark 10:48, Luke 18:39

The non-Jewish, Syro-Phoenician woman

Matthew 15:22–28, Mark 7:25–30

The Roman centurion

Matthew 8:5, Luke 7:3, Luke 7:4