Oh, the joy of personal, intimate communion with our Heavenly Father—made possible by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When Jesus paid our penalty for sin and died in our place, He bridged the gap between a Holy God and us—and provided the sacred privilege of direct access to our Creator. The following prayer quotes are rich with hope, wisdom, and promise, and they remind us of how the Holy Spirit works and moves in the prayer relationship to draw us closer to the Father and make us more like Jesus (Romans 8:26, 1 Corinthians 1:30).
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
“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)
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” (Colossians 4:2)
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)
“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.” (Romans 8:26)
“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3)
“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place.” (Psalm 118:5)
“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41)
“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
“Our prayers are heard, not because we are in earnest, not because we suffer, but because Jesus suffered.”—Oswald Chambers
“Get a place for prayer where no one imagines that that is what you are doing. Shut the door and talk to God.” —Oswald Chambers
“For one who has made thanksgiving the habit of his life, the morning prayer will be, ‘Lord, what will you give me today to offer back to you?’” —Elisabeth Elliot
“To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse.” —Charles Spurgeon
“In the morning, prayer is the key that opens to us the treasures of God’s mercies and blessings; in the evening, it is the key that shuts us up under His protection and safeguard.” —Billy Graham
“Prayer is more than a wish; it is the voice of faith directed to God.” —Billy Graham
“Prayer lays hold of God’s plan and becomes the link between His will and its accomplishment on earth. Amazing things happen, and we are given the privilege of being the channels of the Holy Spirit’s prayer.” —Elizabeth Elliot
“Silence, as someone has said, is the mother of prayer and the nurse of holy thoughts. Silence cuts down on our sins, doesn’t it? We can’t be sinning in so many different ways if we are being quiet before God. Silence nourishes patience, charity, discretion.” —Elisabeth Elliot
“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden.” —Corrie Ten Boom
“It is possible to move men, through God, by prayer alone.” —Hudson Taylor
“God shapes the world by prayer. The more praying there is in the world, the better the world will be, the mightier the forces against evil.” —E.M. Bounds
“Work, work, from morning until late at night. In fact, I have so much to do that I shall have to spend the first three hours in prayer.” —Martin Luther
“Prayer is not monologue, but dialogue; God’s voice is its most essential part. Listening to God’s voice is the secret of the assurance that he will listen to mine.” —Andrew Murray
“To desire revival... and at the same time to neglect (personal) prayer and devotion is to wish one way and walk another.” —A.W. Tozer
“To pray well is the better half of study.” —Martin Luther
“Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference.” —Max Lucado
“Humility—coming before God with a proper understanding of His greatness—is the key to improving one’s prayer life and developing a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.” —Francis Chan
“No one can pray and worry at the same time.” —Max Lucado
“Don’t worry about having the right words; worry more about having the right heart. It’s not eloquence he seeks, just honesty.” —Max Lucado
“If we never pray audacious, courageous prayers, how can He answer them?” —Francis Chan
“Fervent prayer keeps your true identity in focus.” —Priscilla Shirer
“Prayer is the portal that brings the power of heaven down to earth. It is kryptonite to the enemy and to all his ploys against you.” —Priscilla Shirer
“I must exchange whispers with God before shouts with the world.” ― Lysa TerKeurst
“Prayer is the open admission that without Christ, we can do nothing. And prayer is the turning away from ourselves to God in the confidence that He will provide the help we need. Prayer humbles us as needy and exalts God as wealthy.” —John Piper
“God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of front-line forces and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus, prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need.” —John Piper
“God’s power in your life is determined by whether you pray in just special times or all the time. Prayerlessness limits God.” —Rick Warren
“If you only pray when you feel like it, Satan will make sure you never feel like it.” —Rick Warren
“Prayer is the most powerful resource we have in this life; yet many only turn to it as a last resort. When unbelievers pray for repentance of sin and ask for God’s forgiveness, prayer is the spiritual dynamite that obliterates the darkness and despair of a sin-soaked soul.” —Franklin Graham
“We can be tired, weary, and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that he injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.” —Charles Stanley
“Prayer is awe, intimacy, struggle—yet the way to reality. There is nothing more important, or harder, or richer, or more life-altering. There is absolutely nothing so great as prayer.” —Timothy Keller
Loving Lord and heavenly Father, I offer up today all that I am, all that I have, all that I do, and all that I suffer, to be Yours today and Yours forever. Give me grace, Lord, to do all that I know of Your holy will. Purify my heart, sanctify my thinking, correct my desires. Teach me, in all of today’s work and trouble and joy, to respond with honest praise, simple trust, and instant obedience, that my life may be in truth a living sacrifice, by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, my Master and my all. Amen. —Elisabeth Elliot
Dear Lord, I love You. All that I’ve expressed above is the desire of my heart. I confess that sometimes my actions and reactions betray my love for You. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your grace that is able to recognize this new day as a new chance to walk closer with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. —Lysa TerKeurst
Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth. (Psalm 86:11)
Our Father and our God, we pray that… we all might be conscious that Thine eye is upon us. If God can see the sparrow fall, if He has the hairs of our head numbered, we know that He watches us, that He loves us, that He cares for us, and we’re told in Thy Word that He cares for us so much that He sent His only begotten Son to the cross to die that we might find forgiveness of our sins. We pray… that Thy Holy Spirit will draw all men unto the Savior, for we ask it in His Name. Amen. —Billy Graham
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 evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in You; do not let me be put to shame, not let my enemies triumph over me…Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. (Psalm 25:1-2, 4-6)
Lord, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! Many are saying of me, “God will not deliver him.” But you, Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high. I call out to the Lord, and he answers me from his holy mountain. I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me. I will not fear though tens of thousands assail me on every side. Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Psalm 3:1-8
Now, our God, hear the prayers and petitions of your servant. For your sake, Lord, look with favor on your desolate sanctuary. Daniel 9:17
Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man. Nehemiah 1:11
Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain. 1 Chronicles 4:10
Further Reading:
10 Prayers in the Bible to Pray Over Your Life
5 Powerful Prayers from Scripture
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You’ll find Leigh Ann on an adventure with her sweetheart of 39 years, getting silly with her grands, or daydreaming story plots on the front porch.
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This article is part of our larger Inspiring Quotes resource meant to encourage and strengthen your faith. Visit our most popular quotes by well known Christians and theologians to find more inspiration. Remember, the Holy Spirit can work through us when we have faith and share it with others! Please pass along any quotes that touch your heart because you never know light you’ll shine on someone else’s dark day!