How Should I Pray? What the Bible Teaches
Jesus' own pattern, honest words, and a Father who hears — the Bible's plain teaching on how to pray.
When the disciples asked, Jesus gave them a pattern, not a script: the Lord’s Prayer — Father honoured first, then kingdom, bread, forgiveness, and keeping (Matthew 6:9–13). Scripture’s other essentials: pray sincerely, not for show (Matthew 6:5–6); pray about everything “with thanksgiving” (Philippians 4:6); and keep at it — “men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
The pattern Jesus gave
“After this manner therefore pray ye” — the Lord’s Prayer is a skeleton to flesh out, and its order teaches as much as its words. It begins with God (thy name, thy kingdom, thy will) before it reaches us (our bread, our debts, our deliverance). Prayer that starts with adoration arrives at requests differently — smaller needs in the presence of a bigger Father.
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. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Simply, honestly, in secret
Jesus stripped prayer of performance: not standing at corners to be seen of men, not heaping up vain repetitions as though volume moved God — “your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.” The prescribed venue is a shut door and a Father who sees in secret. The Bible’s recorded prayers are strikingly plain: “God be merciful to me a sinner” justified a man in ten words.
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.
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.
About everything, without quitting
Paul’s scope for prayer is total — “in every thing” — carried with thanksgiving, and answered with peace. Jesus told a parable “to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint”: the widow who wore out the unjust judge, arguing from lesser to greater — if persistence moves him, how much more a willing Father. Ask, seek, knock: the verbs are continuous, and the door has a promise on it.
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Quick answers
- Do I have to pray in special words?
- No — Jesus warned against “vain repetitions” and “much speaking” (Matthew 6:7). The Bible’s model prayers are short, direct, and honest; the Spirit even helps when words fail entirely (Romans 8:26).
- What positions or times does the Bible require?
- None — Scripture records prayer kneeling, standing, lying, walking, aloud and silent, at morning, noon, night, and “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Daniel’s three set times and Jesus’ early mornings model rhythm, not regulation.
- What should I pray for?
- Everything (Philippians 4:6): daily needs, forgiveness, protection, others (1 Timothy 2:1), wisdom (James 1:5), workers for the harvest (Matthew 9:38) — and, above all requests, “thy will be done.”
