How the Bible prays

The Great Prayers of the Bible

The Bible is full of real prayers prayed by real people at the edges of their lives: a barren woman weeping, a prophet in the belly of a fish, a broken king begging for a clean heart, and the Son of God sweating blood in a garden. Each one teaches us how to talk to God, and each one was heard.

“Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.”
Luke 11:1

Below are the prayers Scripture records, each with the moment behind it, the prayer in its own words, what it teaches, and a door to pray it yourself.

Prayers of the heart in trouble

Prayers of repentance and mercy

Prayers of surrender and wisdom

Bold and split-second prayers

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Pray it yourself

These prayers were not written to be admired from a distance. They were prayed by frightened, hoping, ordinary people, and the same God still listens. The Living Bread is a quiet place to pray, to be prayed for, and to learn to talk with God honestly, at your own pace.

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Jesus Christ is Lord.

Frequently asked questions

What are the great prayers of the Bible?
They include the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6), Hannah's prayer (1 Samuel 1), Solomon's prayer for wisdom (1 Kings 3), Jonah's prayer from the fish (Jonah 2), David's repentance in Psalm 51, the tax collector's prayer (Luke 18), Jesus in Gethsemane (Matthew 26), the prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4), Nehemiah's arrow prayer (Nehemiah 2), and Habakkuk's prayer (Habakkuk 3).
What can we learn from the prayers in the Bible?
That prayer can be raw, honest, and desperate, and still be heard; that God welcomes confession over performance; that we can pray in an instant or through the night; and that the deepest prayers surrender our will to God while trusting his goodness.
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