Prayer in the Bible

Learning to talk with God from the people who walked with Him.

Prayer can feel mysterious, but the Bible is full of real people pouring out their hearts to God. Over fourteen days your family will sit with the prayers of Scripture, from Abraham to the early church to Jesus Himself. Along the way you'll see that we get to come to God not because we are good, but because of His grace toward us in Christ.

1. Day 1

   Abraham's Intercession

   Genesis 18:22-33

   When God told Abraham that judgment was coming, Abraham did something bold: he stood before the Lord and prayed for others, asking God to spare a wicked city for the sake of a few righteous people. Notice how humble he is, calling himself 'dust and ashes,' yet how confident, because he trusts that the Judge of all the earth will do what is right. This is the heart of intercession, when we pray for people who can't or won't pray for themselves. It points us forward to Jesus, who is the truly righteous one and who still lives to pray for us.

   Talk about it

   • What surprises you about the way Abraham talks with God here?
   • Why do you think God invites us to pray for other people instead of handling everything on His own?
   • Who is someone in our lives we could 'stand in the gap' for in prayer this week?

   Memory verse · Genesis 18:25

   “Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that be far from you. Shouldn’t the Judge of all the earth do right?””

2. Day 2

   Moses Prays for Israel

   Exodus 32:9-14; Exodus 32:30-32

   After Israel sinned terribly by worshiping a golden calf, Moses didn't walk away from them. He prayed, pleading with God for mercy and even offering to be blotted out of God's book if it meant the people could be spared. Moses reminded God of His promises, and God showed mercy. This kind of self-giving prayer gives us a small picture of Jesus, who didn't just offer to take our place but actually did, bearing our sin on the cross so we could be forgiven.

   Talk about it

   • How does Moses show that he loves the people, even after they did something wrong?
   • What does it mean to remind God of His promises when we pray?
   • When someone we love messes up, how can we pray for them instead of giving up on them?

   Memory verse · Exodus 32:32

   “Yet now, if you will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of your book which you have written.””

3. Day 3

   Hannah's Prayer

   1 Samuel 1:9-18; 1 Samuel 2:1-10

   Hannah was deeply sad because she longed for a child, and she brought her tears straight to the Lord, praying so honestly that her lips moved without a sound. God heard her, and later she sang a joyful prayer praising Him as the holy God who lifts up the lowly. Hannah shows us that we can bring God our hardest feelings, not just our happy ones. And when He answers, our hearts overflow with thanks, remembering that every good gift comes from Him.

   Talk about it

   • What does Hannah's prayer teach us about being honest with God when we're hurting?
   • Why do you think Hannah praised God so much after He answered her?
   • What is something heavy on your heart that you could pour out to God like Hannah did?

   Memory verse · 1 Samuel 1:15

   “Hannah answered, “No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have not been drinking wine or strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.”

4. Day 4

   David's Praise

   2 Samuel 22:1-20

   After God rescued David from all his enemies, David sang a prayer calling God his rock, his fortress, and his deliverer. When he was in trouble, David cried out, and God heard his voice and reached down to save him. This whole prayer is praise that remembers what God has done. As a family, we can do the same, looking back at the ways God has cared for us and thanking Him, knowing our greatest rescue is the salvation He gives us in Jesus.

   Talk about it

   • What are some of the names David uses for God, and what do they tell us about Him?
   • Why is it good to remember and talk about the times God has helped us?
   • What is one way you have seen God take care of our family that we could thank Him for?

   Memory verse · 2 Samuel 22:2

   “and he said: “Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, even mine;”

5. Day 5

   Solomon's Dedication Prayer

   1 Kings 8:22-30

   When Solomon finished building the temple, he spread out his hands and prayed, amazed that the God who fills heaven and earth would meet with His people in that place. He asked God to hear the prayers His people would offer there and to forgive them when they returned to Him. Solomon knew no building could ever contain God, yet God in His kindness chose to come near. Today we don't need a temple, because through Jesus we can come straight to God anytime, anywhere.

   Talk about it

   • How does Solomon describe how big and great God is?
   • Why is it amazing that the God of the whole universe wants to listen to us?
   • Where and when are some of the places you can talk to God this week?

   Memory verse · 1 Kings 8:27

   “But will God in very deed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can’t contain you; how much less this house that I have built!”

6. Day 6

   Elijah on Mount Carmel

   1 Kings 18:36-39

   On Mount Carmel, Elijah prayed a short, simple prayer asking God to show that He alone is the true God. He wasn't loud or flashy, but he trusted God completely, and God answered with fire from heaven so everyone would know the Lord is God. This story reminds us that prayer isn't about using fancy words or making a big show. It's about turning hearts back to the one true God, who alone can save.

   Talk about it

   • What do you notice about how short and simple Elijah's prayer was?
   • Why do you think Elijah wanted everyone's hearts to turn back to God?
   • How can we trust God to answer even when a situation looks impossible?

   Memory verse · 1 Kings 18:37

   “Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that this people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again.””

7. Day 7

   Hezekiah's Prayer

   2 Kings 19:14-19; Isaiah 37:33-35

   When a powerful enemy sent King Hezekiah a threatening letter, he didn't panic or fight back on his own. He took the letter into God's house, spread it out before the Lord, and prayed for help. He honored God as the one true King over all the earth and asked Him to save His people for His own glory, and God did. When troubles feel too big for us, we can do what Hezekiah did, laying them out before the God who is bigger than any threat.

   Talk about it

   • What did Hezekiah do with the scary letter, and why was that a good choice?
   • What does it mean to 'spread out' our worries before God?
   • What is a worry you could bring to God instead of carrying it by yourself?

   Memory verse · 2 Kings 19:19

   “Now therefore, Yahweh our God, save us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone.””

8. Day 8

   Daniel's Prayer

   Daniel 9:4-19

   Daniel prayed an honest prayer of confession, admitting that he and his people had sinned against God. He didn't make excuses; instead he praised God for being faithful and merciful even when His people were not. Then he asked for forgiveness, not because they deserved it, but because of God's great mercy. This is good news for us too, because we come to God the same way, trusting His grace and the forgiveness He won for us at the cross.

   Talk about it

   • Why do you think Daniel was so honest about the wrong things that had been done?
   • What does Daniel's prayer teach us about God's mercy and forgiveness?
   • Why is it good news that God forgives us because of His grace and not because we earn it?

   Memory verse · Daniel 9:18

   “My God, turn your ear, and hear. Open your eyes, and see our desolations, and the city which is called by your name; for we do not present our petitions before you for our righteousness, but for your great mercies’ sake.”

9. Day 9

   Jonah's Prayer from the Fish

   Jonah 2:1-10

   Jonah had run from God, and now he was in the darkest, most hopeless place imaginable, inside a great fish in the depths of the sea. Yet even there, Jonah prayed, and God heard him. From the belly of the fish Jonah remembered that 'salvation belongs to the Lord,' and God rescued him. No matter how far we've wandered or how stuck we feel, there is no place too dark for God to hear our prayer and bring us home.

   Talk about it

   • Where was Jonah when he prayed, and what does that tell us about when we can pray?
   • What does it mean that 'salvation belongs to the Lord'?
   • Is there a time you felt far from God, and how does Jonah's story give you hope?

   Memory verse · Jonah 2:9

   “But I will sacrifice to you with the voice of thanksgiving. I will pay that which I have vowed. Salvation belongs to Yahweh.””

10. Day 10

    The Lord's Prayer

    Matthew 6:5-15; Luke 11:1-4

    When the disciples asked Jesus how to pray, He gave them a simple model we still use today. He taught us to honor God's name, to ask for what we need, to seek forgiveness, and to forgive others. Best of all, Jesus invites us to call God 'our Father,' which we can do only because Jesus has made us part of God's family. Prayer isn't about long, fancy words to impress people; it's about a child talking honestly with a Father who loves them.

    Talk about it

    • Which part of the prayer Jesus taught stands out to you the most, and why?
    • What does it mean that we get to call God our Father?
    • How can asking forgiveness and giving forgiveness be part of our prayers this week?

    Memory verse · Matthew 6:9

    “Pray like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy.”

11. Day 11

    Jesus in Gethsemane

    Matthew 26:36-46

    On the night before He died, Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow, and He went to a garden to pray. He honestly told His Father how hard the moment was, yet He prayed, 'not as I will, but as you will,' choosing to trust and obey. Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross to take the punishment for our sin so we could be forgiven. When our hardest moments come, we can follow His example, being honest with God and still trusting His good plan.

    Talk about it

    • How does it help us to know that Jesus prayed when He was sad and afraid?
    • What does it mean to pray 'your will be done' even when something is hard?
    • What is a hard thing you can bring to God honestly while still trusting Him?

    Memory verse · Matthew 26:39

    “He went forward a little, fell on his face, and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from me; nevertheless, not what I desire, but what you desire.””

12. Day 12

    Jesus' High Priestly Prayer

    John 17:1-26

    Just before the cross, Jesus prayed not only for His disciples but for everyone who would ever believe in Him, which includes us. He asked the Father to keep us safe, to make us holy through His truth, and to bring us together in love. It is wonderful to know that Jesus prayed for you by name in this prayer, long before you were born. And the Bible says He still prays for us today, so we are never on our own.

    Talk about it

    • How does it feel to know Jesus prayed for people who would believe in Him, including us?
    • What kinds of things does Jesus ask the Father to do for His followers?
    • Since Jesus prays for us, how could that change the way we face a hard day?

    Memory verse · John 17:3

    “This is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

13. Day 13

    The Early Church Prays

    Acts 4:23-31

    When the first Christians were threatened and told to stop talking about Jesus, they gathered together and prayed. They didn't ask God to make their problems disappear; they praised Him as the powerful Maker of everything and asked for boldness to keep sharing the good news. God answered by filling them with His Spirit so they could speak with courage. When life gets hard, praying together as a family can fill us with the same kind of courage.

    Talk about it

    • What did the early church ask God for when they were scared?
    • Why might it be powerful to pray together instead of always praying alone?
    • What is something brave we could ask God to help us do this week?

    Memory verse · Acts 4:31

    “When they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were gathered together. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.”

14. Day 14

    Paul's Prayers

    Ephesians 1:15-23; Ephesians 3:14-21

    When Paul prayed for his friends, he didn't just ask for easy lives; he prayed for the deepest things. He asked God to help them know Him better, to see the hope and riches they have in Christ, and to grasp how wide and long and high and deep the love of Jesus is. What a beautiful way to finish: praying that the people we love would know God and His enormous love more and more. May that be our prayer for each other every day.

    Talk about it

    • What kinds of things does Paul pray for his friends here?
    • How would it change us to truly understand how big God's love is?
    • What is one good thing we could begin praying for each person in our family?

    Memory verse · Ephesians 3:17-18

    “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth,”

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible (public domain). Devotions and reflection questions © Genesis Labs.