Here are just a few references to prayer that appear in Sacred Scripture. There are many, many more…
Prayer was in many forms, and in many places,, with people, and alone.
By the way, we are told to pray without ceasing..... are you always alone? Kind of a big problem, right there.
Old Testament
Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. – Genesis 25:20-22
The priests and the Levites stood to bless the people, and God heard them, for their prayer reached heaven, his holy dwelling place. – 2 Chronicles 30:26-27
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. – Ezra 8:22-24
When the people cried out to Moses, he prayed to the LORD and the fire died down. – Numbers 11:1-3
They buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in the tomb of Saul's father Kish, at Zela in Benjamin, and did everything the king commanded. After that, God answered prayer in behalf of the land. – 2 Samuel 21:13-15
David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped. – 2 Samuel 24:24-25
When Solomon had finished all these prayers and supplications to the LORD, he rose from before the altar of the LORD, where he had been kneeling with his hands spread out toward heaven. – 1 Kings 8:53-55
The LORD said to him: "I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there. – 1 Kings 9:2-4
And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. – 2 Kings 6:16-18
Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer. – Psalm 4:1-3
The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.Psalm 6:8-10 The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. – Proverbs 15:7-9
"When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. – Jonah 2:6-8
Jonah 2:6-8
New Testament
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. – Matthew 6:1-15
For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-9
After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, – Matthew 14:22-24
Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. – Matthew 19:12-14
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." – Matthew 21:21-23
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." – Matthew 26:35-37
"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." – Matthew 26:40-42
He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." – Matthew 26:41-43
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. – Mark 1:34-36
And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins." – Mark 11:24-26
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. – Mark 14:34-36
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. – Mark 11:23-25
But the angel said to him: "Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. – Luke 1:12-14
One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. – Luke 6:11-13
And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. – Luke 22:43-45
Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. "Take away the stone," he said. "But, Lord," said Martha, the sister of the dead man, "by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days." Then Jesus said, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me." When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." – John 11:38-45
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. – Acts 4:30-32
Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, "Tabitha, get up." She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. – Acts 9:39-41
The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. – Acts 10:4-6
His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. – Acts 28:7-9
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 with groans that words cannot express. – Romans 8:25-27
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. – Romans 12:11-13
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:5-7
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. – Colossians 4:1-3
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being. – Ephesians 3:15-17
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing. – 1 Timothy 2:7-9
During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. – Hebrews 5:6-8
Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. – James 5:12-14
And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. – James 5:14-16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. – James 5:15-17
For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil." – 1 Peter 3:11-13
