How does the Bible teach to pray?
The Bible's most direct teaching on prayer appears in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus first describes how not to pray: not performing long prayers for show, and not piling up empty repetition. He then gives his disciples a model prayer; beginning "Our Father…
The Bible's most direct teaching on prayer appears in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew's Gospel. Jesus first describes how not to pray: not performing long prayers for show, and not piling up empty repetition. He then gives his disciples a model prayer; beginning "Our Father in heaven," it is known as the Lord's Prayer and also appears in a shorter form in Luke. The structure is striking: first a turning toward God (his name honored, his will done), then daily need ("give us today our daily bread"), forgiveness ("as we also forgive our debtors") and protection. That order turns prayer from a wish list into the language of a relationship. Other New Testament passages describe prayer's tone: Philippians proposes requests made "with thanksgiving" in place of anxiety, with the result described as "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding"; 1 Thessalonians says "Pray without ceasing," presenting prayer as a posture of life rather than a scheduled ceremony. The Bible prescribes no required place, hour or formula for prayer; Jesus himself is described as withdrawing to solitary places to pray. The book of Psalms functions as a school of prayer in practice, showing how every human condition — from praise to complaint — can be carried into words addressed to God. The full text and context of the Lord's Prayer can be read on this site on the Matthew 6 page, and the prayer theme is gathered on its topic page.