10 Encouraging Bible Verses About the Power of Prayer

Whether we’ve found ourselves in a challenging situation or season or we’re just journeying through everyday life, prayer is a powerful tool that we always have at our disposal. As pastors and leaders, we can always benefit from spending time in conversation with God. 

Thankfully, there are many Bible verses about prayer to help us as we engage in this spiritual practice. We hope that these verses encourage your faith and remind you of the precious gift of prayer – feel free to share them with anyone in your life or ministry who needs them, too. 

 

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.”
1 John 5:14

This verse reminds us that God is truly listening when His children approach Him. As we pray the will of God over any situation in our lives, we can be sure that He hears us. That reassurance gives us confidence to approach God, no matter what the circumstances may be.

 

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:18

Sometimes, our hearts can convince us that God is far from us – but this scripture reminds us that feeling is simply not true. The Psalmist reminds us that when we call on God, He draws near to us. What an incredible gift we have in that promise!

 

“For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Matthew 18:20

This gospel passage reminds us of the importance of praying with others in our community. There is power in joining together to pray and petition. Jesus even says that when we align our hearts in prayer, He is with us as we do it!

 

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16

Prayer is a gift in and of itself, but as we pray, we also receive other gifts. This verse in Hebrews tells us that we can approach God with confidence, expecting that we will receive the mercy and grace we need for our current moment.

 

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16

This passage in James shows us that we are meant to pray for each other! Praying and confessing in community is a valuable part of the Christian life. According to scripture, confessing our sins and praying for one another brings healing. It’s so comforting to know that prayer truly works – it’s powerful and effective.

 

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.”
Acts 16:25-32

This miracle in Acts was brought about through prayer and worship. What an incredible story! While Paul and Silas could have chosen to feel forgotten and defeated in prison, they instead decided to pray and worship God, even in a seemingly impossible situation. They were rewarded with their freedom — and even more importantly, an opportunity to share the gospel! This story reminds us that when things seem bleak, it’s the best time to pray. God can work on our behalf to help us and to bring His gospel to others!

 

“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 through wordless groans.”
Romans 8:26

Have you ever known you needed to pray, but felt like you didn’t know what to say? This verse is a great encouragement to our hearts when we feel so burdened or confused that we can’t find the words. The Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf even when our prayers don’t feel eloquent or coherent. God knows our hearts, even when we can’t articulate them well.

 

“Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.”
Psalm 143:1

Reading the Psalms is a great reminder that we have permission to come to God honestly, making our request no matter what emotion we’re feeling. This verse gives us a blueprint for praying in difficult times, asking God to hear our cries and give us mercy, according to His faithful and righteous character.

 

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Matthew 26:41

This reminder from Jesus himself shows us that prayer can keep us from succumbing to sin — it’s a powerful spiritual weapon in fighting temptation. Prayer truly does offer us access to God, who is always ready to help us when it feels like the flesh will win out over the spirit. He is available to help us overcome any temptation we may face!

 

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

This passage reminded Solomon and the Israelite people that God would draw near to them and heal them, even after they had turned away from Him yet again. It offers us a beautiful picture, too — that God’s heart is always ready to heal his people when we return to Him. Even today, we can use this Old Testament passage as a guideline for repentance, praying humbly and seeking God’s face. 

We hope these Bible verses about the power of prayer encourage you and help you serve your congregation in this season. We know how much you pour into your ministry, and we’re always looking for ways to support you. If you’re looking for a new way to incorporate prayer into your church community, try Church Base’s interactive prayer wall! Our Connection module offers a simple way for congregants to share their requests and pray for others. 

 

Get started with Church Base’s Connection module — it’s completely free for your church to use.