Prayer Techniques and Methods in the Bible

Prayer in the Bible is presented as a command and a vital means of communication with God, encompassing various methods and postures ^[1]. It is directed to God the Father, to Christ, and to the Holy Spirit, and is offered through Christ ^[1]. The Bible indicates that God hears and answers prayers ^{[1, 6]}.

One of the most prominent examples of prayer technique is the model prayer given by Jesus to his disciples, commonly known as the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; Luke 11:2-4) ^[8]. This prayer serves as a "directory for prayer," providing a framework for what believers should pray for and how ^[13]. It is characterized by its simplicity, contrasting with "vain repetition" ^[11]. While the Lord's Prayer is foundational for Christian prayer, its spirit is also guided by Jesus' prayers in Gethsemane and John 17 ^[8]. The Lord's Prayer begins by addressing God as "Father," a practice Jesus frequently employed ^[11]. It includes petitions for God's name to be kept holy, acknowledging that God's name can be profaned by the sin of his people ^[11].

Biblical texts describe various physical postures and expressions associated with prayer. These include bowing the knees (Ephesians 3:14), looking up (Psalm 5:3), lifting up the soul (Psalm 25:1), lifting up the heart (Lamentations 3:41), pouring out the heart (Psalm 62:8), and pouring out the soul (1 Samuel 1:15) ^[1]. The lifting of hands is also mentioned, often in conjunction with sacrifice or petition, as seen in Psalm 141:2, "Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice" ^{[9, 12]}. Similarly, Psalm 28:2 speaks of lifting hands "toward your Most Holy Place" ^[4].

Prayer is also described through various verbal actions: calling upon the name of the Lord (Genesis 12:8; Psalm 116:4; Acts 22:16) and crying to God (Psalm 27:7; 34:6) ^[1]. The act of "seeking God" is closely linked to prayer, involving seeking His name (Psalm 83:16), His word (Isaiah 34:16), His face (Psalm 27:8; 105:4), His strength (1 Chronicles 16:11; Psalm 105:4), His commandments (1 Chronicles 28:8; Malachi 2:7), His precepts (Psalm 119:45, 94), His kingdom (Matthew 6:33; Luke 12:31), and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33) ^[5]. This seeking should be immediate and often involves prayer (Job 8:5; Daniel 9:3) ^[5].

The Bible also highlights the context and timing of prayer. Believers are exhorted to pray under affliction (James 5:13), seeking God's consideration of their trouble (2 Kings 19:16; Nehemiah 9:32; Psalm 9:13; Lamentations 5:1) ^[3]. Prayers in affliction may include requests for God's presence and support (Psalm 10:1; 102:2), for the Holy Spirit not to be withdrawn (Psalm 51:11), for divine comfort (Psalm 4:6; 119:76), for mitigation of troubles (Psalm 39:12, 13), for deliverance (Psalm 25:17, 22; 39:10; Isaiah 64:9-12; Jeremiah 17:14), for pardon and deliverance from sin (Psalm 39:8; 51:1; 79:8), for turning to God (Psalm 80:7; 85:4-6; Jeremiah 31:18), and for divine teaching and direction (Job 34:32; Psalm 27:11; 143:10) ^[3].

Regularity in prayer is also emphasized. Psalm 55:17 states, "Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice" ^[10]. The apostle Paul also prayed "night and day" with "exceeding abundantly" earnestness ^[14]. The concept of "a time to keep silence, and a time to speak" (Ecclesiastes 3:7) suggests that prayer can involve both vocal expression and silent contemplation ^[7].

Access to God through prayer is a significant theme. This access is understood to be "of God" (Psalm 65:4), "by Christ" (John 10:7, 9; 14:6; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:13; 3:12; Hebrews 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1 Peter 3:18), and "by the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18) ^[2]. It is obtained through faith (Acts 14:27; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 11:6) and follows reconciliation to God (Colossians 1:21, 22) ^[2]. This access is a privilege of saints (Deuteronomy 4:7; Psalm 15:1; 23:6; 24:3, 4) and is granted with confidence (Ephesians 3:12; Hebrews 4:16; 10:19, 20) ^[2]. Even repenting sinners are vouchsafed this access ^[2].

God's answers to prayer are promised (Isaiah 58:9; Jeremiah 29:12; Matthew 7:7), especially in times of trouble (Psalm 50:15; 91:15) ^[6]. Answers are given by God (Psalm 99:6; 118:5; 138:3) and by Christ (John 4:10, 14; 14:14) ^[6]. They are granted through the grace of God (Isaiah 30:19) and can be immediate (Isaiah 65:24; Daniel 9:21, 23; 10:12), delayed (Luke 18:7), or even different from the petitioner's desire (2 Corinthians 12:8, 9) ^[6]. Sometimes, answers exceed expectation (Jeremiah 33:3; Ephesians 3:20) ^[6]. Those who seek God (Psalm 34:4), seek Him with all their heart (Jeremiah 29:12, 13), and wait upon Him receive answers ^[6]. The prayers of God's people are seen as reaching God's presence, indicating that God hears them and is prepared to act ^[12].

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7; Php 4:6. To be offered To God. -- Ps 5:2; Mt 4:10. To Christ. -- Lu 23:42; Ac 7:59. To the Holy Spirit. -- 2Th 3:5. Through Christ. -- Eph 2:18; Heb 10:19. God hears -- Ps 10:17; 65:2. God answers -- Ps 99:6; Isa 58:9. Is described as Bowing the knees. -- Eph 3:14. Looking up. -- Ps 5:3. Lifting up the soul. -- Ps 25:1. Lifting up the heart. -- La 3:41. Pouring out the heart. -- Ps 62:8. Pouring out the soul. -- 1Sa 1:15. Calling upon the name of the Lord. -- Ge 12:8; Ps 116:4; Ac 22:16. Crying to God. -- Ps 27:7; 34:6. Drawing”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Prayer Under — Exhortation to -- Jas 5:13. That God would consider our trouble -- 2Ki 19:16; Ne 9:32; Ps 9:13; La 5:1. For the presence and support of God -- Ps 10:1; 102:2. That the Holy Spirit may not be withdrawn -- Ps 51:11. For divine comfort -- Ps 4:6; 119:76. For mitigation of troubles -- Ps 39:12,13. For deliverance -- Ps 25:17,22; 39:10; Isa 64:9-12; Jer 17:14. For pardon and deliverance from sin -- Ps 39:8; 51:1; 79:8. That we may be turned to God -- Ps 80:7; 85:4-6; Jer 31:18. For divine teaching and direction -- Job 34:32; Ps 27:11; 143:10. Fo”
Psalms “Hear the voice of my petitions, when I cry to you, when I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place. -- Psalms 28:2”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prayer, Answers To — God gives -- Ps 99:6; 118:5; 138:3. Christ gives -- Joh 4:10,14; 14:14. Christ received -- Joh 11:42; Heb 5:7. Granted Through the grace of God. -- Isa 30:19. Sometimes immediately. -- Isa 65:24; Da 9:21,23; 10:12. Sometimes after delay. -- Lu 18:7. Sometimes differently from our desire. -- 2Co 12:8,9. Beyond expectation. -- Jer 33:3; Eph 3:20. Promised -- Isa 58:9; Jer 29:12; Mt 7:7. Promised especially in times of trouble -- Ps 50:15; 91:15. Received by those who Seek God. -- Ps 34:4. Seek God with all the heart. -- Jer 29:12,13. Wait upon God.”
Ecclesiastes “a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; -- Ecclesiastes 3:7”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Lord's Prayer — The name given to the only form of prayer Christ taught his disciples (Matt. 6:9-13). The closing doxology of the prayer is omitted by Luke (11:2-4), also in the R.V. of Matt. 6:13. This prayer contains no allusion to the atonement of Christ, nor to the offices of the Holy Spirit. "All Christian prayer is based on the Lord's Prayer, but its spirit is also guided by that of His prayer in Gethsemane and of the prayer recorded John 17. The Lord's Prayer is the comprehensive type of the simplest and most universal prayer."”
Psalms “Let my prayer be set before you like incense; the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice. -- Psalms 141:2”
Psalms “Psalms 55:17 (KJV) — Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 6:9: 6:9-13 The Lord’s Prayer is similar in form to a common Jewish prayer (the qaddish). Jesus gave this prayer to his followers as a succinct expression of their new faith. 6:9 Pray like this: In contrast to the vain repetition of pagan prayers (6:7-8), “the Lord’s Prayer” is a model of simplicity. • Jews rarely addressed God as Father, but Jesus did so in every prayer but one (Mark 15:34). • may your name be kept holy: God’s name is profaned by the sin of his people (Isa 29:22-24; Jer 34:15-16; Ezek 39:7; Amos 2:7).”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 8:3: 8:3-4 The prayers of God’s people ask for God’s ultimate justice and judgment (6:10-11; see also 5:8; Ezra 9:5-6; Ps 141:2; Dan 9:21). The mixture of incense and prayers that reaches God’s presence shows that God hears their prayers (see Rev 6:9-11) and is prepared to act.”
Matthew (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Matthew 6:9: When Christ had condemned what was amiss, he directs to do better; for his are reproofs of instruction. Because we know not what to pray for as we ought, he here helps our infirmities, by putting words into our mouths; after this manner therefore pray ye, Mat 6:9. So many were the corruptions that had crept into this duty of prayer among the Jews, that Christ saw it needful to give a new directory for prayer, to show his disciples what must ordinarily be the matter and method of their prayer, which he gives in words that may very well be used as a form; as the sum”
1 Thessalonians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Thessalonians 3:10: Night and day--(See on Th1 2:9). Night is the season for the saint's holiest meditations and prayers (Ti2 1:3). praying--connected with, "we joy"; we joy while we pray; or else as ALFORD, What thanks can we render to God while we pray? The Greek implies a beseeching request. exceedingly--literally, "more than exceeding abundantly" (compare Eph 3:20). that which is lacking--Even the Thessalonians had points in which they needed improvement [BENGEL], (Luk 17:5). Their doctrinal views as to the nearness of Christ's coming, and as to the sta”

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