“Never stop praying.” (1 Thess. 5:17 NLT)

Always pray and don’t give up

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” (Luke 18:1 NIV)

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” (Rom. 12:12 NLT)

 Come to God who answers 

“You who answer prayer, to you all people will come.” (Psalm 65:2 NIV)

The Holy Spirit will help you pray

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.” (Rom. 8:26 NLT)

Pray that your joy will be complete 

“Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.” (John 16:24 NIV)

Therefore…

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

“As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me…” (Psalm 55:16-17 NIV)

Quote:

“Some people think God does not like to be troubled with our constant coming and asking. The way to trouble God is not to come at all.” – D. L. Moody

“Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving.” (Col. 4:2 NIV)

My mind went blank! 

Many years ago, when I was a fairly new follower of Christ, someone invited me to the front of a meeting and asked me to pray. I had never done that before! My mind suddenly went blank. I stood there for what seemed like an eternity and couldn't think what to say. I eventually mumbled a very short something or other and quickly returned to my seat.

It’s okay to ask for help

When we wonder about prayer, it should be reassuring to know that even a disciple of Jesus asked Him for instructions about how to pray.

“One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples'". (Luke 11:1 NIV)

Jesus taught about prayer

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.

“When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! Pray like this:

“Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven. Give us today the food we need, and forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us. And don't let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.” (Matt. 6:5-13 NLT)

What others have said about prayer

“Prayer is simply talking to God like a friend and should be the easiest thing we do each day." - Joyce Meyer

“Prayer is not a hard requirement – it is the natural duty of a creature to its creator, the simplest homage that human need can pay to divine liberality.” – Charles Spurgeon

“To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." - Martin Luther

“If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matt. 7:11 NIV)

Pray humbly

“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 Chron. 7:14 NIV)

Check your motives

“When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3 NIV)

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jer. 29:12 NIV)

Pray at all times for all things

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13 NIV)

“Any concern too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a burden." - Corrie Ten Boom