Prayer in the New Testament

This article is about prayer in the New Testament.

According to the New Testament, to pray is a positive command (Col 4:2; 1 Thes 5:17); one is commanded to take leisure or a vacation for prayer (1 Cor 7:5).

Prayer is God's appointed method by which we obtain what He has to bestow (Dan 9:3; Mt 7:7-11; Mt 9:24-29; Lk 11:13).

The lack of the necessary blessings in life comes from failure to pray (Jas 4:2).

The Apostles regarded prayer as the most important employment that could engage their time or attention (Ac 6:4; Rom 1:9; Col 1:9).

Lengthy passages of the New Testament are prayers or canticles, such as Lk 1:46-55; Lk 1:68-79; Jn 17; and Eph 1:3-14.

The Apostles frequently incorporated verses from Psalms into their writings. For example, Rom 3:10-18 is borrowed from Psalms 14:1-3 and other psalms.

Jesus encourages the disciples to pray in secret in their private rooms. This is said to be done as a corrective to the prayer of the Pharisees, whose practices in prayer were regarded as inpious by the writers of the New Testament. (Mt 6:6).

Prayer is a public office of the Church, seen from the earliest moments (Ac 3:1).

Jesus frequently seeks to pray alone, for hours at a time, e.g. Lk 6:12.

Prayer of petition is found e.g. "And whatsoever you shall ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive" (Mt 21:22).

References to contemplative prayer are found e.g. "Mary has chosen the best part" (Lk 10:42).