Many in our world say, “hate your enemies and destroy their lives.” Jesus taught us to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). He models this in His dying moments as He petitions God to forgive the very people putting Him to death.

Learning from biblical prayers is a great way to strengthen our prayers. We want God’s Word to shape the form and fill the substance of our prayers. Praying based on Scripture will help us pray more in line with God’s will and gives us confidence God hears us (1 John 5:14).

I put together this list of ten powerful prayers of the Bible to memorize. You may lock their exact wording away in your heart for later or you may pepper your prayers with themes and phrases—whatever your preference, your prayers will be strengthened.

10 Powerful Prayers of the Bible to Memorize

1. Numbers 6:24-26 – The Benediction Prayer

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Ever since creation, God has wanted His people to enjoy His blessing (Genesis 1:28). Sin brought the curse into the world, but God promised to bless the whole world through Abraham’s offspring, a promise fully realized in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). When we pray this blessing for ourselves or others, we ask God to fulfill His purposes in blessing His people with His peace and presence.

Who doesn’t want more of God’s peace and presence in their lives?

2. Proverbs 30:7–9 – Agur’s Prayer for Godliness and Contentment

Agur’s prayer—the only prayer in the book of Proverbs—is easy to miss, but packs great wisdom into three verses. It’s a great prayer for people who worry about money:

Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.

I love Agur’s heart. He prays with death in mind and wants God to clear his path of any hindrance to godliness. He doesn’t love money but rather asks God to keep him from both poverty and riches. He asks for God to meet his daily needs.

We benefit from contemplating Agur’s petitions as well as his heart: he truly desires a life of holiness that honors his God.

3. 1 Kings 3:3–9 – Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom

Early in King Solomon’s reign, God appeared to him in a dream, giving him an incredible offer “Ask what I shall give you.” Basically giving him a blank check.

Solomon’s response reflected a heart that knew his own desperate need:

Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people? (verses 9, emphasis mine)

How did God respond? He gave it to him.

You may memorize Solomon’s exact words or you can summarize this prayer with “Lord, give me wisdom.”

Like Solomon, we can pray for wisdom, and we ca pray with expectation. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” What an incredible promise from our generous God.

4. 2 Chronicles 20:12 – Jehoshaphat’s Prayer of Faith in Crisis

With the impending invasion of the enemy, King Jehoshaphat prayed this for the people of Israel:

“We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” (verse 12)

God responded, “Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s” (verse 15). Filled with joy at this response, the people of God worshipped by singing loudly (verses 18, 19, 22). Then God gave the victory.

When we feel trapped in darkness, look to God in faith and ask Him to act.

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