Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
Jesus Wants Us to Pray

Jesus Wants Us to Pray

Last updated on: November 5, 2025 at 12:00 pm by Adrian Warnock

Jesus Wants Us to Pray 2025-11-05T12:00:56+00:00 Adrian Warnock

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Jesus tombstone carving image intended to imply that Jesus image should be carved not on stone but our hearts

Jesus taught us how to pray. It is vital his instructions about prayer are also seen in the context of his teaching concerning our relationship with Him. First we must learn how to become a Child of God before we can learn how to communicate with him every day.

Whilst prayer can be of some use to someone who is not yet saved, simply praying in a ritualistic way will not help you be born again Unless you see your prayer time as part of abiding in Jesus it is likely to become a tedious chore over time.

Prayer is a privilege since it is communication with the Most High. Yet few Christians fully enjoy that privilege and I am certainly not one who does. Writing these articles have only challenged me that I do not pray enough, and do not take prayer seriously enough. And so as the year ends I face an ongoing challenge: Jesus wants ME to pray.

I hope we have understood that more through the last few articles in our series on what Jesus commanded us. I don’t claim to be an expert in prayer, far from it. Instead, lets examine together what Jesus, who definitely WAS an expert in prayer, said about it.

Today we round up and conclude this series on how Jesus teaches us to pray. Just like the previous round up post about our relationship with God, I will include a link to the article, and a Scripture quote and at the end of the article I will also link to some other relevant content from the blog some of which very much laid the foundation for these posts.

It has taken me more than a year to work my way through these commands of Jesus about prayer, and I have been thinking about learning to obey Jesus better for the last three years since being reminded that doing what Jesus says is the only solid foundation for our lives.

This summary post concludes the series on what Jesus teaches us about prayer. But God willing I will continue to look at learning to obey his other instructions to us in the New Year.

1. Pray Like this

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1)

Jesus commands: Pray Like This

2. Pray Always

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.—Luke 18:1

“Pray Always” – Jesus

3. Keep asking and expecting

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7, Amplified)

Keep Asking and Expecting

4. Don’t Pray to Impress

When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:6)

Don’t Pray to Impress

5. Fast in secret

“When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:18)

Jesus Commands: Fast, but not to Impress Others

6. Pray for the Holy Spirit

How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!—Luke 11:13 Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.—John 16:24

This command is essentially the same as to “Receive the Holy Spirit” (since the only way to get the Holy Spirit is to ask for him in prayer). This is addressed in a previous article also categorised under commands about our relationship with God. It is so crucial that it deserves a place in this list too.

Jesus Commands: Receive the Spirit

7. Worship in Spirit and Truth

True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.—John 4:23-24

Pray In Spirit and Truth

8. Pray for your enemies

Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.—Matt. 5:44

Pray for your enemies

9. Pray for The Kingdom

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Pray for God’s Kingdom

10. Pray for Workers

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:36-38

Pray for Workers

Other Articles on Prayer

In addition to these specific posts above where Jesus directly commands us to pray, there were also a number of more general posts which could be seen to lay the foundation to some of these articles. Some of these include quotes from Tim Keller’s excellent book Walking With God through Pain and Suffering

Ten Commandments of Jesus

Do you need some Soul Time?

Revival Interview

Five Truths about Suffering

Trust Him and Pray

Keep Walking with Jesus

Three Phases of Faith

Ten Commandments of Jesus

Jesus is King so Serve Him

Be still and know – a meditation track

Thinking, thanking, and loving

Giving Thanks IN Your Suffering, Not FOR It

Trust Him and Pray

Weeping is Encouraged

Slow Down to Meet God

Already AND Not Yet: Expecting God’s Blessing

Audacious Promises that God will Heal You

‘You Can’t Say That to God!’

Opinion

Worship

Commandments of Jesus

Jesus Commands

Prayer

Revival

Previous Post

December 9, 2020

Pray for Workers

Next Post

December 28, 2020 Adrian's 2020 Top 20 Articles

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 1 and 2 Corinthians 1 and 2 Thessalonians 1 and 2 Timothy 1 John 300 Leaders A Life of Joy Abortion Acts of the Apostles Adrian on radio Adrian on TV Adrian's Story Albert Mohler Amazing Grace Arminocalvinist Spectrum Assurance Atonement Atonement Series Attributes of God Barnabas Best of the Blog Bible Bible Software Bible Translation Biblical Inerrancy Billy Graham Bob Roberts Books C. J. Mahaney Calvinism Cessationism Charis Warnock Charismatic Spectrum Charles Simeon Charles Spurgeon Church Leadership Colossians Complementarian - Egalitarian Spectrum Complementarianism Conferences Culture Daniel Debates Deuteronomy DGM08 DGM13 Discernment Doctrine Don Carson Ed Stetzer Eddy Leo Ephesians ESV Bible Translators Interview Evangelism in a Post-Christian World evolution Exodus Expository Preaching Ezekial Faith and Feelings Family Florida Galatians General Genesis Get Wisdom - Proverbs sermons Gifts of The Holy Spirit Gifts of the Holy Spirit 2006 Global Faith Forum Godly Attitudes Gospel Gospels Grace Greg Haslam Grudem vs Piper: The Baptism Debate Healing Heaven Hell and Rob Bell Hebrews Henry Tyler Henry Warnock Holy Spirit Holy Spirit Baptism Hope Reborn Hugh Palmer Irresistable Grace Isaiah J. I. Packer Jack Hayford Joel Joel Warnock John John Lanferman John MacArthur John Newton John Owen John Piper John Smyth Jonathan Edwards Josh Harris Justification Justin Taylor Kenneth Ulmer Leadership Leadership Lessons from 1 & 2 Samuel Lex Loizides Liam Goligher Lig Duncan Limited Atonement Lou Fellingham Mark Dever Mark Driscoll Martyn Lloyd-Jones Matt Chandler Mental Health Missionary Methods: St Paul’s or Ours? My Story N. T. Wright Nehemiah NWA08 NWA09 NWA10 Opinion OT History Books Pentateuch Personal Personal Revival Philippians PJ Smyth Podcast Politics Preaching Prophecy Proverbs Psalms Raised With Christ Reformed Charismatic Regeneration Relationships Resurrection Resurrection & Salvation Revival Rice Broocks Rich Man and Lazarus Rick Warren Rob Rufus Roland Allen Romans Sam Storms Sanctification Series Sermons Sermons on Philippians Serving Jesus at Work Sexuality Sin St Paul Steve Chalke Strange Fire Suffering T4G T4G Statement TAB09 Tamasin Warnock Teamwork Terry Virgo The Atonement Debate - Chalke book The Soulwinner The Spirit-Filled Church The Traitor Within Theologcial Spectrums Theosis Tim Challies Tim Keller Titus TOAM06 TOAM07 TOAM08 TOAM09 TOAM10 TOAM11 Todd Bentley Tope Koleoso Total Depravity Video Water Baptism Wayne Grudem Worship

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 May 2025 April 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 August 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 August 2021 May 2021 April 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 June 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 April 2003

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who doubted Jesus' resurrection until he saw His wounds?

Select your answer to see how you score.

James Philip Peter Thomas

Books by This Author Books by Adrian Warnock

See All Titles »