Despite imprisonment, and the death of his wife and son, Jeremy
Taylor (1613-1667) never lost his deep faith and profound love of
Christ. He wrote numerous devotional and theological works, the most
famous of which are Holy Living and Holy Dying. The following selection
is taken from Holy Living.
The Acts of Faith Are:
1.
To believe everything that God has revealed to us; and when once we are
convinced that God has spoken it, to make no further inquiry but humbly
to submit; ever remembering that there are some things that our
understanding cannot fathom, nor search out their depth.
2. To
believe nothing concerning God but what is honorable and excellent.
Faith is the parent of love, and whatever faith entertains must be apt
to produce love to God; but he that believes God to be cruel or
unmerciful, or a rejoicer in the unavoidable damnation of the greatest
part of mankind, or that He speaks one thing and privately means
another, thinks evil thoughts concerning God. We would hate a man for
such things, and therefore such thoughts are great enemies of faith,
being apt to destroy love. Our faith concerning God must be as He
Himself has revealed and described His own excellencies. In our
discourses we must remove from Him all imperfection, and attribute to
Him all excellency.
3. To give ourselves wholly up to Christ in
heart and desire, to become disciples of His teaching. It means standing
in the presence of God but as fools, that is, without any principles of
our own to hinder the truth of God; but eagerly drinking in all that
God has taught us, believing it infinitely, and loving to believe it.
For this is an act of love, reflected upon faith; or an act of faith,
leaning upon love.
4. To believe all God’s promises, and that
whatever is promised in Scripture shall on God’s part be as surely
performed as if we had it in possession. This act makes us rely upon God
with the same confidence as we did on our parents when we were
children, when we had no doubt but that whatever we needed we should
have it, if it were in their power.
5. To believe also the
conditions of the promise, or that part of the revelation that concerns
our duty. Many are apt to believe the article of remission of sins, but
they believe it without the condition of repentance, or the fruits of
holy life. To do so is to believe the doctrine other than God intended
it. For the covenant of the Gospel is the great object of faith, and
that supposes our duty to answer His grace; that God will be our God so
long as we are His people. Anything other than this is not faith, but
flattery.
6. To profess publicly the doctrine of Jesus Christ,
openly owning whatever He has revealed and commanded, not being ashamed
of the word of God, or of any practices enjoined by it; and this,
without complying with any man’s interest, not regarding favor, nor
being moved with good words. Not fearing disgrace, or loss, or
inconvenience, or death itself.
7. To pray without doubting,
without weariness, without faintness, entertaining no jealousies or
suspicions of God. Rather, faith means being confident of God’s hearing
us, and of His answering us, whatever the manner or the timing may be.
Faith believes that if we do our duty, His answer will be gracious and
merciful.
The servants of Jesus maintain these acts of faith in
varying degrees. Some have it but as a grain of mustard seed; some grow
up to a plant; some have the fullness of faith. Nevertheless, even the
smallest amount of faith must be a persuasion so strong that it moves us
to undertake all the duties that Christ built upon the foundation of
believing.
What Is Hope?
Faith differs from hope, in the
extension of its object, and in the intention of degree. St. Augustine
describes their differences this way: Faith pertains to all things
revealed, good and bad, rewards and punishments, of things past,
present, and to come, of things that concern us, and of things that
concern us not. But hope has for its object only things that are future,
are good, and that pertain to ourselves. The certainty of hope is less
than the adherence of faith. To illustrate, faith tells me that it is
infallibly certain that there is a heaven for all the godly and that
heaven will include me if I do my duty. However, to believe that I shall
enter into heaven is the object of my hope, not of my faith. It is only
as sure as my perseverance in the ways of God.
The Acts of Hope Are:
1.
To rely upon God with a confident expectation of His promises, ever
esteeming that every promise of God is a storehouse of all the grace and
relief that we can need in the instance for which the promise is made.
Every degree of hope is a degree of confidence.
2. To esteem all
the danger of an action, and the possibilities of failure, and every
mishap that can intervene, to be no defect on God’s part, but either a
mercy on His part, or a fault on ours. For then we shall be sure to
trust in God, when we see Him to be our confidence, and ourselves to be
the cause of all failures. The hope of a Christian is prudent and
religious.
3. To rejoice in the midst of a misfortune or seeming
sadness, knowing that this may work for good, and will, if we are not
found lacking. This is a direct act of hope, to look through the cloud
and see a beam of the light from God. This is called in Scripture,
rejoicing in tribulation,” when “the God of hope fills us with all joy
in believing.” Every degree of hope brings a degree of joy.
4. To
desire, to pray, and to long for the great object of our hope, the
mighty price of our high calling. Hope is to desire the other things of
this life as they are promised-that is, only so far as they are
necessary and useful to us in order to further God’s glory and the great
end of souls.
About Love
Love is the greatest thing that
God can give us, for He Himself is love. Love is also the greatest thing
we can give to God, for in it we also give ourselves, and carry with it
all that is ours. The apostle calls love the bond of perfection. It is
the old, and it is the new; it is the great commandment, and it is all
the commandments. For love is the fulfillment of the Law. It does the
work of all other graces. The love of sin makes a man sin against all
his own reason and all the advice of his friends. Similarly, the love of
God makes a man chaste even without the laborious arts of fasting and
exterior disciplines. It makes him temperate in the midst of feasts. It
is a grace that loves God for Himself, and our neighbors for God. The
consideration of God’s goodness and generosity, the experience of those
profitable and excellent gifts from Him, may be, and most commonly are,
the first motive of our love. But once we have entered into God’s love,
and have tasted the goodness of God, we love the spring for its own
excellency, passing from lust to reason, from thanking to adoring, from
sense to spirit, from considering ourselves to a union with God. This is
the image and little representation of heaven; it is beatitude in
picture, or rather the infancy and beginnings of glory.
We need no
incentives to move us to the love of God. There is in God an infinite
nature, immensity or vastness without extension or limit, immutability,
eternity, omnipotence, omniscience, holiness, dominion, providence,
bounty, mercy, justice, perfection in Himself, and the end to which all
things and all actions must be directed, and will at last arrive. Our
appreciation of these things is heightened when we consider our distance
from all these glories: our smallness and limited nature, our
nothingness, our inconstancy, our brief age, our weakness and ignorance,
our poverty, our mistakes and lack of consideration, our disabilities
and disaffections to do good, our harsh natures and unmerciful
inclinations, our universal iniquity, and our necessities and
dependencies.
God is a torrent of pleasure for the voluptuous; He
is the fountain of honor for the ambitious; and He is an inexhaustible
treasure for the covetous. Fulfillment of our vices can truly and really
be found nowhere but in God. [That is, true love of God will replace
our earthly vices.] How much more so, then, will our virtues find a
proper object in love of God. It is certain that this love will turn all
into virtue. When all has been summed up, and it is asked whether
someone is a good man or not, the answer is not found in what he
believes, or what he hopes, but what he loves.
The Acts of Love of God Are:
1.
Love does all things that may please the beloved person. It performs
all his commandments. “This is love, that we keep His commandments.”
Love is obedient.
2. It does all the intimations and secret
significations of his pleasure whom we love. Great love is also pliant
and inquisitive in the instances of its expression.
3. Love gives
away all things so that the lover may advance the interest of the
beloved person. It relieves all whom the loved one would have relieved.
He never loved God who would quit anything of his religion in order to
save his money. Love is always liberal.
4. It suffers all things
that are imposed by its beloved, or that can happen for his sake, or
that intervene in his service. Love does this cheerfully, sweetly,
willingly-expecting that God will turn them into good, and instruments
of joy. “Love hopes all things, endures all things.” Love is patient and
content with anything, so long as the lover can be together with his
beloved.
5. Love is also impatient of anything that may displease
the beloved person, hating all sin as the enemy of its friend. For love
contracts all the same relations, and marries the same friendships and
the same hatreds. Any fondness for a sin is perfectly inconsistent with
the love of God. Love is not divided between God and God’s enemy. We
must love God with all our heart; that is, give Him a whole and
undivided affection, having love for nothing else but such things that
He allows and that He commands or loves Himself.
Original Article
The following list of Bible prayers is from the Dake Annotated Reference Bible, King James Version (Used by Permission – Dake Publishing).
Dake found 176 prayers in the Old Testament and 46 in the New
Testament. They include only actual worded prayers, not references to
prayer. All statements as “he prayed, he entreated the Lord, he called
upon the name of the Lord,” etc., are not prayers; they merely mention
that certain people prayed.
Six Prayers in Genesis:
1. Abraham for an heir (40 words; Gen 15:2-3). Answered because God had promised (Gen 21:1-8).
2. Abraham for Ishmael to be his heir (7 words; Gen 17:18). Unanswered because it was not in harmony with God’s word and plan.
3. Abraham for Sodom to be spared if 10 persons were righteous (176 words; Gen 18:23-32). Unanswered because 10 righteous persons weren’t found (Gen 19:24).
4. Eliezer, steward of Abraham, for a bride for Isaac (110 words; Gen 24:12-14). Answered because it was according to God’s word (Gen 12:1-3,7; 13:15; 15:18; 17:7,19; 21:12).
5. Jacob for a blessing (Gen 28:20-22). Answered because of God’s plan for him (Gen 32:1-33:17).
6. Jacob for deliverance from Esau (130 words; Gen 32:9-12). Answered because of God’s word and plan for him (Gen 25:19-23; 26:3; 27:28-29; 28:3-4,13-15; 32:9).
References to prayer, entreating the Lord, calling on the name of the Lord, and groaning and being afflicted (Gen 12:7-8; 13:4; 16:11; 20:17-18; 25:21-23).
Four Prayers in Exodus:
7. Moses for Aaron to go with him (16 words; Ex 4:13). Answered because God wanted to please Moses (Ex 4:14-17).
8. Moses in complaint to God for not delivering Israel (42 words; Ex 5:22-23). Answered because of God’s word (Ex 3:8,12, 17-22).
9. Moses for forgiveness for Israel (39 words; Ex 32:31-32). Answered because of atonement and intercession (Ex 32:11-14,30-35) and because of God’s word (Ex 33:1-6,12-14).
10. Moses for God’s presence to go with Israel to Canaan (138 words; Ex 33:12-13,15-16). Answered because of God’s word (Ex 33:12-14) and His grace (Ex 33:17).
References to groaning, sighing, crying, and entreating the Lord (Ex 2:11,23-25; 3:7,9; 10:16).
Nine Prayers in Numbers:
11. Aaron for the blessing of God upon the people (32 words in the form of benediction; Num 6:24-26). Answered because of God’s promise (Num 6:27).
12. Moses for God to bless on the journey (27 words; Num 10:35-36). Answered when Israel lived free from sin, but unanswered when they sinned, which was according to God’s word (Ex 32:32-33).
13. Moses in complaining to God because the burden was too heavy (136 words; Num 11:10-15). Answered because of God’s words (Num 11:16-20,25-30).
14. Moses for God to show him what to do to give the people flesh (56 words; Num 11:21-22). Answered because of God’s word (Num 11:21) and to show His power (Num 11:23).
15. Moses for the healing of Miriam (8 words; Num 12:13). Answered because of God’s love for Moses (Num 12:14-16).
16. Moses for God to spare Israel and uphold His own honor (208 words; Num 14:13-19). Answered because of Moses’ prayer (Num 14:20).
17. Moses for judgment on sin (20 words; Num 16:15). Answered because of sin (Num 16:23-34).
18. Israel for forgiveness of sin (25 words; Num 21:7). Answered because of Moses’ prayer and by type of Christ on the cross (Num 21:7-9; 3:14-16).
19. Moses for a new leader of Israel (56 words; Num 27:16-17). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (Num 27:18-23).
References to prayer (Num 11:2; 21:7).
Two Prayers in Deuteronomy:
20. Moses asking to go over into Canaan (59 words; Deut 3:24-25). Unanswered because of sin (Deut 3:26; Num 20:12).
21. Moses for Israel to be spared (114 words; Deut 9:26-29). Answered because of intercession of Moses (Ex 32:11-14).
References to prayer (Deut 9:20,26), also what to pray for elders at murder trials (Deut 21:6-9) and what all Israel should pray after obedience to the law (Deut 26:5-15).
Two Prayers in Joshua:
22. Joshua in complaint because God had not given victory (90 words; Josh 7:7-9). Answered so sin could be put away (Josh 7:10-15).
23. Joshua in the form of a command for the sun and moon to stand still (14 words; Josh 10:12). Answered because of necessity for time to finish God’s work (Josh 10:13).
Nine Prayers in Judges:
24. Israel for guidance (14 words; Judges 1:1). Answered because it was in harmony with the will of God for the nation (Judges 1:2).
25. Gideon for revelation and guidance (135 words; Judges 6:13,15,17-18,22). Answered because of God’s word and will for Israel (Judges 6:12,14,16,20-21,23).
26. Israel for deliverance and forgiveness of sins (36 words; Judges 10:10,15). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (Judges 11:1-33).
27. Jephthah for victory (55 words; Judges 11:30-31). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (Judges 11:32).
28. Manoah for an angel to appear and give him directions (91 words; Judges 13:8,11-12,15,17). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (Judges 13:9,11,13,16,18).
29. Samson for one last victory (33 words; Judges 16:28). Answered because of his reconsecration to the Nazarite vows (Judges 13:4-5; 16:22).
30. Israel for guidance (14 words; Judges 20:23). Answered because of judgment on sin.
31. Israel for guidance (19 words; Judges 20:28). Answered because of judgment on sin.
32. Israel for revelation (24 words; Judges 21:3). No answer recorded.
Six Prayers in 1 Samuel:
33. Hannah for a son (55 words; 1 Sam 1:11). Answered because of God’s plan for Israel (1 Sam 1:20-23) and promises to bless with children upon obedience (Lev 26:3-13; Deut 28:1-14).
34. Hannah to express gratitude for answered prayer (264 words; 1 Sam 2:1-10). No request to answer.
35. Saul for guidance (16 words; 1 Sam 14:37). Unanswered because of sin (1 Sam 13:1-14; 14:37).
36. David for guidance (7 words; 1 Sam 23:2). Answered because of God’s plan (1 Sam 23:2).
37. David for revelation (72 words; 1 Sam 23:10-12). Answered because of God’s plan.
38. David for revelation (10 words; 1 Sam 30:8). Answered because of God’s plan.
References to prayer (1 Sam 7:9; 8:6; 12:18; 15:11; 28:6).
Four Prayers in 2 Samuel:
39. David for revelation (16 words; 2 Sam 2:1). Answered because of God’s plan.
40. David for revelation (14 words; 2 Sam 5:19). Answered because of God’s plan (2 Sam 5:19).
41. David for fulfillment of Davidic covenant (364 words; 2 Sam 7:18-29). Answered partially, and will be fulfilled in all eternity when Christ comes to reign (Isa 9:6-7; Luke 1:32-33; Acts 15:13-18; Rev 11:15; 20:1-10).
42. David for forgiveness of sin (29 words; 2 Sam 24:10). Answered, but judgments fell (2 Sam 24:11-25).
References to prayer (2 Sam 5:23; 12:16; 15:7-8; 21:1).
Five Prayers in 1 Kings:
43. Solomon for wisdom (146 words; 1 Kings 3:6-9). Answered because it pleased God (1 Kings 3:10-14).
44. Solomon, prayer of dedication (1,050 words; 1 Kings 8:23-53). Answered according to obedience of Israel.
45. Elijah for resurrection of boy (35 words; 1 Kings 17:20-21). Answered because of faith in God (1 Kings 17:22-24; Heb 11:35).
46. Elijah for fire from heaven (63 words; 1 Kings 18:36-37). Answered because of faith (1 Kings 18:38).
47. Elijah for death (18 words; 1 Kings 19:4).
Unanswered because it was contrary to God’s plan which was to translate
him and permit him to live bodily in heaven until time to come back to
earth as one of the two witnesses (2 Kings 2:9; Zech 4:11-14; Mal 4:5-6; Rev 11:3-11).
References to prayer (1 Kings 13:6; 18:42-43).
Three Prayers in 2 Kings:
48. Elisha for his servant’s eyes to be opened (11 words; 2 Kings 6:17). Answered by faith.
49. Hezekiah for deliverance (133 words; 2 Kings 19:15-19). Answered by faith (2 Kings 19:35).
50. Hezekiah for a longer life (30 words); he received 15 years more (2 Kings 20:3). Answered by faith (2 Kings 20:5-6).
Two Prayers in 1 Chronicles:
51. Jabez for enlarged coast (33 words; 1 Chron 4:10). Answered because of God’s word to give Israel all the land (1 Chron 4:10; Gen 15:18-21).
52. David for Solomon and Israel (326 words; 1 Chron 29:10-19). Answered partially, in the temporary obedience to God of Solomon and Israel.
References to prayer (1 Chron 5:20; 21:26; 23:30).
Two Prayers in 2 Chronicles:
53. Asa for victory (50 words; 2 Chron 14:11). Answered by faith (2 Chron 14:12-14).
54. Jehoshaphat for victory (224 words; 2 Chron 20:6-12). Answered by faith (2 Chron 20:20-25).
References to prayer (2 Chron 15:13; 33:13).
Two Prayers in Ezra:
55. Ezra-prayer of thanksgiving (50 words; Ezra 7:27-28).
56. Ezra for forgiveness and help (419 words; Ezra 9:5-15). Answered (Ezra 10:1-19).
References to prayer (Ezra 8:21-23).
Nine Prayers in Nehemiah:
57. Nehemiah for confession of sins and help (256 words; Neh 1:5-11).
58. Nehemiah for judgment (53 words; Neh 4:1-6).
59. Nehemiah for help (7 words; Neh 6:9).
60. Nehemiah for help (31 words; Neh 6:14).
61. Israel-confession of sins (1,205 words-the longest prayer; Neh 9:5-38).
62. Nehemiah for blessing (29 words; Neh 13:14).
63. Nehemiah for blessing (18 words; Neh 13:22).
64. Nehemiah for judgment (21 words; Neh 13:29).
65. Nehemiah for blessing (7 words).
Refrences to prayer (Neh 2:4; 4:9; 8:6).
Seven Prayers in Job:
66. Job-prayer of thanksgiving and resignation (30 words; Job 1:20-22).
67. Job in complaint and for relief and forgiveness (114 words; Job 7:17-21). Answered (Job 42:10).
68. Job in complaint and for relief (571 words; Job 9:25-10:22). Answered (Job 42:10).
69. Job in complaint and for life and forgiveness (198 words; Job 14:13-22). Answered (Job 42:10).
70. Job for a fair trial (48 words; Job 23:3-5). Answered (Job 38-42).
71. Job, prayer of confession (34 words; Job 40:3-5)
72. Job, prayer of repentance (87 words; Job 42:1-6). Answered (Job 42:10).
Seventy-two Prayers in Psalms:
73-123.
David. In 50 prayer-psalms he made requests for various blessings, most
of them being answered because of faith in God’s promises (Psalms 3-7;
9; 12:1-13:6; 16:1-17:15; 19:1-20:9; 22; 25:1-31:24; 35:1-36:12;
38:1-41:13; 51; 54:1-61:8; 64; 69:1-70:5; 86; 108:1-109:31; 119; 124;
132; 139:1-144:15). The ones unanswered will be answered in due time for
David even prayed about future events.
124-138. An unknown
psalmist (perhaps David) prayed for many kinds of blessings, which were
granted or will be granted (Psalms 10; 33; 43:1-44:26; 71; 85; 88; 102; 106; 118; 120; 123; 125; 129; 137).
139-143.
Asaph made many requests to God (in 5 prayers) for various kinds of
blessing which were granted or will yet be granted (Psalms 74; 79:1-80:19; 82:1-83:18).
144. Moses makes requests to God (Psalms 90).
145. Ethan made requests for God to remember the reproach of His servants (Psalms 89).
Thus,
in 72 of the 150 psalms there are personal requests to God, making them
definitely prayer-psalms. A few of the other 78 may also be considered
such because of the general nature of the subject matter. Even in the
listed prayer-psalms many subjects are more outstanding than the
prayers. See notes on these psalms.
Three Prayers in Isaiah:
146. Isaiah for cleansing (38 words; Isa 6:5). Answered (Isa 6:6-7).
147. Hezekiah for deliverance (133 words; Isa 37:16-20). Answered (Isa 37:36).
148. Hezekiah for healing and length of days (30 words; Isa 38:3). Answered (Isa 38:5).
References to prayer (Isa 1:15; 7:11; 16:12; 26:16; 55:6-7). There are also prayers that Israel will make in the time of their restoration as a nation (Isa 12; 64).
Eleven Prayers in Jeremiah:
149. Jeremiah, confession of inability to obey God (12 words; Jer 1:6).
150. Jeremiah, accusing God (24 words; Jer 4:10).
151. Jeremiah for judgment (80 words; Jer 10:23-25). Answered (Dan 5).
152. Jeremiah, questioning God (133 words; Jer 12:1-4).
153. Jeremiah for help for Judah (95 words; Jer 14:7-9).
154. Jeremiah for help for Judah (81 words; Jer 14:20-22).
155. Jeremiah, judgment (118 words; Jer 15:15-18).
156. Jeremiah for judgment (158 words; Jer 17:13-18).
157. Jeremiah for judgment (174 words; Jer 18:19-23).
158. Jeremiah for judgment (214 words; Jer 20:7-12).
159. Jeremiah, concerning captivity of Judah (209 words; Jer 32:17-25).
References to prayer (Jer 7:16; 11:14; 14:11; 21:2; 29:7,12; 37:3; 42:2,4,20).
Four Prayers in Lamentations:
160. Jeremiah for judgment (108 words; Lam 1:20-22).
161. Jeremiah for consideration (113 words; Lam 2:20-22).
162. Jeremiah for judgment (158 words; Lam 3:55-66).
163. Jeremiah for the oppressed people of Judah (300 words; Lam 5).
Jeremiah could be called the praying prophet as well as the weeping prophet. He has 15 recorded prayers.
Three Prayers in Ezekiel:
164. Ezekiel protesting what God wanted him to do (41 words; Ezek 4:14).
165. Ezekiel for the remnant (20 words; Ezek 9:8).
166. Ezekiel for the remnant (14 words; Ezek 11:13).
Two Prayers in Daniel:
167. Daniel for forgiveness of sins and fulfillment of prophecy (550 words; Dan 9:1-19).
168. Daniel for revelation (11 words; Dan 12:8).
References to prayer (Dan 2:17-18; 6:10).
Two Prayers in Amos:
169. Amos for forgiveness s (16 words; Amos 7:2).
170. Amos for help (16 words; Amos 7:5).
Three Prayers in Jonah:
171. Sailors for mercy (33 words; Jonah 1:14).
172. Jonah for deliverance from hell (198 words; Jonah 2:1-9).
173. Jonah for death (70 words; Jonah 4:2-3).
Three Prayers in Habakkuk:
174. Habakkuk for God to act (75 words; Hab 1:1-5).
175. Habakkuk for judgment (156 words; Hab 1:12-17).
176. Habakkuk for revival (474 words; Hab 3:2-19).
Seventeen Prayers in Matthew:
177. Jesus, The Lord’s prayer (66 words; Matt 6:9-13).
178. Leper for healing (9 words; Matt 8:2). Answered (Matt 8:3).
179. Centurion for healing of his servant (73 words; Matt 8:6-9). Answered (Matt 8:13).
180. Disciples for help from drowning (5 words; Matt 8:25). Answered (Matt 8:26).
181. Demons for temporary liberty (37 words; Matt 8:29-31). Answered (Matt 8:32).
182. A ruler for healing (18 words; Matt 9:18). Answered (Matt 9:25).
183. A woman for healing (11 words; Matt 9:21). Answered (Matt 9:22).
184. Two blind men for healing (8 words; Matt 9:27). Answered (Matt 9:29-30).
185. Jesus giving thanks to God (38 words; Matt 11:25).
186. Peter to walk on water (13 words; Matt 14:28). Answered (Matt 14:29).
187. Peter for help from drowning (3 words; Matt 14:30). Answered (Matt 14:31).
188. A woman for healing of her daughter (36 words; Matt 15:22-27). Answered (Matt 15:28).
189. A man for healing of his son (39 words; Matt 17:15-16). Answered (Matt 17:18).
190. A mother for exaltation of her 2 sons, James and John (23 words; Matt 20:21). Unanswered because of wrong motive and not in harmony with God’s plan (Matt 20:23).
191. Two blind men for healing (27 words; Matt 20:30-33). Answered (Matt 20:34).
192. Jesus to be saved from death in the garden before He could die on the cross (62 words; Matt 26:39-44). Answered (Heb 5:7).
193. Jesus on the cross (9 words; Matt 27:46).
References to prayer (Matt 6:5-13; 7:7-11; Matt 14:23; 18:19-20; 21:22; 23:14).
Two Prayers in Mark:
194. A demon for temporary freedom (31 words; Mark 1:23-24).
195. Jesus in healing a deaf mute (2 words-the shortest prayer; Mark 7:34). Answered (Mark 7:35).
References to prayer (Mark 1:35; 6:41,46; 9:23; 11:22-24).
Seven Prayers in Luke:
196. Simeon in blessing Jesus (43 words; Luke 2:29-32).
197. Rich man in hell (80 words; Luke 16:24-31).
198. Ten lepers for healing (5 words; Luke 17:13). Answered (Luke 17:14,19).
199. A Pharisee in boasting of his righteousness (34 words; Luke 18:11-12). Unjustified (Luke 18:14).
200. A publican for mercy (7 words; Luke 18:13). Answered, justified (Luke 18:14).
201. Jesus on the cross (10 words; Luke 23:34).
202. Jesus on the cross (8 words; Luke 23:46).
References to prayer (Luke 3:21-22; 5:16; 6:12; 9:28-29; 11:1-13; 18:1-18; 22:31-32).
Five Prayers in John:
203. Nobleman for healing of child (7 words; John 4:49). Answered (John 4:50).
204. People for living bread (6 words; John 6:34).
205. Jesus for resurrection of Lazarus (40 words; John 11:41-43). Answered (John 11:44).
206. Jesus for glorification (19 words; John 12:27-28). Answered (John 12:28).
207. Jesus for disciples (638 words; John 17).
References to prayer (John 7:37-39; 14:12-15; 15:7,16; 16:23-26).
Six Prayers in Acts:
208. Disciples for successor to Judas (41 words; Acts 1:24-25). Answered (Acts 1:26).
209. Peter for healing of lame man (12 words; Acts 3:6). Answered (Acts 3:7-8).
210. Disciples for boldness and power (178 words; Acts 4:24-30). Answered (Acts 4:31-33).
211. Stephen for enemies (13 words; Acts 7:59-60).
212. Paul for instruction (12 words; Acts 9:5-6). Answered (Acts 9:5-6).
213. Peter for resurrection of Tabitha (2 words; Acts 9:40). Answered (Acts 9:40-41).
References to prayer (Acts 1:14; 3:1; 6:4; 8:22,24,34; 10:9,31; 12:5; 16:13-16).
One Prayer in 3 John:
214. That we the readers would prosper and be in health as our soul prospers (18 words; 3 John :2)
Eight Prayers in Revelation:
215. Elders in worship (27 words; Rev 4:11).
216. Angels in worship (22 words; Rev 5:12).
217. All creatures in worship (22 words; Rev 5:13).
218. Martyrs for vengeance (22 words; Rev 6:10).
219. Great multitude in worship (13 words; Rev 7:10).
220. Angels in worship (23 words; Rev 7:12).
221. Glorified saints in worship (56 words; Rev 19:1-6).
222. John for the coming of Jesus Christ a second time, 5 words (Rev 22:20).
Besides
the actual worded prayers in these 31 books of the Bible, there are
many passages in them, as well as in some of the 35 books containing no
prayers, that give much instruction on the subject of prayer. It is
thought by some that there are a number of prayers in the epistles, but
in reality, these books contain only statements to Christians regarding
the apostles praying for them that God would bless them, or they give
instructions for Christians to pray and tell them what to pray for.
These are not actual prayers addressed to God, however (Rom 1:8-10; 16:20; Eph 1:15-20; 3:13-21; Phil 1:2-7; Col 1:3-14; 1 Thess 1:2-3; 3:9-13; 1 Tim 1:3-7; 2 Tim 4:14-18; James 5:13-18).
Thirty-five Books Where a Direct Prayer Is Not Mentioned
1. Leviticus
2. Ruth
3. Esther
4. Proverbs
5. Ecclesiastes
6. Song of Solomon
7. Hosea
8. Joel
9. Obadiah
10. Micah
11. Nahum
12. Zephaniah
13. Haggai
14. Zechariah
15. Malachi
16. Romans
17. 1 Corinthians
18. 2 Corinthians
19. Galatians
20. Ephesians
21. Philippians
22. Colossians
23. 1 Thessalonians
24. 2 Thessalonians
25. 1 Timothy
26. 2 Timothy
27. Titus
28. Philemon
29. Hebrews
30. James
31. 1 Peter
32. 2 Peter
33. 1 John
34. 2 John
35. Jude
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