Pray the Prayers of the Apostle Paul

Prayer and reading Scripture are fundamentally important in our Christian journey as the primary ways to build a deep, loving, personal relationship, seek guidance, express praise and thanks, confess sins, find strength, and align our will with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These are the “lifeblood” of a believer’s spiritual health, enabling participation in furthering God’s kingdom and His work on Earth.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of SPIRITUAL FITNESS ]

Effective prayer is a vital, transformative connection to God rather than merely a way to request favors of him. Essential themes include treating prayer as a conversation, seeking strength over easier circumstances, and fostering a submissive heart.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of the BIBLE ]

The Apostle Paul’s prayers in the New Testament are characterized by, among other qualities, intense gratitude, intercession for the spiritual growth of churches, encouragement, and requests for wisdom, love, and vigor for believers. His key prayers focus on strengthening faith, unity, knowing God’s will, and persevering in hope.

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the topic of PRAYER ]

Use Paul’s prayers as transformative inspiration for your own prayers. What follows is a compilation of all of Paul’s prayers and prayer directives, drawn from the book Praying with Paul: A Call to Spiritual Reformation by D.A. Carson:

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Psalm 23:4 is Bible Gateway’s Top Searched Verse for 2025 ]

•  “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve in my spirit in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you.”  Romans 1:8–10  (prayer of thanksgiving and seeking God’s will)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: How Long Does It Take to Read the Bible? ]

•  “Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.”  Romans 10:1  (prayer of salvation)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Latest Biblical Archaeology Research ]

•  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”  Romans 12:12  (prayer of instruction)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 100 Million Christians Lack Access to the Bible ]

•  “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 15:5–6  (prayer for unity and endurance among believers)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Discover the Compelling Evidence Proving the Reliability of the Bible ]

•  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13  (request for personal blessing to undergird action)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Bible TL;DR? Try The Concise Bible! ]

•  “I urge you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.”  Romans 15:30–33  (request for prayer implying its importance)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Paul Harvey: If I Were the Devil ]

•  “Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”  Romans 16:25–27  (encouraging blessing and divine praise)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Free Online Educational Resources to Grow Your Spiritual Knowledge ]

•  “I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge—God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4–9  (thanking God for his benevolence)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Bible Use Is on the Rise Again in America, According to State of the Bible 2025 ]

•  “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.”  1 Corinthians 16:23  (emphasizing the significance of grace)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense In Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemies ]

•  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.”  2 Corinthians 1:3–7  (prayer of praise to God for his compassion)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Too Little Faith to Be an Atheist ]

•  “But thanks be to God, who always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?”  2 Corinthians 2:14–16  (thankfulness in being God’s servants)

[ See the SemperVerus section, GOOD NEWS ]

•  “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:12–15  (thanksgiving for ministry and grace)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Reality of God is Plain Enough ]

•  “Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored.”  2 Corinthians 13:7–9  (request to change behavior to act rightly)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The White House Launches “America Prays” Initiative ]

•  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.”  Galatians 6:18  (embody grace continually)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Americans’ Religious Affiliations if the US Were 100 People ]

•  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”  Ephesians 1:3–6  (praise for God’s providence and sovereignty)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Celebrating 250 Years: Learn About the American Revolution ]

•  “For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”  Ephesians 1:15–23  (prayer for wisdom, revelation, and knowing the hope of God’s calling)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Presidential Messages on Important Birthdays and Anniversaries ]

•  “For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14–21  (petition for inner strength, Christ to dwell in hearts, and to grasp the love of Christ)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Important US Dates to Commemorate ]

•  “Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”  Ephesians 6:19–20  (request for courage and communication clarity)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Hymns ]

•  “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:3–6  (thankfulness and joy for the evidence of God’s work in others’ lives)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Military Academy Prayers ]

•  “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:9–11  (prayer that love may abound in knowledge and discernment)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Expanded Observations on The Lord’s Prayer ]

•  “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6–7  (instruction and assurance in prayer)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Secure Your Base (Your Soul) ]

•  “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”  Philippians 4:23  (embody grace continually)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Greatest Man… ]

•  “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”  Colossians 1:3–14  (request for spiritual wisdom, understanding, and a worthy walk)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Be Like Ernest Shackleton ]

•  “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.”  Colossians 4:2–4  (prayer request for ministry and clarity)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, SemperVerus and the Noble Foundation of Scouting ]

•  “We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 1:2–3  (emphasis on faith, love, and hope)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 15 Maxims for Being Reliable ]

•  “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.”  1 Thessalonians 2:13–16  (thanksgiving for God working in people’s lives)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Desmond T. Doss: Example of Stalwart Character ]

•  “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”  1 Thessalonians 3:9–13  (prayer for love to increase and for hearts to be blameless in holiness)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Paul Harvey: God Made A Farmer ]

•  “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23–24  (prayer for God’s work of sanctification)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 10 Lessons From Benjamin Franklin’s Daily Schedule ]

•  “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:28  (embody grace continually)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Inspirational Quotes on Courage ]

•  “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.”  2 Thessalonians 1:3–5  (thanksgiving for growing and effectual faith)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Self-Defense In Spiritual Warfare: Know Your Enemies ]

•  “With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Thessalonians 1:11–12  (request for God to fulfill every good resolve by his power)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Situational Awareness: Spiritual Self-Defense ]

•  “May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.”  2 Thessalonians 2:16–17  (blessing of love and encouragement)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Every Small Decision Leads to Winning or Losing in Spiritual Warfare ]

•  “And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”  2 Thessalonians 3:2–5  (request for evil to be thwarted)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness Self-Defense: Seeing Temptation as a Threat ]

•  “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.”  2 Thessalonians 3:16  (blessing of divine peace and companionship)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Spiritual Fitness: Top 12 Acts for a Christian ]

•  “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.”  1 Timothy 1:12  (thankful to be used of God)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Quality Self-Defense Training Builds Character ]

•  “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”  1 Timothy 2:1–4  (pray for everyone)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, The Most Important Qualities of a Leader ]

•  “I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:3–7  (encouragement for fervent and active faith)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Bill of Rights Anniversary September 25, 1789 ]

•  “May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.”  2 Timothy 1:16–18  (prayer for individuals is warranted)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord for American Independence ]

•  “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you all.”  2 Timothy 4:22  (embody grace continually)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, US Dept. of War Elevating Chaplaincy Corps Back to Spiritual Significance ]

•  “Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all.”  Titus 3:15  (the importance of prayerful Christian fellowship)

[ Read the SemperVerus article, D-Day June 6, 1944: The Bible and Prayer of WWII ]

•  “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”  Philemon 4–7  (thankfulness for a loving testimony)

[ Read SemperVerus articles on the character topic of BE ]

---

Invite SemperVerus to present its 5 life-changing success-generating components—prepare, aware, be, know, do—to your organization to inspire and motivate your members.

Join the SemperVerus Brotherhood™!