Desperate for a Miracle? Try These 10 Powerful Prayers Straight from Scripture

Read the Bible and you’re sure to find plenty of stories where God came through for His people in a miraculous way.

From the Creation story to Noah surviving the flood to Moses parting the Red Sea to Jesus’s birth, Scripture is full of incredible stories that show that God doesn’t abandon His people — even when the circumstances look grim.

This means, if you’re desperately in need of a miracle today, there’s good news.

The same God who repeatedly rescued His people thousands of years ago still wants to come through for us today.

But sometimes, He’s simply waiting for us to humble ourselves, pray, and ask for the miracle we so desperately need.

If you’re looking for a miracle today, here are 10 Scripture-based prayers you may want to try.

1. David’s Prayer for Protection (Psalm 23)

Man that looks like a disciple with walking stick — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.” –Psalm 23:1-3a

Psalm 23 is a well-known and much-loved song of praise to God. While it isn’t structured in a typical prayer format, you can still pray this Psalm to God today, knowing that He hears you. In fact, many people memorize Psalm 23 in its entirety because it is so beautiful and encouraging!

2. Solomon’s Prayer for Wisdom (1 Kings 3:1-15)

Man who looks like a king from the Old Testament — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

In 1 Kings, Solomon receives a rare privilege. God instructs Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (v. 5)

Solomon could have asked for riches, women, or fame, but instead, he asks for wisdom.

Solomon prays: “Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?” (vv. 8-9)

As a result, God grants Solomon’s request for wisdom and gives him great wealth and honor as well (v. 13).

Similarly, God is also pleased when we pray and ask for wisdom to follow Him more closely today as well.

3. Hannah’s Prayer of Praise (1 Samuel 2:1-10)

Hannah in the Bible — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“Then Hannah prayed and said:

‘My heart rejoices in the Lord;
in the Lord my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies,
for I delight in your deliverance.'” — 1 Samuel 2:1

Prayer isn’t just for asking for the things you want or need. In this prayer, Hannah praises God after He grants her the son her heart desired.

Even though she is dedicating her son to service at the temple, she takes the time to remember how wonderful God is through her prayer.

As Christians today, we can and should also remember to praise God for all of the blessings and answered prayers He has given us as well!

4. Hezekiah’s Prayer for Deliverance (2 Kings 19:14-19)

Group of men who look like Jewish men from the Old Testament — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: ‘Lord, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, Lord, and hear; open your eyes, Lord, and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.'” –2 Kings 19:15-16

In this passage, King Hezekiah knows that he cannot face his enemies and protect his people alone. He needs God’s help!

Hezekiah prays that God would deliver his people from their enemies, and God agrees.

While we may not face literal warfare today, we can also pray for God’s protection and provision in the midst of the stressful trials we face today.

5. The Prayer of Jabez (1 Chronicles 4:10)

israelite man from Old Testament Bible — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” –1 Chronicles 4:10

Jabez gets very little real estate in the Bible — only two short verses in the midst of an Old Testament genealogy. Yet, you may be familiar with this prayer due to a very popular book, “The Prayer of Jabez,” that was published in 2000.

In this verse, Jabez asks the Lord to bless him materially, and the Lord does answer his prayer.

This prayer goes to show that you don’t have to just pray for spiritual requests. You can take your financial and health concerns to God as well.

6. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9–15)

Man who looks like Jesus holding bread — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.'” — Matthew 6:9

Chances are, you’re familiar with the Lord’s Prayer, also known as the Our Father.

In this famous prayer, Jesus gives his followers (both then and known) an excellent example of how we can pray to our Heavenly Father as well. A wildly memorized prayer, you are welcome to recite this prayer as written, or you can use it as inspiration to pray freely to God about whatever is on your heart and mind.

7. The Tax Collector’s Prayer (Luke 18:9–14)

Jesus teaching his disciples. — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.'” — Luke 18:13

Have you ever felt small and insignificant, uncertain if God would ever hear or care about your prayer? If so, you may find great comfort in The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

In this passage, Jesus praises the humble tax collector while condemning the religious pharisee, though society often did the opposite in those days.

This passage goes to show that God isn’t only interested in those with wealth and power. He hears and cares about the humble as well.

8. Jesus’s Prayer of Obedience (Matthew 26:39, 42)

Jesus disciples following him. — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.'” –Matthew 26:39

After the Last Supper but shortly before he was arrested, Jesus prayed to his Father at Gethsemane. If you’re in pain, wondering where God is and why He doesn’t intervene, let this prayer offer you comfort and reassurance today.

Even when things look dark and bleak, God still knows what He’s doing and He still has a plan.

Jesus is well-acquainted with suffering, and you can speak to him openly and honestly about whatever you’re going through.

9. The Apostle’s Prayer for Boldness (Acts 4:23-31)

Disciples praying — Photo Credit: Lightstock.

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.” –Acts 4:29

The early church dealt with a great deal of persecution, but they didn’t run away and hide. Rather, they used their trials to become bolder than ever as they chose to follow and obey Jesus no matter the cost.

If you’re faced with an impossible decision today, you may want to model your own prayers after theirs and ask God for boldness in the face of your trials.

10. Paul’s Prayer for Wisdom (Ephesians 1:16-19)

worship at a church people with raised hands singing — Photo Credit: Depositphotos.

“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…” –Ephesians 1:18

If the apostle Paul (who wrote much of the New Testament) needed to pray for wisdom for the early church, how much more do we need prayers for wisdom today!

Following God isn’t always easy, and the road isn’t always clear. Thankfully, we can always pray and ask God to show us exactly what we need to know to make wise life choices going forward.