Seven Bold Prayers of the Bible to Pray (with Scripture Reading Plan)

Have you ever wondered sometimes if God really hears your prayers? We cognitively know that he perceives our thoughts and the deepest desires of our hearts even before we utter a single word (Psalm 139:4).

If we understand that our Lord intimately knows everything about us, why do we sometimes hold back in our prayers? I used to think that I shouldn’t “bother” God with the seemingly insignificant prayers or concerns that I had.

But if the eternal God of the universe knows every hair on our heads, he wants to hear every prayer in our hearts.

Hebrews 4:16 says this:

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

We don’t have to approach God timidly when we come to him in prayer. We can boldly approach his throne of grace with confidence. Like a little child jumping onto her father’s lap, we as his daughters can come to him with joy!

Here are seven examples from Scripture of bold prayers we can pray with confidence.

Seven Bold Prayers of the Bible

1. “Lord, Bless me.”

Can you imagine stumbling in the night as Jacob did, wrestling with God? He wrestled with the angel of the Lord until daybreak, and as dawn approached, he would not let the Lord go until he blessed him.

Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”

Genesis 32:26

We at times have had our own inward struggles with God. If we are wrestling through a difficult season, we can boldly ask for his divine providence, protection, and blessing over our lives.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that you are a God who hears my prayer. In times of difficulty, give me the perseverance and strength the never give up. You are a God who bountifully blesses your people.

You blessed Jacob even as he wrestled with you through the trials in his life. I thank you that I can boldly come before your throne of grace and ask for your blessing upon my life.

Even in the midst of pain and struggles, you do not abandon me. Bless me with every spiritual blessing through Christ, and help me to never let you go. Amen.

2. “Show me your glory.”

Moses met with God face to face with a tremendously bold request: “Show me your glory” (Exodus 33:18). What would happen if we were bold enough to pray this prayer? How would our hearts and lives be transformed if we daily saw God’s glory?

The Hebrew word for glory in this passage means glory, honor, glorious, abundance, riches, splendor, dignity, reputation, and reverence (source).

Moses asked God to reveal all of the goodness of his omnipotent power and splendor-how awesome that must have been!

God desires to meet with each of us in the same way, and we can experience the glory of his goodness when we pray this prayer!

Prayer: Lord, just like Moses, I boldly ask that you will show me your glory. Reveal yourself to me in deeper ways, and allow me to experience your power, glory, splendor and abundance. You are awesome and holy, and I praise your name!

3. “Help my unbelief!”

In the New Testament Jesus encountered a man with a demon-possessed son. The man desperately desired Jesus to heal his precious boy. The man humbly asks Jesus,

But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”

Mark 9:22-24

We all struggle with unbelief at times. We sometimes wonder, “God, will you come through?” “Will you help me in my time of struggle?“

In those moments of doubt, we can boldly ask as this man did, “Lord help my unbelief!” Jesus doesn’t look down on us or turn us away in our doubts. He is patient with us, and lovingly asks us to trust in him.

Prayer: Lord, in the times when life doesn’t seem to make sense, help me to trust you. Your Word says to trust in you with all my heart, and to not lean on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).

Help my unbelief in the seasons of life where I just can’t see what lies ahead of me. Help me to hold to your unchanging hand, and strengthen my faith through your Word. Amen.

4. “Lord, make me clean.”

In Matthew 8:2 a man with leprosy approached Jesus and asked, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him and said, “I am willing. Be clean!”

Our loving Savior is more than willing to heal us of our past wounds, pain and sin.

David boldly prayed in Psalm 51:7,

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Prayer: Lord, just as you touched the man with leprosy, I ask you to touch me with your healing hand and heal the places in my life that need your healing touch. Heal my mind, body, and soul.

Thank you that through your sacrifice on the cross, I am made clean and whole. Amen.

5. “Not my will, but yours be done.”

Jesus at the garden of Gethsemane prayed the ultimate prayer of self-sacrifice by uttering these words in Luke 22:42. If Jesus asked to be in the perfect will of the Father, how much more should we pray this bold, audacious prayer?

We can trust that God’s will is good, pleasing and perfect (Romans 12:2).

Prayer: Lord, you prayed in the garden for the will of the Father to be done. Even though you desired for the cup of affliction to be removed, you endured the cross, scorning its shame, so that I can have eternal life in you (Hebrews 12:2).

Help me to follow your example, and to pray the bold prayer, “Not my will, but yours be done.” May your good, pleasing, and perfect will be done in my life–now and forever. Amen.

6. “Father, forgive them.”

Jesus on the cross forgave those who brutally crucified him. When people hurt and disappoint us, it definitely takes time to heal from those wounds. But the best thing we can do for ourselves is follow in the footsteps of Jesus and pray this bold prayer.

Prayer: Lord help me, as you prayed in the Lord’s prayer, to forgive those who have sinned against me. This is a difficult prayer to pray in the midst of the pain others have done to me.

Heal my heart, and comfort my soul. Give me the strength to do what is impossible to do in my own strength. I know that with you, all thinks are possible. Amen.

7. “Come, Lord Jesus.”

One day, our Lord and Savior will pierce through the clouds and return with all power in his hands. What a glorious day that will be! As we prepare for his return, may we live powerful lives worthy of the calling we have received.

There is much work yet to be done. As we fulfill God’s call on our lives and make his name known before the nations, may we boldly pray as John did in Revelation 22:20, “Come Lord Jesus!”

Prayer: Lord, as I patiently await your glorious coming, help me to remain faithful to complete the work you have called me to do. As this world filled with pain and darkness groans until you return, help me to shine the light of your love and grace into the world, and to pray as the apostle John did in Revelation, “Come, Lord Jesus!”

Free Bold Prayers of Jesus Scripture Reading Plan

You can download a free Scripture reading plan with Scriptures you can use to pray boldly each day!

You can download the free Scripture reading plan HERE.

Are you ready to Pray Boldly?

Looking for ways to deepen your prayer life? Read the BOLD Prayer Challenge blog series! In this four-day blog series on prayer, you will receive a short devotional discussing how different people in the Bible prayed with boldness.

You will can also download a prayer guide, Scripture reading plan, Scripture cards, bookmarks, and a Bible journaling page!

Click HERE to read the BOLD Prayer blog series, and download these free goodies!