Supplication is a significant aspect of prayer and faith in the Bible, denoting a sincere and humble request or plea to God. Supplication often accompanies praise and thanksgiving, demonstrating human dependence on the divine for guidance, strength, and provision. It is an expression of the Christian’s total reliance on God’s mercy, reflecting an understanding that every good thing comes from Him.
What Does Supplication Look Like in the Bible?
In the biblical context, supplication involves more than just asking for something. It is characterised by earnestness, intensity, and fervency, acknowledging one’s inadequacies and limitation. It involves crying out to God in times of need, confessing sins, seeking forgiveness, and asking for personal needs or the needs of others. Many instances in the Bible highlight the significance and power of supplication as a way of drawing closer to God, realising His presence, and affirming His sovereignty over every area of life.
Who Practices Supplication?
All believers are encouraged to engage in supplication, as it is a crucial part of communication with God. Biblical figures often practiced supplication, from Abraham to Moses, from David to Daniel, from Paul to Jesus Himself. Remarkably, Jesus’ life demonstrated a continuous conversation and relationship with God, often filled with supplication. Furthermore, the Bible encourages Christians to pray for one another and to offer supplications for all people, highlighting its universality in the Christian faith.
When Should Supplication Occur?
The Bible encourages supplication in all seasons of life, in both joy and sorrow, comfort and distress. Supplication is not limited to times of desperation or need but is also relevant in times of peace and abundance. It provides an avenue to express our gratitude and acknowledge God as the source of our every blessing. The Bible does not prescribe specific times for supplication; rather, it encourages a continuous, ever-humble, and fervent appeal to God, demonstrating the persistence of faith. Understanding that supplication acknowledges God’s power and providence, believers are prescribed to make their requests known to God always.
Why is Supplication Important?
Supplication holds a prominent place in the Bible due to numerous reasons. Firstly, it deepens one’s relationship with God, building a more intimate communion with the divine through frequent and earnest requests. Secondly, it acknowledges human dependence on God, recognizing His superiority and the fact that without His grace, we can do nothing. Moreover, as believers pour their hearts out in supplication, they align themselves with God’s will, fostering a spirit of obedience and surrender. Finally, supplication offers a channel for humility, illustrating our understanding of our place in God’s creation and our need for His mercy.
Where Does Supplication Lead Us?
The practice of supplication leads believers to a deeper reverence for God, acknowledging His ability to provide, guide, and sustain. It develops an unwavering trust, affirming the beneficence of God even when one hasn’t seen the answer to their prayers yet. It fosters patience and resilience in one’s faith journey. Supplication, according to the Bible, has the power to move God’s heart, change situations and give peace that surpasses all understanding. Ultimately, the course of supplication brings Christians closer to God, enhances their spiritual growth, and cultivates a heart of worship that transcends beyond the limits of our physical reality.
Below is our full list of bible verses on supplication (King James Version – KJV) provided in ranked order.
Most Popular Bible Verses About Supplication
Philippians 4:6
“6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
Related Themes: Patience Prayer Loneliness Nervousness Worry
Philippians 4:6-7
“6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Related Themes: Patience Prayer Loneliness Nervousness Worry
James 5:16
“16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Related Themes: Criticism Forgiveness Healing Prayer Lust
Hebrews 4:16
“16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Related Themes: Grace Self Confidence Mercy New Life Quitting
1 Peter 5:7
“7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.”
Related Themes: Loneliness Frustration Depression Worry Complaining
Philippians 4:19
“19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Related Themes: Money Finances Homelessness Healing Life
Matthew 6:9-13
“9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.11 Give us this day our daily bread.12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence Omnipresence Prayer Forgiveness Prayer
1 Corinthians 10:13
“13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
Related Themes: Lust Self-Control Addiction Strength Temptation
Psalm 20:4-5
“4 Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel.5 We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.”
Related Themes: Birthday Promotion Heart Thankfulness Graduation
James 5:13
“13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.”
Related Themes: Music Singing Sadness Prayer Hopelessness
1 Thessalonians 5:17
“17 Pray without ceasing.”
Related Themes: Prayer Persistence Unanswered Prayer
Matthew 6:6
“6 But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.”
Related Themes: Prayer Omnipresence Omnipotence Solitude Reaping
Luke 18:1
“1 And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;”
Related Themes: Justice Bitterness Prayer Reaping Persistence
Ephesians 6:18
“18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;”
Related Themes: Perseverance Prayer Wisdom Holy Spirit Alert
Romans 5:8
“8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Related Themes: Love Bitterness Greatness Sacrifice Fidelity
Matthew 26:41
“41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Related Themes: Temptation Prayer Flesh Reaping
Mark 11:24
“24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
Related Themes: Prayer Restoration Trust Faith Encouragement
Matthew 6:7
“7 But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”
Related Themes: Prayer Unanswered Prayer
Matthew 6:31-33
“31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
2 Corinthians 4:16
“16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.”
Matthew 7:7-11
“7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Related Themes: New Beginnings Guidance Confusion Dating Doors
1 Timothy 2:8
“8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”
Related Themes: Complaining Arguing Prayer Jewelry Doubt
Ephesians 5:20
“20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
Related Themes: Thankfulness Gratitude Complaining Negativity
Daniel 9:17
“17 Now therefore, O our God, hear the prayer of thy servant, and his supplications, and cause thy face to shine upon thy sanctuary that is desolate, for the Lord’s sake.”
Related Themes: Omnipotence
Galatians 3:14
“14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”
Luke 10:41-42
“41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Related Themes: Stress Worry Nervousness Focus
1 Timothy 2:1
“1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;”
1 Corinthians 1:30
“30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:”
Related Themes: Holiness Wisdom Glorification Redemption Righteousness
