Question 116. Why is prayer necessary for christians?
Answer. Because it is the chief part of [a] thankfulness which God requires of us: and also, because God will give his grace and Holy Spirit to those only, who with sincere desires continually ask them of him, and [b] are thankful for them.

Question 117. What are the requisites of that prayer, which is acceptable to God, and which he will hear?
Answer. First, that we from the heart pray to the one true God only, who hath [c] manifested himself in his word, for all things, he hath commanded us to ask of him; [d] secondly, that we rightly and thoroughly know our need and misery, that so we may [e] deeply humble ourselves in the presence of his divine majesty; thirdly, that we be fully persuaded that he, notwithstanding that we are [f] unworthy of it, will, for the sake of Christ our Lord, certainly [g] hear our prayer, as he has [h] promised us in his word.

Question 118. What hath God commanded us to ask of him?
Answer. All [i] things necessary for soul and body; which Christ our Lord has comprised in that prayer he himself [j] has taught us.

Question 119. What are the words of that prayer?
Answer. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 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.

1. Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psa. 50:14, 15
   
   
2. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Mat. 7:7, 8;
   
   And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. ... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? Luke 11:9, 13;
   
   For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath. Mat. 13:12;
   
   And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psa. 50:15
   
   
3. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:22, 23
   
   
4. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Rom. 8:26;
   
   And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 1John 5:14
   
   
5. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. John 4:23, 24;
   
   The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. Psa. 145:18
   
   
6. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chron. 20:12
   
   
7. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Psa. 2:11;
   
   The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. Psa. 34:18, 19;
   
   For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word. Isa. 66:2
   
   
8. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Rom. 10:13;
   
   For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: Rom. 8:15, 16;
   
   But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ... James 1:6 &c;
   
   And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. John 14:13;
   
   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' sake. O my God, incline thine ear, and hear; open thine eyes, and behold our desolations, and the city which is called by thy name: for we do not present our supplications before thee for our righteousnesses, but for thy great mercies. Dan. 9:17, 18;
   
   For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Mat. 7:8;
   
   Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. Psa. 143:1
   
   
9. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17;
   
   But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Mat. 6:33
   
   
10. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ... Mat. 6:9 &c;
    
    And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. ... Luke 11:2 &c