Elements common to most prayers in the Bible

Are the present in ours?

1. God's sovereignty declared both in the mode of address, and explicitly.

2. A general declaration of weakness and helplessness.

3. God's promises and words are declared, generally like this: "Do you remember that you said this?"

4. The threat to the promise mentioned is laid out.

5. The request is laid humbly at God's feet.

This pattern can be seen, among other places, in Daniel's prayer, Nehemiah's, Jehoshaphat's, Hezekiah, and the prayer of the believers in Acts.