---
title: "Question 98: What is prayer? | Westminster Shorter Catechism"
description: "Westminster Shorter Catechism, question 98: What is prayer? Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of"
canonical: "https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-98-what-is-prayer/"
source: "https://ctkrp.org/assets/rpcna-constitution-2026.pdf#page=171"
---

# Question 98: What is prayer? | Westminster Shorter Catechism

Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God, for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgment of his mercies.

Scripture proofs: Ps. 62:8; 1 John 5:14; John 16:23; Ps. 32:5-6; Dan. 9:4; Phil. 4:6.

Original source: [2026 RPCNA Constitution](https://ctkrp.org/assets/rpcna-constitution-2026.pdf#page=171)

## Related reading

- [Keeping the Lord’s Day](https://ctkrp.org/learn/topics/lords-day/)
- [Westminster Confession of Faith · Chapter 21: Of Religious Worship, and the Sabbath Day](https://ctkrp.org/confession/chapter-21-religious-worship-and-the-sabbath-day/)
- [Westminster Shorter Catechism · Question 1: What is the chief end of man?](https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-1-what-is-the-chief-end-of-man/)
- [Westminster Larger Catechism · Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?](https://ctkrp.org/larger-catechism/question-1-what-is-the-chief-and-highest-end-of-man/)
- [Find teaching on worship](https://ctkrp.org/sermons/?q=worship)
- [Question 97](https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-97-what-is-required-to-the-worthy-receiving-of-the/)
- [Question 99](https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-99-what-rule-hath-god-given-for-our-direction-in/)

Canonical page: https://ctkrp.org/shorter-catechism/question-98-what-is-prayer/