Updated:- Sunday, September 24th, 2023
Who Do Christians Pray To?
Most Believers generally pray to God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Yet recognizing their distinct roles in our lives and knowing that we serve one God.
Whomever we direct our prayers to is our god. So, the question, should Christians pray to God or Jesus Christ may seem obvious enough but it’s not?
However, we must keep in mind that the one true, Lord God is a Triune One. He has only three manifestations: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
So, you may be wondering, should I pray to the Father, the Son, or the Holy Ghost? The Holy Bible and Jesus Christ have your answer.
Consequently, they will reveal it soon in this Bible Study.
Many Christians Desire To Know – Do We Pray To God or Jesus?
These manifestations describe the Godhead. However, God is a Spirit. He’s not a person and there is none in the Godhead.
Therefore, there are not three persons in the Godhead but God! Again, I say, there are no persons in the Godhead!
Nevertheless, sometimes many Believers pray to God the Father, and at other times they pray to Jesus Christ.
They really want to know, do you pray to God or Jesus?
But Jesus Christ instructed his Apostles, or leaders, to pray to their Father in heaven. Therefore, as contemporary Believers, his instructions to them, then, apply to us now. See Matthew 6:9-13.
We should pray to the Father in Heaven.
Do Christians Pray To The Father, The Son, or The Holy Ghost?
Many Believers pray to all three manifestations of the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
But, is that practice biblical?
The Son of God, Jesus Christ, never teaches or commands anyone to pray to him. On the contrary, he taught his twelve leaders (apostles) to pray to the Father in heaven.
Additionally, several times, while he was on Earth, he also prayed to his Father in Heaven.
Therefore, Believers, do as Jesus taught and did, pray to the Father in Heaven.
He is the ultimate source of love, wisdom, and guidance. He is the Father of us all. Praying to God the Father aligns with the teachings of Jesus, who instructed Christians to pray to the Father.
While he was physically with his disciples, he taught them to pray to the Father. Thus, one of our major goals should be to emulate them and saturate ourselves in prayer to Him at all times.
Should Christians Pray To The Holy Ghost?
Above, we discover whether you should pray to God or Jesus Christ. But, how about praying to the Holy Spirit, is that biblical?
Again, let’s revisit the teachings of Jesus Christ and his actions to learn if we should pray to the Holy Ghost.
Jesus never taught or pray to the Holy Ghost because He was in him. Similarly, you should emulate Jesus Christ, in this regard, and not pray to the Holy Spirit because He is in you if you are Born Again.
Jesus always prays to his Father in Heaven and you should too.
Why Should Christians Pray To The Son of God When They Could Pray to God Directly?
Consequently, do as Jesus did, pray only to our Father who is in Heaven. We don’t need to pray to Jesus or the Holy Ghost when we could directly pray to the Father.
However, we must always acknowledge the role of Jesus as the Son of God but that doesn’t mean we should direct our prayers to him.
He doesn’t want us to do that and he never taught that!
Through his obedience to his Father and the death of the Cross, he made it possible for us to directly approach the Father in prayers anytime.
However, Jesus, through His life, death, and resurrection, provides a solution to this problem. As the Son of God, He took on human form and lived a sinless life.
Therefore, when you pray, direct all your petitions to our Father in Heaven and not to Jesus or the Holy Ghost because that was what Jesus taught and practiced.
Why Pray To God In The Name of Jesus?
When we pray, we can come before God, in the name of Jesus, acknowledging His role as the mediator and intercessor on our behalf.
Jesus’ mediation means that our prayers are not solely based on our own merits or righteousness but they are presented to God through the merits and righteousness of Jesus.
We can have confidence that God hears our prayers and accepts them because of Jesus. He is our perfect sacrifice and advocate.
This understanding of Jesus as the mediator in prayer emphasizes the significance of His role in our lives.
It reminds us that our access to God is made possible through Him and Him alone. This should encourage you to approach God with faith, gratitude, and a humble heart for His grace and mercy.
When Should Christians Pray To The Holy Spirit?
Believers also pray to the Holy Spirit. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity because He is fully God.
The apostle Paul says in Romans 8:26-27,
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.”
The Holy Spirit is our Helper and Guide. He is involved in the process of our spiritual growth and transformation.
So, we pray to the Holy Spirit for help in overcoming sin, developing Christ-like character, and experiencing spiritual renewal and transformation.
Who Does The Bible Say We Should Pray To?
The Bible encourages believers to pray to God the Father. Throughout both the Old and New Testaments, people have prayed to God the Father.
Jesus himself taught his disciples to pray to the Father in what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13, Luke 11:2-4).
For example, in Matthew 6:6, Jesus says, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.”
But In John 16:23, Jesus informs us, “In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”
While there are instances where individuals in the Bible address Jesus in prayer (such as Stephen’s prayer in Acts 7:59), the general command is to pray to God the Father.
This is in line with the understanding of God as the ultimate source and authority.
It’s important to note that the Bible does not discourage praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit, but the primary focus and guidance given in Scripture is to direct prayers to God the Father.
What Is The Difference Between Praying To God And Praying To Jesus?
The difference between praying to God and praying to Jesus lies in the understanding of their roles.
When we pray to God, we are usually referring to God the Father. Praying to God acknowledges His sovereignty and recognizes Him as the creator and sustainer of all things.
It is a way of expressing reverence, seeking His will, and seeking a deeper relationship with Him.
On the other hand, praying to Jesus involves addressing prayers directly to Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God and the Savior of us all.
Praying to Jesus acknowledges His role as the mediator between God and humanity.
Christ said in John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Praying to Jesus is a way to approach the Father, knowing that Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection have made it possible for believers to have a relationship with God.
How To Pray According To Jesus?
Jesus provided guidance on how to pray in what is commonly known as the Lord’s Prayer or the Our Father. Here’s the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13,
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
Jesus Gives Us Tips On How To Pray To God!
Here is an outline of the key elements he emphasized in his teaching:
- Address God as Father: Jesus begins the prayer by addressing God as “Our Father,” emphasizing a personal and intimate relationship with God.
- Recognize God’s Holiness: Jesus acknowledges the holiness and sacredness of God’s name. This serves as a reminder of God’s greatness and the reverence we should have towards Him.
- Pray for God’s Kingdom: Jesus instructs us to pray for God’s kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This aligns our desires with God’s purposes and seeks His divine guidance and intervention in our lives and in the world.
- Seek Daily Provision: Jesus encourages us to ask God for our daily needs, both physical and spiritual. It is an expression of dependence on God and trust that He will provide for us.
- Seek Forgiveness and Extend Forgiveness: Jesus teaches us to ask for forgiveness for our sins and shortcomings, recognizing our need for God’s mercy and grace. He also emphasizes the importance of extending forgiveness to others, just as God forgives us. We’re merely hypocrites if we didn’t forgive others when God forgave us.
- Seek Protection and Deliverance: Jesus guides us to pray for protection from temptation and to be delivered from evil. This acknowledges our vulnerability and reliance on God’s strength to overcome challenges and resist temptation.
- Conclude with Worship and Acknowledgment: Jesus concludes the prayer by acknowledging God’s kingdom, power, and glory. It is a reminder that prayer is ultimately about honoring and worshiping God.
In addition to these specific elements, Jesus also emphasized the importance of sincerity, humility, and faith in prayer.
He encouraged believers to pray in private, without seeking to impress others, and to have confidence that God hears and answers their prayers.
Conclusion
We’ve seen that believers pray to the Trinity. Our God is one; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit are one.
They have distinctive roles. We have also seen what the Bible says about prayer. We are called to acknowledge God our Father and direct our prayers toward Him.
At the end of the day, our relationship with God and our standing with Him is what is important. Our prayer lives are important.
The contents of our hearts are important. In conclusion, we must pray to God (the Trinity).
Thanks to Priscilla Du Preez for the photo I used above!
