WHO SHOULD WE PRAY TO? THE FATHER OR THE SON OR THE HOLY SPIRIT?
The answer to this question, "who should we pray to" should be straightforward after a study of the Bible. Yet a lot of Christians are still not certain who they should address their prayers to. While many pray to the Father, others pray to Jesus in the name of Jesus. Yet a few others pray to the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus. Should we only pray to the Father in the name of Jesus? Or is it appropriate to pray directly to Jesus? Is it appropriate to pray directly to the Holy Spirit? Is it appropriate to pray in the name of the Father?
But you may say, does it really matter who we address our prayers to since it is answered anyway? Afterall, the three Persons; the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are God and they all agree in one.
Well, even though you have been receiving some answers to your prayers, the right knowledge of who you should address your prayers may be all you need to receive many more answered prayers. The Bible tells us that God overlooks our days of ignorance and wants us to repent and change our ways so that we become more fruitful and productive.
(Acts 17:30 AMP) Therefore God overlooked and disregarded the former ages of ignorance; but now He commands all people everywhere to repent [that is, to change their old way of thinking, to regret their past sins, and to seek God’s purpose for their lives].
The Bible also tells us that the pattern and content of our prayers matters and can determine if they will be heard; and when they are heard, there is the assurance we will receive many answers.
(1 John 5:14-15 AMP) This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us. And if we know [for a fact, as indeed we do] that He hears and listens to us in whatever we ask, we [also] know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted to us] the requests which we have asked from Him.
The disciples of Jesus asked Him to teach them how to pray. He did. He taught them to address their prayers directly to God the Father.
(Matthew 6:9 NIV) “This, then, is how you should pray: “’Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
That is the right pattern we should follow. We first address our prayers directly to the Father, then we ask Him in the name of Jesus Christ.
(John 16:26 NLT) Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf.
(John 16:24 NLT) At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. I tell you the truth, you will ask the Father directly, and he will grant your request because you use my name.
In conclusion, it is not appropriate to pray to the Father in the name of the Father. It is also not appropriate to pray to Jesus in the name of Jesus. We should only pray directly to the Father in the name of Jesus?
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