Who should we pray to ?

Tuesday March 16, 2021

(Jesus said) : If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. (John 14. 14)

Make all kinds of prayers and supplications in the Spirit at all times. (Ephesians 6:18)

Who should we pray to ?

Should we pray to the Father, or to the Lord Jesus ? Basically, it's always praying to God. This question should not disturb us or limit our prayer life.

In the Bible there are many encouragements to pray and worship the Father, in the name of the Lord Jesus (eg Ephesians 5:20). But we also see examples of prayers addressed to the Lord Jesus himself. Thus the apostles ask : “Lord, you who know the hearts of all...” (Acts 1:24). Etienne cries out : “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit !” Ananias prayed about Saul of Tarsus : “Lord, I have learned from many all the evil that this man has done to your saints” (Acts 9:13).

Both the Father and the Son are God, and they are one : what concerns the Father concerns the Son, and vice versa. Whether we pray to the Father or the Son, we pray to God. When the Lord asks to pray to the Father in his name, he adds : “I will do it”. The request is made to the Father and it is the Son who realizes it. Thus, both are involved in the request and in its fulfillment. In fact, the three divine persons are concerned : we pray to the Father in the name of the Son, and by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 6:18 ; Jude 20). Note that the Bible does not mention prayers addressed to the Holy Spirit. As children of God, we address our prayers to the Father concerning our needs, for he cares for us (1 Peter 5 7). We pray to the Lord Jesus, the Good Shepherd, when we desire to ask him to bless his Church, or to serve him in the gospel.

Source (The Good Seed)