Do You Pray To God Or Jesus: How To Develop An Effective Prayer Life

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Published by Kenneth Garcia

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Co-Founder of Biblekeeper, Author & Theologian


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In the journey of our Christian faith, prayer serves as the foundation. It represents the sacred method through which we engage in communication with God, who brought us into existence from nothing. Moreover, we hold the special status of being His paramount creation since we are crafted in His image. Worshipping God and maintaining constant communion with Him is our fundamental objective. Through prayer, we reach out to God, expressing our gratitude, presenting our needs, and sharing the sorrows we experience in this life.

But many of us still wonder: “Do I pray to God the Father, His Son Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit?” A clear understanding of the deity of God and the Trinity is key to having a robust and effective prayer life. So, do you pray to God or Jesus?

Key Takeaways

  • Christians can pray to God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, recognizing their distinct roles – God as the Creator, Jesus as the mediator and savior, and the Holy Spirit as the guiding intercessor in prayer.
  • Embracing the Trinity is central in Christian prayer, acknowledging that while prayers may be directed to God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, they are all one in essence, enhancing the spiritual connection and understanding.
  • Effective praying involves using the Lord’s Prayer as a guide, emphasizing praise, seeking God’s will, requesting daily needs, asking for forgiveness, and guidance away from temptation, aligning the prayers with humility and God’s will.

What Is The Difference Between Praying To God Or Jesus?

 Praying To God: Our Creator

You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory, honor, and power, for you created all things.

Revelation 4:11

There is nothing more beautiful than the world that belongs to God, our Father. All things were created for His glory, and all things belong to Him. By the breath of His word, He created the wonder of the sunset, the kaleidoscope of trees and the rain forest, the tides, and the diversity of wildlife and the ecosystem.

Most importantly, He created us in His image, which bears His holiness and greatness. Thus, it is fitting that we pray and worship God as our Creator[1].

Praying To Jesus Christ: Our Messiah And High Priest

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.

Hebrews 4:14

Praying to the Lord Jesus Christ, our Messiah, and High Priest, is the ultimate way to connect with the Father. In the Old Testament, only the High Priest can enter the Tabernacle. But our ancestors never fully appeased God’s wrath for their sacrifices and sins. Only such a High Priest named Jesus was able to approach God and fulfill the supreme sacrifice by dying on the cross for all mankind.

In like manner, only through Jesus can we enter eternal life. Jesus died for our sins. Through His death and resurrection, He provided us with the means to redemption and eternal life. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, and He is our Savior who offers us grace and mercy.

Praying to our Lord Jesus is a way to express our gratitude and seek His guidance in our lives. It is an opportunity to open our hearts to His love and receive His blessings. He is the only way to the Father, and through prayer, we can deepen our relationship with God.

A person in deep contemplation, praying by a serene lake at dawn with reflections of the rising sun

Do You Pray To God Or Jesus?

Praying To God The Father

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

— Luke 23:34

In His earthly ministry, Jesus often prayed. But to whom did Jesus pray? In the mountains, the desert, and other places, our Messiah had always implored God the Father for power and wisdom. Most importantly, His prayers were anchored on the realization of the Father’s will on heaven and earth. Hence we find the core of the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy will be done.” As Christians, we are to pray to our Heavenly Father.

Praying Through Jesus The Son

And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

John 14:13–14

Jesus Christ, the Son, is the Messiah—our source of hope, healing, and restoration. Through prayer, we can access all of His power and grace. We can turn to Him in our times of need and receive His divine intervention. As the Great Provider, He is the one who can meet all of our needs, both spiritual and physical. He is also the ultimate source of mercy and grace. As the Great Healer, He is the one who can heal us from all of our wounds.

And as the Light of the World, He is the one who can bring light into our darkest moments. When we pray through our Lord Jesus the Son, we can be sure that He will be there to answer our prayers, forgive our intentional or known sins, and provide us with all that we need. Through Christ, we can boldly approach God’s throne with our pleas.

Praying In The Holy Spirit

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.

Romans 8:26

Praying in the Holy Spirit is a powerful way to draw closer to God. By allowing the Holy Spirit to empower us, we are able to pray with greater faith and assurance. The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray, as He knows our hearts and desires even better than we do. He will guide us in prayer, and help us focus on the right things.

As we pray in the Holy Spirit, our prayers become more meaningful and effective, and we are able to experience a deeper connection with God. Praying in the Holy Spirit is a great way to draw nearer to God and experience His peace and presence.

A celestial banner bearing the word 'God' in golden letters, surrounded by ethereal light

How Do I Pray To God Or Jesus?

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

— Matthew 6:9–13

The disciples often asked Jesus how to pray. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught a powerful prayer that exalts God the Father. It is a prayer of thanksgiving and supplication, expressing our need for God’s provision and protection. The prayer begins with an expression of praise to God, followed by pleas for His will to be done in our lives. We then ask for our daily needs to be met, for our sins to be forgiven, and for us to be protected from temptation.

The power of the Lord’s Prayer lies in its ability to bring us closer to God and to humble us before Him. It is a reminder of our dependence on Him and of His great mercy and grace. When we utter the Lord’s Prayer, we are assured that our prayers to God are in the right form and manner.

banner declaring 'Jesus' in luminescent letters, positioned amidst an ancient temple with towering pillars on each side and sunlight stretched

Summary

Our prayers are genuine and charged by the Holy Spirit when we express our gratitude and pleas that align with His will and His Word. When we focus on Jesus Christ, our prayers to God are on the right track. Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” Christ died for our sins for our redemption.

When we reach out to God the Father or to Jesus Christ with fervent prayer and sincerity, we can rest assured that He will hear us. Moreover, when we implore the power of the Holy Spirit, our prayers are rightfully guided and empowered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should We Pray To God Or Jesus?

We should pray to both God and Jesus, as Christian doctrine often includes praying to God the Father and also recognizing Jesus as an intermediary and savior. The choice depends on individual beliefs and the context of the prayer.

Do We Pray To God In The Name Of Jesus?

We pray to God in the name of Jesus, especially in Christian practices. Praying in Jesus’ name is seen as invoking his authority and acknowledging his role as the mediator between humanity and God.

Do You Put God Or Jesus First?

Whether to put God or Jesus first is a matter of personal belief and theological understanding. In Christian faith, God is typically seen as the supreme being, with Jesus as his son and part of the Holy Trinity, but both are central to the faith.

Does The Bible Say To Pray To God?

The Bible encourages praying to God. It contains numerous passages and examples where prayer is directed to God, often emphasizing the importance of prayer in maintaining a relationship with the divine.

5 thoughts on “Do You Pray To God Or Jesus: How To Develop An Effective Prayer Life”

  1. Hi,
    The bible is very confusing at times. If God is the father and Jesus is the son and holy spirit, why Jesus the high priest can only approach God. Isn’t it The Father,Jesus (son) and Holy spirit is ONE. Who is Jesus approaching then?

    Reply
    • Calvin,

      We are shown that we can pray to God the Father (Matthew 6:9-13) AND to Jesus the Son (John 14:13-14). Both of these are referenced above. I have not seen anything in the Bible that tells us to pray to the Holy Spirit. God and Jesus send the Holy Spirit to us. Jesus sends another comforter to us – the Spirit of Truth (John 14:16-18). In the Wuest version, it states another Counsellor of the same kind as Jesus is. The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost (John 14:26) is sent by the Father in the name of Jesus. Also see John
      15:26 where Jesus can send the Comforter/Counsellor from the Father. It is amazing to see the Holy Spirit work through people.

      Jesus repeatedly stated that He does his Father’s will and that the Father is greater than He is. He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). This can be the confusing part because then how can we pray directly to God? You can’t if you don’t believe in Jesus as the Savior.

      Jesus is the vine, the Father is the husbandman/tiller of the soil, we are the branches. We cannot bear fruit without Him. (John 15:1-6)

      So, you can ask in Jesus’ name and you can pray to the Father. “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23) So, you need to abide in Him and His words abide in you when you ask. (John 15:7)

      Also see 1 Corinthians 15:28 “And when all things shall be subdued unto Him (Jesus), then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him (God the Father) that put all things under Him (Jesus), that God may be all in all.” 1 Corinthians 15:24-27 explains this a little more. Remember, God created all things through Jesus.

      I hope this helps!

      God Bless.

      Reply

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