Do We Pray to the Father or to the Lord?
- Bible Believing Christian
- Sep 12
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 12
Do We Pray to the Father or to the Lord?
Prayer is intimate communication with God, yet many Christians wonder: should our prayers be addressed to God the Father, to Jesus the Lord, or to the Holy Spirit? The New Testament provides clear guidance, revealing both a pattern and a freedom rooted in the unity of the Trinity.
Biblical Foundation
Jesus’ Teaching – Pray to the Father
When His disciples asked how to pray, Jesus replied:
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’ ” (Matthew 6:9, NASB)
Again He said, “In that day you will ask Me no question. Truly, truly I say to you, if you ask the Father for anything in My name, He will give it to you.” (John 16:23, NASB)
The Lord’s Prayer sets the primary pattern: prayer is addressed to the Father, in the name of the Son, and empowered by the Spirit.
Praying in Jesus’ Name
Praying “in Jesus’ name” is not a closing formula but a recognition of His mediating role.
“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (John 14:13, NASB)
Our access to the Father comes through Christ’s finished work.
Prayer to Jesus as Lord
The New Testament also records prayers directly to Jesus. Stephen, as he was martyred, cried out: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” (Acts 7:59, NASB)
Paul begged the Lord to remove his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:8), and the early church prayed, “Come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20, NASB)
These examples show that prayer to Jesus is both biblical and natural, since He is fully God.
The Spirit’s Role
The Holy Spirit is not the typical addressee of prayer, but He is deeply involved.
“In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” (Romans 8:26, NASB)
The Spirit inspires and carries our prayers to the Father through the Son.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Early church prayers followed Jesus’ pattern—addressing the Father while invoking the Son’s name. The Didache (1st century) records the Lord’s Prayer three times daily. Yet Christian worship also included direct praise and petitions to Christ, as seen in ancient hymns like Phos Hilaron (“O Gladsome Light”) and early baptismal prayers.
Misconceptions & Objections
“We must only pray to the Father.”
Scripture shows freedom: while the normative pattern is to the Father, prayers to Jesus are affirmed.
“Prayer to Jesus diminishes the Father.”
Not at all. Honoring the Son honors the Father (John 5:23).
Theological Reflection
Christian prayer is Trinitarian. We approach the Father through the Son in the Spirit. This keeps our prayers God-centered and gospel-shaped. As Paul writes, “Through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18, NASB)
Connection to Christ – Our Perfect Mediator
Jesus makes prayer possible. He teaches us to pray, carries our petitions to the Father, and intercedes even now:
“Christ Jesus is He who died, but rather, was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” (Romans 8:34, NASB)
Every prayer—whether spoken to the Father or directly to the Lord—ultimately relies on His saving work.
Christ-Centered Conclusion
The Bible’s pattern is prayer to the Father, through the Son, in the Spirit. Yet Scripture also records prayer to Jesus as Lord. The key is not formula but faith: we come boldly to the throne of grace because Jesus has opened the way.
All Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), © The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
