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Should we pray to Jesus?

D4Christ

D4Christ

Member
More often than not I hear people pray, "Dear Jesus, ....." and end their prayer "In Jesus Name, Amen." I was even told many years ago in my former church that this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, so when we pray it should be to the Holy Spirit.

Is it me or does it bother anybody else that Yahushua (Christ), not only told us how to pray but demonstrated it in what is commonly referred to as the 'Our Father.' For me it's not about personal preferance....it's about being obedient. If Christ commanded us to pray a specific way, how then can we rationalize our disobedience as a Church? Can the Church have any power over the invisble powers we fight if we can't even agree on the proper way to pray?

So, let's get honest...how do you pray... according to your own understanding or according to the instructions left us by our brother, Christ? :chin
 
Just some random thoughts. Do we need to pray audibly? Is there any reason to pray out loud, head bowed, eyes closed, kneeling, etc. in public, or is just for display? It says in the bible that 'God' knows our thoughts before we ask so what is the purpose of making a scene? Can't our prayers just go on in our head as we go about our daily business? When we are sitting alone can't we just sit there in silence 'listening' for the 'still small voice'? When someone asks for prayer and we lay hands on them and pray out loud is it just going to be our voice blaring in their ear instead of praying in silence so they are able to 'hear God'?

As far as the question should we pray to Jesus or not, Jesus said in the bible to pray to 'our Father in heaven'. Seems pretty clear? Personally I think you can call 'Him' anything you want as there is only 'One' listening supposedly. Just my 2 cents.
 
Sometimes I pray to Abba Father, my loving dad quietly in my head. Sometimes I am on my knees praying to humbly to God the Father Almighty. The same God, he's that big that he is both to me.

I also think we sometimes rely too much on extemporaneous prayers. A well thought-out crafted written prayer is not a bad idea—we sometimes re-create the wheel. The song "Let My Words Be Few" is running through my head now, I'd better go listen to it!
 
I think the way we pray can be as varied as the situation we find ourselves in. Sure, we can pray with hands folded and heads bowed. Or we can write our prayers down. Or pray while doing dishes. I watch news while I'm doing dishes and boy, if anything drives me to prayer today, its the news.

I often pray for my kids when I'm cleaning their rooms.

When praying for and laying hands upon another person, I think we need to be mindful of the fact that our prayers are for that person's benefit, so it would be best for that person to hear them.
 
There are many postures in prayer, mentioned in the Bible. There is no certian way we should pray, silent is OK, so is audible.

I visited a Church once, a Baptist Church I might add. I went to their prayer room, there was a gentleman laying out a cloth on the floor. He proceeded to retrieve his crying towel from a bag, and began to pray and prostrate himself. Now I was sitting close, and in front of him. He got into such a rant, I began to think about moving, in fear he was going to start flogging like a Chicken; before he was finished. That is what I call overdone, and a little showy. :)
 
I don't really think the position you pray in matters much or whether you pray silently or audibly. But it is nice to hear that some do pray directly to the Father and ask using Yahushua's name. It would seem clear that we should pray tot he Father as some have mentioned....but my obeservation is that "Jesus" is the first word out of many people's and pastor's mouths.
 
handy said:
When praying for and laying hands upon another person, I think we need to be mindful of the fact that our prayers are for that person's benefit, so it would be best for that person to hear them.
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I just want to ask your thoughts on this. Personally, I don't agree with public prayer. I have always thought this since as long as I remember going back to when I was 12-13. Nothing more than a personal opinion/choice as I don't judge those that don't have a problem with it. My question is this, you said that 'our prayers are for that person's benefit, so it would be best for that person to hear them.' I have to ask what benefit is it? The person knows you are praying for them so that is the only comfort you can possibly provide, whether it is out loud or in silence is irrelevant. The comfort would come in 'God's' answering of that prayer wouldn't it or just comforting said person due to them knowing it is in 'God's' hands now right? The point being, what comfort could your prayer possibly provide on it's own? Just a question I had.
 
Several thoughts to your question seekandlisten:

One: I find it very comforting and uplifting when someone prays for me and I hear their prayers. Sometimes, when especially sick, grieved or hurting, I find it hard to even articulate prayers. I know the Spirit prays in these instances and feel peace about that, but there is something to that human contact. Once, when I got a really terrible 'flu and had a fever of over 103 on the second day of a new job, in a new state where I had no reputation, I was really upset and distraught over the fact that I couldn't go to work. My room-mate saw me crying about the whole thing, laid her hand on my head and prayed for me. It was very comforting, much more so than the usual, "I'll pray for you." I could go on about other times when I really needed those intercessory prayers and when others prayed for me, it really helped. It's just far more comforting and uplifting when someone takes the time to pray for me, right then, with that touch, than just knowing that they are praying for me.

Even Jesus understood the importance of the "laying of the hands" ie the human touch. Think about the time He healed the leper. He could have said, "You're healed." However, He reached out and touched this man who suffered not only leprosy, but also the social outcast that came with it. There are many instances in the Gospel that Jesus physically touched others.

I do believe there is power in the touch. When the woman who bled for so long touch Jesus' hem, He said He felt power go out of Him. I kind of have an inkling of what He meant, due to a time when I and others prayed for a dear friend who was very ill. I had my hand upon her and I felt something as well. Not anything of my doing, but of the Spirit's. She was healed, too. I'm not a big "spiritual healing" kind of person, not really a charismatic type at all, but I can personally testify to that particular healing.

Two: We are told in Scripture to lay hands upon each other and pray for one another. (James 5:14-16) I'm sure if there was no more to prayer than just simply silently letting God know what our needs and supplications are, there really wouldn't be a need to call for the elders, to be anointed with oil and to confess to others.

Three: While private prayers are important, there are many, many examples of folks praying in a public way, up to and including Jesus' public prayers. While there is the temptation to be really "showy" about prayer, let's face it, there are temptations within silent prayers as well. I think both silent and private prayers and more public and shared prayer, are important, both for the individual and for the Body.
 
Thanks for your input handy. I believe it's all in the motives behind the prayer. If our motives are 'good' then whether it's out loud or in silence doesn't matter. Like I said earlier, my beliefs in regards to public prayer only applies to me.
 
And there is certainly freedom for one to pray silently, to be sure.

I do encourage you to think about how you might be a blessing to others with whom you fellowship with by praying for them.
 
So let me ask this question for those who pray to the Father, specifically, and ask all your request by ending your prayer in the name of Yahushua (Christ).....

If you are a trinity believer, how do you rationalize speaking to two different people in your prayer if all 3 persons are really one? Or is it because you see them as one that it doesn't really matter?

I ask this in light of the fact that ;

a)Christ never says He is the Father and even plainly states He is not greater than the Father and even continues to refer to the Father as His God even after He has ascended to Heaven....this indicates someone separate from himself.

b) if 'they' are 3 persons, one of whom came to earth to fulfill a specific task, do the Father and Son 'merge' again once the Son ascended into Heaven (completing at least part of His earthly mission) making them essentially the same person again?

I’m not asking this line of questions to start debates about the trinity. Obviously, I’m not a trinity believer, but instead of going in circuitous arguments with people who are trinity believers, I just want to get to the root of what keeps someone believing in the trinity in light of how Christ spoke about His Father and told us how to pray.

I’m not looking for arguments about why trinity is valid or not…just people’s plain take on why believing in trinity and praying to the Father and asking using the Son’s name does not pose a conflict.

Blessings,
Dee
 
Interesting topic. Here are my random thoughts...

- I pray to God and then say in Jesus's name, Amen! I wouldn't see any problem with praying to Jesus since in my mind he is God and part of the Trinity.

- I often pray outloud when I more formally do it as part of my weekly praying with my weekly prayer list. Most of the time this is at a whisper and makes me feel more engaged with God when I do it. I also pray silently when I am throwing our adhoc prayers during the day. I may think of something to prayer about or need some help right then and I will silently do so.
 
D4Christ said:
So let me ask this question for those who pray to the Father, specifically, and ask all your request by ending your prayer in the name of Yahushua (Christ).....

If you are a trinity believer, how do you rationalize speaking to two different people in your prayer if all 3 persons are really one? Or is it because you see them as one that it doesn't really matter?

I ask this in light of the fact that ;

a)Christ never says He is the Father and even plainly states He is not greater than the Father and even continues to refer to the Father as His God even after He has ascended to Heaven....this indicates someone separate from himself.

b) if 'they' are 3 persons, one of whom came to earth to fulfill a specific task, do the Father and Son 'merge' again once the Son ascended into Heaven (completing at least part of His earthly mission) making them essentially the same person again?

I’m not asking this line of questions to start debates about the trinity. Obviously, I’m not a trinity believer, but instead of going in circuitous arguments with people who are trinity believers, I just want to get to the root of what keeps someone believing in the trinity in light of how Christ spoke about His Father and told us how to pray.

I’m not looking for arguments about why trinity is valid or not…just people’s plain take on why believing in trinity and praying to the Father and asking using the Son’s name does not pose a conflict.

Blessings,
Dee
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The reason why I pray to the Father, in Jesus' name is because this is what Jesus said to do. I don't have time to find the text now, but I could if you're unfamiliar with it.

And, no, I don't think there is any "merging" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are all one God, but three distinct persons.

Too bad marriage became so corrupted. "And the two shall become one" I think was supposed to be a "type" to point to the Trinity. Two distinct persons, one in family, of one purpose. But, marriage doesn't point to that, sadly.
 
D4Christ said:
More often than not I hear people pray, "Dear Jesus, ....." and end their prayer "In Jesus Name, Amen." I was even told many years ago in my former church that this is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit, so when we pray it should be to the Holy Spirit.

Is it me or does it bother anybody else that Yahushua (Christ), not only told us how to pray but demonstrated it in what is commonly referred to as the 'Our Father.' For me it's not about personal preferance....it's about being obedient. If Christ commanded us to pray a specific way, how then can we rationalize our disobedience as a Church? Can the Church have any power over the invisble powers we fight if we can't even agree on the proper way to pray?

So, let's get honest...how do you pray... according to your own understanding or according to the instructions left us by our brother, Christ? :chin
Click to expand...

"And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him." (Col 3:17)
Jesus said that all power in Heaven and Earth was given unto him, so why would we not pray to him. When Peter and John healed the lame man at the gate called beautiful, they did not say in the name of the Father; they said, in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth arise and walk (see Acts 3:6).
 
handy said:
Too bad marriage became so corrupted. "And the two shall become one" I think was supposed to be a "type" to point to the Trinity. Two distinct persons, one in family, of one purpose. But, marriage doesn't point to that, sadly.
Click to expand...

Not to take this of topic but I wanted to insert a comment on this, due note that this is just my perspective. I think that when it refers to 'two becoming one' it is in relation to the 'Spirit'. Two people fully devoted to each other following the commandment of 'loving others as yourself' become a 'single symbol of power'. The both submit to each other by putting the others needs first. This is just my thoughts though, as I don't believe in the trinity.
 
handy said:
The reason why I pray to the Father, in Jesus' name is because this is what Jesus said to do. I don't have time to find the text now, but I could if you're unfamiliar with it.

And, no, I don't think there is any "merging" of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are all one God, but three distinct persons.

Too bad marriage became so corrupted. "And the two shall become one" I think was supposed to be a "type" to point to the Trinity. Two distinct persons, one in family, of one purpose. But, marriage doesn't point to that, sadly.
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Thanks…I am familiar with the text:

John 16
23 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. 24 You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.
25 “I have spoken of these matters in figures of speech, but soon I will stop speaking figuratively and will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and now I will leave the world and return to the Father.â€
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I totally agree with your marriage illustration, which is why I am puzzled by the trinity. Marriage states that two distinct and separate people become one….one in family, unity, purpose, and in mind. Christ says we are one with him, like He is one with the Father…one purpose, unity, and mindset. Yet, the trinity makes Christ and the Holy Spirit coequal with the Father because although it [trinity] claims they are three distinct persons they are all one God…as if the three merged are God. Even though Christ calls the Father His God and says all His authority comes from the Father and all His authority will be turned back over to the Father, when He [Christ] is finished His work.

I understand that Christ as the only begotten of the Father is also God in nature…how could he be anything but God…you can only begot that which you are (a human cannot begot a fish, and a fish cannot begot a dog, etc). But don’t scriptures state that there is only One God and One Mediator. Isn’t Christ our Mediator who goes before the Father on our behalf. Even though He is God, don’t scriptures state that He [Christ] did not take it upon himself to become our Mediator but He waited for the Father’s appointment and approval? Don’t the apostles make it a point to end many of their prayers with thanks to the Father and His Son? And what do we make of 1 Cor 3:22 which states, “Everything belongs to you, 23 and you belong toChrist, and Christ belongs to God.â€
 
P.S. Handy,

Sorry I used the "merging" example again. I know you said you don't believe, Father, Son and HS are merged but I don't know what else to call it. If a person in today's world introduces him/herself to you one day as Bob the banker, then you meet them again and they are Ted the doctor, and then you meet them again and they are Clif the Counselor.....you would call them schizophrenic or at least acknowledge they have a multiple personality disorder.

Yet, this is what I have to believe to understand the trinity. My God has three parts to himself that talk to each other, separate from each other and perform separate roles. It’s just simpler to for me to believe the simplified version…The Father sent His only Son into the world to be a mediator for us. It’s like a King, who has a Son. The Son is royalty, just like the His Father. And though the Son may be placed in charge of several provinces as Prince, the ultimate say and authority is in the hand of the King….His Father.
 
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