How Can Jesus Be My Best Friend If I Can Only Pray To God The Father?

[Jacinth]

I used to pray to Jesus when I first became saved and then someone told me that I should only pray to the Father. I used to thank Jesus for everything. Now it all seems so impersonal. I guess I'm just mixed up again. I don't love the Father as much I love the Son. Why would it be so bad to just pray to Jesus? Maybe I could learn to love the Father more if I could develop a more in depth relationship with Jesus. Jesus is my hero and I wish I could talk to Him.
Thank you for helping me.

[BloodoftheLamb]

I try to incorparate the entire Trinity in my prayers...cover all the bases, cant go wrong there!

[CINDY S.]

That is a very good idea.

I get so confused whether to direct my prayer to GOD, to GOD in JESUS
name, or to JESUS.

I know the LORD knows my heart though.

[carmen]

I pray to the Father for most of my needs, but I also pray to Jesus and the Holy Spirit at times. It is mostly dependent on my need.

Jesus is the One I talk to when I need a friend that identifies with me as a human, as one with weaknesses and failures. I just see Him as more sympathetic to my condition--but in reality, the nature of God the Father was made fully manifest to us through Christ, so I would say that God the Father is just as sympathetic as God the Son.

Some of the things the Bible teaches about the role of the Holy Spirit are that He will testify to us about Christ; lead us into truth; and pray for us when we don't know what to pray for. So I pray to Him at those times when my need is in those areas.

I think the God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all valid for us to pray to--I don't think we are limited to one or the other all the time. We are told that anything we pray for in the name of Jesus will be given to us (within God's will for our lives, of course), so there is that to consider. But IMHO, prayer is simply communication between us and God and ALL the persons of God are still God. Pray as you feel led and are comfortable. You can depend on God to gently lead you in the right path if you are not praying correctly--just ask Him :):. Whatever you do, though, don't quit praying :nod.

[jjkn]

I thought we could pray to each of them as we needed. Like sometimes I ask the Holy Spirit to control my tongue and keep me from saying the wrong thing. Lately, I've been asking God for His wisdom and Jesus for His love to shine thru me.

Jacinth, I don't think there is anything wrong with just talking to Jesus. I think that if you love the Son, you will grow to love the Father more and more.

[Caligirl]

God is 3 person but One God. They each have their roles and it is true we pray to the Father, guided by the Holy Spirit, though Jesus Christ.
But if you Love Jesus, you love also love God the father just the same, they are one.
Jesus was sent by God, is God. Put some skin on, has a different role, but still God. When you Love Jesus as much as you do, you have no worry that you have to love God the Father as much, you already do.
John 14:6
Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me,ye should also known my Father also and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

"He who does not honor the son does not honor the father who sent him. Truly truly, I say to you, he who hears my words and believes him who sent him, has eternal life. Jn 5:23
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, and you will find rest: Mat 11:28

By turning to Jesus, you are doing just what the bible tells you to do

Now I am leaving so if this turns into a debate, I am so out of here... :):

[jjkn]

I guess I could have skipped replying to this.lol Carmen and Caligirl said it so much better.:nod (Carmen posted while I was typing.) Great answers, ladies.

[rtd2]

JESUS said "If you have seen me you have ALSO seen the FATHER!"....Pray to GOD , JESUS or the FATHER....They are the SAME. I personaly end my prayers in JESUS name..... :nod

[blitzkreig]

JESUS said "If you have seen me you have ALSO seen the FATHER!...Pray to GOD , JESUS or the FATHER....They are the SAME. I personaly end my prayers in JESUS name..... :nodThank goodness :nod

I say just let God sort it out and don't worry about it... but pray!

But if you are really fussed about it... try prayer to 'The Lord'. :D:

[pilgrimian]

Matthew 6:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

Colossians 3:

17And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

It seems to me that we need to pray in the Spirit and in the Name of the Lord Jesus. But we are supposed to pray to the Father.

Shalom,
Matthew

[tractsforchrist]

now this has confused me even more :wacko

I just pray to "God" and let him direct the prayer :wacko
I didn't know we were supposed to direct it to one of the trinity :fear

:help :confused

[pilgrimian]

now this has confused me even more :wacko

I just pray to "God" and let him direct the prayer :wacko
I didn't know we were supposed to direct it to one of the trinity :fear

:help :confused

Yep, we're to pray to the Father. That's how Jesus taught us...Matthew 6 shows us the model prayer.

Matthew 6:

6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don't babble like the idolaters, since they imagine they'll be heard for their many words. 8 Don't be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.

The Model Prayer

9 "Therefore, you should pray like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Your name be honored as holy.
10Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us today our daily bread.
12And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And do not bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power
and the glory forever. Amen.

We should, therefore, pray to the Father...but in the Name of Jesus. We are to do this IN and THROUGH the Spirit (Romans 15:30; Ephesians 6:18).

Shalom,
Matthew

[blitzkreig]

Matthew I was fussed with this at one time... until I realized that the "Lord's Prayer" instructions were by-in-large Kingdom Jewish anyway... not enough to get troubled with ...

But if a person truly wants to be edified about the Lord's prayer (notwithstanding my above note) ... read the section from John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" Volume III Chapter 20 titled "OF PRAYER A PERPETUAL EXERCISE OF FAITH. THE DAILY BENEFITS DERIVED FROM IT" in which he expounds upon the instructions and the great honour it is to simply Pray...

[Grow with God]

I feel the opposite as you. I feel extremely close to God "the Father" because He is who I pray to and who responds back to me. I was taught to pray to God in Jesus' name so that is what I do. I wish I could feel as close to Jesus... but I know they are all one.

[tractsforchrist]

So my prayers aren't heard unless I mentally think about who I am directing my prayers to :wacko?

[cameron222]

They are all the same.....Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Its a mystery, I know, but praying to the Father is the same as praying to Jesus, if you are a believer.

[carmen]

So my prayers aren't heard unless I mentally think about who I am directing my prayers to :wacko?
Yes, they are heard Tracts :):. God is looking at your heart, not merely your actions. If your prayer is sent to Him in sincerity and faith, it is heard. He is more than able to lead you into any corrections He wants you to make in your prayer life, and if necessary will do so as you grow in Him. The main thing is...don't stop praying :nod