Ever since I was a little kid, I have prayed for this or that. When I became a Christian, my prayers became more serious as I began to pray for particular needs. However only recently have I begun to have questions about "HOW" I pray. What I mean is this:
A typical prayer I probably prayed would go something like this, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day .... " or "Jesus I ask in your precious name to ...." and even, "and Jesus I ask that you would ...."
So what has me questioning? Well, I am wondering if I have prayed wrong all along. Meaning, is it wrong that I pray to Jesus? Or should I be praying to the Father? Recently something challenged my way of thinking by stating, "We pray to God the Father. Jesus is the avenue by which we are able to come to the Father." Hence why we pray "in the Name of Jesus". Even Jesus when teaching His disciples how to pray said, "Our Father". He never told His disciples to pray to Him.
So my question is this: "Have I been wrong praying to Jesus?" I mean honestly, it is just the way I prayed. I never meant disrespect and I don't want to be sinful. And what about my kids who when they pray, usually pray the way I did/do. I mean I would address the Father but after examining my prayers, I would be praying to Jesus almost exclusively. Maybe this is a silly question and maybe it isn't but I am really wanting to know some of you think.
Do we only pray to the Father THROUGH the Name of Jesus? Or do we pray to both the Father and the Son? And what about addressing the Holy Spirit? I am beginning to understand WHY the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.
Am I even making sense?:
A typical prayer I probably prayed would go something like this, "Dear Jesus, thank you for this day .... " or "Jesus I ask in your precious name to ...." and even, "and Jesus I ask that you would ...."
So what has me questioning? Well, I am wondering if I have prayed wrong all along. Meaning, is it wrong that I pray to Jesus? Or should I be praying to the Father? Recently something challenged my way of thinking by stating, "We pray to God the Father. Jesus is the avenue by which we are able to come to the Father." Hence why we pray "in the Name of Jesus". Even Jesus when teaching His disciples how to pray said, "Our Father". He never told His disciples to pray to Him.
So my question is this: "Have I been wrong praying to Jesus?" I mean honestly, it is just the way I prayed. I never meant disrespect and I don't want to be sinful. And what about my kids who when they pray, usually pray the way I did/do. I mean I would address the Father but after examining my prayers, I would be praying to Jesus almost exclusively. Maybe this is a silly question and maybe it isn't but I am really wanting to know some of you think.
Do we only pray to the Father THROUGH the Name of Jesus? Or do we pray to both the Father and the Son? And what about addressing the Holy Spirit? I am beginning to understand WHY the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.
Am I even making sense?: