When we pray, should we only pray to the Father?
No, although there is a general rule of thumb that we pray to the Father through the intercession of the Lord Jesus and by the help and strength of the Holy Spirit. Prayer, generally speaking, should be Trinitarian.
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, saying, “Our Father, who art in heaven” (Matt. 6:9). It is, however, appropriate on occasion and in certain circumstances to pray directly to Jesus or to pray directly to the Holy Spirit, realizing some of the aspects that are peculiar to each person of the Trinity. But on Sunday morning in a pastoral prayer, I want it to be Trinitarian.
This transcript is from a live Ask Ligonier event with Derek Thomas and has been lightly edited for readability. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter.
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Derek Thomas
Dr. Derek W.H. Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary. He is featured teacher for the Ligonier teaching series Romans 8 and author of many books, including Heaven on Earth, Strength for the Weary, and Let Us Worship God.
