I’ve recently been noticing more people praying to Jesus and/or the Holy Spirit during public prayer times. This doesn’t make sense to me since Jesus taught His disciples to pray, “Our Father…” No where else in the Bible do I see prayer being directed to anyone else except God the Father. Just wondering if I am missing something or there is Biblical warrant for what I have essentially assumed for most of my life?
In John 14:13-14 Jesus said,
“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”
Many scholars see this as Jesus granting permission to pray directly to Him. As far as I know there is no corresponding verse regarding the Holy Spirit. We can pray in the Spirit and in His power, but I don’t believe we’re told to pray directly to Him. Of course, since the three are one, when we’re praying to one we’re praying to all. But personally I’m more comfortable following the traditional practice of praying to the Father, in the name of the Son and in the power of the Holy Spirit.