Question:  Hi Greg,

            I attend different prayer groups.  In almost all of these groups, prayer requests are made directly to the Holy Sprit.  Should we speak directly to the Holy Spirit?  I am not able to find any evidence of this taking place anywhere in the scriptures.

            Jim

Answer:  Dear Jim,

            The act of speaking to Christ or to the Holy Spirit in prayer is not “wrong”.  It simply is not the example given to us by Christ as to how one ought to pray.  The primary example in the Bible is to pray “Our Father”--addressing the first person of the triune God.  However, it is not "wrong” to address either God the Son or God the Holy Spirit, as the Godhead is, in fact, three divine persons who are one, distinct, separate, yet one in essence.  To pray to one is to pray to all.

            However, the act of praying “Our Father”, and “in Jesus’ name” is the biblical teaching.  It serves to remind us of biblical truth and example.  What would be erroneous is to pray to either God the Son or God the Holy Spirit and to assume that somehow one’s prayer is more effective.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht