How To Pray To Christ

Praying to the Lord Jesus Christ means communicating your thoughts and intentions to Him. While walking in a park, washing the dishes, or driving your car, you can pray and talk to Jesus about whatever’s on your mind and the things that concern you.

Here are some ways to pray to Christ:

1. Pray what’s in your heart

The most common way people communicate with God is by saying what’s in their hearts. For instance, let’s say you struggled with work today, and you feel exhausted. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

You can pray in this manner:

 Lord Jesus, I am so tired today. I struggled with my work, and I couldn’t seem to find a solution to the problem. Help me, Lord, and guide me, that I may glorify You with my work in Jesus’ name. Amen.

A relationship with Jesus Christ means involving Him in all areas of your life. As you develop closeness and transparency in your communications with Him, you’ll see that there’s a lot to pray to Christ about—from the smallest joys to the most difficult pains of your life. And more than anyone on earth, God wants to be involved in every detail of your life.

2. Pray the Scriptures

Another way that you can pray to Jesus is by praying the Scriptures. Sometimes, when you are out of words and you don’t know what to pray for, you can ask the Holy Spirit for guidance on praying the Scriptures. Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

For instance, the Holy Spirit leads you to pray Romans 8:28. You can pray in this manner:

Thank You, Jesus, for You work all things together for good. You are able to make a beautiful message out of my mess and powerful testimonies out of my trials and testing in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Praying the Scriptures is one powerful way to pray to Christ because you are uttering God’s Word, His perfect will for mankind.

3. Say a declaration prayer

Saying a prayer of declaration is applying the principle of the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” You can speak life into situations, which is especially powerful and effective in difficult and challenging moments requiring immediate prayer.

For instance, if there’s intense strife in your home, you can declare:

In Jesus’ name, I declare the peace of God upon this house right now! I rebuke the spirit of pride and division and declare the fruit of the Spirit to manifest in Christ Jesus! Amen.

Or you may declare the fruit of the Spirit based on Galatians 5:22-23:

In Jesus’ name, I declare love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in this place right now! Amen.

Never underestimate the power of your words as a child of God. They carry so much weight, impacting the spiritual realm and affecting the atmosphere and situations on earth.

4. Be still and listen to what Jesus has to say

As you pray to the Lord and communicate with Him concerning what’s in your heart, you must also take some time to be still and allow the Lord to speak to you. When praying, there is a time to speak your heart out and a time to be silent; to listen to what God has to say, just as we communicate with those around us. Mary of Bethany was a good example of this.

Luke 10:39

“And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.”

You may also check this article (A Heartfelt Prayer for More and More of Jesus)

Should I pray to Jesus or the Father?

With the Christian concept of the Triune God (as the Bible reveals the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit), it isn’t uncommon for some believers to get confused about Whom they should pray to. Is it to the Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Spirit?

To answer that question, we must look into the Scriptures for how the characters in the Bible prayed to God. 

1. In the Gospel, when Jesus Christ came to earth, He taught His disciples how to pray in Luke 11:1-3. He told His disciples, “When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth….” Jesus taught them to pray to the Father while He was still on earth. He also said in John 14:6 that no one could come to the Father except through him.

2. When Jesus Christ died and rose to life, we see the Apostle Paul praying to the Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Corinthians 12:8 regarding his thorn in the flesh, which in return, the Lord replied to him, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

3. In 1 Peter 1:3, the Apostle Peter said, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….” 

Based on the Bible, you can pray to Jesus and the Father. Since Jesus Christ is no longer in the flesh and is seated at the right hand of Heavenly Father, believers can pray to both the Lord Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father, depending on their needs and how the Holy Spirit may lead them in praying. Either way, God listens when we pray, whether our prayer is addressed to Jesus or the Father.

The more you read the Word of God and develop a deep relationship with Him, the more you’ll be able to distinguish and pray accordingly to the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They are the Triune God, Who has different roles but works as One.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

What prayers can I say to Jesus Christ?

As you communicate and pray to God daily, your prayers will become daily conversations, just as you often want to have a fun chat with your best friend or lover. 

There are many things that you can pray to Jesus Christ, depending on your intentions, requests, concerns, and so on. You can say a prayer:

1. For the Body of Christ, ministry, and churches

You may also pray for the Body of Christ, your ministry, and the Church. You can tell the Lord about any requests and concerns regarding the Body of Christ in your ministry and church. For instance, Psalm 133:1 speaks about unity. You can pray in this manner:

Lord Jesus, thank You for Your hand of blessing upon our church and ministries. We are united in heart and mind, and You pour out Your anointing as we dwell together in unity in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 133:1

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

2. For the government and the leaders

Praying for the government and the leaders of your country is vitally needed as we know only a few believers and followers of Christ are in the position of politics. Proverbs 14:34 says, “Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.”

In Jesus’ name, I declare the righteousness of Christ upon the government. Thank You, Lord, for capturing the hearts of the leaders of this nation. Amen.

3. For your school, students, and teachers 

If you are a student or a teacher, you can pray to the Lord Jesus for the school you’re involved in, including its students, teachers, and staff. You can pray for wisdom as mentioned in James 1:5; that anyone who needs wisdom may come and ask God for it.

Lord Jesus, thank You for my students. Thank You for giving them wisdom in times of need. I pray they won’t hesitate to come to You and ask for Your guidance and help with their education in Jesus’ name. Amen.

James 1:5

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

4. For your spouse

Praying for your spouse to the Lord Jesus brings greater bonds and unity to your marriage. Anything you lift unto the Lord and surrender in prayer always prospers and is victorious. For instance, Philippians 4:13 makes a great declaration for strength in all things through Christ.

Lord Jesus, thank You for my husband. He can do all things through Christ, Who gives him strength. Amen.

Philippians 4:13

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

5. For your children

If you have children, bless them in the name of the Lord Jesus and pray for their protection. Psalm 91 makes a great prayer of protection as God promised this in His Word.

Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing my children with a promising future. You always keep them safe under Your wings, for You are our place of refuge in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Psalm 91:4

“He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.”

6. For your parents

You can pray to the Lord Jesus Christ for your parent’s health and strength, bless them in their old age, or you may simply thank God for their lives and for raising you. Numbers 6:24-26 makes a great declaration for God’s blessing upon their lives.

Lord Jesus, thank You for the life of my parents. Thank You for blessing them, keeping them, and making Your face shine upon them; for being gracious to them and giving them peace at all times in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Numbers 6:24-26

“The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”

7. For your relatives, friends, and acquaintances

 Praying your concerns and requests and declaring the Scriptures and matters of the heart regarding your relatives, friends, and other acquaintances in your life can be such a great blessing to them. As you intercede on their behalf, God can work in their lives as you stand in the gap for your friends, relatives, and other people. For instance, Jesus explained in Matthew 6:25-34 why we shouldn’t worry. You can pray in this manner for your friends who may be worrying about their life:

Lord Jesus, thank You for providing for my friend’s needs. He doesn’t have to worry because Heavenly Father knows all his needs in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Matthew 6:31-34

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”

8. For your business, job, employers, employees

Praying for the channels of blessings, such as your business, employers, job, or employees if you are an employer, is vitally important in communication with Jesus Christ. The Lord is sovereign in all things, including in your business and career. Speak life upon your employers and employees, declare breakthroughs in your job and business, and partner with God in your finances so that He may be glorified through you. Ephesians 1:17 makes a great prayer for wisdom and revelation about God for your company. Here is a prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank You for blessing my employers with wisdom and insight so that they may know You better and partner with You in all things that they do in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ephesians 1:17

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.”

9. For yourself

You can pray to the Lord and tell Him the requests and desires of your heart for your life, such as about your grades if you’re a student or your career if you are a working professional, as well as a request for promotion at work, financial breakthrough, healing, and so many things. What do you want to pray for yourself? You can pray these things to Jesus Christ. If you want to pray for your future, you can pray Jeremiah 29:11.

Lord Jesus, thank You, for You hear me and answer me. As I pray for my future, I know that You plan to prosper me and not harm me, to give me hope and a future in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Jeremiah 29:11

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

May God bless you richly as you seek and pray to Christ in all things that you do in Jesus’ name.