We learn from the Bible about how to address God in prayer. Christians can address God using more than one term. Yet we have a clear foundation for addressing, thanks to the teachings of Jesus.
Heavenly Father – Jesus gave us a manner of prayer, teaching us what is now termed by Christians as “The Lord’s Prayer,” as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13.
He taught to address God in a prayer as “our Father, who art in heaven.”
Thus addressing God as “Heavenly Father” is an utter privilege!
Holy Father – In the longest prayer by Jesus recorded in the Scriptures, recorded in John 17:1-26, (specifically 17:11), Jesus addressed God the Father as “Holy Father.”
Righteous Father – Likewise in that prayer recorded in John 17:1-26, (specifically 17:25), Jesus addressed God the Father as “Righteous Father.”
Father – And to begin that prayer in John 17:1-26, Jesus simply began saying: “Father….” A follower of Jesus has been adopted as a child of God, thus a follower of Jesus has the ultimate privilege of calling God “Father!”
Father God – The spark for writing this piece was the prayer of a man at a Christmas event I attended, an event which was my surprise blessing of the Christmas season. This term is how that man addressed God.
From careful examination of the revelations of Scripture, you can learn God is revealed as three Persons and one Being. Thus to refer to the Father, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit, as God, is accurate.
Jesus – Speaking of the “Trinity,” Jesus is God the Son. Sometimes we Christians directly address Jesus when praying. I understand this personal address. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18).
And after ascending to heaven, Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father, as generally stated in Hebrews 8:1.
This is a personal address, which I use often in personal moments.
I do add that when praying publically, I go with addressing our Father, and then by closing in the name of Jesus.
For example, I close many prayers by saying, “It is through the loving name of You Lord Jesus I pray. Amen.”
Christ – Jesus is the Messiah. So including the title “Christ” along with His name fits.
Holy Spirit – It is rare I address a prayer to the Holy Spirit, yet I am mindful that the Holy Spirit likewise is the third Person of God.
In fact, there have been times where I have addressed all three Persons of the Trinity when in prayer.
Lord – I often hear Christians referring to God as Lord when praying. The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Savior and Lord of anyone who believes in Him.
Lord God Almighty - There are many other terms for God which we can draw on from the Old Testament. This is one. And it is not simply some Old Testament term needing to be retired. This address is given to God in the future as revealed in the book of Revelation.
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (Revelation 4:8).
I write this piece on Martin Luther King Day here in America. The profession of Dr. King was a career as a Baptist minister. In his classic speech, “I Have a Dream,” Dr. King referred to God in the final closing sentence as “God Almighty.”
Titles for God as revealed in the Scriptures are numerous!
I offer one example of several titles given by the prophet Isaiah in one single verse:
Wonderful Counselor
Mighty God
Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace
(Isaiah 9:6)
Touching on Isaiah, I must mention Isaiah’s prophecy of “Immanuel” as recorded in Isaiah 7:14, which was acknowledged by an apostle of Jesus named Matthew in his ‘gospel’ book, in chapter 1, verses 22-23.
And think of John’s address for Jesus being the Lamb of God!
Recorded in the ‘gospel’ of John in chapter 1, verse 29: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
This single title summarizes the atoning sacrifice Jesus made on the cross!
Back in the 1990’s, I was on a Christian retreat with “Salt and Light,” the singles group of my church. In a small chapel at the retreat center, on one upper wall near the ceiling, there was a list of numerous names for Jesus which are revealed in the Bible. It was amazing and powerful to see so many names for Jesus so artfully printed on a wall!
You can find lists on the Internet of the many names for Jesus revealed in the Bible. This is not a comprehensive list.
Just as the Trinity goes beyond my imagination, so does the nature of God. So I do not think Jesus restricts us to one title in which to address God. I think your address of God needs to be personal for you.
On the flip side, I think this is an important subject to consider, since God is honored when Christian brothers and sisters address Him in a Biblical manner as a family.
Recorded in the book of Exodus, God identified Himself as “I AM.” Then God revealed His name of YHWH, which is probably derived from “I AM.” This all happened at the “burning bush.” The term YHWH is called the Tetragrammaton by scholars today. Yet no vowels or vowels, it was a revealed name of God. But it sure was not personal.
What an incredible shift to being able to refer to God as Father. That is totally because of the sacrificial atonement made by Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead by the Father. For all people who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord, they are adopted as children of God!
Thus I bring this subject home by saying that in prayer, a believer in Jesus is privileged to address God as “Father!!!”
+ Heavenly Father, I thank You for adopting me as one of your children through the atonement of Jesus. I have life in Christ. And after some big ups and downs of the past week, I take this moment to say thank You for enabling me to have joy and peace in the midst of the challenges and in the midst of the victories of the past week.
It is through the loving name of You Jesus I pray. Amen.
love, Hunter
