Praying to Jesus?

Some Christians pray to Jesus, since some Bible verses indicate that Jesus intercedes for us.

Hebrews 7:25, "Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God
through him, because he always lives to intercede for them."

or to the Spirit

Romans 8:26-27, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not
know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with
groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind
of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with
God's will."

Yet, Jesus tells us that we should pray to "our Father"

Matthew 6:9"This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, "

But, what I find very assuring about this is that Jesus tells us that we don't have to go through him, but because of him we may ask directly from the Father, because He loves us.

John 16:26-27, "In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God."

No other faith gives such a personal picture of our Creator, that knows and loves us personally, that we may speak with Him. What a Wonderful Creator and Father we have!!!

Spiritual Battle

As I was reading through the bible recently, I ran across a couple verses that are pertinent to the battle we're in as Christians. I read these in the English Standard Version

Romans 7:21, "So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand."

Romans 8:7, "For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot."

As we strive to live out our lives, and bring about His glory, we are constantly faced with trials, and we should not be caught off-gaurd by forgetting that those who do not follow God, are hostile toward him. Yet, we are to live above reproach, and treat others with gentleness and respect.