“Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John the brother of James, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good and delightful and auspicious that we are here; if You wish, I will put up three [sacred] tents here—one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased and delighted! Listen to Him!” When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were terrified.” ~ Matthew 17:1-6. This was Jesus’s transfiguration and His three closest disciples got a preview of His resplendent glory. In this passage Peter had missed the point, and God intended to clear up all confusion. The disciples needed to understand the superiority of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, far above Moses and Elijah. The presence of Moses and Elijah (who respectively represent the Law and the Prophets) was to signal the arrival of their long-awaited Messiah and the ushering in of the last days…

Prayer is one of the most personal and powerful ways we connect with God. It is a gift from Him, allowing us to share our hearts, seek His guidance, and trust in His provision. However, misunderstandings about prayer can lead people to rely on practices that are not supported by Scripture. One common misconception is the idea of praying to saints or asking them to intercede on our behalf. To fully honor God and experience the true purpose of prayer, it’s essential to understand what the Bible teaches about who hears our prayers and how we should approach God.

Only God is everywhere at all times (omnipresent) and capable of hearing every prayer. The men and women who have passed away, even those considered saints, are not omnipresent. They do not have God’s divine power, so they cannot hear your prayers. To pray to them is like speaking to someone who is not present—it simply doesn’t work. When you pray to saints or ask them to intercede for you, you are misunderstanding God’s design for prayer and His role as the one true God.

The Bible is very clear that Jesus Christ is the only one who can intercede between us and God. In 1 Timothy 2:5, it says, “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” This means there is no need for anyone else—no saint, no angel, no human being—to go to God on your behalf. Jesus is enough. His sacrifice on the cross made it possible for you to come directly to God in prayer. When you pray to anyone other than God, even with good intentions, you are stepping outside of what God has asked us to do.

Some people believe that saints can act as intercessors, meaning they think saints can pray to God for them or deliver their prayers to Him. But this idea has no foundation in Scripture. Nowhere does the Bible teach that those who have passed away are given the ability to hear prayers or communicate with the living. In fact, Isaiah 8:19 warns against trying to contact the dead, saying, “Should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?” This shows us that our focus should always be on God, not on those who have died.

Furthermore, giving saints the role of intercessors diminishes the role of Jesus Christ. When Jesus died on the cross, He tore down the barrier between humanity and God. Hebrews 4:16 tells us, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” This means you don’t need anyone else to “carry” your prayers to God. You can go directly to Him because of what Jesus did for you.

Praying to saints also risks turning them into idols, which is something God strictly forbids. Exodus 20:3-4 says, “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” When people put their trust in saints to intercede or answer prayers, they are giving them a role that belongs to God alone.

God loves you and made prayer simple. You don’t need special rituals, objects, or intermediaries—just an honest heart and faith in Jesus Christ. If you’re carrying a burden or need help, go straight to God. Pray in Jesus’ name, because He is the only one who hears every word, understands your heart, and has the power to help you. By praying directly to God, you honor Him, strengthen your relationship with Him, and experience the peace and joy of knowing He is always listening.

Conclusion

In the end, prayer is not about complicated rituals or relying on others to reach God for us—it’s about a direct relationship with Him through Jesus Christ. When we trust in the sufficiency of Jesus as our sole mediator, we honor God’s design and experience the peace of knowing that He hears us personally. Praying to anyone other than God does not bring us closer to Him; it only diminishes the role of Jesus and takes away from the simplicity and beauty of prayer. Let us remain faithful to God’s Word, pray in the name of Jesus, and rest in the assurance that He alone is our loving, listening, and ever-present God.

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**Photo by Tara Winstead at Pexels / Foreword by Got Questions