Praying to Jesus for Salvation
Scripture, Testimony, and the Prayer That Changed Everything
The New Testament is clear: followers of Jesus prayed TO Him, not just through Him.
What Scripture Says
The New Testament is clear: followers of Jesus prayed TO Him, not just through Him to the Father.
Acts 7:59-60 — Stephen Prays to Jesus
“And they went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’ And falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them!’ Having said this, he fell asleep.”
— LSB
Stephen was being martyred. In his final moments, he didn't pray through Jesus to the Father—he prayed directly TO Jesus. His words parallel Jesus' own prayer as He was dying: “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46).
1 Corinthians 1:2 — Christians “Call on the Name of Jesus”
“...to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours”
— LSB
Paul describes Christians as those who “call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” To “call on the name” of someone is prayer language—the same phrase used in Joel 2:32 about calling on Yahweh.
2 Corinthians 12:8-9 — Paul Prays to Jesus Three Times
“Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’”
— LSB
Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” and prayed three times asking for relief. Who did he pray to? “The Lord”—which in context is Jesus (note v. 9: “the power of Christ” and v. 10: “for Christ's sake”). Jesus answered directly.
John 14:14 — Jesus Says “Ask ME”
LSB (and most translations):
“If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
NWT:
“If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.”
Notice the difference? The NWT removed the word “ME” from this verse.
The Greek manuscripts clearly have “me” (με) in this verse. The NWT removed it deliberately because it directly contradicts their teaching that you should only pray through Jesus, not TO Him.
John 14:14 in the Kingdom Interlinear
The Greek word “με” (me) is clearly visible in the interlinear text: “if ever anything you should ask ME in the name of me.” Yet the NWT simply deleted it.
Revelation 22:20 — “Come, Lord Jesus”
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
— LSB
The Bible ends with a prayer directly to Jesus: “Come, Lord Jesus.” This is a petition—a request—addressed to Jesus Himself.
The Witness Practice vs. Scripture
Jehovah's Witnesses are taught to pray this way:
“Jehovah God, we come to you in the name of your son Jesus Christ...”
[Prayer addresses everything to “Jehovah”]
“...we ask these things in the name of your son Jesus Christ. Amen.”
This is praying THROUGH Jesus TO the Father.
But Scripture shows believers praying directly TO Jesus.
Why the difference? Because if Jehovah's Witnesses prayed TO Jesus, they would have to acknowledge He is God. And their entire theology would collapse.
My Personal Testimony
I was raised as a Jehovah's Witness. For 34 years, I did what I was taught:
- • I prayed through Jesus to Jehovah
- • I never once prayed TO Jesus
- • I believed that praying to Jesus would be wrong—a form of idolatry
But when I started reading the Bible for myself, not through Watchtower publications, I discovered something that shook me to my core: Scripture was clear that Jesus is God. And if He's God, I needed to pray TO Him.
The Day Everything Changed
I was 34 years old. I had been studying the evidence for weeks. The Scriptures were undeniable. But I was terrified.
One day at work, I made a decision. I was going to do something I had never done in my entire life: I was going to pray TO Jesus.
Not through Him. TO Him.
I bowed my head right there at my desk and prayed—silently, in my mind:
“Jesus, if what I've learned is true... if you really are God... if you really died for my sins and rose from the dead... if I need to believe in you and pray to you to be saved... please show me. Show me that you're real. Show me that you're God. I'm terrified right now because I think I might be committing blasphemy. But if you are who Scripture says you are, please reveal yourself to me.”
I said “Amen” in my head.
The instant I said “Amen”—literally, the very second—the phone on my desk rang.
The Phone Call
I was startled. I picked up the phone.
On the other end, there was no voice. Instead, there was a sound—something like music, but not quite. It was otherworldly. Beautiful. I can't describe it accurately. It played for about 15-20 seconds.
Then the line hung up.
What I Discovered
As a career IT professional, my first instinct was to find a rational explanation. But I knew by the sounds that it wasn't a fax machine or modem—and it wasn't a person either. It was a truly unique series of sounds that defied explanation.
But I was curious. I tried calling the number back.
I got a recording: “This line is not in service.”
I did a reverse lookup on the number. And what I found shocked me to my core:
The phone number had been registered with the phone company by a local Christian school but never activated—on my 18th birthday, over a decade earlier.
Jesus Answered
In that moment, I knew. Jesus had answered. He answered the instant I said “Amen”—before I even finished the word in my mind.
He is real.
He is God.
And He wants you to know Him.
He didn't send an angel. He didn't send a sign that could be easily dismissed. He orchestrated something that defied natural explanation—a phone number that shouldn't exist, calling at the exact moment I finished praying TO Him for the first time in my life, on a number that was created on the day I became an adult.
He was saying: “I've been here all along. I've been waiting for you to call on My name.”
The Prayer of Confession
If you're ready to pray TO Jesus—to call on His name for salvation—here's a simple prayer based on Scripture:
“Lord Jesus Christ,
I confess with my mouth that You are Lord—that You are God.
I believe in my heart that You died for my sins and that God raised You from the dead.
I have believed lies about You. I have prayed through You instead of TO You. I have denied Your deity.
Forgive me.
I receive You now as my Lord and my God. I put my faith in You alone for salvation.
Save me, Lord Jesus.
In Your name I pray,
Amen.”
“For whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
— Romans 10:13 (LSB)
What Happens Next?
If you just prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, Scripture says you are saved.
“...that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved”
— Romans 10:9 (LSB)
Assurance of Salvation
You don't have to wonder if it “worked.” You don't have to earn it. You don't have to prove yourself worthy.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
— Ephesians 2:8-9 (LSB)
Salvation is a gift. You just received it.
What You Should Do Now:
Read Scripture Daily
Start with the Gospel of John (using LSB or another trustworthy translation). Let God's Word renew your mind.
Find a Church
Look for a Bible-believing church that teaches that Jesus is God. You need Christian fellowship and teaching.
Tell Someone
Share what happened with a trusted friend or family member. The Bible says we confess with our mouth—tell others what Jesus has done.
Keep Praying
You can now pray TO Jesus anytime. You can also pray to the Father through Jesus. The Holy Spirit will guide you.
Be Patient with Yourself
You've believed lies your whole life. It takes time to unlearn them. Keep reading Scripture. Let God's Word transform you.
A Word About Your JW Friends and Family
This will be hard. Your friends and family may shun you. They may say you've been deceived by Satan. They may refuse to speak with you.
This is heartbreaking. But it's not surprising.
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you... If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.”
— John 15:18, 20 (LSB)
Stay gentle. Stay loving. Keep praying for them. And trust that the same Jesus who revealed Himself to you can reveal Himself to them.
And when they tell you that you're condemned — that you've become an apostate and God has rejected you — remember what Scripture says:
“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
— Romans 8:1 (LSB)
Their verdict doesn't matter. His does.
Resources
Recommended Bible
Legacy Standard Bible (LSB) — Free at lsbible.org
Finding a Church
Look for churches that affirm: “Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man.” Avoid churches that deny the deity of Christ.
Books for Your New Journey
Now that you've made your decision, these books will help you grow in grace and understand your new faith:
- Why Grace Changes Everything by Chuck SmithUnderstanding God's grace — the antidote to performance-based faith
- The Grace Awakening by Charles SwindollFreedom and joy in the Christian life
- The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan ManningGod's unconditional love for the “bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt-out”
- Knowing God by J.I. PackerA classic guide to understanding who God is
- Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisA clear explanation of core Christian beliefs
Welcome to the Family of God
You are loved. You are saved. You are His.