In this blog post and video, I want to talk about 650 prayers to God, 0 to Mary! I recently came across a powerful tweet from evangelist Jonathan Shuttlesworth. It read:
“Number of Bible prayers to God: 650+
Number of Bible prayers to Mary or the saints: 0”
That tweet inspired me to make this video, because it highlights something incredibly important: our prayers should go to God alone. Not Mary, not the saints — just God.
As a Pentecostal/Word of Faith believer, this is a foundational truth for me. I’m currently spending time in Greece, a country full of beautiful churches and rich religious tradition — especially within the Greek Orthodox Church. And while I deeply respect the people and their culture, there’s a key difference between tradition and truth. My hope is to share the gospel of grace, not just religious heritage.
What Does The Bible Say About Prayer?
Let’s look at what the Bible teaches, using the New King James Version (NKJV):
- Matthew 6:9 – “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” Jesus taught us to pray to God the Father, not to Mary or the saints.
- 1 Timothy 2:5 – “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” There is only one mediator — Jesus Christ.
- John 14:13–14 – “Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do…” We are told to pray in Jesus’ name, not Mary’s or anyone else’s.
- Psalm 50:15 – “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you…” God alone is the one we call upon.
- Revelation 19:10 – “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant… Worship God!” Even angels reject worship — prayer belongs to God.
- Acts 4:24 – “They raised their voice to God with one accord…” The early Church prayed directly to God.
But What About Mary And The Saints?
Mary was undoubtedly a godly woman, and many saints throughout history did great things for the Kingdom. I personally read from Smith Wigglesworth’s devotional nearly every day. I admire men like Reinhard Bonnke — I even had the privilege of meeting him. But none of these people — however inspiring — were ever meant to receive our prayers.
They ran their race, and now they’re with the Lord. The Bible never tells us to pray to them. In fact, it warns us not to add to what Scripture says. Our focus must remain on God alone.
The Gospel Is For Everyone
If you’ve never heard this kind of message before — or if you’ve grown up in a tradition that encourages praying to saints — I want to invite you to consider the freedom that comes with knowing Jesus personally.
He died for your sins, rose again, and offers you eternal life. You don’t need to go through anyone else. You can come directly to God through Jesus.
A Simple Prayer
If you’d like to receive Christ today, you can say this simple prayer from your heart:
“Dear Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as Lord and Savior of my life. I repent of all my sins and I ask you today to take over complete control of every aspect of my life. Amen.”
If you prayed that prayer and meant it, I believe you’ve just begun the most important journey of your life. You are now part of God’s family, and He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Further Reading
If you found this message helpful, you might also enjoy reading:
- Who Are You Praying To?
- Does a Multifaith Society Really Work?
- Church of England: Saving Butterflies or Souls?
Thanks for reading — and if you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to leave a comment or message me. God bless you!