Matthew 6:5-15
Verse 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name,’”
Jesus didn’t merely teach about prayer, He gave them an example of what a God honoring prayer could look like. An example which was never meant to become something said over and over with no feeling, but a model of sorts to give us a format to work with in our own prayer life. He said, “This is how you should pray” not “Repeat after me.”
Jesus starts the prayer with some very important points, who God is, where He is and what our response to that information should be. While His sermon points on prayer had been about personal prayer, He shows that isn’t the only way we can and should pray. By using the word, “our” He is both joining all the believers into the prayer with Him but also showing how God is personal, our Father.
To think of God as ours may seem a bit strange but it is important for us to see Him not just as some invisible being beyond the sky but as someone more personal. He has every right to ignore us but He chose us for relationship with Him. And not just any relationship, a Father/child relationship. It is the degree of this relationship which should be guiding us into the deepest, most intimate quiet times with Him. He wants to know what is on our hearts and minds because He loves us and calls us His children (1 John 3:1)
As our Father we can know He is always there for us, wanting what is best for us and not just in the physical realm but most importantly in the spiritual realm. He wants us to call out to Him just as a parent wants their child to ask them for help. He wants us to want Him. Unless we focus on Him as OUR Father, we will never know Him in close relationship.
We have to remember though that just because He calls us His children, He deserves more than our familial adoration. His name is to be reverenced because it is both His name and title. His holiness and Lordship desire our utmost devotion both now and through eternity. He is the Creator of all things and is worthy of our complete praise. This is what we need to remember when we come to Him in prayer. When we go to God in prayer we are going into the throne room of the God of the universe, the One and only God!
Making It Personal
What is your view of God as you pray? Is your focus on Him or yourself as you pray? How is knowing Him this way going to change the way you pray?
Making It Personal Kids
What do you think God is like? Do you think about Him as you pray? How does knowing who He is, help you pray better?
Closing Prayer
Father, we repent for not seeing You for who You are. Give us hearts which seek to pray with our eyes and minds firmly placed on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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