Our Father in Heaven

"In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven..." Matthew 6:9

The beginning of the Lord's Prayer reveals several things. In these few words, we establish the focus of the prayer, who He is (and by extension who we are), and where He lives.

The Focus
The God of the universe, the God of creation, is the focus of this prayer. Righteous, holy, and true, He deserves to be the focus of all our prayers. Too often, my prayers focus on myself, my worries, my wants. Jesus instructs us to change our focus and put our eyes on Him.

The Father
Additionally, we get a chance to meditate on the nature and character of the Father God. He is timeless, unsearchable, compassionate, gracious, patient, abounding in love and faithfulness, forgiving, and just (Exodus 34:5-7). What a truly awesome gift that we can approach Him at all, indeed that He invites us to come to Him!

The Fruits
If He is our father, then we are His children. Ephesians 1:5 tells us that He predestined us to Him as sons (and daughters) by Jesus Christ to Himself. We belong to Him. He wants us to come to Him as children go to their loving parent. "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!" (Matthew 7:9).

The Foundation
Our Father is in heaven, but He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us at all times and in every place. Because of His triune nature, the Father God is one with the Holy Spirit and with Jesus Christ. So we pray to God the Father, knowing also that our prayer goes to Jesus and His Holy Spirit.

The power in these few words is immeasurable. As you go through this prayer, take time to consider who your prayer goes to, where He is, and how much He loves you, His child. Leave a comment with your thoughts on these first words of the Lord's Prayer and how praying it impacts your life.

Until next time,

Shelley