Jesus never made a move without His Father’s input. When He taught us to pray, He gave us a powerful example of where to start.
Our Father, in heaven, holy is Your Name.
Our Father…Not my Father. Our Father. We are a family of Christ-followers, bound together by the New Covenant through the blood of Jesus Christ. Sons and daughters of God, brothers, and sisters in the faith. In this day of unprecedented division within the Church, Jesus reminds us that we are a family and we belong together and that we have a Father who deeply loves us and watches over us.
Imagine what would happen in the Body of Christ if we pictured every believer standing side by side, hands raised to heaven, and praying, Our Father in Heaven, Holy is Your Name. What if we were quicker to settle our differences because our oneness matters so much to God?
In the gospel of Mark, Jesus connects miracle-producing prayer with how we walk with one another:
Mark 11:22-24
“Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Recently on Susie Larson Live, I spoke with author and speaker, Addison Bevere, about the Lord’s prayer. Together we explored how purposeful Jesus was in laying out a prayer that first addresses our sonship, our connection with God. Then goes on to establish God’s power and the majesty and authority. Before we ever get to the point where we ask Him for our daily needs, we determine who He is and who we are to Him. When we pray, Our Father, we remember that there is no one like Him. He has no rival. No competition. No threat to His Kingship. And He is our Abba-Daddy.
What if you spent some time today reflecting on these two aspects of God’s character?
• God is an intimately invested, caring Father. He’s the guardian of your soul. You’re a part of a vast Kingdom family.
• God is holy, powerful, and unrivaled.
You are a part of a more significant Kingdom story. You have brothers and sisters all around the globe. And you have a Father who is holy, righteous, powerful, and true. Spend some time with the Lord’s Prayer in the days ahead. See yourself in the bigger story. Remind your soul that your Father is over all and in control. You can trust Him.
Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’