Praying the Lord's Prayer- Our Father

Praying the Lord's Prayer - Our Father

Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say this: 'Father: (Luke 11:2)

Prayer and how to pray was taught diligently in Hebrew Schools. The prayers of the Torah were instilled in the Jews from a very young age. The Psalms of David were memorised and recited, individually or corporately, as prayers for every occasion.

These prayers encouraged the perspective that God was the almighty one, severe in judgment but gracious in mercy. He was a God to be feared! Over time God became more distant and more judgmental. His close relationship to his creation and his people was only shared by the select few. The rest saw God as very far away and not very interested in their well being.

Each rabbi had their own way of praying and their own favourite prayers.

Jesus came onto the scene and brought a fresh new approach to prayer. It began with a different way of looking and relating to God. Jesus’ God was not distant but close. He was Abba, Daddy. He taught that God was a good dad and far better than their own human dads.

He showed that God is interested and wants to be intimate with His people. He showed that God was not mute but a “talker” and that all people can now have a two way chat ie an intimate relationship with God.

So prayer begins with an interested and intimate God who is your heavenly Dad. He is available all the time to “chew the fat” with. He always has a listening ear and wants to help us be what He wants us to be. He is a Dad who is generous and delights in spoiling His “kids”; though there are times when He gives boundaries to help us learn our lessons well.

The Lord ’s Prayer begins with an invitation to enter into an intimate conversation with a God who is very interested in you, your well being, your future and your concerns. He is your heavenly Dad!

Pray the Lord’s Prayer out loud and reflect on the fact that God is your Heavenly Dad. Thank God that you are His special child and he loves to “hang out” with you.