As a Jesus-follower, one knows prayer is an essential part of our journey. But there are critical moments when we know prayer is an absolute must. There are significant decisions to prayer over like who to marry/date, what career path to choose, and where to live. Sometimes we live with an uncertain future where you need to be laser-focused on what to do next. Moments when your job is eliminated or you’re unsure of the economy. And there are difficult circumstances like a devastating diagnosis, or a spouse leaves you, or you’re battling a sense of depression and loneliness.
When these moments come, and they will, we should not be looking left or right but up to our incredible Heavenly Father for direction and peace.
Jesus shows us how to do that in the Sermon on the Mount and specifically in the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6. But first, he shows us how NOT to pray. Jesus addresses it in verses 5-8 where he describes the religious leaders of his day who loved to be very showy with their prayers. The word “hypocrisy” that Jesus uses is a theater word which envisions being an actor with an audience. Don’t be an actor.
Instead, Jesus says pray in private. Just have a conversation with God the Father. There is no “right way” to pray so don’t worry about the wording or your body position. Simply have a conversation with the God who loves you.
Jesus reminds us as he opens the prayer in Matthew 6:9 that we are praying to “our Father”. And this indicates it’s a very personal relationship we have with our God. So many times we pray as if there is a contract in place and God is somehow obliged to us. We come to him and say, “God, I’ve tithed, gone to church on Sunday, been a part of a ministry 2-3 times this year…why aren’t you granted my prayer request?”
But Jesus in opening his prayer with the word “father” reminds us that we have a father/child relationship with God. He knows you by name and your story well. So come to him unconditionally as you would your own father knowing God wants what’s best for you.
“Our Father” also indicates immediate access to God. You can go to God anytime, any place. He’s available. Although the opening indicates his home is in heaven, He’s never far away but awaits to have a conversation with you about you life and Kingdom work.
God lives outside the time and space we are confined to live which means he knows more about our story than we do. He’s already in tomorrow so trust him like you would your own father and follow his design for life. In Isaiah 55:8-9 God says, “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts and my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” Trust in God and follow how He’s called us to live in his Son, Jesus. He knows what is best for you.
Finally, Jesus says, “Keep His Name holy.” Holy means set apart, separate, make sacred.” It’s a reminder that God is in a category all his own. We are saying that God has no equal. There is nothing in all creation like God. So, when we pray, we are putting all things under Him and in His will. In prayer, we remove our focus from the mountains in our life and focus on the mountain mover.
Our personal relationship with God the Father comes through Jesus Christ. Start this year by recommitting to Jesus and a regular prayer life. Speak up. God wants to hear your voice. Embrace Jesus and gain access to the Heavenly Father. Blessings on your journey.