By addressing God as Father we are revealing that we have an intimate relationship with the One who created us. We are from god. We are born of Him. Jesus said in John 3 that we must be “born again” and He was speaking of the spiritual birth of those who believe in Jesus. This new birth makes powerful personal prayer possible! A communion with God that transforms our prayer life.
Lets face it…not all fathers are good. There are many in this world that cannot appreciate calling God Father because of the shortcomings or even absence of their earthly father. It is not enough to say that God is our Father…we must say along with Scripture that He is the Perfect Father. He is the Loving Father who forgives, heals, restores and redeems. He is a God who gives you what you need. All human fathers fall short of perfection but this should not make us distrust our heavenly Father. It should identify the need for One greater than ourselves. One who will never leave us or forsake us. One who will not disappoint us. In the sermon on the mount found in Matthew Jesus said,
“Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:9-11)
To bring our requests to God is to bring them to a loving Father who is gracious and always wants what is best for us! The Apostle Paul said in Romans,
“If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for all of us, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:31, 32)
After all He loved us so much “that He gave…” in order that we might experience being “born again” as His children. The Gospel of John says,
“Yet to all that received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God” (John 1:12)
Today, as you pray through the lord’s prayer, thank the Lord that He has made it possible that we would be his children. Rejoice that He is your Father…the perfect Father who loves you and will never leave you. This day He will be with you through whatever comes your way.