Familial Connection

“Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” (Matthew 6:9, ESV)

Jesus in teaching us to pray presented a model for prayer. Men have labeled it the Lord’s prayer. Yet others more appropriately have titled it as the Disciple’s Prayer.

Jesus stated, “Pray then like this.” The purpose of this, “The Lord’s Prayer,” was not have words vainly recited. These words were given as a model for us to ensure we had a proper perspective on prayer, its nature, and its content.

The first part of this prayer gives us an insight that is vital. It presents a familial connection in our prayer.

It helps me to think back to my family days growing up. I would go to my dad when he came home from work. I would state, “Dad, I have a problem. I want to buy a hot-rod car.” My dad would reply, “Son, you do not need a hotrod. You need a reliable and affordable car.” He then found me a 1961 Chevy Impala that I could purchase for $75.00.

However, often I would ask him for help with a situation in life. Dad, “What should I do?” He then would be very happy to give me wisdom and direction for handling that specific issue of life.

When we pray, we often forget the familial nature of our prayer. God is our Heavenly Father. He loves us and wants the best for us. Yes, God wants us to have all good things. Yet He is the sole determiner of what is truly good for each one of us. Thus, it is Him and His purposes that we are to seek.

The model prayer goes on to state, “hallowed be your name.” As we see God as our Heavenly Father who loves us and cares about us, in prayer we must also see Him as transcendent. He is infinitely holy. The verb “hallowed,” hagizo, means to render or acknowledge as holy. John wrote, “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5, ESV). With this expression, we are to come to Him in prayer with a comprehension of his infinitude in every area of His being.

God is infinitely perfect in every way. He is infinitely holy, righteous, just, good, true, merciful. He is infinitely powerful, knowledgeable, and present. He is supreme, sovereign over all things and completely engaged in the lives of His children.

It is with this attitude of the heart that we can come confidently to our Heavenly Father in prayer, knowing that He will work out what is best for each one of us.