Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven…” 

-Jesus (Matthew 6:9)

We have a Father in heaven.

A Father that “sees” us, loves us, is with us, and a Father who guides our lives. He is our provider, sustainer, eternal foundation and source of daily strength. A Father who is consistent, present, and compassionate to his children.

I don’t know about you,

but when it comes down to it,

this is all I ever wanted.

Someone who was in my corner with blessing, joy, love and occasional correction. This life can be so lonely even when you are surrounded by friends and family and church. It's easy to feel unsupported or afraid. We can feel like the people around us don’t understand us or accept us for how we are, so we wear masks and achieve tasks for acceptance.

But your Father understands and knows you;

he loves you more than you love yourself.

You don’t need to spin an image for Him. He loves you as you are, not for what you think you are supposed to be. 

This relationship is so profound and at the same time tender that the Apostle Paul says:

Because we are his children,

God has sent the Spirit of his Son

into our hearts, prompting us

to call out, “Abba, Father.” 

Galatians 4:6

This word “Abba” is what a child would call his Dad in Jesus’ time. It is a term of affection and familiarity. This is even what Jesus calls God at the point of his greatest distress - hours before going to the cross:

“Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36

He was praying from the gut with honest anguish.

Thirteen years ago I was in Israel staying at a low budget resort on the “Sea of Galilee” where Jesus lived, walked on water and did much of his ministry. There was a little boy about 3 or 4 years old riding his training bike around the courtyard of the resort. Still learning, he gained some speed and made a quick turn and went smashing into the pavement. He saw scrapes on his hands and knees and a little blood and began crying in terror, confusion, embarrassment, and pain. His little eyes scanned the courtyard looking for his dad.

Not being an English speaker, he cried out,

“Abba! Abba!”

He spotted his dad and ran to him arms open palms scraped and knees bleeding crying out, “ABBA!”

His dad put down his drink and went running to his son and embraced him in his arms and told him he will be ok. “Abba is here,” he said to the boy, “Abba is here!” 

That is what it means to pray.

And that is what happens when you pray.

Abba is there. Your Father is near, waiting to pick you up, clean you up and get you some french fries. He is there to thank, love, rescue, heal, and worship. We are adopted into his home, into his family, and we receive his inheritance.

So let us pray, “Our Father in heaven.”

“Father is the Christian name for God.

Our understanding of Christianity cannot be better than our grasp of adoption.”

–J.I. Packer

Grace and peace,

Pastor Harvey