Think back, if you will. Earlier we defined a creed as a statement of what we believe. In confessing our faith in the words of a creed we state what we, personally, believe. A prayer, on the other hand, we defined as a heart-to-heart talk to God, our Heavenly Father. However, in a prayer, we also can say what we believe.
In the introduction of the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Our Father who art in heaven.” God is indeed our Father. He is our creator and preserver. Just as our Father cares for the world we live in, as we see in the changing of the seasons, the rain to nourish the ground, how much more does He care for each of us, personally. Just as our earthly father cares for us, as we see in his working to put food on the table, keep a shelter over our heads, keep us clothed, how much more does our Father in heaven care for us and do so much more for us.
God is not just my Father. I do not have a monopoly on Him. Thus, I say with you, “Our Father.” Sure, I pray for personal blessings for myself, but I am amiss if I forget to pray for my fellow brothers and sisters of whom God is our Father.
We pray to our Father who is in heaven. We do not pray that He is in heaven simply to put Him in some far-off place. We pray these words to remind us that He is our Father and the Lord over all things. God is a spirit. He is everywhere at once. He is not and cannot be put in a box or any particular locality. Too often it is that we try to leave God in church, only to visit Him on Sundays or when we need something. God is everywhere. Where two or more are gathered in His name He is in the midst of them (Matt. 18:20). Go into your closet to pray, and He sees and hears you (Not only is He with you in private when you pray, He is also with you when you try to hide and sin).
As we read in Matthew, Jesus wants us to come to Him. We are His children. He is our Father. We are dependent on our Father for all things. There is not one thing we have that did not in some way first come from Him. Think about what you were born into this world with, I will give you a hint, nothing. Now think about what you will take with you when you die, I will give you another hint, nothing again. Now add these two together and you will have the total of what is actually yours. The rest is on loan to you from God. Thus, in all and for all things, we pray to Him, our Father. Appropriately, then, Jesus teaches us to pray, beginning our prayer, “Our Father who art in heaven.”
Our Father who art in heaven. Forgive me when I sin because I am a sinful person, sinful from my birth. Help me to remember daily through my baptism that You have forgiven me and that I am Your child. Guide me in all my life’s endeavors that in all I do, say and think, I may give glory to Your name. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
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