Reflection: Prayer

June 11th, 2012 by Robert

Matthew 6:9a “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father…’”

Jesus teaches us to come to God in prayer as “our Father.” The Old Testament often shows us a God who is terrifyingly holy and glorious. His glory caused righteous men to fall on their faces (Ezekiel 1:28), give off a fearful glow (Exodus 34:29-30), and damn themselves (Isaiah 6:5). Certainly, God is a fearful Being in all His majesty and power (Exodus 15:1-12), and it is good for us to have an awe-filled reverence toward Him. The Old Testament also teaches us that God is full of steadfast love for His people (Exodus 15:13). He is a God completely worthy of our trust and love.

Jesus wants us to know and come to God in prayer as our Father. He is awesome and all-powerful, yet He deeply loves and cares for us as well. Why is that such a difficult thing for us to understand? Why do we have to be taught that God is both an all-powerful and all-loving Father?

The gospel tells us that we are separated from God by our sin, that we do not know and trust God as our all-powerful and all-loving Father. Jesus came to put God’s perfect love on display in His sacrificial death for our sins and to put God’s perfect power on display in His resurrection. In life, death, and resurrection, Jesus not only accomplished our salvation, but He also demonstrated the perfect love and power of God, our Father (Romans 1:4; 5:8).

May God give us the grace to know Him as our perfect, eternal, heavenly Father. He reigns on high in all majesty and power, and He loves us with a perfect, unbreakable, steadfast love. And, may He teach us to come to Him unceasingly in prayer as our Father.