Our Father…

Friend, welcome to our email series on the Lord’s Prayer. Today, I want to take a moment to share with you how each word of this prayer has a meaning, meant for you. Yes, written thousands of years ago, just for you, for today!

The Lord’s prayer in Matthew 6 begins with “Our Father.” When we pray, we begin with addressing God, because it’s a conversation. Jesus begins by addressing His Father and the name shows the closeness and the intimacy of the relationship. He starts with a term of endearment: “Hey Dad. Hi Poppa – it’s me.”

Laurel and I are currently getting ready for our first grandchild, and a topic around our home has been what name we want as Grandpa and Grandma for the first time. The truth is, our grandbaby girl is going to call us whatever she decides or whatever she can pronounce, but that hasn’t stopped us. We want a special term of endearment. Why? Because the relationship is special, one-of-a-kind and precious.

We have a Father who longs to talk to us. Our Father—we belong to Him, we are His!

The Bible says a lot about our relationship with God:

• We are His Sheep:“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his ; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.”(Psalm 100:3, NIV)
• We belong to Him: “If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.” (Romans 14:8, NIV)
• We are His Children: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”(1 John 3:1, NIV)
• Your relationship with God is personal, endearing and special. Even if you have not had a good relationship or example of an earthly father, don’t let that deter you from approaching your heavenly Father. Regardless of your circumstances, you are His beloved child.

You are a miracle!

Grant