Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Matthew 6:9The beginning of the “Lord’s Prayer” is very important to understanding the principle of prayer Jesus was teaching His disciples when He gave them the model prayer. This week, I want to look at what this opening phrase teaches us about our relationship to God in prayer.
The first word of the prayer is “our”. The word “our” is most correctly the plural of the word “I”. Of course, it wouldn’t make sense to say “I Father which art in heaven”, so the word is pluralized to “our”. One could correctly say, however, “My Father which art in heaven”. In fact, this is how Jesus always referred to His Father. He didn’t say “the Father” or “a Father”. He personalized His recognition of the Father... “My Father”.
When you and I come to God in prayer, it will help us greatly if we will remember that He is “Our Father”. If we have a relationship to God through His Son Jesus Christ, we are not talking to someone else’s father, we are talking to “Our Father”.
I remember once while I was serving as a city council person in our city that my son Nathaniel, who was young a the time, came to a meeting. I was seated in the front behind tables with other elected officials and Nathaniel was in the audience. In the midst of the business meeting, I overheard a small voice in the audience say, “That’s my Daddy!” It was Nathaniel. To everyone else I was a councilmen, but to this little boy, I was just a daddy.
Try talking to God, your Father, today not as some foreign higher being, but as your personal, loving Father. Sit on His lap and tell Him about your day. Let Him put His arms around you, and maybe even rock you to sleep. He’s “our” Father. That’s personal.
For more of my thoughts, check out my personal blog at
http://www.ronedmondson.com where I write on issues such as marriage, parenting, church and leadership.
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I may not see in front of me, But I can see for miles around when I look over my shoulder, and Lord, it`s clear. You`ve brought me here, So faithful every step of the way. What can I do but follow you, For You are the Way, the Truth, the Life, And You`ve promised never to leave me, My Savior, my friend, From beginning to end. 
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