Day 2: Reminders from Our Father
As you begin to spend time with God, settle yourself somewhere quiet and comfortable. Take a few deep breaths. Spend a few moments gathering your thoughts, becoming aware of God’s presence with you and in you.
Journal for 5 minutes on yesterday’s experiment on abiding in Jesus. What did you notice and learn? What challenged you? Did God say anything to you throughout the day?
Then, begin today’s devotional.
Read: Matthew 6:9, Hebrews 12:1
"Our Father in Heaven…" Thus begins what is likely the most famous prayer in the Church's 2,000 year history. This prayer is a prescribed prayer from none other than Jesus Christ Himself as He teaches His disciples how to pray. But what does it mean? I believe that this prayer begins with three important reminders.
The first comes from the word "Our." Oftentimes, we are told that Christianity is a personal relationship between Jesus and us. While this is true--I don't want to suggest that that we don't have a personal relationship with our Lord--I believe that our faith experience includes many more people than just ourselves. I believe that our faith is a communal and familial faith that exists in the past, present, and future. The Lord’s Prayer doesn't begin with "My Father in Heaven," because Jesus was acutely aware that there is a great multitude of people that share this Father. We can have assurance that whenever we dare to whisper those sacred words, we are not saying them alone; rather, we are joined by Christians worldwide, angels, and all the saints before us that were blessed with the beatific vision. We are participating with the Great Cloud of Witnesses that Paul describes in Hebrews 12 when we say this prayer.
The second reminder is through the word "Father". We are not praying to a distant and cold deity when we utter these words--we are addressing our loving and eternal Father. It is amazing in and of itself that the Lord, the creator of the cosmos, would want to speak with us. It is even more amazing that God asks us to participate in His holy community and to address Him with such an intimate title.
Finally, we are reminded of Our Father's home: "Heaven". Not only is it His home, but He is inviting us to join Him there and--without spoiling to much of later parts of the prayer--is inviting us to be a part of His kingdom as builders and dwellers. When we say “Our Father in Heaven”, we are reminded that He has built a place for us to come live with our family in eternal peace.
Prayer: Father, thank you for your eternal love. I am grateful for the family you are providing for me, and I look forward to joining you in the home that you have built for me. Amen.
Today's Experiment:Pray this prayer several times today. Consider the others around you who might be joining with you in this prayer. Pray for the other Christians worldwide that are also participating in this sacred act with you.
By Wesley Rodgers, Area Coordinator