In Luke 11 the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray and He gave them a brief model or pattern for prayer. We call this the Lord’s Prayer. It is not some magical formula that we can repeat and expect miracles. It is a concise portrayal of the foundational truths that should be in our hearts and minds as we pray individually, as we pray as families, and as we pray as a church. Every phrase is this prayer is important, especially the beginning words. Jesus taught them to say “Our Father in heaven . . . “ (Luke 11:2).
Jesus addressed God as ‘Father’ many times in the Gospels and here He encourages the disciples to do the same. He was teaching them that intimacy with the Father is what we should all experience when we pray. Prayer is not repeating the words over and over or trying to impress the people around us with our spirituality; prayer is mean to flow from a close and vital fellowship with the heavenly Father.
At the same time, the words ‘in heaven’ teach us that God is holy and we should approach him with respect. He is in heaven and we remain here on earth. There is a wonderful balance in what Jesus is teaching here. We intimately call upon God as Father, while the words ‘in heaven’ remind us of His greatness and the realm of His immensity of everything He possesses as being Sovereign over everything. We come to Him in prayer, we come to our loving Father that remains on His throne with all the resources of heaven and earth at His disposal on our behalf.
Jesus knew that heaven and earth are closely tied together. God is present here; His role on earth, personal and sovereign, and we can count on His help. He wants us to know this in our hearts and lives. He wants us to know this as well: Luke 3:21 “And while He prayed, heaven came down.”
How deep is your relationship with the Lord as you pray? Do you pour your heart to Him with complete confidence and trust in His help because you have come to know and experience His love? This not something that we just start practicing automatically, it takes effort and time, like any relationship. The more time you spend with Him, the more you will come to understand His ways, His heart, and His will as you pray. There is no substitute for taking time to study the Bible and for allowing the Holy Spirit to teach you how to pray in a way that is consistent with His will. Please His Word in your heart and mind, and then the Holy Spirit will use the Scriptures as you pray to keep your life on track and consistent with His nature.