Praying to Our Heavenly Father
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” Matthew 6:9
The Lord’s Prayer, as it is generally called, is a most beautiful and wonderful prayer. It begins with these precious words, “Our Father.”
What a wonderful description of God! He is the Father of all who, in repentance and faith, have received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour. They may rightly address Him as “Our Father,” the One who is interested in His children and who will always do what is best for them.
God is our Father “in heaven.” He is superior to every earthly father. Some earthly fathers are tyrants, but our Father in heaven is not like that. He is a gracious Father, loving and merciful, who knows everything about us and who is willing to take care of all our needs.
The Lord Jesus teaches that because God is our Father, we should bring all our needs and those of all His people before Him. We are to ask for daily provisions and pray for the forgiveness of our sins, remembering that in asking for forgiveness for sinning against God, we must also forgive those who have sinned against us. We are to ask for help against temptation, for we recognize that we are up against a very powerful foe in the devil.
In concluding this prayer, the Lord Jesus teaches us to ascribe praise and adoration to our Father and end by saying “Amen” or “So be it.” When we can honestly say “Amen” to what we have prayed, we invite God to answer us and expect Him to do so.
Clearly, the Lord’s Prayer has much to teach us on the general subject of prayer. However, it may be prayed just as it stands. However long we have been saved, we can never outgrow it. If we use it thoughtfully, it will draw us into God’s presence and bring real peace and joy to our hearts.
Quote: “We talk about heaven being so far away. It is within speaking distance to those who belong there.” – D. L. Moody.
Daily devotions are from the book “Eagle’s Wings” published by the Free Presbyterian Church. © Free Presbyterian Church 1991- All Rights Reserved.
The Lord's Day Services
Sunday, January 23, 2022
9:55 a.m. Sunday school
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
– Dr. Saunders SermonAudio Link
5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship
– Dr. Saunders SermonAudio Link
Weekly Announcements
January 24th – 28th
7:30 p.m. Week of Prayer and Bible Study
Baptismal service on Wednesday evening.
Advanced Announcements
Sunday, January 30th
9:55 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Morning Worship
5:50 p.m. Pre-service Prayer
6:30 p.m. Evening Worship
Wednesday, February 2nd
7:30 p.m. Bible Study and Prayer
The Shorter Catechism
A: That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence,1 preparation,2 and prayer;3 receive it with faith4 and love,5 lay it up in our hearts,6 and practice it in our lives.7
2. Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby. (1Peter 2:1-2).
3. Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (Psalms 119:18).
4. The word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. (Hebrews 4:2b).
5. They received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (2Thessalonians 2:10b).
6. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:11).
7. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. (James 1:25).
The Children's Catechism - History
Q45: What feast kept the memory of the firstborn being saved?
A: The Passover.
