CONNECT TO GOD OUR FATHER

Many people have painful experiences with their earthly dads. But the Bible introduces us to a perfect Heavenly Father – one who is loving, present, and powerful. When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them just one thing, it was how to pray (Luke 11:1). Jesus warned against empty, repetitive prayers (Mathew 6:7-8), reminding us that God already knows what we need. He then gave us a model, a guide, to real, powerful connection with God through the Lord’s Prayer. Here’s what we can learn from it.

Recognize

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.”

Jesus reveals God not just as Creator but as Father when He prays - something that is mentioned 173 times in the New Testament. But not everyone is a child of God. We become His children through faith in Christ (Galatians 3:26). To “hallow” God’s name means to honor Him in all we do (1 Corinthians 10:31). He’s not only Father, but King. When we pray “Your Kingdom come,” we long for Jesus’ return and His coming reign of justice (Revelation 11:18; 22:20). Until then, we help usher in His kingdom by sharing the gospel (Matthew 24:14).

Realign

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

When we pray in this way, we tell God that we want to realign with Him and only do His will. People respond to God’s will in four ways: indifference, resignation, anger, or trust. Jesus modeled full surrender when He said, “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Trust means saying, “Even when I don’t understand, I believe You know what is best.”

Rely

“Give us today our daily bread.”

The word Jesus used here means “daily provision.” God isn’t stingy. He knows our needs, loves us, and provides what’s good (Matthew 6:26-32; 7:11). Even when He says “no,” it’s because He has something better.

“Forgive us our debts.”

Forgiveness is crucial. If we don’t forgive others, we block our own access to God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15). Jesus calls us to forgive constantly (Matthew 18:22).

“Lead us not into temptation.”

This is a prayer for strength in trials and protection from sin. Trials (Greek: peirasmos) can either refine us or tempt us. God gives strength to overcome, but we must also flee from what tempts us (James 1:13-14).

Victory is guaranteed when we align our lives with God. Peter was able to recover from failure and become stronger because Jesus prayed for him (Luke 22:31-32). God can restore us, make us stand firm, and fill us with joy (Jude 1:24-25). The Lord’s Prayer isn’t just a recitation; it’s a daily reset to recognize, realign, and rely on our perfect Father.