"In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be your name." Matt. 6:9.
After being with Jesus and observing His power and great glory in miracles; healings; superb wisdom in challenging times; love for people regardless of their sickness or poverty; tremendous leadership skill; and His humanity with grace, the disciples concluded that it was linked to His prayer life. They asked Him, "Lord teach us to pray." Luke 11:1.
Jesus gave them a prayer template as a guide for praying. First, He told them to address God as 'Father'. This was an unusual privilege as up to that time, the Jews so revered the name of God that they felt that it was disrespectful to even say His Name. Now Jesus was leading His disciples to experience greater intimacy and a greater relationship with God as their Heavenly Daddy and Dearest Father.
This concept of a loving Heavenly Father is the source of healing to all people and nations. A father's love is a force that brings stability and security to children. This is not always the experience of children with biological fathers, but we can experience the eternal love of our Heavenly Father - a Father who will never leave nor forsake us.
In a testimony of Everett Fullam, a missionary to a remote tribe in Nigeria, he shared of his great experience of the love of God. He said, "Behind this universe stands one God, not a great number of warring spirits, as we had always believed, but one God. AND THAT GOD LOVES ME!" Yes AND THAT GOD LOVES YOU! His love will be perfected in you as you relate to Him as your Heavenly Father.
We are grateful to Jesus Christ for His great gift of our salvation and for the great privilege of having the love of His Father as our Heavenly Father. Paul wrote: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name." Eph. 3:14-15. With God as our Heavenly Father, we can be secure in His love; confident in His power and peaceful in His protection.
Kingdom Declaration:
The Creator, God of the Universe is my Heavenly Father, Provider and King.
Read the Bible in One Year: Genesis 13-15; Matthew 5:1-26
@Dr Pat Francis
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