Our Father

This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name... Matthew 6:9

The word father is used as the descriptive word of what God does. In Matthew 6, father is used to describe God several times. The Scripture clearly wants His followers or disciples to know God is “our Father.” Here are some of the specific references to father in Matthew 6:

Matthew 6:4, 6: "Your Father...sees what is done in secret." Matthew 6:6: "When you pray…close the door and pray to your Father who is unseen." Matthew 6:6: "Your Father who sees…will reward you." Matthew 6:8: "Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him." Matthew 6:14: "Your heavenly Father will…forgive you." Matthew 6:18: "Your Father who sees will reward you." Matthew 6:26: "Your heavenly Father feeds them." Matthew 6:32: "Your heavenly Father knows you need them.”

All these words of Jesus in Matthew 6 about the heavenly Father tell the disciples about the most important element of God as “Our Father.” God is fully present and available to His children in all ways and at all times. This is He is our heavenly Father, "an ever-present help in times of trouble" (Psalms 46:1). This is why when Jesus taught His disciples to pray, He starts with having them address God "Our Father" as the very first words. This is how Christians should address God in prayer because prayer is not about primarily a transaction in which one should tell God what he or she wants (or needs), it is primarily a relationship with God. He wants you to understand that He is your Father and that He is always there present at all times. All God asks of you to do is to be in tune with His presence because even though He is unseen, He is there and He is real. God our Father assures you that He is not distant, detached and aloof. He is present, available, sees you, knows you and He is with you.

Blessings.