| *Pray.
Prayer is so simple and at the same time so difficult.
Is the point of the following story sometimes true about your prayer
life....
A young woman, home from college for the weekend, was complaining about
how tough the exams were. She was especially worried about the one coming
up the next week. Her mother gave her the standard lecture, saying, "You
should try studying this time."
Rena took her advice this time and studied intensely for three days,
only coming out of her studies to eat and sleep. When she came home the
following weekend, her mother asked her how she had done,
"Mom, I don’t know why I bothered to study. That was the easiest test
I’ve ever taken."
Isn’t that a lot like prayer? After finding how well prayer works for
us, we often decide things are going so well we don’t need it.
This month we begin a series of articles on prayer in an effort to help
it become the simple thing God designed it to be.
What it means to address God as "Father."
In the example of prayer we know as "The Lord’s Prayer" Jesus tells us
to start off by addressing God as "Father." I think that one word sets the
tone for the whole prayer. Jesus could have told us to start off with "Oh
Great Ruler of the Heavens" or "Your Majesty" or "King of Kings." But he
didn’t. He told us to start with "Father."
What does that title tell us?
1. It tells us that when we come to God, we come to the One who created
us and thus loves us - unconditionally - like a Father loves his children.
2. It tells us that God is approachable. He wants us to come to
him and talk to him, just like a father longs to have his kids come and
talk to him.
3. It tells us that we come to a God, who like a Father, wants what is
best for you.
In short, that one simple word Jesus told us to start with, bids us to
simply come. And come with confidence that the one you are coming to loves
you and always wants what is best for you and delights in having you come.
So, take a moment now to simply come to your Father
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