In recent weeks I have implemented a shift in my prayer life. Some of those adjustments are found here and here. Through the years I have made it a life endeavor to be ever mindful of the Lord and to have a running conversation throughout my entire day. However, I have found great value in being very intentional about declaring and praying to cover specific areas of my life throughout the week. One such practice is rather antiquated. It goes back to when the feet of Jesus tread the soil of the earth. I have a feeling it will be familiar to you…
Our Father, which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For this is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 – KJV)
Through the years, this quintessential element of the christian faith has been woven deeply into the fabric of my being. The language is beautiful, the truths are powerful, hope is palpable, humility is pervasive and my affection for this segment of scripture is at an all time high. In the next few entries I would like to spend some time examining more closely the nuance of this mode of prayer which Jesus said, “This, then, is how you should pray”(NIV). I am not convinced Jesus’ intention was for a simple verbatim memorization and recital of this prayer. Rather, it seems he was giving us keys to unlock a rich, effective prayer life and giving clues to purity in our faith.
It begins with a subtlety which I believe is often lost in a casual glance…
OUR Father…
Our…
In noticing this one word, the first word, my conversations with God have changed substantially. Often our church rhetoric can create blind spots in our faith. For instance, when we beckon people to have a “personal relationship with Jesus”, the intent is clear. We desire for people to take personal responsibility for their faith and not live under the misinformation that religious duty is of greater substance than actually having a deep and meaningful connection with God. However, this language, accompanied by an American society increasing in self-centeredness, can inadvertently cause us to forget God is not only MY Father but he is OUR Father. As I began to notice and place more emphasis on the “our” in my prayer life the Lord revealed a few blind spots.
I am deeply connected, by Holy Spirit, to all the past generations of people who were faithful to God. I am linked to millions who have vacated this earth. I will equally be connected to all future generations long after I have breathed my last. Certainly, in some ways this makes me feel smaller, but that is not necessarily the worst thing. It also gives me a sense of belonging. A sense of family. There is something sobering and weighty about pondering this vast movement in the earth to which followers of Jesus are all connected. Past, future and present…(Selah)
When you start every day praying, “Our Father” you notice how ridiculous it is to be so critical of other believers. In my case, critical of other ministers, preachers and ministries. It feels anti-christ (strong words, I know) to not celebrate what others are doing in the name of Jesus. Peruse social media for any length of time and it has become clear, we believers have spent a lot of time sharpening our swords for the purpose of stabbing our brothers and sisters and we do it in the name of being prophetic, theological correctness and preserving the purity of the Gospel and our faith. I think maybe at times it is rooted more in the fact we are insecure about others receiving more affirmation that we do…maybe we fear being wrong to the degree that we fight tooth and nail with other believers because proving them wrong allows us to camp out at our present understanding without the necessity of further exploration into the ways of God. I’ve determined in my heart I want to celebrate those who share the same Father…my brothers and sisters. Their gifting, anointing and fruit does not diminish me in any way. We will not agree on everything, but I’m determined to honor the Lord’s prayer in my posture toward those in covenant with God.
I noticed something else as I emphasized “Our Father”. My heart for missions has expanded. A part of my job is to raise money for missions work. However, as my prayer life has honed in on “our”, my passion for and understanding of the importance of the work of God’s kingdom around the earth has deepened. The believers in the Middle East, Uganda, China, Europe, South America and all over the globe are living with the same spiritual connection I experience through the blood of Jesus and fellowship with Holy Spirit. I’m not just speaking of the American missionaries, but of those people meeting in underground churches, outdoors tents, beautiful cathedrals and anywhere else the name of the Lord is praised. The color of our skin, cultural norms and language all become minimal in importance in comparison to having the same Father.
Truthfully, a book could be written on “Our Father” but I will conclude with one more thought. Jesus prayed for unity (John 17). In Psalm 133 the psalmist, with beautiful imagery said “How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.” In this same psalm it seems to be implied that our unity “commands the blessing” of God. That’s a deeper message for another time. Finally, in the first couple of chapters in the Book of Acts, it was as the people entered into one accord that the power of Holy Spirit was released into the Church. To pray “Our Father” and then match this prayer in heart posture and action is to tap into an expression of God that is not available in our “personal relationship”. Yes, much of my life of faith is very personal and out of the public eye. However, I am doing myself a disservice, limiting my faith experience, defying the preferred protocol of heaven and diminishing my own value in the Kingdom of God when I fail to sink my soul deep into the waters of “OUR Father.” Consider this one more time, as Jesus instructed us how to pray, the first word he encouraged us to consider and utter was “Our”.
Brother…sister…thank you for reading. It’s an honor to have the same Father as you.