20 Days With the Lord’s Prayer Day 2: God is our Father.

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭9‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

As we began our consideration of the Lord‘s prayer, we looked into the first word of our model prayer: “OUR.” Today we discuss the fact that the Lord instructed that we address God as “Our Father.”

Surprisingly, the United States has the highest number of fatherless homes among the countries of the world. And whereas one could argue as to why this is the case, one thing is clear: High rates of fatherlessness, leads to a higher incidence of behavioral problems, incarcerations, financial distress, and a myriad of other social ills, directly coming out of the father being absent from the home.

The good news is that our Lord wants us to know that He is our Father. No one need be fatherless. The One Who created all things is a Father to all who will acknowledge Him as such.

“Sing praises to God and to his name! Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds. His name is the Lord— rejoice in his presence! Father to the fatherless, defender of widows— this is God, whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭4‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Isaiah proclaimed that even if the Jewish people were denied by their actual earthly fathers (Abraham and Israel), the Lord would still be their father. This is nonetheless true for all of God‘s children.

“Doubtless You are our Father, Though Abraham was ignorant of us, And Israel does not acknowledge us. You, O Lord, are our Father; Our Redeemer from Everlasting is Your name.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭63‬:‭16‬ ‭NKJV

God through Jesus Christ, even gave us His own spirit so that we could be assured that He was our Father.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.””

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!””

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Child of God, whether you had/have a present, loving earthly father or not, God is waiting for you to acknowledge that He is your Father. And though your earthly father may have rejected you, the Lord will be your Father, your loving Father, now and always!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!