20 Days With the Lord’s Prayer Day 3: God is our heavenly 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

While growing up, I believed my earthly father could do anything. If he was around, I didn’t need to be afraid. Then, when I was no longer a child, I was faced with the harsh reality of the dangers, the sorrows, he could not protect me from.

Now, as a parent myself, I think one of the most frustrating, yes, even scary, situations is when your child—no matter how young or old they may be—needs help you can’t provide. The possible reasons for such a scenario are many; but for me, the answer has always been to place them, and their need, in the care of the Lord. I know that is what my father and mother did for me.

One of my sons once called me, breathlessly saying that while trying to change his tire, the jack had slipped. He believed that if he made the wrong movement, the car would come down on him, crushing him. I was several miles away. I knew that the help he needed would have to be immediate. I cried out to the Lord with the urgent plea that he would be rescued. And, praise be to God, a person saw him and came to his rescue by stabilizing the jack.

Now, believe me, the incident I have just shared with you, is but one of many times that the Lord has intervened for our sons when their father and I could not help them.

When Jesus was giving the model prayer, He deliberately included the fact that God, our Father, dwells in heaven. Now, contrary to this being a limiting factor in terms of His ability to help us, this is actually the very reason that we can seek Him and find Him for help for whatever our need may be.

Indeed, the Psalmist contrasts our heavenly Father with the idols the Gentiles worshiped. The idols of the Gentiles had no power. They had no ability to hear and respond.

“But our God is in heaven; He does whatever He pleases. Their idols are silver and gold, The work of men’s hands. They have

mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; They have ears, but they do not hear; Noses they have, but they do not smell; They have hands, but they do not handle; Feet they have, but they do not walk; Nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. O Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield. The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron. He will bless those who fear the Lord, Both small and great.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭3‬-‭9‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Continuing on, the Psalmist also points out that our heavenly Father—not only has a heavenly perspective—He created the heavens in which He dwells!

“May you be blessed by the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. The heaven, even the heavens, are the Lord’s; But the earth He has given to the children of men.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭15‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Child of God, no matter what kind of earthly Father you had, or even if your father was absent, our heavenly Father always hears, always sees, and always answers. Only He can help us, no matter our need. Call out to Him! Call out to our heavenly Father!

Peace to you.

Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!