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

Out of all the scriptures covered in the Old Testament, from Genesis thru Malachi, God is only called “Father” seven times. In that culture climate, they thought of Him in ways like Creator, Almighty One, etc. But they didn’t think of God as Father. Then Jesus comes along and says “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name’” (Matthew 6:9 NIV).“ Jesus literally says, “Call Him Father”

Jesus uses the expression “Father” more than 150 times to refer to God. God is not an angry tyrant. God is not a cosmic bellman or prayer bellboy. He is not an impersonal force. God is a personal God who wants to have a relationship with you. There is only one problem, there are some who just don’t think of God as Father. For many people, the name “father” is a negative term that brings up all kinds of bad memories. From this, we have a lot of people who may say, “‘Our Father in heaven” just to decipher a major difference. Here’s what is real, there are some human fathers that have made their family’s home a hell on earth. While many fathers are loving and kind, others can be fickle, moody, abusive, controlling, manipulative and violent. So the words “our Father in heaven” can carry baggage or even be a trigger. Many people never connect with God because they unconsciously think God is like their earthly father. They will impose their mixed-up hurts and emotions from their human fathers onto God. 

If their earthly father is unreasonable, they will tend to think God is unreasonable. If their father is unreliable, they may think God is unreliable. If they just don’t understand their earthly father, they might think they could never understand God either.

Misconceptions can make it to difficult to connect, thus keeping people disconnected from God. 

To understand the truth of what God the Father is really like, you need to let go of any misconceptions and myths you have about him.

Discovering the truth about God, as well as who God really is, will set you free to have a loving relationship with Him as your Father!

I want to leave you with these two questions to consider. Just take some time today or later in the week to think on them and apply them. 

1. When Jesus instructs us to pray “Our Father in heaven,” what kinds of feelings or images come forth for you?
2. What positive father characteristics have you associated with God?