The Lord’s Prayer: A Loving Invitation to Connect with Our Heavenly Father

Writing this at 2-3am, which seems to be the Father’s favorite time to send downloads … or perhaps uploads more accurately, as a friend lovingly suggested. He brings forth wisdom from His light in us that was always there.

In the first words of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus already shows us how we should view God.

Our minds are liberated when we connect with the idea of seeing Him as a loving Father first. 

“Our Father in heaven.” 

Why would I start anywhere other than seeing God as a loving Father?

“Hallowed be Your name.”

The name above all names belongs to a God who is so loving. When we fully immerse ourselves in His love, all the worries and distractions of the world fade away. We live within this love—both in heaven and on earth.

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done.”

I want His will to be my will, the Father's will as my will. I love that I get to start from this place. I didn’t always love this idea and wanted to do things in my own strength in some twisted way to prove I’m worthy of something God has already gifted. It’s amazing to think that what both the Father and I desire can be the same. What a miraculous place to live from!

“On earth as it is in heaven.” 

This world can reflect heaven, and we are invited to be stewards of that abundant reality. Each day, we get to co-create pieces of heaven with our Father as He brings heaven to earth.

“Give us today our daily bread”

On a lighter note, it’s fascinating that God tells us to ask for our bread in a world where we’re told that bread and carbs are “wrong.” Just a silly thought to justify my bread obsession.

In truth, we have more than enough—more than enough time, money, and food. Father, how do we steward these gifts today, in this moment, the only moment we truly have?

When the pulpit echoes the message that “tomorrow is not promised,” it can get twisted as fear, as though God is waiting to strike us down with a lightning bolt. But what loving father among men would do this? If we, with all our imperfections, wouldn’t treat our children this way, how much greater is the love of our Father in heaven? 

“Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” / “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us.”

Love keeps no record of wrongs.

“And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” 

There is only one root of all evil, and it’s not the precious child of God standing before you.

 Do we truly believe that both God and satan/evil exist?

If we dismiss them as fairytales, our lives will reflect that belief. If we acknowledge their existence, and yet it doesn’t influence our actions, then it’s meaningless. 

We get to recognize evil for what it is if we choose to, and not confuse it with a more palatable concept of “right and wrong.” 

Humanity has become addicted to being right. If we feel we’re right, it often means anyone who disagrees with us is wrong.

We ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil—not the tree of right and wrong, as I often heard in Sunday school. Right and wrong are human constructs, often defined by each individual. We create the boundaries of right and wrong, and there is a place for that. We get to exist under our laws and honor our fellow people that we share this earth with, grounded in love.

In the Garden, there was simply good and evil. 

“Who but God is good?” And all He created He calls good, including us (very good). 

And there is one root of all evil. I'm learning to be careful not to place money, time, or a person in the place of the evil one. The evil that the Father lovingly delivers us from in the infinite power of His love.

Abundant blessings to you today and always,

Nick