“Our Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:9

This young woman is earnestly praying, seeking an answer or a blessing. She is focused as tourists walk around her. She is humble, bowed, seated, and barefoot. Yet, her prayers are going nowhere. She is praying before a Buddha.

Those who follow Jesus can pray to the Living God who hears and works all things for good for those who love Him and are called by His name.

He is our Father in heaven. “Heaven” is mentioned 582 times in the King James Version of the Bible.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites prayed to the God of heaven. The title “God of heaven” is mentioned 21 times in the Old Testament and 2 times in the New Testament. I think of this title as a more formal title – one to be revered, one to bow down to.

Jesus introduces us to His Father in heaven and tells us that His Father is our Father. “Our Father in heaven” is mentioned 21 times in the New Testament. I think of this title in a more personal manner, a family relationship. My Father in heaven is the God of heaven … holy, to be revered, to bow down to, and, yet, I can approach Him as my Daddy.

My Father is on His throne in heaven. He is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the Creator of the heavens and earth. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present, eternal, unchanging, and lover of my soul. He is my Father.

The Lord is God in the highest realms, and among celestial beings. His throne is set in glory, above all, out of reach of foes, in the place of universal oversight. He who feeds ravens and sparrows is yet the glorious God of the highest realms. Angels count it their glory to proclaim his glory in every heavenly street. See herein the greatness of his nature, the depth of his condescension, and the range of his love. Charles Spurgeon

9 ways to focus our prayers

How do I direct my prayer to the God of heaven who sits on His throne surrounded by an emerald rainbow and adoring creatures and who is my Father in heaven?

1. Remember who He is. “God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” Exodus 3:14 God is the becoming One. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present. He is whatever we need, whenever we need. He is holy. He is righteous. He is our Redeemer.  He is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.
2. Remember who we are. We are sinners, unworthy to be in His presence. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 Yet, we can be saved from paying the price of our sins because Jesus paid that price for us. It was a gift, nothing that we could do, and we can receive that gift by believing in Jesus and living for Him. Ephesians 2:8-9
3. Remember how He works. Thank Him for the times He has worked in our lives and in the lives of others, including the lives of those individuals in the Bible. Psalm 136
4. Remember how He speaks. God started prayer by speaking the world into existence. He walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden in the cool of the day. Imagine their conversations. He gave us the Bible, and He is just waiting for us to respond to Him. That’s prayer. “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” John 5:24
5. Remember how to respond. God often whispers. Ask the Holy Spirit to make you more aware of God’s whispers. “And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper. 1Kings 19:12
6. Remember to relax. God wants your words, not repetitions. He wants to hear your earnest prayers, Luke 18:13. You can rest in the fact that the Holy Spirit is praying for you, Romans 8:27.
7. Remember how He provides. He is a good Father and gives His children what they need. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7 
8. Remember how He loves. He gives everything, even His only begotten Son, Jesus. Jesus suffered a barbaric torture, the shame of our sins placed on Him, and death on the cross. He rose from the dead, defeating even death. All so that we could live forever with Him. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
9. Remember to praise and thank Him. After you have remembered all that our Father means to you, how can you not praise and thank Him? ”
   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 
   Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 
   Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; Psalm 136:1-3

Our Father in heaven loves you with an everlasting love. He is majestic. He is holy. He is pure. He is just. He is love. He is for you.

He longs for you to call Him Father … Daddy.

Would you like to call God “Daddy?” Ask Him to forgive your sins. Thank Him for sending Jesus to pay the price for your sins, death on the cross, and rising the third day. Tell God that you want to start living with Him. If you prayed that prayer, please let us know in the “Comment Section.”

My prayer

Our Father in heaven, thank You that You are the God of the heavens and earth, and You are our Father in heaven. Teach us to pray as You would have us to pray. Teach us to relax in our prayers and talk with You as we talk to our loved ones. Teach us to listen to You and respond in love. We love You, Father. We adore You and honor You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.