Prayer is the Key to our relationship with the Father. So, what does that look like in our daily lives?

4 The words of the mouth [of a person’s heart] are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom [instruction from the Father] is a rushing stream.

The chapter my group is studying on Sunday nights (Growing Up) is on prayer. It has some good information about prayer, but the best thing it says is that prayer is something we do. Here are some of the highlights:

• “Prayer is not learned in a classroom.” The way to learn to pray is to do it. There’s hardly a wrong way to pray. Read King David’s prayers and you’ll see some pretty harsh prayers! But, God is not offended; he knows our hearts. He loves us.
• “Prayer is personal, relational, and intimate.” It’s a conversation with the Father. We may want to address Jesus or the Holy Spirit. They are all One; He receives all prayers.
• “One way to radically change your prayer life is to start referring to God as ‘Daddy.'” The Hebrew term is, “Abba,” which is one that I use frequently. He is our heavenly Father and He loves us dearly.

We call “the Lord’s prayer” The Lord’s Prayer because Jesus prayed it; it is a model prayer for us.

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
¹⁰ your kingdom come,
your will be done,
    on earth as it is in heaven.
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
¹² And forgive us our debts,
    as we also have forgiven our debtors.
¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
    but deliver us from the evil one.’
Matthew 6:9-13

From the book:
In this outline, Jesus gave us six components for our prayers:

• Praise: Our Father, who is in heaven
• Purpose: Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven
• Provision: Give us our daily bread
• Pardon: Forgive us our debts (trespasses, sins)…
• Protection: Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil
• Praise (again): Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory [added in later versions]

These are the type of things that the Father likes to hear from us. He also wants to hear our hopes, dreams, and wishes, but with us remembering to pray like Jesus did, “Not my will, but yours.” He also wants us to tell Him our fears, anxieties, and angers (things/people that/who make us angry) so that He can help us to deal with them according to His love, provision and protection.

The last thing mentioned in the chapter is to Pray Constantly, Throughout the Day. I liken my conversation with the Father to calling Him on my phone and then having my earpiece in with Him on the line all day. If I consider Him on speakerphone, then I get the mental image of Him listening in on every conversation. If I envision Him on FaceTime (facing away), then He also sees everything I see; when the camera is facing me, then I see Him and am reminded of how much He loves me, and I am reassured of His Presence.

Prayer is the Key to our relationship with the Father.

Abba, I love turning to You throughout the day and receiving all kinds of love and affirmation from You. I don’t even mind Your correcting hand because I know it’s You loving me. I am assured by Your participation in my life of Your love and of the future that You have for me. I love You. Amen (but continuing…)