How to Talk to God

We need to be in prayer!

Next Wednesday, July 1, we’re opening the church from 7-8 p.m. for a guided prayer experience. It’s titled “Speak Up: Prayer Vigil for Healing and Peace in America.”

Using a format designed by Pastor Roger Theimer (King of Kings Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska), we’ll be walking through the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer and praying for specific needs in our nation.

For the days leading up to the prayer vigil, I’m going to post thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer petitions.

We start at the top with the introduction: “Our Father, who art in heaven.”

Coming off of Father’s Day, focusing on God as Father is very timely. Frankly, it’s always timely to focus on God as Father because that’s who He is every day for us. By faith in Jesus, He declares us to be His sons and daughters. “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1)

Our heavenly Father loves us with unconditional love. Our love too often is the opposite. We love based on what others do for us, or how they make us feel, or how well their opinions line up with our own.

God loves us not because of our goodness but because of His. He is everything a Father should be, and infinitely more.

For Father’s Day, my 7-year-old son Caleb typed a message that meant the world to me. In part, he wrote, “I love Daddy because he always has time to play with me and especially on Fridays.” (Friday is my day off.)

Truth be told, I don’t always have as much time as I’d like to spend with my children. Caleb is showing me grace by choosing to remember all of our time together and to forget the times when I’m unavailable. I’m so thankful that he sees me as someone who is always available, even if I know that’s not always the case.

Our heavenly Father is truly always available. Any time, day or night, He stands beside us, and He always hears us when we speak to Him. He’s the perfect Father.

Our perfect Father invites our prayers, and Jesus gave us the perfect words to pray! Please check out the blog each day for the next several days as we examine the petitions of the Lord’s Prayer!

Tomorrow: Hallowed be Thy name.