Jump Start # 3641
Matthew 6:9 “Pray, then in this way; ‘Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be Thy name.’”
It is a simple question that is easy to answer but hard to practice. “What makes a good prayer,” is something that many wonder about. For nearly all of us, our prayer life is not where we’d like it to be. I’ve not met the person who is happy with the way he prays. We need to pray more. We need to pray deeper. We need to pray about things that we often forget or neglect. We need to pray about others.
Our verse comes from the Lord. This is how He wanted His disciples to pray. Pray this way, is what He says. And, what follows is commonly called the ‘Lord’s Prayer,’ but more accurately would be the ‘Model Prayer.’
And, it’s amazing what we find in this prayer. First, it’s short. There are less than 70 words in this prayer. Reading this, at a normal pace, took me just 18 seconds. An 18-second prayer is not what we’d expect from the Lord. Second, the words in this prayer are not difficult. One doesn’t need a dictionary to understand what Jesus is saying. Third, the prayer includes spiritual as well as physical things. Forgiveness and daily bread, side by side, in the same prayer. It’s not all or the other, but rather, both. Fourth, these few words understand the position of God and our relationship. Our daily bread comes from God. We acknowledge that. We need God’s forgiveness. We need God’s deliverance from evil. Fifth, this prayer is extremely personal. It’s about the bread I need. It’s about the temptations I face. It’s about the forgiveness that I need. Nothing about world powers. Nothing about kings and rulers. Elsewhere in the Bible, we find prayers about those things. But not here.
So, immediately, when asked, “What makes a good prayer,” the answer is not a lot of words or even big words. It’s not long is better than short. It’s not about the big things in life, such as wars and calamities. It’s everyday things. The prayer begins with God, ‘Our Father,’ and it ends with God, ‘Thine is the kingdom, power and glory forever.’ And, within just about every line of the prayer, God is at the forefront. It’s a prayer to God. It’s a prayer praising God. It is a prayer seeking God.
Let’s now focus upon this opening statement, our verse today, “Our Father who art in Heaven.”
First, Jesus identifies the relationship with the divine and with each other. Calling God ‘Father,’ was very rare in the O.T. There He is seen as the Almighty, the Powerful. Words like Sovereign, Majesty, and Glory are often used of God. But here, Jesus wants us to call God, ’Father.’ If the Lord is the Father, then we are His children. There is a relationship. There is a connection. ‘Father,’ is the most common word Jesus used when talking to God.
But more than that, God is OUR Father. He is your Father and He is my Father. Notice, Jesus did not say, “My Father.” That would imply He is the Father of Jesus, but not us. He belongs to Jesus. But, neither did Jesus refer to God as “Your Father.” Your Father puts distance between us and Jesus. God is the Father of Jesus. God is our Father.
Wrapped around the idea of Father is love, care, devotion and tenderness. He is our Father. We are blessed to have the best Father, God.
Second, Jesus identifies where God is, “who art in Heaven.” He’s not here, but He’s there. He’s in Heaven. Multiple times in the Gospels you’ll find the expression who is in Heaven, attached to God. That is His world. That is His home. In John we find, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places,” or “mansions.” God’s house. It’s not our house. It is His house.
If asked, ‘Where is Heaven,’ most would say, “up there, somewhere.” How do we know there is a Heaven? Because that’s where God is. If there is a God, then there is a Heaven. No Heaven, no God. No God, no Heaven.
Third, God’s name is special. It is ‘hallowed,’ or HOLY. It is something that one doesn’t say just because he doesn’t know what else to say. One doesn’t just blurt out that name when angry, or when excited. His name is holy. It is sacred. Through our travels, my wife has picked up some special vases, plates and bowls from different countries. They sit on shelves to be looked at. We don’t use them and we’d never, ever think about putting the cat food in one and letting our cat eat out of it. Why not? It’s just a bowl. No, it’s more than that. It’s special to us. God’s name is more than a word. It’s more than something one says without thinking. It’s holy. It’s special. It belongs up on a shelf in our hearts.
Now, none of this may have decently answered the question, “What makes a good prayer?” But, what we begin to see is that a good prayer is not necessarily long or using big words. A good prayer is God-centered and God-focused. A good prayer is not the best words, but words from the heart. A good prayer honors the Lord. A good prayer seeks the help and grace of the Lord.
I suppose one could answer this question in the opposite. What makes a bad prayer? Self-seeking; arrogance; not honoring the Lord; not praying according to His will; just mumbling some memorized words and not meaning any of them; not intending to be any different because of connecting with the Almighty. When one understands that, then it will help to find the answer to what makes a good prayer.
The worst prayer is one never prayed. Talk to God, that’s what prayer is. Remember who you are talking to. He wants to hear from you.
Roger