Who are you talking to?

The Heart of prayer is the relationship it reflects. Until we know who we're talking to, we can't expect to communicate effectively. Jesus teaches us to pray to God as Father. What does that name tell us about God, and about how we should pray?

If we believe that God is our father, we trust his love. Not only does he know what we need, but he wants to provide those needs. We don't have to manipulate him or convince him to take care of us. We can just come to him humbly, like a child, knowing that we will be provided for. There is no doubt in our minds that he is able to provide—do young children ever question whether or not their parents are able to feed them? There is a deep implicit trust. As adults, having been let down many times in the past, it is often difficult to regain this kind of trust. Patience, it will come. The incredible thing about prayer is that God uses it it transform us. By praying first with as much trust as we can muster, more will follow.

We trust that not only does he desire to give, but that he wants to give us good things. God is not waiting behind every corner to punish us. He holds out his hands in love. Jesus talks about earthly fathers, who would never give a son who asked for bread a stone. He says if even evil people take care of their children this way, “how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” But there is that qualifier—to those who ask. If we never attempt to communicate with God, do we really believe that he loves us? If we never ask him to provide, do we believe he is able? Our prayers say much about our faith.

The Father's love is manifest in his desire for communion with us. Not only do we seek to know him, but also to be known by him. It is a paradox, but the God who knows all says to some “I never knew you” (Matthew 16:22). He is our loving Father who desires to know us and provide for us.

Of course, parents also expect obedience from their children. This is true today, but was even more important in the first century. To call God “Father” means to submit to his will, to seek his kingdom first. Jesus centered his prayer in John 17 (the longest prayer of Jesus in scripture) on seeking his father's glory. As obedient children, following Christ's example, we pray that our lives will contribute to God's glory.

Relationship is foundational to prayer. As we pray knowing that we are children, we also learn to become better children. The more time we spend with our Father, the more we become like him.