“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.” – Matthew 6:9
There is no disputing the fact of the power of prayer. It is the key to unlock divine providence to our earthly needs. It is our earthly license for divine intervention into mankind’s activity. Therefore we need to master its principles so we can invoke heavenly resources when we need them. Jesus therefore teaches His disciples the secrets to unleash the power of God through prayer. He teaches them to start off by saying ‘Our Father’. It is not just a recital but recognizing our relationship to God to define our approach in prayer. Who He is must dictate our approach in prayer.
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrew 11:6
God is a loving father who is into us more than we can ever imagine. If we believe that, it will dispel any doubt and reasonings when we approach Him in prayer.
“For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” – Luke 11:10-13
However it seems that many of our prayers have fallen on deaf ears and has not invoked the heavenly providence that the scripture promises. Many believers are plagued with this anomaly and it has infected their spiritual life with its inevitable symptoms of discouragement and indifference. How come our prayers have not moved God on our behalf? Why has He not torn the heavens for our rescue as we scream for survival? Many believers have lost faith in their prayer life and it has drained their zeal, and weakened their resolve with others. Excusing themselves from the prayer closet, they have not experienced its scriptural promise. We must however not blame God for this glitch because He is faithful and just. He honors his promises. We must therefore examine ourselves whether we meet the criteria necessary for an answered prayer.
Let us take a look at the scriptures again. The Lord starts of the prayer with “Our Father”. It is interesting to note that He is not just our individual Father but OUR FATHER. Therefore our approach must be in line with that statement. Your prayer utterance, your piety or dynamics of worship must be based on this foundation. You must approach him with His family in mind. Your personal approach must be kept in the family perspective. The excellency of your prayer is not measured by just what you say before God but your relationship with men. Your relationship with people validates your prayer approach. If you are offended, bitter or living in unforgiveness, your piety, your prayer utterance is nullified. God values your relationship with people than your religious piety. How you treat people is much valuable to God than your worship expressions. Bitterness, offences unforgivenness and anything that causes disunity make your prayer ineffective.
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1John 4:20-21
“Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; (24) Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.” – Matthew 5:23-24
Your relationship with the invisible God must not just be the measure in your pursuit of worship or diligence of service but the quality of your love towards men. Your relationship with people must be better than the utterance of words. If our compassion to people exceeds the diligence of our service, we will experience more of his healing grace. Let us learn to excel in treating people well and we will get God to move more on our side. If we keep our prayer in perspective we will experience the benevolence of OUR FATHER who is in heaven.
