In Matthew 6:9, Jesus begins what we call the Lord’s Prayer by teaching His followers how to approach God.

If He had told us to begin our prayers, “Most holy and high God in heaven,” no one would have been surprised. Is God holy? Absolutely. Is He the sovereign Creator and ruler of the universe? Of course.

But that’s not how Jesus taught us to begin.

He introduces the Lord’s Prayer the way He wants His followers to start their prayers—and the way billions of people have started their prayers trillions of times—by instructing us, mere mortals, to call the Most High God “our Father.”

Those first two words are remarkable. Throughout the Old Testament, God is described as the Father of Israel. But you never find people approaching God in prayer with the personal intimacy Jesus introduces here. Then Jesus comes along, repeatedly calling God “my Father.”

It was so radical that when Jesus called God His own Father, the religious leaders wanted to kill Him because they understood exactly what He was claiming.

Then, in the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus forever changes how we are to understand God. He wants us to know that His Father is now our Father too. He wants us to share and participate with the holy God of heaven in the same way He does. Amazing!

And Jesus affirmed this almost incomprehensible relationship many, many times, notably after His resurrection, when He told Mary Magdalene, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God” (John 20:17b, NIV).

Years ago, my business was collapsing. I had seven offices around the country and eventually had to close all but one. I was exhausted.

One of the managing partners I had to let go was a man I had been close to. We had prayed together many times. After I closed his office, he sent me a bitter letter. It was the straw that broke the camel’s back.

As I drove home from the office, I found myself thinking about the holiness of God. I believed it. I treasured it.

But at one of the lowest points of my life, what I desperately needed was not merely to know that God was holy. I needed to know that He loved me.

That’s what Jesus gives us with two words: Our Father.

But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He teaches us to pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” The Father who loves us is also the holy God of heaven.

Think about the contrast: The God who created a universe so vast that our galaxy is like a speck of dust invites you to call Him Father.

His fatherhood gives us intimacy. His holiness gives us humility. We need both.

That’s why the way we start our prayers matters. Before you rush into your problems, requests, fears, and plans, take a beat—

“Our Father.”

Remember how deeply you are loved.

“In heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Remember who you’re talking to.

Then bring Him everything that’s on your heart. He already knows what you need before you ask Him anyway.

So the next time you pray, don’t rush past the opening words. Take a beat, and let them sink in.

The holy God of heaven is your Father. And Jesus is the One who brought you into the family.

Always on your side,

Pat

For Reflection and Discussion

1. HEART | Reflect: How have you personally experienced God as a loving Father?
2. HEAD | Understand: Why do you think Jesus teaches us to hold together both “Our Father” and “in heaven, hallowed be your name” when we pray?
3. HANDS | Apply: This week, before bringing God your requests, take a beat and reflect on who He is and how much He loves you. How might that change the rest of your prayer?

Want to go deeper?

Watch the complete Man Alive Bible Study that inspired today’s Weekly Wisdom on YouTube, or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Amazon Music.