“Our father in heaven.”
— Matthew 6:9
In 1983, the George H.W. Bush family hired David Valdez to be their official photographer.
His most famous family photo was taken in 1987 at the Bush vacation home in Kennebunkport, Maine.
It is 6:00 a.m., and the Vice President is in bed with his wife, Barbara, both dressed in bathrobes, surrounded by a gaggle of grandchildren playing on the bed with them.
It was a rare, intimate look into the life of the man who would become the next President of the United States, and by consequence, the most powerful political figure on the planet.
Those children had no idea how important and influential their grandfather was!
Receiving an invitation to visit the VP’s home would be a rare honor. To have the freedom to run in and jump on his bed is something altogether unimaginable.
Except for his grandchildren.
Because of their relation to the soon-to-be President, they were granted unique access to both his personal attention and affection as well as the breadth of his authority and power.
It is the same way for the spiritually adopted children of God.
Because of our relationship to God as Father, we are granted unique access, not into a bedroom but into a throne room.
By adding that one small phrase, in heaven, Jesus is reminding us that the one to whom we pray "is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us…”
He is a King. But no ordinary King. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Our Father is not only a sovereign; he is sovereign.
When you pray to “our Father in heaven,” your prayers are being heard by the God who upholds hundreds of billions of galaxies with the word of his power.
He is not a weak, impotent Father. He is omnipotent, omniscient, wise, good, strong, and able.
And he is for us.
As Paul wrote in Romans 8, “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”
Not sparing his own son refers to the Father proving his heart by giving Jesus to suffer on a cross for our sins, conquering the divide created by our sin.
If he has shown us such grace then, that’s exactly what we should continue to expect. Grace upon grace.
This is explicit in Hebrews 4:14-16, where the author writes,
“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
Do you have a need today?
Then you have something to pray to our Father in heaven today.
Nothing is too small. Nothing is too hard or far gone. There is no lost cause.
Remember, our Father in heaven “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”
It is to his glory when we run like children to the throne of grace.
Just like George Bush’s grandkids jumped into the VP’s bed with full assurance of welcome, we may run to our Father—flinging open the doors to the Oval Office of heaven unannounced.
That may be why Jesus added the phrase “in heaven” when teaching us to pray. Don’t forget that your Father is in total control. You do not need to carry the weight of the world. His supply of mercy and grace over-abounds for every need and is ready to meet us right where we are.
As we remind ourselves of this in prayer, our minds and hearts begin to rest in his sovereign rule over every detail of our lives, trusting him in sun or storm, on the mountain top or in the valley of the shadow of death.
Because he is our Father in heaven.
Discussion Questions
How does the analogy of his grandchildren jumping into the bed of the future President of the United States help you understand how believers may approach God in prayer?
What is the significance of having access to the throne room of God through prayer?
How does the grace of God shown through the sacrifice of Jesus impact your confidence in approaching the throne of grace?
How does the sovereignty of God bring peace and rest to your mind and heart in difficult times?
A Prayer
Dear Abba,
We come before you today, grateful for the privilege of calling you our Father in heaven. We recognize your sovereignty over all things and approach your throne of grace with confidence, knowing that we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven for us and intercedes for us.
We trust in your ability to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.
We ask for the strength to hold firmly to our faith, even in the midst of challenges and difficulties.
Help us to run to you like children, with full assurance of your welcome, flinging open the doors to the throne room of heaven unannounced.
For we pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
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My deep desire is for these lessons to help your family come alive to the wonder, beauty, and transforming power of God’s grace in the crucified, risen, and reigning Jesus. 🙏
Yours, by grace alone,
McKay