Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 8Sample

In saying the Lord's Prayer so often, we are prone to get used to it and look past how countercultural it was in its day. Jesus completely baffled His followers when He said those words.

You see, in those days, there was a lot of controversy regarding how to address God in prayer. Some said you couldn't say His name; you had to say "Lord." Some said even that is too much; one could only refer to '"Ha-Shem" (or "The Name"). But Jesus instructed all His followers to say: "Our Father..."

The power of the truth behind this simple word to address our God should never be underestimated. God is inviting us to call Him "Father." There is an inherent call to intimacy between us and our Heavenly Father. Forget the prim and proper prayers we may be used to.

Pray daring, intimate prayers. The focus isn't on the wording of a prayer; it is on the relationship between the prayer and the God who listens.

The focus of prayer is to grow the relationship between you and God. Stop praying the same little thing over and over. God wants a real, heartfelt conversation with His beloved child.