praying to our father

and Jesus said, “Pray then, like this…”

Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from [the] evil [one].
For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory,
forever. Amen.

From the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), question #120:

Why has Christ commanded us to address God as “our Father”?

To awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer what should be basic to our prayer—a childlike reverence and trust that through Christ God has become our Father, and will much less refuse to give us what we ask in faith than will our parents refuse us the things of this life.

I am flooded with gratitude this morning that of all the spiritual blessings that come to us in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), this one towers among them: the God of the universe is also my Father.

Revel in this this morning, disciple of Jesus. Before anything else, you are a son, a daughter, and your Father who is in heaven will much less refuse to give us what we ask in faith than will our parents refuse us the things of this life. (Luke 11:1-13)