The Lord’s Prayer
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. Romans 8:14-16
In Jesus’ instruction concerning His prayer, He teaches us to direct it to our heavenly Father.
It is a miracle of God’s grace that we have the privilege to pray to Him and call Him our Father. While God is the Creator of everyone, not all people are able to address Him as their Father, because humankind in their natural state is outside God’s family. Jesus paid the adoption price through His sacrificial blood on the cross and the Holy Spirit created faith in our hearts. Because of this, we have been made sons and daughters of God’s family and can address Him as our Father.
How is it that Jesus would have us direct this prayer to the heavenly Father? In the letter of James, we learn that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” (1:17) As King of kings and Lord of lords who oversees everything and governs in heaven and on earth, our Father is the source of every good and perfect gift that we need for our body and soul.
As this prayer starts out with the words “Our Father”, we understand that the Lord’s Prayer is not an individual prayer, but rather one offered by all believers throughout the world at numerous times and on different occasions. We are not only praying for ourselves but also for fellow believers, as well as for all others whom God the Father would bless with His grace and mercy.
Our Father, Thou in heav’n above, Who biddest us to dwell in love,
As brethren of one family, to cry in ev’ry need to Thee,
Teach us no thoughtless words to say, but from our inmost heart to pray.
Amen.
The Lutheran Hymnal 458:1