Lord, Teach Us to Pray

You can find peace through prayer in troubling times | Random Thoughts | Jesus Christ | Christianity

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If you’re a not-yet follower of Jesus Christ, please come along on this journey with us. You are welcome here.

And, I invite you to read my series on the book “What Does God Want?”.

Praying in Troubled Times

My week has carried the news of many struggles. Maybe you can relate?

• People knocked down with physical pain or struck down by serious illnesses

• Single moms struggling to raise their kids

• Family members devastated by a dementia diagnosis

• Communities hit hard by weather-caused disasters

• Tragic, horrific scenes of warfare

And, although I love being on the email list to receive prayer requests from my church, at times when I open the newest email, I feel overwhelmed by the heart-wrenching needs expressed on those pages.

Lord, how do You want me to pray? The burdens feel so great, so heavy!
Where is Your peace in all of this?

He gently let me know that I can:

• Call on God as my “Abba”, “Daddy”, “Papa”

• Rest in His compassion and love

Who Are We Praying To?

The most faithful of Jesus’ disciples saw the Lord’s dedication to prayer. Jesus spent daily time with His Father, and the disciples saw something unique that compelled one of them to ask:

Luke 11:1 (BSB)
1 One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

For me, one of the most powerful and precious passages in all of God’s scriptures is when Jesus, Emmanuel—God with us, responds to that disciple’s desire by inviting them (and us) to pray in this way:

Matthew 6:9-10 (BSB)
9 So then, this is how you should pray:

‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.

10 Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.

“Our Father, who art in heaven….”

Jesus used the word “Abba”, an Aramaic/Chaldee word that we English speakers translate as:

“Daddy”.

It’s hard to describe how special, how precious is the word “Daddy”. It marks a man as someone very unique and so influential to his children that some continue to use “Daddy” as adults, especially daughters as they grow into their own senior years.

Jesus used the most intimate, familial word to address Yahweh, the Creator and Lord of the Universe as He began to teach His followers how to pray to Almighty Father God. Jesus invited His disciples to pray to the God of Israel by acknowledging and entering into a loving and close relationship with Him as:

“Daddy”.

For these disciples raised in the Hebrew culture, God ruled from the heavens and His presence filled the temple in Jerusalem, hidden in the Holy of Holies behind a huge, thick curtain. G-d (Hashem, Adonai) was not accessible to them.

Can you imagine how shocked they might have been when they heard Jesus begin to pray with the word “Abba”?

“Abba, Father,”
The term "Abba" is an Aramaic word that translates to "Father" and conveys a deep sense of intimacy and trust. It was used by children in the Jewish culture to address their fathers, similar to "Daddy" in English. This expression highlights Jesus' unique relationship with God, emphasizing both His divinity and His humanity. The dual use of "Abba, Father" underscores the personal and relational nature of God, which is also reflected in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6, where believers are invited to address God with the same intimacy.
~BibleHub Study Bible (bottom of page)

A Compassionate Daddy

Some of you, dear readers, might not have had a healthy, loving relationship with your earthly father, and some of you might not know who your father is/was. For you, it might be hard to have good feelings about the word “Abba”, “Daddy”. I want to acknowledge that, and say I’m so sorry. You’re not alone, unfortunately.

I understand, and yet… please hear me out. Your Lord God adores you, cherishes you, and He loves you with a fatherly “sticky love” that never quits on you.

Feel free to read my post “What Is ‘Sticky Love’ and Why Does It Matter?”

Psalm 103:13 (BSB)
13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.

Our heavenly Father is filled with compassion. “Fear” refers to having reverence, awe, and respect for Him, for who He is. As His redeemed children, we have no need to be afraid of Him and fear Him in that way (being scared). And our Lord God’s compassion never fails!

Lamentations 3:22-23 (BSB)
22 Because of the loving devotion of the LORD we are not consumed,
for His mercies [His compassion] never fail.

23 They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness!

[ Loving devotion = “sticky love” ]

When I take time to slow down my racing thoughts and to focus on my Abba’s compassion, His nature, who He truly is, I feel His rest and His peace comfort my heart and ease my overwhelmed feelings. I then surrender all outcomes to Him, for He is God and He knows what’s best; for others, for me.

Your Turn

A Model for How We Can Pray

This simple list is what God led me to consider this week whenever I feel overwhelmed when praying for burdens; for others as well as my own:

• Call on God as my “Abba”, “Daddy”, “Papa”

• Rest in His compassion and love

If this “model” will help you to pray in troubled times, please let me know.

Maranatha, (again) come Lord Jesus.
Soli Deo Gloria!

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Conversation & Community

If you ever feel overwhelmed as a “prayer warrior”, what helps you to pray—for others, for yourself—whenever the needs seem too much to bear?

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