Think about this: when we pray more often than not, we say, "Dear Lord," or, "God," or something like that. But how did Jesus pray?
"Our Father,"
This doesn't negate the prayer if you say God or Lord, but Jesus called Him Father. He loves that you acknowledge Him, but He wants to be more than your God, more than your Lord, something closer than your King.
He wants to be your Dad.
And so my friend encouraged me to pray to the Father, instead of God.
And it has been really hard! I have no idea why, but talking to God in such a personal way, as my Father, seems very awkward and inappropriate. Its like when a famous person says, "Call me George," or when an in-law says, "Call me dad."
Its too close.
I'm not used to being so intimate with Him, and that's sad really. If I love God I should be excited to jump up into His lap and call him Papa. But when I go to pray I have to stop and think and then force the word 'Father' out.
I really don't know what to say about this. I assume it is a growth thing, like becoming friends with someone, or falling in love. Time will only tell.
Have you ever had trouble calling God your Father?
I guess the challenge for me is, how can I think of Him as my Father and yet still revere Him as the creator of the world? How can I call him Abba and in my spirit still give Him all glory that is due Him? That seems a tricky tension.
ReplyDeleteBut then in moments when I am hurting and I feel His love and comfort, it is not so difficult to agree that He is both my Lord and my Papa.