Talking With Your Heavenly Father

Talking With Your Heavenly Father                             October 25, 2026

Prayer isn’t performance or panic.  It’s a relationship.  Because of Jesus, we get to talk to God like a child talks to his dad.  The disciples watched Jesus prayed and finally asked, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1).  They heard Him teach on a variety of topics, but they wanted this skill most.  We treat prayer like a last resort, a duty or wish list.  So, we either feel guilty for not doing it, or frustrated when God seems silent

Prayer is access to the Father.  Before Jesus, only the High Priest had access to God but through Him, we all can approach the Father (Hebrews 10:19-25).  When we pray, we say FATHER.  That was radical.  The Jews didn’t call God “Father.”  A five-year old doesn’t need perfect words to speak to his father, he just needs his attention.  We have the Father’s attention (I Peter 3:12).

Prayer is shaped by God’s kingdom, not just our needs.  In the model prayer in Matthew 6, you have six lines.  The first three are God focused: Your name, Your kingdom and Your will.  The last three are us focused: bread, forgiveness and deliverance.  In Matthew 6:33, Jesus tells us to seek first the kingdom of God.  God wants conversation, not the same old thing every time I come before Him.

Prayer is a persistent trust, not perfect technique.  In Luke 11:5-13, Jesus tells the story about a man banging on a friend’s door at midnight.  Point: Ask, seek and knock.  Then in verse 13, Jesus says, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

There are three enemies to prayer:

Distractions:  So set a time and place to pray.

Discouragement: Remember that God hears even weak faith.

Doubt: Always ask in faith (James 1:6).

Father, teach us to pray like Jesus did.  Forgive us for treating you like a vending machine.  Give us hungry hearts for your kingdom.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

By Ray Rose (Adapted)