A Father Who Hears

Is prayer mundane for you? Does it excite you? Do you look forward to talking and communing with God? Perhaps you struggle in your prayer life because it feels dry, repetitive, and pointless. If you feel this way, you are not alone. Prayer is a beautiful gift from God that, at times, we struggle to appreciate or take advantage of. Rather than giving up, may I encourage you to consider a fresh view of prayer by looking at prayer through the eyes of Jesus. In Luke 11, Jesus is questioned by his disciples about prayer. They indicate a desire to pray by acknowledging a need to first learn how to pray. Jesus responds by telling his disciples to “hallow” God’s name (11:2). He then provides a series of requests (Lk 11:2-4; cf. Mt 6:9-13) that should characterize our prayers. But what stands out to me in the Lord’s prayer is the imperative to hallow the Father’s name. This is different than asking for God’s Kingdom to come or requesting daily sustenance. This is the only part of the prayer that explicitly defines what our human hearts should be doing and feeling. The one specific response of the human heart that prayer requires of us all is “hallowing”—reverencing, honoring, esteeming, admiring, valuing, and treasuring God’s name above all things. Perhaps we struggle to pray because we struggle to properly hallow God’s name. And why is that? Because God’s holy, transcendent glory is often too dim or vague to our eyes. Every one of the prayers we utter should be concerned with revering God while at the same time petitioning God to hallow His name through us. May we see and treasure God’s God-ness as we approach His holy throne each day. And may the holiness of God’s supreme name stimulate a greater desire for ceaseless prayer. –Pastor Nate

Sunday at Liberty

9AM: BTH–Parable of the Soils–Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

10AM: Pastor Nate–A Father Who Hears–Luke 11:1-13 (sermon notes)

11:45AM: Potluck

12:30PM: New Members’ Service