Listening to the Son’s teaching and the Spirit’s cry
“Pray, then, in this way: ‘Our Father who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.’”
Matthew 6:9 • Read Galatians 4:4–7 and Romans 8:14–17
The words we bring
Christians address God in different ways: Lord, Almighty God, Yahweh, Heavenly Father. These words can carry deep reverence and love.
Someone who says “Yahweh” may be honouring His revealed covenant name and faithfulness.
Yet we can bring a more personal question to Scripture.
How has God Himself taught us to address Him?
Hear the Son teaching:
“Pray, then, in this way.”
Jesus speaks with authority. He is giving His disciples an instruction, rather than suggesting one possible approach. He directs them to address God as ‘our Father’. We receive His words as direction for our prayer, confident that the Son who knows the Father teaches us how to approach Him.
He invites us to approach with trust. He also teaches us to hallow God’s name. Our Father is in heaven; the closeness He gives us carries holy reverence.
Jesus’ words give us a clear starting point for prayer. We may receive them with gratitude, allowing them to shape how we approach God.
Hear the Spirit crying:
Galatians 4:6 brings us closer still: “Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, ‘Abba! Father!’”
The Spirit of God’s Son dwells within His people and cries out to the Father. Romans 8:15 adds that by the Spirit of adoption, we ourselves cry, “Abba! Father!”
The Son’s teaching and the Spirit’s work bear a powerful, united witness. The address Jesus teaches becomes the cry the Spirit enables within us.
Receive the Father’s welcome
Notice who sends the Spirit: God Himself. The Father welcomes the relationship expressed in this cry.
Earlier, Galatians 4:4–5 tells us that God sent His Son to redeem us so that we might receive adoption. Our access rests on Christ’s redeeming work.
Many of us know our earthly father’s name, yet call him Father, Dad, Pappa, etc. That word expresses relationship. Through Jesus, God gives His children a far greater privilege.
The Son teaches “Our Father”. The Spirit enables “Abba! Father!”
The Son instructs us to say “Our Father”, and the Spirit bears witness that we are His children, enabling us to cry “Abba! Father!”
Let us turn from examining other people’s prayers to receiving this welcome ourselves.
Look again at Jesus.
He brings us to the Father.
Through His death and resurrection, He has opened the way for us to draw near. We come depending on Him, trusting the Father who sent Him.
And now we can ask:
Do I pray with the trust of a child who is loved?
Does “Father” express a relationship I am learning to enjoy?
Scripture records other faithful forms of address. Jesus’ instruction invites us to appreciate the welcome contained in this one.
If you do not yet know God as Father, you can. Jesus has opened the way. He died for you and me, bearing the penalty for the sins that separated us from God, and rose again. He brings those who trust Him to the Father (1 Peter 3:18).
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).
This promise is for you too. Receive Jesus and trust in Him as your Saviour. Through Him, you can call God Father and belong to His family.
Let His words become our prayer.
Prayer
Father, teach me to receive Your welcome.
Thank You for sending Your Son to redeem me and Your Spirit into my heart. Deepen my reverence and trust. Keep me from judging others. Help me come to You as Your child, through Jesus. Amen.