Higher Ground

When Jesus first taught His followers to pray, He began by addressing God as “Our Father in Heaven.” Paul tells us that Christ is the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15), and Jesus Himself said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). If we want to know what God is like, we look at Jesus.

And what do we see in Him? We see generosity and compassion. We see His pursuit of the lost and His tenderness toward the broken. We see humble servant leadership, justice for those without a voice, and a willingness to welcome those whom others had rejected. We see quiet strength, mercy, patience, and a deep concern for people. In Jesus, we see the heart of the Father revealed to us.

So when we begin our prayer with “Our Father in Heaven,” we are invited to remember who God is. As we recognize His character, we are reminded of His priorities—what matters to Him, what He cares about, and what He desires for His children. And as we spend time recognizing His heart, our own hearts begin to realign with His. Our priorities become increasingly shaped by His priorities; our desires are formed by His desires. Then, as we continue to pray, our requests naturally flow out of that relationship and understanding. We are not simply bringing our agenda to God; we are learning to bring our hearts into harmony with His.

This is why where Jesus begins matters. “Our Father in Heaven” is more than an opening address. It is a reminder of whose heart we are seeking to know and whose priorities we are learning to share.

The more clearly we see the heart of our Father, the more naturally our own hearts and desires begin to beat in rhythm with His.

Look at Jesus. Remember His character. Remember His heart. And let that shape the prayers that follow.