Have you ever heard those people that pray those really formal prayers? They refer to God in terms of “Thee” and “Thou,” and they use a lot of high-sounding, religious language. They use terms like “Beseech,” and “wherefore,” They just sound like they are praying in King James English from the 1400’s, don’t they?
For some of us, hearing these kinds of prayers feels foreign. They seem to demonstrate a need for formality and betray a lack of real relationship, right? They don’t sound like they are having a dialogue with someone they know… They just sound like they’re required to make a speech to some foreign royalty or dignitary.
If this is the way you relate to God, well okay, then. I can certainly appreciate the desire to have reverence and awe for a holy God. Jesus did, after all, start his model prayer by addressing God as “Our Father,” and “hallowed be your name.” I definitely feel that we should always keep a reverence for God’s holiness close to our heart.
But for me, you don’t speak that way to someone you know personally, do you? Is all that formality really necessary?
Not according to Scripture! The Apostle Paul is very clear about this…
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.
-Romans 8:15-16
That term, “Abba” is a very personal term. It literally means “Daddy.” It is usually one of the very first words a baby will speak. It is a word that every father loves to hear. Any man can be a “Father,” but it takes a close, personal, loving relationship to be called “daddy.”
So we can approach God in all authenticity. We don’t have anything to hide from him, and we don’t have to put on a sense of formality. Our sin is hidden in Christ, and HE is the mediator between us and God.
So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
-Hebrews 4:16
Isn’t that great news? Because of Jesus, you have nothing to fear and nothing to formalize between you and God. What freedom in communication and relationship that should bring to our prayer lives!
David, the man after God’s own heart, prayed like this:
Psalm 86
Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.
2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God.
3 Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.
4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you.
5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help.
6 Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry.
7 I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.
8 No pagan god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do!
9 All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name.
10 For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.
11 Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.
12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever,
13 for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.*
14 O God, insolent people rise up against me; a violent gang is trying to kill me. You mean nothing to them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God of compassion and mercy, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.
16 Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant.
17 Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O Lord, help and comfort me.
Take a moment to thank God today that you can talk to him just as you would a loving daddy. He loves that. He loves you.