The Prayer Thing: Who are We Praying to?
If you were raised in the South as I was, it was likely ingrained in you to refer to your parent’s friends as “Miss” or “Mister”, followed by their first name. This was very different than calling other adults “Mr. and/or Mrs. Jones”. It was more casual and comfortable while still maintaining respect. It showed that you knew these adults well, likely spent a lot of time around them, and had been given permission to talk to them in a more relaxed than formal manner. These were the people that were closest to your parents. People you might turn to if you needed someone. People you knew very well.
As I transitioned into adulthood, I found it very difficult to stop calling older adults that I was close to Miss/Mister. I had to continually remind myself—and do sometimes to this day—that I was, um, older too. It no longer qualified as a sign of respect, and began to take the nasty turn towards condescending if not handled properly. It became something I did out of habit, rather than purposeful intention.
While trying to figure out this thing called prayer, I’ve struggled with WHO it is, exactly, that we are to pray to. Within the Trinity do we pray to the Father God, the son Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit? Are there certain times we should address one or the other?
In reality, of course, it is always appropriate to pray however you choose to address the Lord. However, as I look back on my childhood and remember how the walls of formality were broken as I began calling select friends of my parents “Miss/Mister” followed by their first name, they became easier for me to relate to. I still maintained a level of respect. But, I was less intimidated by them and more likely to be transparent in our talks.
In the same way, as I’ve moved away from the formality of approaching God as only God, and have approached Him instead as Father, or Jesus, I’ve taken on a new level of intimacy in my prayers with Him.
When you don’t know God, calling Him by any other name is quite intimidating. But, when you begin to understand and know the Lord more intimately, you discover that He longs for a more intimate relationship too, and encourages us to call Him by more intimate names. As a result, He becomes less intimidating.
The one prayer we are taught to pray in the Bible (The Lord’s Prayer) encourages us to approach Him as “Father”. As others in the Bible grew to know Him more closely, there are a plethora of names they called Him. He is also referred to as:
A shelter from the storm (Isaiah 25:4)
He who comforts you (Isaiah 66:13)
The God who sees me (Genesis 16:13)
My friend (Jeremiah 3:4)
Our peace (Ephesians 2:14)
Wonderful counselor (Isaiah 9:6)
The gift (Acts 2:38)
Why don’t you give it a try, as I have? Find a name that speaks to you and gives you comfort (for me, it is Father or Father God). It still may feel awkward at times. But, over time, it will make you more comfortable in your prayer time. You will feel like you’ve grown closer to Him in those talks, rather than simply respectfully speaking to Him from a distance.
Close the gap. Miss Laura did.
He's my Father or Father God, too.
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And where have you been all my life, my dear? So excited to meet a kindred spirit who laughs at all that tries to smack us down in life! Great to be working with you on Moms Together. I'm subscribing here too... I'll be back!
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