Day 1 – Our Father in Heaven
Scripture Reading (NKJV)
“In this manner, therefore, pray:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.”
— Matthew 6:9
When Jesus’ disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray, He did not begin with a list of requests. He began with a relationship.
“Our Father…”
Those two words carry more meaning than we often realize.
Jesus could have taught us to begin with, “Almighty God,” “Creator,” or “King of kings.” While all of these are true, He chose to begin with Father.
That is not by accident.
Prayer begins with knowing who we are speaking to.
Whenever I pray, “Our Father,” I cannot help but pause for a moment.
Those two simple words remind me that I am not praying to a distant God, but to my heavenly Father—the One who loves me with a perfect and everlasting love.
They remind me of His promises throughout Scripture: that if He faithfully cares for the birds of the air and clothes the lilies of the field with such beauty, how much more will He care for His children.
Jesus Himself reminds us:
“Look at the birds of the air… your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
— Matthew 6:26 (NKJV)
And again,
“Consider the lilies of the field… if God so clothes the grass of the field… will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”
— Matthew 6:28–30 (NKJV)
Before we ever ask God for anything, Jesus reminds us that we already belong to Him.
For me, calling Him Father is deeply personal. I know that this connection may come more easily for me than for some because I was blessed with an earthly father who loved the Lord and reflected His heart. I know that not everyone has experienced that kind of love or security.
Yet that is one of the beautiful truths of the gospel.
Our heavenly Father is not limited by our earthly experiences. He delights in restoring what has been broken, healing what has been wounded, and drawing us into a relationship where we truly know that we belong to Him.
He is Abba, Father—the One who invites us to come close.
He is El Roi, the God who sees us.
He is the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, who has held our lives from beginning to end.
He knows every joy, every fear, every unanswered question, and every tear before we ever speak a word.
When I begin my prayers with “Our Father,” I am reminded that I am already loved, already known, already seen, and already welcomed into His presence.
Then Jesus teaches us to pray:
“Hallowed be Your name.”
The word hallowed comes from the Greek word hagiazō, meaning to make holy, to regard as holy, to honor, to set apart as sacred.
Jesus is not teaching us to make God holy—He already is holy.
Instead, He is teaching us to recognize His holiness and to honor Him for who He is.
God’s Name represents His character, His nature, His authority, His reputation, and everything He has revealed Himself to be.
When we pray,
“Hallowed be Your name,”
we are saying:
“Father, may Your name be honored.
May You be glorified.
May my life reflect Your holiness.
May I never lose sight of who You are.”
Notice the beautiful order Jesus gives us.
He does not begin with:
“Give us…”
He begins with:
Father.
Then:
Your Name.
Then:
Your Kingdom.
Then:
Your Will.
Only then does He lead us to our daily needs.
Prayer begins with God—not with us.
Perhaps that is why these opening words are so powerful.
They gently move our eyes away from our circumstances and back onto the One who sits on the throne.
The more we understand who our Father is, the more we learn to trust Him.
That is why I want to honor, magnify, and praise His holy Name—not only because of what He has done for me, but because of who He is.
Before I bring Him my requests, I simply want my heart to stand in awe of my Father.
Reflection
How do I see God today?
Do I approach Him as a distant ruler, or as my loving heavenly Father?
What earthly experiences shape the way I think about Him?
How is He inviting me to know Him more deeply as my Father?
Prayer
Father,
Thank You for inviting me into Your presence as Your child. Thank You that I never have to earn Your love or wonder whether You hear me. Thank You for seeing me, caring for me, and faithfully providing for all that I need.
Teach me to begin every prayer with my eyes fixed on You. Help me to honor Your holy Name—not only with my words but also with the way I live. May Your character be reflected in my life, and may my heart always stand in awe of who You are.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.