4. We pray to God, our Father. How tenderly does this name invite us to come to Him in our need! How this name does give us courage, "so that we may with all boldness and confidence ask Him as dear children ask their dear father"! A child is not afraid to come to his beloved father, to tell him with confidence all that he wants and needs. He knows that hie dear father will gladly listen to him and help him. So it is with the children of God. They do not fear to come to their Father, for He loves them. They do not doubt, but confidently believe that their dear Father will hear their prayer and help them. Our Father promised to do that. By the endearing name Father, God reminds us: I am your Father, you are my dear child. Come without fear and doubt; pray with ail confidence. I will hear your prayer.
5. "Our Father who art in heaven." This Father of ours to whom we pray is not a weak, not an earthly father. God is the heavenly Father; He is the almighty God, the Lord of heaven and earth. He can do whatsoever He wills. With all confidence we come to Him and believe that He not only will hear our prayers, but is also able to help us in every need and trouble.
6. Our Lord teaches us to say: "Our Father who art in heaven." He reminds us of the fact that all true believers are children of God, and that all children of God pray for and with each other. "One God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all." Eph. 4,6. I am not the only one praying to God, but a great host of fellow- men, all my brethren in Christ, are praying with me and for me. In Christ's name I pray to my Father in heaven for and with all my brethren; should I not therefore with all confidence ask my dear Father, as dear children ask their dear father?
REMEMBER:—
1. Always pray in the name of Jesus Christ, your Savior. Through Him alone God is your true Father, and you are His true child. In His name you may and should ask your Father in heaven as dear children ask their dear father.
2. As God's child through Christ pray to your Father without fear and doubt, with the firm, confidence that He will hear and accept your prayer.
3. The Father to whom you pray is the heavenly Father, the almighty God. To Him we pray with all confidence that He not only will, but also can answer our prayers and help us in all our troubles.
MEMORIZE:—
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God. 1 John 3,1.
For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Eph. 3,14.15.