What Papa Wants

Things I'm learning about Jesus from something he talked about ...
"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. "This, then, is how you should pray: "`Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Here's what I'm gleaning from what Jesus said...
1. Pray to YOUR Father. He says "your Father" about 5 times. I think Jesus is showing us that we can have have an intimate relationship with God, our Father. He pretty much introduced us to the notion that God isn't a far away deity. He is close. A New Testament writer, Paul, described us as children of God who cry out, Abba! Because of what Jesus did for us, we have an intimacy with God our Father, that allows us to see him as Abba. It means "daddy," or "papa." We DO have an intimate relationship with him. We just need to believe it's true.

2. Pray "in secret." Public show is empty. "Clap, clap. Rah, rah. I'm impressed. You're cool. You're wonderful. Blah, blah, blah." Posturing, preening, and pretentious pomposity belongs to the peacock world. God isn't impressed, and I don't think he's looking to be impressed. Just like my father never needed to be impressed by me in order to love me and I never needed to impress him (even though I tried), my heavenly Father is the same. Papa wants to spend time with me. Wants to hear my heart, my needs, desires, hurts, longings. He wants me to believe he is. He wants me to believe what is true: He cares.

3. Pray in confidence. You don't need to fear that you won't be heard. Saying things over and over, or in certain way, or by a particular formula, won't make your Father hear you. He already does. Lose the anxiety. The so-called "Lord's Prayer" isn't a formula. I think Jesus is saying something like this: "Be simple, straightforward. Yes, recognize who you're talking to -- God!-- not so you can fear him, but so you can trust him. He is the most powerful ally anyone can have, and he is your Father. He's on your side, you're on his. Recognize that his way is the best. Trust this. This is a good thing. Trust him. Go ahead and ask for what you need. He already knows it. Just like your dad knew what you needed, but wanted to hear it from you, wanted to spend time with you. Your Father does, even more so. He doesn't want a "jeannie in the bottle" relationship. He wants a father and child relationship, one of trust, love. Abba. Papa. Daddy.

This is pretty cool to know. I'm glad to know this about God.