Weekly Teaching Reflection
January 19 Reflection
What might have compelled Jesus to place the Prayer at the center of his Sermon on the Mount?
Why does Jesus instruct his followers to address God as “Our Father” when praying?
Because Jesus began his prayer by calling God “Our Father,” spend some time praying by spontaneously naming who God is. This could sound like “God, thank you that you are our Defender.” or “Father, thank you that you are Healer.” or something about God as Creator, Father, Provider, Teacher, Redeemer, Savior, etc. As you pray, invite the Spirit to show you what it means that God is each of these things. Reflect on the personal nature of each name and thank him for that.
Throughout the Scriptures, God calls us Beloved. He renames us according to our true identity, and not what we do or don’t do. Read each of these verses aloud one at a time, pausing after each to let them sink in. Paying attention to how you feel, if you notice that you have a hard time receiving the promise that one of the passages holds, be curious about that and take that to God in prayer.
Colossians 1:13-14: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
Romans 8:1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus…”
Ephesians 3:12: “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.”
2 Timothy 1:7: “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-control.”