How Is Your Prayer Life?

As a brand new Christian, many years ago, I struggled with prayer. Since then, I have heard many Christians say the same thing. It always seemed so formal … so stilted. Most of us were familiar with the Bible in language penned in 1611. Speech from that time seemed a bit formal to our ears.

Then I remembered a story related by my Pastor at the time. His son had built a house next door to his own. It became a habit for his pre-school grandson to walk over, enter the house and go for the refrigerator. The pastor confronted this little intruder one day and asked him, “Why do you think you can just come in here when you want, young man!?” The little tyke replied, “Cause you’re my grandpa.”

I then had the same revelation that Martin Luther had in the sixteenth century as he read Galatians 4:4-7, “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”

The term "Abba" is felt to convey a sense of affection and intimacy that is perceived to be very much lacking in the far more formal term "father." Abba is actually an Aramaic word, which most scholars feel is the language that our Lord Jesus Christ spoke during His human existence upon this earth.

As expositor, W. E. Vine wrote, "'Abba' is the word framed by the lips of infants, and betokens unreasoning trust; 'father' expresses an intelligent apprehension of the relationship. The two together express the love and intelligent confidence of the child."

Though our God, the Creator of the entire universe and everything in it, is deserving of the highest honor and respect, He is also our “father” … our “daddy”. He loves us as little children

I remember my father as a man bigger than life … however, I also remember the warmth of his strong arms and the love that radiated from his instruction. And, I want to face my heavenly Father on the same terms.

So, if you are having trouble with prayer … in either the frequency of it or the formality of it … just try to envision yourself snuggling up to your “daddy” and telling Him how your day has been.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15-16

Larry Abele - Editorial Team