We are privileged children

          What earthly father is not thrilled to have his children speak to him candidly about the ups and downs of life?  Such is also true of our Heavenly Father who invites us to “cast all our cares on Him” (1Pet.5:7).  Our care-filled prayers to our Father are yielded up plain and simple though they be - - without “make-up” and pretense.  Precisely because we are God’s children we are now privileged to pray, not with fear and trepidation, but to “draw near with boldness and confidence” (Js.4:8; Eph.3:12 and Heb.4:16). 

          To kneel in prayer before the one and only awesome God Of All Creation might be deemed an almost-overwhelming assignment.  While ALMIGHTY GOD is still due our utmost reverence, God through Christ invites us to petition Him as our FATHER  (Mt.6:8).

In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, Abba! Father! (Mk.14:36) and so can we!  Paul makes this confidence-building announcement in Gal.4:6 - - “because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, Abba! Father!.”  We are often weak and do not know how to pray as we should, but God’s Spirit “intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Ro.8:26).  So when  we pray, let it be simple and unadorned - - because we are privileged children.   

                                                                                                                    Terry Siverd / Cortland Church Of Christ