The Lodestar

The Lord’s Prayer begins by addressing God as “our Father in Heaven.”

Heaven is the control room of the entire cosmos and everything beyond it, if there is something beyond it. Everything, from the movement of the planetary bodies to each step of the animals on this earth, is under heaven’s scrutiny. The creator God, who sits enthroned in heaven, knows and controls everything.

The Lord’s prayer proceeds, asking for the mundane things of life, such as “our daily bread” and forgiveness for our “sins.” Asking for daily sustenance from the God who controls the cosmos sounds trivial. Does God have time to attend to such simple things? But Jesus taught that he cares, even when having his eyes on planetary movement, to ensure that his children do not go to bed with empty stomachs.

In this simple sentence, Jesus packed another great truth: that we have an intimate relationship with the Lord of the universe to call him “father.” As babies grow into adults, they become increasingly independent and distance themselves from their parents, who belong to the previous generation. As parents age, their ability to provide for their children diminishes, and as children become adults, their dependence on parents also disappears. However, God is great, and his capacity to care for his children is always greater than his children require. No creature could ever grow to be independent of their creator.

The opening sentence of the Lord’s Prayer is more than an address; it is praise and a declaration of God’s greatness and sufficiency. It also doubles as a declaration of human dependence on the creator God. For those who have Jesus in their lives, it serves as a reminder that the God of the universe is their Father.

As we reflect on this profound truth, let us renew our relationship with God, recognising both his majesty and his nearness. Let us pray with confidence, live with trust, and walk with the assurance that the sovereign Lord of the cosmos listens to every word uttered by His children. Today, let us take a moment to approach him — not only as the ruler of heaven but as our Father who cares for the smallest details of our lives.