Our Father in Heaven: Beginning the Prayer
Daily Scripture
Matthew 6:7-9
The GPS this week follows the chapter headings in Pastor Hamilton’s book The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught. Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition. We highly recommend this book, which explores the words and ideas of the Lord’s Prayer in much greater detail than we can in the GPS. Because the New International Version’s wording is the closest to the way we repeat the prayer in worship each week, each day’s text will use that language as well as that of the Common English Bible we regularly use for the GPS.
7 When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 This, then, is how you should pray:
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name
7 “When you pray, don’t pour out a flood of empty words, as the Gentiles do. They think that by saying many words they’ll be heard. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows what you need before you ask. 9 Pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, uphold the holiness of your name.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
Jesus warned against thinking “many words” would make God hear us. Then he began the Lord’s Prayer with a phrase linking key beliefs about the nature of life. Speaking to “Our Father” said that beyond all our surface differences, we humans are all part of the same family. The title “Father” didn’t mean God is male—”God transcends both male and female, and both fathering and mothering are a part of God’s nature and character.” * The Hebrew Scriptures ascribed the warmest parental qualities—both father AND mother—to God (Hosea 11:1-4; Isaiah 49:14-16).
- “Hallowed be your name” means honoring God’s name and character as holy. This is about how we live, not just words. Pastor Hamilton wrote, “God is the Father, the Source, Protector, Lover, of all of us. God holds the entire universe in God’s hands but is as near as the air that we breathe. And we’re meant to live our lives in such a way that God hallows God’s name through us.” ** In what ways do you seek to “hallow” God’s character through how you affect the lives of others? When have you seen someone whose actions hallowed God’s name?
- “In heaven” translates the Greek word ouranos, which could mean “air,” “sky,” or the transcendent realm where God dwells. It didn’t mean God is distant or remote—Hebrew prayer language asserted both that God is above all and that God is near. God is everywhere, around us, above us, wherever we go (Psalm 139:7-12). How does trusting God is near—even when invisible—give you spiritual strength and peace? What practices help keep you aware of God’s nearness?
Prayer
Our Father, who is all around me and closer than the air I breathe, I bow to you as the Lord of my life. Teach me to hallow your name through how I live. Guide me this week as I seek to understand more deeply the prayer you taught us. Amen.
GPS Insights
Valerie Nagel
Valerie Nagel, who serves as a Connection and Care Pastor at Resurrection Leawood, wrote today's Insights. A Californian by birth, her Master of Divinity degree is from Duke Divinity School. She served in the Rio Texas Conference from 2011 in the Austin area and San Antonio. From congregational care and welcoming guests to leading in worship, Valerie loves the local church's ministry. She juggles ministry with being a mom to Caleb (born 2012) and Jacob (born 2015), friend, avid reader, lover of the outdoors, beginner in CrossFit, and foodie.
My dad is moving this year. He’s selling our childhood home, the place where he and my mom lived together for almost 50 years. It’s time for him to live closer to my brothers and their families and to be a short flight away from me. With this milestone moment, I’ve been spending a lot of time reflecting on my childhood and my parents. They weren’t perfect, no parents are. But I have brought some of their wisdom into my own parenting. I’ve left some things behind. I’m grateful that the word “father” does not have negative connotations for me.
Words matter. Even when we intend good, the impact of what we say or how we say it can still cause harm. I’ve learned that one of the best ways to care for others is to listen when they share what something means to them. When I hear the opening of the Lord’s Prayer I feel a tension in my chest because “father” can be a loaded word for some of us. While it’s true that knowing God’s love, experiencing the care of community, and walking with God can help someone to hear the word “father” in a different way, there can still be grief and pain associated with that word. God does show us the kind of love that should guide and inspire parents. And, when we speak about God, there is no gender associated with God. Jesus was fully human and fully God. He was a man. But the one God we know as the Trinity does not require us to use a masculine pronoun. For some people referring to God as “he” brings comfort and connection. For some of us, myself included, using that pronoun feels like it leaves me out. As a woman in ministry, it matters to me that we affirm all people as being capable of joining God in the work of gentle caregiving, serving as leaders, being strong, and offering humble service to others. All of us are made in the image of God. I love serving at Resurrection because we welcome all.
When I hear Jesus inviting us to pray to “Our Father,” I hear him saying, all of us can know the God who created us, who walks with us, who draws near to us, who invites us into community, and who works with us as we join together caring for others. It’s a gift to be family. I’m praying for us to remember, no matter what our relationship is with our earthly parent(s), that we are loved by God, tenderly, fiercely, and completely.
© 2026 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Hamilton, Adam, The Lord’s Prayer: The Meaning and Power of the Prayer Jesus Taught (p. 9). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.
** Ibid., p. 23.
