Jesus’ First Lesson

Andrew Murray’s first lesson for us on prayer is that Jesus directs us to speak to “Our Father”.

The chief thing Jesus teaches is the “Fatherliness” of God. Three times He uses the name Father. Jesus directs us to meet our Father as the first and primary thing in prayer. Thus each thought or petition we breathe out will be simple, heartfelt, childlike trust in the Father.

As a father pities his child, so the Lord pities us. Do not be thinking of how little you have to bring to God, but of how much He wants to give you. The Father’s exceptional loving heart will give light and warmth to you. Depend upon it. Not on strong or fervent feeling of prayer does the blessings depend, but upon the love and power of the Father to whom we entrust our needs.

“My Father knows I need it and must have it. And if there be any delay in the answer, it will teach me in quiet perseverance to simply hold on.” Sometimes we just need to be still and remind ourselves: “My Father sees, my Father hears, my Father knows.”

Our highest joy is to know the Father rewards our faith; it’s our highest strength day by day. Knowing the Father sees my needs gives me liberty to bring every need to Him in the assurance that He supplies according to His riches.