Praying to Our Father
February 7, 2023
Dear CPC Family,
It’s no secret that Presbyterians are big fans of catechisms. We refer often to the Westminster Larger and Shorter Catechism and we encourage individuals and families to memorize catechism questions. These questions and answers are a great blessing to our church!
Because a catechism intends to teach the Christian faith in a thorough, accessible, and biblical way, the “outline” of our two catechisms is the Apostles’ Creed (doctrine), the Ten Commandments (the Christian life), and the Lord’s Prayer (how to pray). If you know these “big three,” you have a solid foundation as a believer for trust in Christ and daily perseverance.
We recite the Apostles’ or Nicene creeds in worship weekly and we often use the catechism’s explanation of the Ten Commandments in our reading of the law, so I want to begin an occasional series in these pastoral letters looking at the Lord’s Prayer, “the special rule of direction” for prayer (Shorter Catechism, Q. 99).
The catechism unpacks the Lord’s Prayer into a preface, six petitions, and a conclusion. Over the coming weeks and months we’ll look at each part in hope that the Lord will kindle in us a growing zeal for prayer.
Q. 100. What doth the preface of the Lord’s prayer teach us?
A. The preface of the Lord’s prayer, which is, Our Father which art in heaven, teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.
Here are some Scripture passages this answer draws on:
Hebrews 4:16: Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
1 John 3:1: See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
Ephesians 6:18: Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.
The preface teaches us the privilege of prayer: we—sinners though we are—may draw near because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.
It teaches the posture of prayer: both reverence before the God who is a consuming fire and confident joy as children to their father.
It teaches the partnership of prayer: we are to partner with others by praying for them and partner with others by praying with them—that’s why the prayer begins “Our Father” and not “My Father.”
If we really believe that our Heavenly Father is able and ready to help us, we should pray without ceasing! Too often we think of praying as something we do only when conditions are perfect (not too tired, not too busy, not too distracted). But the preface of the Lord’s Prayer calls us to communion with the God who is able and ready to help in the daily chaos of life.
Here’s how Paul Miller puts it in his book A Praying Life:
“I am starting to see there is a difference between ‘saying prayers’ and honest praying. Both can sound the same on the outside, but the former is too often motivated by a sense of obligation and guilt; whereas the latter is motivated by a conviction that I am completely helpless to ‘do life’ on my own. Or in the case of praying for others, that I am completely helpless to help others without the grace and power of God.”
Beloved church family, let’s draw near—as individuals, families, and a whole church—to God our Father who graciously calls us to pray with confidence.
In the Father’s Love,
Pastor Andrew