TALKING TO JESUS 1: Our Father

Many Christians struggle with prayer, feeling like their words hit the ceiling and go nowhere. This declining practice among believers stems from feeling unheard, being distracted, feeling self-sufficient, or simply not knowing how to pray 'correctly.' However, Jesus' sacrifice fundamentally changed our relationship with God, removing the barrier between humanity and divinity, symbolized by the temple veil tearing when He died. The Lord's Prayer isn't meant to be recited verbatim but serves as a template for effective communication with God. Jesus teaches us to approach God as 'Our Father,' suggesting an intimate relationship rather than viewing Him as a distant deity, a genie granting wishes, or someone to fear. This perfect Father wants to hear from His children, meet their needs, and see them thrive. We should approach Him with both reverence for His holiness and confidence based on Jesus' advocacy for us. Prayer is a personal muscle that needs development—simply talk to God about your concerns, using frameworks like ACTS (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) to guide your conversations with the One who always listens.  (Preached by Steve Coots to youth on 5-28-25)