Study

A Fresh Perspective on Prayer

Louie Giglio

5 Days

The Relationship that Changes Everything

Day 2

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A.W. Tozer wrote that what comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. What comes into your mind when you think about God? Do you consider him a friend, a ruler, or even a tyrant? Here is the truth: God, the Father, is OUR Father. We have access to Almighty God. Through a new birth because of the gospel, we get to call God Abba. He's not just a supernatural being. He's our Father. If that worries you, take heart. God is not a reflection of an imperfect father you may have had here on Earth. He is a perfect, loving Heavenly Father.

Summary

There is a mind-blowing relationship on the table for you today.

Matthew 6:9 starts with "Our Father." Therefore, we start with an understanding that God is our Father. We have been graced with an intimate relationship with the God of the universe. We get to call God our "Abba," which is a term of endearment.

Matthew 18:3-4 applauds the mindset of a child. Whenever a father hears, "Daddy, will you...", "Daddy, could you..." "Daddy, can you..." it pierces his heart and grabs his attention. The same is true for our Heavenly Father. God moves out of love and purpose to bless, and He wants the best for us. He is saying, "Come first as my child."

Through Jesus, we have been adopted as sons and daughters of God and get to call Him Dad. He is for you, and that reality has the power to completely shift how you move through your life.

See Ephesians 1:5. He's the God of the universe. He created all things, knows all things, and is in control of all things...and He's your Dad.

What's Next?

Thank God for His making a way for us to be with Him and drawing us into intimate relationships so that we are never alone. We are with the perfect Father, who is everything we need.

What did Louie say the term "Abba" meant? How does God view us as children?
What is your relationship with your earthly Father? Does that relationship cause you to draw closer to God or pull away?

Scripture References

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“ ‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

3And he said:

“Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5Then Jehoshaphat stood up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple of the

Lord

in the front of the new courtyard

6and said:

“

Lord

, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

7Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend?

8They have lived in it and have built in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying,

9‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’

10“But now here are men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not destroy them.

11See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.

12Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

23On their release, Peter and John went back to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them.

24When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them.

25You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“ ‘Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

26The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord

and against his anointed one.’

27Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

28They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.

29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

11I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war.

12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself.

13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.

14The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.

15Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

16On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:

king of kings and lord of lords.

41He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,

“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

29Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

Louie Giglio

Louie Giglio is the Visionary Architect and Director of the Passion Movement, comprised of Passion Conferences, Passion City Church, Passion Publishing and sixstepsrecords, and the founder of Passion Institute.