JESUS TAUGHT US TO PRAY TO GOD AS “FATHER.” One key aspect of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is to convince us that we are adopted sons and daughters of God. He teaches us to cry out toGod as “Abba. Father.”
If God is our Father, why does it often feel like prayer is a one-way conversation? It often feels like God is far away, hard to reach, unconcerned with our daily lives. Often we ask God to intervene in a difficult situation or to show his glory and power by changing circumstances that need to change, but God doesn’t seem to intervene and the circumstances don’t change. Why does it often feel like God doesn’t listen when we pray?
The psalmists remind us in many ways that God is not silent – he is speaking every day in ways that are clear and personal. And the psalms invite us to pour out our hearts to God when life doesn’t make sense and it feels like God is far off.