Since a child, I learned from church how to address God in prayer. Often the opening lines of a prayer, God was spoken as the Heavenly Father, God, and Lord, even Master. There was nothing wrong in what was said except God was more often addressed by a title than as a Person of the Godhead.
When I speak of Him as a Person, that is not to say we treat Him with familiarity as you would relate to your buddy, brother, or a family relation, etc. We must always fear God, stand in awe of the One who measures our breath and sustains our heart beat.
We find in the Scriptures various names for the Lord. Beloved, let me encourage you to take the time to study these names of God. Knowing them and their meanings will give prayer a fresh and powerful impact. Here are two examples that I have used in my times of prayer.
Jehovah Shammah: “The Lord is there.” (Ezekiel 48:35) My prayer might sound like this: Lord, you are Jehovah Shammah, you are there in my fiery test just like Daniel. Jesus, be my Jehovah Shammah in this hour. I really need to know you are there when I walk into my job this morning. Lord, I'm confident your presence is there with me!
Abba "Father" (Mark 14:36). You are my Abba Father, you really love me and I love you. Please show me, my Father, your ways. I want to know my Father's heart. Abba, you are my Father, and you are so good to me.
As you can see prayer becomes more personal and intimate. When we address Him by His character (the Person of Christ) it speaks right to place where we live and what we are experiencing. There are other names in the Bible. He is the vine, the truth, the door, the great I AM, the Ancient One of Days, etc. All these names reveal His character which will change the way we address Him in prayer.
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