This trimester I am leading one of our Life Groups through a series that digs deeper into the Lord’s Prayer as a model for us to approach communication with God. It has honestly been a fascinating and encouraging process for me as I study in preparation. The questions I find myself asking and evaluating, thinking through my own approach to prayer.

For some time I have been convicted with how I approach God in prayer. Growing up I’ve heard numerous ways to reference God. The Big Guy in the Sky, my Homie, Daddy, Father, The Man Upstairs. Some I can get behind, most I can’t. To this point I have been convicted again in the reverence I give God. Do I really see Him as He truly is, as Scripture teaches us?

Do I see Him as loving and gracious but also holy and righteous? What I have found is that often times I can become complacent in my view of God. I can fall victim to just seeing Him as another “person”, and my communication with Him becomes more of a task than a joyful privilege.

Being reminded of Who He is has been a breath of much needed fresh air.

Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.

For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.

Psalm 33:8-9

He is mighty and powerful, outside of the realm of space and time as the Creator.

Your ways, God, are holy. What god is as great as our God?

Psalm 77:13

There is a separateness, He is holy and we are not. He is perfect in all He is and does, and there is no one greater than He.

Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: “‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’.

Revelation 4:8

He is forever worthy of all praise and honor. From beginning to end, God will receive the praise due to Him from all things.

How I approach God is monumental, because it reflects the posture of my heart and mind towards Who He is and what He is capable and worthy of. I needed a reminder of this, and I pose the same questions to you as I did myself.

Do you see God in a biblical light, or is it distorted? Do you allow your experiences and emotions to shape your perception of Who God is, or do you allow the truth of Scripture to guide the development of your understanding?