DEPENDENCY > AUTONOMY
“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Matthew 6:7-8
The New Testament provides a significant shift in how Jesus referred to God. Unlike the Old Testament's frequent use of "LORD," Jesus employs the term "Father" over 150 times in the Gospels. He often uses "Abba Father," a term that signifies a deep, intimate relationship between children and their father. This emphasizes trust and dependence on God's provision.
Jesus' Sermon on the Mount encourages us to address God as "Dad" in prayer, emphasizing a heart connection and prioritizing God's will. His request for daily bread isn't a demand but an expression of reliance on the Father for everything. The Bible contrasts the worldly view of self-reliance with Jesus' call for childlike faith in our Heavenly Father. Jesus' life exemplified this dependence, as He lived in constant connection with God. A man in the Counter Kingdom finds strength in relying on his Father; he doesn’t view it as a weakness.
"To depend on God is to recognize our own limitations and to trust in His infinite power and goodness."
Thomas Aquinas
Almighty Father,
We stand before You today, acknowledging our limitations and imperfections. We confess that too often we try to navigate life on our own strength, burdened by anxieties and overwhelmed by our daily struggles. Forgive us for relying on worldly solutions and forgetting Your constant presence in our lives. Thank You for the gift of Jesus Christ, who showed us the power of complete dependence on You. He called You "Father" with such intimacy, reminding us of the loving relationship You desire with us. Help us, Heavenly Father, to cultivate a deeper trust in Your provision. We surrender our anxieties and worries to Your care. Guide us to live in the "already but not yet" reality of Your Kingdom, where we rely on Your strength while eagerly awaiting its full manifestation. Father, we choose to depend on You completely. May our actions reflect this dependence, showing the world the transformative power of living in the Counter Kingdom.
In Jesus' name, Amen
This devotional is from Counter Kingdom, the newest Patros Video series. It’s officially out!
You can get access to the whole series plus additional men’s discipleship resources for free at patros.us.