Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

When the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray,” they weren’t just asking for words—they were asking to be drawn deeper into relationship with God. Though they knew the traditions of prayer, they longed for what Jesus had: intimacy with the Father. Jesus responds by teaching them the Lord’s Prayer, beginning with the powerful word “Father”—a reminder that we pray not as strangers, but as beloved children. This relationship changes how we pray and live. Jesus encourages persistent prayer, not because God is reluctant, but because He is eager to give. We are called to pray boldly, for ourselves and for others, trusting in God’s good gifts—especially His greatest: His Son and the Holy Spirit. In a world full of empty promises, God gives us real gifts: forgiveness, life, and salvation. So we pray, receive, and live as His children—now and forever.