Our Father, The Most Important Words Of The Lord’s Prayer

And a complete prayer in itself

To me, the first two words of The Lord’s Prayer, Our Father, are the most important part of the prayer. Why would you say such a thing, Jim?

I’m glad you asked. First, how many people actually use The Lord’s Prayer? According to Wikipedia, in 2020, there were 2.38 billion Christians in the world, and the world’s total population was approximately 8 billion.

The prayer is considered used mainly by Christians but not exclusively. I have been in groups containing people of multiple faiths where The Lord’s Prayer was said by most present, including non-Christians and people of no particular faith.

This is because this prayer is so all-inclusive. It snubs no one. It includes everyone.

Saying that “Our Father” is the most important part of The Lord’s Prayer is a powerful, albeit questionable statement. You may wonder why I would think the words, “Our Father,” are the most important portion of the Lord’s Prayer.

For one, The Lord’s Prayer is arguably the most well-known prayer in the Western world. People of many different backgrounds have memorized this and will begin it by saying, “Our Father.”

12-step recovery meetings throughout at least most of the West begin with The Lord’s Prayer. Many millions of people pray at these meetings, even though it is not a requirement. And many new to AA come in as, at the very least, agnostics.

Where does the power of these words come from? From the fact that anyone that you see, walking down the street or in the market, is your brother or sister.

How is this possible? Because God, no matter what you call Him, is our Father and Creator. The Father of us all. This means that we all share spiritual DNA.

We are born into this human experience as spiritual beings. Living in a spiritual universe. Governed by spiritual law. And one with all that exists. As divine beings, we are individualized expressions of God and one with all that exists.

Reverend Stephanie Sorensen, Pastor of the Life Enrichment Center in Mid-Michigan, said in a recent talk “As far as our relationship with our Earthly father goes, we may either be thrilled that we are so much like good old dad, or we may wish the apple had fallen a little farther from the tree (or at least rolled a bit afterward).

But as far as our relationship with our Heavenly Father goes, we may not see any physical resemblance to Him in us at all. But even so, It’s there because His Holy Paternity is everywhere, including right where we are.”

Just think! No matter your circumstances, no matter where you are, you are not alone. You are surrounded daily by your heavenly family.

Really, though, this is because the Higher Power, or whatever you wish to call It — God, Buddha, Allah, Love, or simply It — is not a man-like being “Up there in Heaven.” God is Spirit and an Energy right here in our hearts. Like electricity or gravity, you can not see It but you utilize It regularly.

So, the next time that you begin feeling lonely and that no one cares, just remember the first two words of The Lord’s Prayer, Our Father. Then things come back into proper perspective and you are not alone at all.

“Something revolutionary happens in the heart when you recognize that every single person you will ever meet is made in the image of God.” — Jackie Hill Perry

Thank you, God!

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