PRAY WITH SINCERITY TO THE TRUE GOD
if you intend to get answers. He reveals himself to humanity in many ways: in creation, in the Bible, in his prediction of certain specific divine interventions in the affairs of the world, and in his responses to those who seek and obey him.
The apostle Paul thus described the true God: "For though there are some who are called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), for us, however, there is only one God, the Father, from which all things proceed, and we are for him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we through him "(1 Corinthians 8: 5-6).
Our modern and ecumenical concept of religion may make us think that praying to "something" vague there in Heaven, or to an idol, or to Buddha, is the same as praying to the creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. But, it's not the same, not at all!
The true God was revealed by Jesus Christ (Matthew 11:27). To one of his disciples he said: "So long have I been with you, and you have not known me ...? He who has seen me has seen the Father; How, then, do you say: Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I do not speak on my own, but the Father who dwells in me, he does the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me "(John 14: 9-11).
In the Bible we read how for Jesus Christ, God was a divine Person and full of love, a "Father". And we are taught how the Father working through Jesus Christ healed the sick, comforted the downcast and taught those whom He calls to keep the Ten Commandments as a way of life (Matthew 19:17). This should help us to better understand the character of God and what he wants for us.
Christ also gave us an example of how to pray to the Father: "These things Jesus spoke, and looking up to heaven, said: Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son, that your Son may also glorify you "(John 17: 1). Again, when he outlined a prayer for his disciples to teach them the proper way to pray, he said: "You, then, will pray like this: Our Father who is in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen "(Matthew 6: 9-13).
Jesus revealed that the God we should pray to is a Father. What else reveals about Him? That is "in the heavens." That has a kingdom or government that is going to be established on Earth. That He, being our Father, is the one who can give us our daily bread, forgive our sins, free us from Satan and lead us to the eternal Kingdom.
Describing that true God that very few know, the apostle Paul said: "Whom you worship, then, without knowing him, it is he whom I announce to you. The God who made the world and all the things that are in him, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made by human hands, nor is he honored by the hands of men, as if he needed something; for he is the one who gives everyone life and breath and all things. And of one blood He has made all the lineage of men, so that they may dwell on all the face of the earth; and he has set before them the order of times, and the bounds of his habitation "(Acts 17: 23-26).
In the Old Testament we learn more about the true God. The great King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was told that his kingdom would be taken away from him until he recognized "that the Most High has dominion in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he wills" (Daniel 4:32). This God, who is the only true and supreme God, inspired these words of Isaiah: "Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth, for I am God, and there is no other. I made an oath by myself; from my mouth came a word in righteousness, and it will not be overturned: for every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall swear "(Isaiah 45: 22-23).
The true God is an awesome God, with unlimited power and glory! When you kneel and raise your hands in prayer to the great creator of the universe, you must think to whom you are addressing and you must "sanctify" or praise his name, as Jesus instructed. Remember that it is not only the Creator, but the active ruler of the entire universe, who guides the rise and fall of nations according to his will. It is He who dominates the climates, who sends "the rain ... in His time" (Deuteronomy 28:12), or sometimes sends drought and destruction to the nations because of their transgressions (vs. 24-25).
At the same time, if you surrender to Him, if you obey Him and serve Him, God will be your Father.
