The Lord's Prayer is the model for all Christian prayer. It lifts us beyond ourselves into heaven with our Father and plunges us to earth with daily bread. With six brief petitions we are taken from the profound heights of "They kingdom come" to the depth of our souls with forgiveness and deliverance.

It is the prayer believers cut their teeth on. We pray it at Sunday morning church, at funerals and sometimes at weddings. In doing so it shapes us as followers of Christ. It reminds us who we are and what we should be living for. It keeps us humble and in our place. It gives us hope of a bright future, provision for today and strength for the journey.

The opening address of "Our Father" unites all Christians. It reminds us that God is not my personal God or the patron God of America, but the God and father of all who come to know Him through His son Jesus Christ. And by all I mean just that, Americans, Iraqis, Chinese, Brazilian, Kenyan and so on. We Christians are family and this relationship transcends all man-made divisions.

God is intimate to all who call upon Him regardless of their earthly status. He brings us into His family - by His greace - so we can now pray, "Our Father who art in heaven."

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