which art in heaven

Heaven is “the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells”.  It is where Divine Intent can be found or, the “cause” of cause and effect.  When we pray to Our Father which art in heaven, we acknowledge HIS preeminence in our life.  We acknowledge we are the created and HE is the Creator.  We are the “effect” of HIS cause or Divine Intent.

This declaration by each of us is the acknowledgement of our relative position of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  It is the realization that we are vessels in the created state, formed by the Uncreated GOD of heaven and earth.  Each of us is a unique expression of HIS Divine Intent and our gifts and callings are very specific to that expression.

In Isaiah 55, Our Heavenly Father reveals that fact that there are higher laws beyond our limited comprehension:

8 ​​“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

​​Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

9 ​​“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

​​So are My ways higher than your ways,

​​And My thoughts than your thoughts.

By revealing this to us, we are in essence given the opportunity to pursue HIS higher ways.  Jesus confirmed our relationship, our relative position, and our opportunity to rise to a higher level of maturity, all in one phrase:  Our Father which art in heaven.  The offspring are designed to be the expression of their progenitor.  Each parent’s purest desire is for his or her child to experience greater success and fulfillment of life.  Our Heavenly Father stated this desire as well:

Proverbs 8:32

32 ​​“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,

​​For blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 ​​Hear instruction and be wise,

​​And do not disdain it.

34 ​​Blessed is the man who listens to me,

​​Watching daily at my gates,

​​Waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 ​​For whoever finds me finds life,

​​And obtains favor from the LORD;

What a blessing spoken by Our Heavenly Father!  Notice that we are urged to pursue and keep HIS ways.  This passage tells us that we can know HIS ways and walk in them.  HIS ways promote life, blessing, and fulfillment.  As a point of comparison, Our Heavenly Father provides us a warning:

36 ​​But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;

​​All those who hate me love death.”

Doesn’t this verse provide us with some insight about the battle raging in our soul?  Sin is the source of the issue we must deal with.  Our soul is damaged or injured by sin.  Our Heavenly Father is in the restoration business and HE gives us revelation and direction to restore our souls.  As a Loving Father, HE reveals the problem and solution, wise counsel.  However, it is up to each of us to take personal action to correct the problem and remove sin from our midst.  Once that is accomplished, our soul is restored.  It all begins with the acknowledgement of who our source is: Our Heavenly Father which art in heaven.

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