I found Mark’s message on Sunday to be really helpful: sharpening my thinking about whom I am addressing when I pray. I’ve talked to a number of people who are suddenly recalibrating the first couple minutes of their prayers, or keep catching themselves praying one moment to God, then to the Lord, then the Father, and then Jesus.

I think one of the best ways to learn to pray well is to pray often. The next best way is to listen to (or read) the prayers of others. I skimmed through the collection of Puritan prayers, The Valley of Vision, reading only the first line of each prayer. That was very edifying. Here’s a sampling of how these spiritual giants spoke to their God:

• Three in One, One in Three, God of my salvation…
• O God whose will conquers all…
• O Lord God, who inhabits eternity…
• O fountain of all good…
• My God…
• O supreme moving cause…
• O Lord…
• Thou eternal God…
• Thou incomprehensible but prayer-hearing God…
• Creator and redeemer God…
• Lord of all being…
• O source of all good…
• My Father…
• All searching God…
• O Father of Jesus…

What words do you use to address God?

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