Last time, we began a series on the most recognized prayer in the world: “Our Father who art in heaven…”-the Lord’s prayer. Jesus gave it to his disciples in response to their question, “Lord, teach us to pray.” But they were not first graders asking their teacher to teach them to read. They filled their lives with prayer, much more than most of us. They wouldn’t need a lesson on prayer any more than a short-order cook needed a lesson on scrambled eggs.

What sparked their inquiry? It was the way Jesus prayed that challenged their preconceptions about prayer. In the world of Jesus, two distinct approaches to prayer prevailed. The Gentiles prayed with persistence, while the Jews prayed with performance. Christ points out the problem with both these approaches (Matthew 6:5-7).

Persistence and performance are not bad. But these perspectives say something about our view of God. Christ came to get us to explore how we see God. Does God need persistence and performance to answer our prayers? If so, then we picture God in transactional terms.

I dare say that many Christians see God in transactional terms. If we’re persistent and “perform” the rules, God will reward us. If not, then God will punish us for our own good. But it begs the question, “Is God transactional”? Is prayer (or faith) like the line at the Secretary of State? Will the reward we seek only happen if we stay in line as long as it takes and have our papers in order? Is repeating the Lord’s prayer and saying it right with a clean heart the key to God answering our prayers?

What if Jesus came to reveal a different aspect of God? A God who is ever ready to bless us, regardless of our performance or persistence? This is the God of unconditional love, a love that transcends our actions and is always present, always comforting, and always reassuring.

Many times, I have stood by the bedside of someone in their final moments, surrounded by loved ones. In those sacred moments, we recite the Lord’s prayer together, and tears would flow. We did not expect something in return. Instead, we felt God’s presence.

God is always with us. This is the true reward of prayer, the intimate connection with God in the highs and lows of life. No amount of persistence or performance can compare to this experience. Our God holds us in unwavering affection.