God the Father

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

The word father occurs more than 500 times in the Old Testament, referring almost exclusively to human fathers. It was Jesus who popularized the term “Father” as a reference to God (Matthew 5:16; Malachi 2:10) and gave His disciples permission to do the same: “Our Father in heaven . . .” (Matthew 6:9a). It is the Holy Spirit who bears witness to our human spirit that we are God’s children and that He is our Father (Romans 8:16).

It is that same Holy Spirit, indwelling Jesus (Matthew 3:16; John 3:34), who created the life of intimacy between Father and Son during Jesus’ earthly ministry. Because we have the same Spirit dwelling in us, Jesus’ relationship with the Father is a model for our own relationship with the Father. Jesus said, “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak” (John 12:49; see also John 4:34; 5:30; 6:38; 7:28; 8:28, 42; 14:10, 31). Jesus withdrew often to discern, then do, the will of His Father (Luke 5:16). And He did nothing else.

Prayer serves the same purpose in our life—to draw near to the Father so that we may fulfill His will.

What is a Christian?… The richest answer I know is that a Christian is one who has God as his Father.
J. I. Packer