When we pray, we’re often tempted to begin by asking God to meet our needs and fulfill our desires. But Jesus encouraged His followers to begin their prayers by acknowledging who God is before asking for what they need. Our relationship with God takes priority over our requests of God, in other words. When we pray, we relate to God as our compassionate and perfect Father, but we also submit to Him as our holy and all-powerful King. The first half of the Lord’s Prayer challenges us to search our own hearts in order to draw closer to Him in order to more fully trust and obey Him.