Matthew 23:7-12 “And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Names that we are called, or names we call others, matter to God. Jesus taught people (v.9) to call God “Father.” Paul taught (Romans 8:15) that it is good to call God “Abba Father.” And Jesus called God “Abba Father” when speaking in prayer (Mark 14:36). Abba is Aramaic and is a familiar title which is similar to “Daddy.” Jesus, by example, taught His followers to call God “Abba Father,” even though the old orthodox Jews rejected this name as too familiar. Still, Jesus says that some names and titles should be reserved for God alone. This teaches us that our prayer language should be reverent, yet heart felt.
Some of us older Christians were taught to address God as “Thee” and “Thou,” and to some of us “You” seems too familiar. We have considered “Thee ” and “Thou” to be part of the language of devotion and those words come naturally to those whose minds are saturated with the King James Bible. Actually, it is not wrong to address God as “You” nor as “Thee” and “Thou.” It is a matter of preference. We need not judge one another regarding our prayer language, and we should be thankful for prayer offered by any of God’s children.