Knowing God As Father

"...Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name."

Matthew 6:9

My parents divorced when I was about 12 years old and my father and mother were given shared custody. During the period that we lived with my father, because I was the oldest daughter, I became the one who took care of the housework, caring for my brothers and sisters and even began to cook. (I can hear my sister laughing when I mentioned that I cooked). Because my daddy worked so hard, I tried hard to please him but couldn't seem to do it. He often came in at night, from a hard day of work, calling my name after going into the kitchen. DENISEEE!!! Why aren't those dishes clean? DENISEEE!!! Why didn't they take that trash out?!!

At the age of 15, maybe 16 years old, I cooked my first Thanksgiving Dinner. I baked a chicken and some good ole cornbread dressing. I used Jiffy Cornbread Mix. I was so proud and could not wait until my daddy came home. As soon as I knew he was coming I ran in my bedroom. I heard him dishing up the food. Suddenly he said DENISEEE!!! I ran in the kitchen smiling. He said, "What is this? This don’t taste good. What did you use?” Then he left the kitchen. My brother laughed so hard until he fell on the floor and I had to step over him to go to my room. (Ok, you can stop laughing now.) Smile.

My daddy was an excellent provider and I am not putting him down. He did the best he knew how, but my experience of a father was not relational but more of simply someone who provided and was my strong disciplinarian. As James Robison stated in his book, Knowing God as Father, 

“Oh how our hearts long for affirmation, acceptance, and approval of a loving father.”

Then I grew up, got married and had my own family.  I went through a period, where nothing seemed to be going right in my life. My marriage was falling apart and we had serious financial problems. I prayed and served the Lord diligently. I tried to do everything right and believed I was calling out to my heavenly Father for help. 

But I did not have a relationship with the Father of our Lord and Savior. I saw the only example that I knew as father. An earthly father who I tried to please but always failed. A father who provided for me but did not seem to really love me. Then the Lord sent his word through a sermon. Psalms 107:20

The preacher said, “How can you have a Father who is a King but you are walking around like a beggar with holes in your shoes?”  So, I cried out to God and asked Him, “Why am I suffering so much when You are my Father, the King, and I am your child? I'm trying to do everything right, Lord but I just can't seem to please you.”

It was then I found that I was trying to get to the Father and completely left out His Son.

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6. 

Through Jesus I was introduced to a Father that is nothing like any father I ever knew. I did not have to do anything to earn His love. He loved me first 1 John 4:19. He sent His only Son to suffer and die for me John 10:15 that I might be restored back to Him John 3:16. Jesus taught me how to have a relationship through the Holy Spirit with our Heavenly Father John 14:26,

1 Corinthians 2:10-11. 

Through Christ, God became my Father Romans 8:15 and He taught me how to pray and communicate with Him Luke 11:2. and I am never alone Isaiah 41:10. I have a Father who walks with me and He talks with me, He councils me Psalm 32:8, yes He disciplines me Hebrews 12:5-7. He knows me Psalm 139:1-5 and still loves me without condition Romans 5:8. 

He knows how to show His love for me. Yes He is my provider Matthew 6:26 and knows my every need before I even ask Matthew 6:8. And you know what? He calls my name sometimes but it's like this, “Denise come, I have a word for you…” very softly. John 10:27 And like Jesus, I seek to please Him by doing His will. John 8:29

[In the book, "Knowing God as Father" by James Robison he said, "It doesn't matter how deeply you may have been wounded emotionally and psychologically by not receiving the love you needed from an earthly father. The unfathomable and everlasting love of God can make up for all you missed. His love can heal all wounds and remove all your scars. As it fills and pours out of your heart, it can enable you to forgive and love others, just as He forgives and loves you!"]

I thank God for my daddy. He loved me and took great care of me in the only way he knew how. But no one compares to my heavenly Father because He is not only my Father but He was my daddy's Father too!!!

What about you today? Do you know God as Father? God says. "_________ (insert your name) come I have a word for you."

Today's Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father God,

We come before you today thanking you for our Lord and Savior who suffered, bled, and died that we might be called your sons and daughters. We give you praise for being a Father unlike any father we can ever know. 

Thank you for your love, mercy and great compassion that you have shown toward us. We love you because you first loved us and through the Holy Spirit, fill our hearts with your love to be shed abroad. 

Now Lord we pray for the vessel you will allow the Holy Spirit to use to bring us to a deeper relationship with You in growing to know and truly experience you as our Father.

In Jesus' Holy name, we pray. Amen!!!

(Now make it personal)

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