We can never over emphasise the importance of knowing God as Father! This is because knowing God as our Father gives us an identity and purpose that is out of this world. Therefore, the knowledge that God is our Father must be central to our interactions with Him; it must certainly be the reason why we pray and the foundation for an effective and dynamic prayer life.
Ephesians 3:14-15 ESV
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.”
Many struggle with the mere idea of God as our Father. This is because of the kind of experiences they’ve had with their human fathers. Some fathers passed away when their children were young and so left a vacuum; other fathers were irresponsible, and either disowned or did not take care of their children, or were just absent; other fathers were hard or even wicked, cruel and abusive, and were feared by their children. Yet, there were fathers who were also responsible, kind and lovely.
- Whichever type of father you had, it is good to remember that God is the Father of fathers. Our human fathers are damaged by sin, but God is the original real deal – untainted, pure and holy! He is the Ultimate Father, in whose image fatherhood was created. Indeed, He is the Father of Jesus Christ.
Luke 15:17-20 ESV
“17 “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”‘ 20 And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.”
- The story of the Prodigal Son tells us a lot about our relationship with God the Father. One day, the prodigal son who had left home and squandered his father’s wealth “came to himself!” He was afraid, broke, hungry and living in squalor; yet, ONE DAY, it came to his mind, HE WOKE UP AND CAME TO HIS SENSES, regarding his father’s true character and nature, and wealth and possessions.
He remembered that even his father’s servants had more than enough to eat and were well taken care of! Based upon this reminder, he decided to return home and talk to his father, beg him for forgiveness and ask to be treated as one of his servants. However, this son was more than a servant, he was still his father’s son!
We Are More Than Servants
Many a times we forget that we are sons of the Father (or don’t even know), and see ourselves as mere servants or slaves. So, we beg, we crawl, we wallow in the dirt and we strive and strive and strive! If only we would “come to ourselves” about who our Father is, about His glory, nature, character and essence! If only we would have a revelation of our Father’s wealth, strength and power, and above all, our Father’s love and compassion towards us, we would have no problem turning to Him in prayer, and praying often!
Psalm 68:5-6 NLT
“5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows- this is God, whose dwelling is holy. 6 God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy…”
- We need to “come to ourselves” that we have a wonderful, everlasting, unchanging Father, who is loving, kind, merciful, gracious and full of compassion! We have a Father to whom belongs all things and who is able to create things out of nothing. We have a Father who is sovereign and possesses all authority, strength and power! We have a Father who takes care of His entire creation, even the birds of the air are cared for by Him. We have a Father who is greater than Satan, our enemy. Above all, we have a Father who LOVES US!! Our Father is the LORD God Almighty!
- With this realisation, let us change how we approach God. Let us learn to approach Him as our FATHER, ABBA, DADDY, as Jesus taught us. Let us learn to talk to Him, just talk to Him, even when we have erred. Let us learn to make prayer (talking to Him) a priority. Let us learn to enjoy His presence, as we worship, sing His praises and bring our petitions before Him. Like the Father in the story of the prodigal son, He is waiting with open arms and ears to receive and hear us and answer us!
Psalm 103:8-14 NLT
“8 The LORD (our Father) is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever. 10 He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 12 He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 13 The LORD is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 14 For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.”
For Further Reading: Hebrews 12:5-11; Ephesians 1:15-21; Ephesians 3:14-21
Jennifer Abigail Lawson-Wallace
CEO/International President
Women In Tune
Copyright 18 August 2019