It’s easy for us as humans to subconsciously assign God whatever qualities we have encountered in our earthly fathers, whether good or bad.
My dad isn’t perfect by any means. But he modeled love so well that it’s easy for me to run to my Heavenly Father whenever I’m hurting. I know He is always there for me.
But someone whose earthly father was too busy for her or abandoned her might struggle with the fear that God isn’t listening to her prayers, that He’s abandoned her too.
To an abused child, the thought of an all-powerful Heavenly Father could be scary. He might imagine Him as a towering figure holding a stick in His hand, ready to beat him for the slightest mistake. But what do Psalm 86:15 and 1 John 1:9 say about God?
Children of judgmental or manipulative parents might struggle with the need to earn the Heavenly Father’s love, not realizing we already please Him just because we’re His.
What lies have you believed about your Heavenly Father that have kept you from fully receiving His lavish love? Do you sometimes find it hard to trust God? Ask Him to show you what brings on that fear. Now ask Him what He says about that. (See Psalm 27:10 and Psalm 68:5, if you like.)
God is not like earthly fathers, He is perfect. And His love for us is perfect. Deuteronomy 4:31 and 31:8.
As you read the passage below, picture yourself resting in your Heavenly Father’s arms, with your head against His chest, listening to His heart. What does that picture say to you?
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21
Now pray that prayer in the Scripture above for your earthly father.
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PRAYER WALL 