40 DAYS OF PRAYER: DAY 13

The Love of the Father

Matthew 6: Our Father who is in heaven...

Do we understand what it means to call God Father? God is the Åuthor and creator of all we know. He gave us life, he protects and provides for those who call upon His name. We all are born with the desire to know our father and I know as a father I desire to know and care for my children. How much more does God want to interact with us? When we start by praying “Our Father” it changes our perspective on who God is. I watch how my Son in-law responds to my Granddaughters, he patiently listens and talks with them, holds a hand, hugs and even kisses them. He is lovingly inclined to respond to their best interests. The girls know that their father will answer. This is the instruction for us from Jesus, we are to approach God as a child approaches their father, trusting and patient.  

John 1:12-13

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

1 John 1:3

what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 4:16 

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

We are adopted into the family of God as we surrender our lives to Him. If we could only understand the awe and reverence we should have even at the mention of the name of God or the Father. The Jews of Jesus’ time understood that God was far away and untouchable. Their respect for God, wouldn't allow them to speak or even write His name. The Old Testament spoke of God the Father as the creator, never in a million years would they thought of personally addressing God as the Father. Once again Jesus’ use of Abba father (which is much like us using the term Daddy) would have even set his disciples back a bit. It is this use in such a familiar way that send Jesus to the cross accused of blasphemy, he was crucified because He identified himself as the son of God. 

Matthew 7:7-11 

“ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

God your father will take care of you. Patterns of prayer… start your time acknowledging God as Father, He loves you! You are His child! I know that it can be hard to understand that the God who created the heavens and the Earth and has all the power of the universe actually listens to our prayers, but He does because of the actions of His son, Jesus! 

Prayed for you all this morning! 

Much Love and Blessings,

Pastor Scott