“After a long day of work, the best thing a father can have is his kid running into his arms.”
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need.” - Matthew 6:7-8 (MSG), emphasis mine
The quote written above is what my pastor said in one of his sermons. It brought me to tears. Yes, He is God Almighty. Yes, He created the sun and the moon and the galaxies. Yes, He heals the blind and raises the dead, died on the cross and rose again on the third day and floated to the heavens. Yes, He is God, Healer, Creator, Provider, King, and all that.
Yet, Jesus during His earthly ministry revealed a persona of Him that was unheard of in Israel until then:
Father.
Daddy. Pops. Papi. Papa.
In fact, the word that Jesus used, “abba”, has no perfect equivalent in our language. It’s so intimate, affectionate, and close that he closest english translation to it is not “father”. It’s not even “dad”.
It’s “daddy”.
Doesn’t it make you feel like a kid again? Doesn’t it make you come as you are?
“Daddy, I don’t know what to do.”
“Daddy, this makes me so angry!”
”Daddy, what do I wear today?”
“Daddy, Bern is such amazing guy. (giggles and hugs bolster and roll around)”
The love of an earthly father that you see all around, God’s is a gazillion times more! If an earthly father longs to see his child after work, moreover God! If an earthly father delights in the presence of his children, moreover God! If an earthly father desires for his children to be alive and well, moreover God!
Recently, in our family group chat I asked my parents about how to handle invoicing because I was having a bit of trouble and I thought my parents would have the insight and experience. Almost immediately after I sent my question, my dad came calling, attending to my question.
Now, a text reply would suffice (I would actually much prefer texting), but he bothered taking the time to call me (or maybe he’s lazy to text. Which would be anticlimactic) If my earthly dad would zoom to my rescue (and we really don’t have that super warm and fuzzy father-daughter relationship. We are both rigid asians), moreover our Daddy God!
He longs to have a relationship with you, to spend time with you. To listen your heart out. To talk and converse you. To be involved in your life and to make sure you know you are loved.
So why don’t you give a Father what He wants? He’s already there with you anyway.
Tune in to Him. Exhale. Be conscious of His person.
Ready?
“.. Hi Daddy.”
(Wasn’t that nice? :) )
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