Throughout the Bible, God identifies Himself in three parts: Father, Son, and Spirit. Today, I want to reflect on my relationship with the Father and share how my perspective of Him has changed to bring about a closer walk with Him. 1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.”
YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Your first view of God comes from your parents. This is a sobering truth that I have personally had to come to terms with from my own childhood and as I step into the role of parenting my own children. Many misunderstand their Heavenly Father because they project onto Him the shortcomings and sinful tendencies of their own parents. If one’s parents are angry, timid, unjust, spiteful, hold grudges, or pick fights, he may naturally assume that God behaves the same way. This is a false and dangerous misconception that has to be deconstructed before a good relationship with your Father can be developed.
GOD’S STABILITY
I am a father to two young children, Candace who is three and Carter who is two. Because I am a secure parent I do not hold grudges against my children when they do wrong. Admittedly, it helps that since they are so young their worst offenses are barely an inconvenience to me. Don’t be fooled, in the eyes of an omniscient Creator, we are far less mature in His eyes than a two or three year old is to us. When Candace or Carter disobey me, they need to apologize. It’s good for them to admit fault, not for my sake, but for theirs. A secure, loving, and realistic parent understands that bad behavior will happen, but that bad behavior uncorrected creates a future of problems. God knows the same about us. God needs us to apologize, not for His sake, but for ours. Our Father’s correction always comes out of love, not spite. God never rejects His children for any offense because they are His children. I don’t disown Carter for disobedience, and even our own flagrant disregard for a direct command from the Bible is met with the love of a Father who cares about us.
YOUR CHOICES
When Jacob wrestled with God in Genesis 32, his wrestling doesn’t show us Jacob’s strength, but rather a picture of the way our heavenly Father will never defeat our will. God will always let you win in the battle of the wills.Our Father is a God of free will. He protects us and provides for us, but allows us free will. If you want to go the wrong way, He will not prevent you from doing that. Now, your Father is kind, He knows the future and I know many who testify that God made their way difficult enough that they were led back to the choice to choose Him. The prodigal son is a perfect example of a child who has his own will, but the end of his decision leads him back to God. Your choices can both create and prevent tragedy and in the scope of your life with the limited perspective of humanity, a good child learns to trust in their omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent Father and allows Him to lead them in the way they should go.
As you reflect on your own relationship with your Heavenly Father, may your prayer be as it is said in Isaiah 64:8, “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.”
To read more about God’s provision, read: Deliverance Brings Relationship