Our Father

A Father to the fatherless… Psalm 68:5a

My heart ached when my father left our home. I was eight years old. I deeply longed to have a full time dad; however, such a family portrait was an image unattainable. Dad left. I remained. A survivor of circumstances. Abandoned. Heart-broken. Emotionally independent. A statistic of divorce.

The lifting of my father’s covering left me exposed to all the world had to offer, when all I ever really wanted was time with my dad. Scheduled times with my father did happen, but it was not same as the daily family unit for which I had hoped.

In school, since the first grade, I was taught to pray, “Our Father.”

“Our Father who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name.

Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in Heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.”

Matthew 6:9-13 KJV21

For years, I recited the words of this prayer, but never understood I could personally embrace “Our Father who art in heaven.” The presence of the Father was too lofty to grasp. Then, I met Jesus. As the doors of my heart opened, I was enlightened to the truth. “Our Father” was my Father, too!

I discovered that our Father:

Protects (Psalm 91:14 NIV)

“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”

Is Trustworthy (Psalm 145:13 NIV)

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does.

Provides (Genesis 22:8 NIV)

Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Never leaves (Hebrews 13:5 NIV)

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Covers me (Psalm 91:4 NIV)

He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

My Rock (Psalm 18:2)

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Perfect (Matthew 5:48 NIV)

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

“Our Father” became my Papa! My Daddy! In Him I could trust.

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 KJ21)

An excerpt from the Message version of Romans 8:15 reads as follows: “This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?” God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children…”

Time spent with “Our Father” promises to be eternal.

Prayer

Our Father,

As I open the doors of my heart, awaken me to the truth: “Our Father” is my Father! Please fill any void within me with Your pervading truth in my time spent with You.

A father is defined as a man who gives care and protection to someone.

You have excelled them all!

Come into my heart this day, Lord. Renew me in faith, my Father.

Redeem all that has been stolen between father and child. Whisper restoration to my heart, as You spell out the truth to me. You are my Father, my Abba, my Papa!

Oh, Papa, and I am your child!

Amen