I know what your thinking...maybe because God calls Himself my heavenly Father, He must be like a lot of earthly fathers - right?
- Distant
- Cold
- Demanding
- Lecturing
Or perhaps even absent or abusive.
So we avoid God. Even though we look around and see His amazing artwork in a sunset, or His astonishing design of nature. Even though we hear His voice in the center of our souls calling us to have a relationship with Him, we run and hide behind doubts that He even exists because of the times we've been burned by relationships on earth.
I'm not sure why, but I feel like I'm writing this as a personal letter to many of you who are reading this right now. I've seen the wounded hearts in the eyes of the students I work with on a daily basis. Oh there's typically a 'chillax' attitude on the surface - but behind the conversations about the latest YouTube video or 'who's hot and who's not', the stench of a spirit with open cuts and gashes from the relational knives that people carelessly wield is sometimes overpowering.
It's not too late you know. I was reminded of that when I checked out Alicia Keyes latest hit offering called No One:
I just want you close
Where you can stay forever.
You can be sure
That it will only get better.
You and me together
Through the days and nights.
I don't worry cause
Everythings gonna be alright.
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright.
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling.
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
You you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you.
Our heavenly Father is not like any earthly Father, and our relationship with Jesus is not like any other relationship on earth. The words to this song express exactly what God is trying to say to you right now. In fact, He's already put it down in plain English in His book:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
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. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us-an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! (Romans 8:15-17)
Our heavenly Father is called 'Papa' - which is the deepest, most intimate expression a child could ever use when addressing his/her dad. In fact, it's very close to our use of the word 'daddy'.
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you have been adopted and given the title 'child of God'. You can run to your daddy, because no one can get in the way of what He feels for you. He wants you close where you can stay forever.
Let your heavenly Papa heal the wounds you have suffered over the years. His care, concern, and love for you runs deeper than anything and everything you could possibly imagine. His ability to mend your broken heart is more powerful than any destructive force on earth.
Get alone with Him and hear your Daddy whisper these words over and over:
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright.
Believe me...no one can take that away from you!
Head: What you need to know about this truth
Our heavenly Father has adopted those who have trusted Christ into His family. He's our Daddy - and He will never leave us or forsake us - and no one can take that away.
Heart: What you need to feel about this truth
This truth is one of the most powerful 'hope givers' in the universe. Find hope today in the fact that you are adopted and loved.
Hands: What you need to do about this truth
Write a letter to your heavenly Daddy that expresses your hurts and your thankfulness for His healing touch.
I know what your thinking...maybe because God calls Himself my heavenly Father, He must be like a lot of earthly fathers - right?
- Distant
- Cold
- Demanding
- Lecturing
Or perhaps even absent or abusive.
So we avoid God. Even though we look around and see His amazing artwork in a sunset, or His astonishing design of nature. Even though we hear His voice in the center of our souls calling us to have a relationship with Him, we run and hide behind doubts that He even exists because of the times we've been burned by relationships on earth.
I'm not sure why, but I feel like I'm writing this as a personal letter to many of you who are reading this right now. I've seen the wounded hearts in the eyes of the students I work with on a daily basis. Oh there's typically a 'chillax' attitude on the surface - but behind the conversations about the latest YouTube video or 'who's hot and who's not', the stench of a spirit with open cuts and gashes from the relational knives that people carelessly wield is sometimes overpowering.
It's not too late you know. I was reminded of that when I checked out Alicia Keyes latest hit offering called No One:
I just want you close
Where you can stay forever.
You can be sure
That it will only get better.
You and me together
Through the days and nights.
I don't worry cause
Everythings gonna be alright.
People keep talking
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright.
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I'm feeling.
No one no one no one
Can get in the way of what I feel for you
You you
Can get in the way of what I feel for you.
Our heavenly Father is not like any earthly Father, and our relationship with Jesus is not like any other relationship on earth. The words to this song express exactly what God is trying to say to you right now. In fact, He's already put it down in plain English in His book:
"I will never leave you nor forsake you." Joshua 1:5
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28
"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7
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. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us-an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times with him! (Romans 8:15-17)
Our heavenly Father is called 'Papa' - which is the deepest, most intimate expression a child could ever use when addressing his/her dad. In fact, it's very close to our use of the word 'daddy'.
If you have trusted Christ as your Savior, you have been adopted and given the title 'child of God'. You can run to your daddy, because no one can get in the way of what He feels for you. He wants you close where you can stay forever.
Let your heavenly Papa heal the wounds you have suffered over the years. His care, concern, and love for you runs deeper than anything and everything you could possibly imagine. His ability to mend your broken heart is more powerful than any destructive force on earth.
Get alone with Him and hear your Daddy whisper these words over and over:
They can say what they like
But all I know is everything's gonna be alright.
Believe me...no one can take that away from you!
Head: What you need to know about this truth
Our heavenly Father has adopted those who have trusted Christ into His family. He's our Daddy - and He will never leave us or forsake us - and no one can take that away.
Heart: What you need to feel about this truth
This truth is one of the most powerful 'hope givers' in the universe. Find hope today in the fact that you are adopted and loved.
Hands: What you need to do about this truth
Write a letter to your heavenly Daddy that expresses your hurts and your thankfulness for His healing touch.