Greater than Your Earthly Father - Forward with Back to the Bible - January 29, 2020

Greater than Your Earthly Father 

Read 1 Corinthians 8:6

"Yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist."

Reflect

Is your perception of your Heavenly Father altered by that of your earthly father? (Please explain.) 

In realizing how my father filters had marred my picture of God (sort of like seeing Him through dark glasses), I began taking a hard look at father issues in my life. I began the process of releasing my faulty views of God and asking Him to reveal Himself anew to me. I also found support in a small group for a time and some sessions with an insightful counselor. Over time I began to lay down the misrepresentations of God, forgive my father and stepfather, and focus on what God said about Himself all through His Word.

As I sought God in just these simple ways, by faith, not because I had a lot of feelings, what I knew about Him in my head moved to my heart. I began to sense the loving arms of my heavenly Father that had been there all the time, waiting to welcome me to His arms in the best of times and the worst of times. I felt His acceptance of me just as I was, whether that was tired or in turmoil. I didn't have to work for Him or try harder to please Him.

 I didn't have to achieve or wipe my tears and put on a happy face for God. I could simply be and experience Him as my comfort and refuge. And what amazing good news that God wasn't going to abandon me in the middle of the night or when things got difficult, but promised never to leave me or forsake me (Hebrews 13:5).

Pray

Lord Jesus, help me to know the one, true God of the Bible--my Heavenly Father. Amen.

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