April 23, 2013
A Daddy Who Loves Me
Today’s Truth
[God said] “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18 NIV).
Friend to Friend
When I was a little girl, my father spent most of his waking hours working at his building supply company, observing construction sites, and socializing with his colleagues and associates. Even though his place of business was only a few blocks from our home, his heart was miles away in a place I could not find.
My father didn’t drink alcohol every day, but when he did, it consumed him. Dad was filled with a rage that always seemed to be hiding just beneath the surface of his tough skin. And when he drank, that rage spewed out like hot lava onto those around him. Unfortunately, my mother was the most common target. As a child, many nights I crawled into bed, pulled the covers tightly under my chin or even over my head, and prayed that I would quickly fall asleep to shut out the noise of my parents yelling, fighting, and hitting.
I was afraid of my father. Even when he was sober, I kept my distance. At the same time, I observed how other daddies cherished their little girls. I saw them cuddle their daughters in their laps, hold their hands while walking in the park, or kiss their cheeks as they dropped them off at school in the mornings. And while I wasn’t fatherless, I felt as though I was. Deep in my heart, I had a dream. I dreamed that one day I would have a daddy who loved me—not because I was pretty or made good grades or could play the piano well, but just because I was his.
Then one day, the dream came true. I discovered that I did have a Father who loved me...and so do you. God is your Heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally, provides for you unreservedly, and protects you unceasingly.
In the New Testament, Jesus called God by the name Father more than any other name. He also invites us to do the same. Think about that for a moment. The God of the universe who created the heavens and the earth; who always has been and always will be; who is all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere at once—that same God invites you to call Him Abba, Father!
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray, He said:
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. . . .” (Matthew 6:6-9 italics added)
My friend, Gayle has a granddaughter named Carlie. One day Carlie and her best friend were sitting in the back seat of Gayle’s car. Carlie and this little friend were born on the same day, and their moms were in hospital rooms right beside each other. Not only that, the two girls lived in the same apartment complex. One difference was that Carlie’s friend never knew her father. Her mom had boyfriends that came and went through the years, but never a real dad.
When Gayle kept Carlie on the weekends, sometimes her best friend came along. One day, Gayle had both girls in the back seat when she was running an errand. They were about five-years-old at the time. And just out of the blue, Carlie’s little friend said, “I wish I had a daddy like you have a daddy.”
And Carlie said, “Oh you do have a daddy.”
“No I don’t. I want a daddy like you have a daddy. I wish I had a daddy.”
“But you do have a daddy,” Carlie answered back. “We all have a daddy. God is our daddy. He’s everybody’s daddy.”
Gayle looked in her rearview mirror and saw Carlie’s friend hold up her hands in exasperation.
“Why has nobody every told me this!”
How precious! I have a daddy. You have a daddy. God is your Father and He loves you more than you could ever know. You, my friend, are the apple of Your Daddy’s eye (Psalm 17:8 NIV).
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for adopting me into Your family. How blessed I am to have a Father who loves me unconditionally, cares for me unceasingly, and provides for me lavishly. I love You.
In Jesus’s Name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Look up the following verses and note what you learn about being a child of God.
Describe the difference between the actions and emotions of an orphan and a child of a King.
Which reflects your life the most?
More from the Girlfriends
I don’t know about you, but for most of us, life doesn’t usually turn out the way we had hoped. Broken dreams litter life. But here’s the good news! God has a purpose and a plan. HE has a more amazing plan for you than you ever imagined. If you have lost sight of your dreams, grab onto God’s hand and travel to a place you thought you’d never find. The dreams God had planned for you all along. I’m offering a special offer to my blog readers for the month of April. Buy 1 copy of Dreams of a Woman: God’s Plan for Fulfilling Your Dreams and get one free. When you purchase 1 copy, we’ll ship you 2. It won’t show up on your receipt, but 2 will show up in your package. This is only for the month of April. Only for my blog readers.
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