Sunday, June 17, 2012

Discovering the Father Heart of God Part II

When we reflect upon the incredible truth that our Heavenly Father has provided a means by which we can intimately know Him, it becomes life's most precious discovery. In The Quiet Place we can walk with our God and know that He wants to spend time with us, is never too busy to listen, and that He will heal our wounded hearts, and fill our weary soul with His unfailing love. That is amazing Grace.

In Part I of this topic we reflected on the role of a father in being to his children a catalyst to lead them to the Father Heart of our Heavenly Father. In this second Part the focus is more personal to fathers everywhere. This is especially for those who have struggled as a father, and don't see a way to resolve some of the issues that have been a heavy burden upon their heart.

Looking Back on our Role as a Father 

Work through your Regrets when you have done all you could 

Thank your Heavenly Father this Father’s Day for the years that you did have with your child or children. If they are not seeking after God, you have a mighty arsenal at your disposal 24 hours a day. You can fervently keep praying for them to get right with God.

Work through your Guilt if you have Failed as a Father

For the failures that we may have made as a father, we must go to our children and make them right. It is never too late to do so. Take the initiative to make them right with your children if it is all possible on this Father’s Day, and ask them for forgiveness. I know the painfulness of this pathway myself. As father's we know the shortcomings, the long absences through a driven work ethic that denied a child time with his father, the unnecessarily harsh parenting, or the far too lenient parenting. Make it right today.

Work through your Pain if you have lost a child

If you are facing Father’s Day having lost a child, the Heavenly Father knows just how you feel. One day, long ago, he too lost a son. Find comfort in His Father Heart. Spend time in The Quiet Place and share your tears with Him. He understands your heartache and desires to comfort you.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. “ (II Corinthians 1:3-4)

Work through Rejection if your kids want nothing to do with you

If you are all alone this Father’s Day, in truth you are not alone. There are many hurting fathers across the world today that feel as you do and whose children for one reason or another have rejected them. Pray for them. Take your wounded heart to your Heavenly Father and worship Him today. Give your children to Him and become the man they still need as their father, one step at a time.

Work through letting go if you are at the end of your Journey

If on this Father’s Day, you are at the end of your journey here on earth, prepare to meet your Heavenly Father if you have not already done so. Clear the slate once and for all and accept His forgiveness. Release your children and or grandchildren to Him, and ask Him to bring them into the Kingdom, any who have strayed, and to protect any who have been faithful to continue to steadfastly follow Him. Your work is done now…get to know your Heavenly Father in a personal intimate way in The Quiet Place.

Revering our Heavenly Father

Remember your Heavenly Father on Father’s Day

In reality, our children are on loan to us for a very short time. They belong to The Heavenly Father. Dedicate your children to Him and do all that you can to be an influence upon their lives that will lead them to His Father’s Heart. Whether you have been faithful in doing this in the past or not, begin today to make Father’s Day His Day in their lives and yours.

Today is a Day of Liberation 

Our Heavenly Father found a way to provide freedom to Captives

“The Spirit of the Lord God (Translated YHWH) is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners; to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God.”( Isaiah 61:1)

Today is a Day of Affirmation

Our Heavenly Father found a way to lead us to His Comfort

"To comfort all who mourn, to grant those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting." 
( Isaiah 61:2)

Today is a Day of Celebration

Our Heavenly Father found a way to establish His Calling

"So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 
( Isaiah 61:1-3)

May this be the best Father’s Day you have ever had in your whole life. Pray to and worship your "Abba Father," and tend to those Oaks of Righteousness in your family and make them a priority in your life over all other distractions that can easily eat up a man's lifetime.