“Prayer is more than thoughts and feelings expressed in words.
It is the opening of mind and heart — our whole being to God our Abba Father.”
Richard J. Foster
As I reflect on my life of faith, I used to say that I was a professional Christian. I knew the truths of scripture, I was trying to apply them to my life and I was leading others in the same journey but, if I’m honest, it was all very exhausting. I was burnt out on religion. Don’t get me wrong, living in obedience to God and His word is good. However, for me it was more an intellectual exercise than a raw, authentic life lived from the overflow of a transformed heart. I’d had a complicated history of fathering and didn’t understand the potential fullness offered.
No matter your story, going deeper in relationship with the Father can only lead to greater intimacy in prayer, deeper security in self and fuller blessing of the world around.
There is a Sioux Indian saying that, The longest journey you will make in your life is from your head to your heart. This feels especially true when transferring our knowledge of God in our heads to a lived experience of God’s love in our hearts. This is not a one-off exercise but a lifelong pursuit. In a fast paced world, it can be difficult to go slow enough to sit and reflect; to pause over scripture, to avoid skim reading over our emotions and the responses we may have, to notice moments in our day pointing us deeper in God.
Jesus teaches us that God is our father when He calls us to pray in Matthew 6:9 to ‘our Father in heaven’. The apostles teach us that we are children of God in Galatians 3:26. 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, “And I will be your Father, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” The Father has lovingly called us into His intimate embrace as His children and we will spend eternity expanding our understanding and experience of this reality.
Let’s pause today over six simple scriptures pointing to our Father God:
He is Compassionate and Merciful (not harsh and unforgiving)
Psalm 103:13 – Just as a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion…
2 Corinthians 1:3 – Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.
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He is Generous (not stingy or lacking)
Matthew 7:11 – So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts…
Ephesians 1:3 – All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms …
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He is Releasing (not controlling)
Galatians 4:5-7 – God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves … so that He could adopt us as His very own children. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.” Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child.
Romans 8:14-17 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.”
Create space in the rhythm of your life to meditate on these truths, and allow your view of the Father to expand and your heart to connect deeper.
Much love,
Sue and the eFocus team
For further resources on this journey
Songs to meditate to:
No Longer Slaves by Jonathan & Melissa Helser
Run to the Father by Cody Carnes
Books to read:
Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost
Now I Become Myself by Ken Shigamatsu