KEY SCRIPTURES: Psalm 68:4-6
Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name Jah, and rejoice before him. A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land.
RELEVANCE
What a perfect Father we have. With Him, it doesn't matter what family, country or religion we come from, nor the depth of tragedy we have experienced, our Heavenly Father lives up to everything He has promised.
In Matthew 23:9, Jesus instructs us to call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
The only people Jesus called Father were His earthly stepfather Joseph (John 6:42) and His heavenly Father God.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon (G3962) renders father as nourisher, protector, and upholder. God is all these things to us, even those who didn't know their earthly father, lost him early, or endured terrible experiences. The memories may not fully disappear but will heal if we let His love seep into all wounds.
He is an advocate for the widows, a friend to the lonely or deserted, and a key to freedom for those innocently wronged or bound by dreadful memories. He has extraordinary compassion for certain people who find themselves defenceless against the future. Like we are with a stray or injured puppy, God is full of special mercy. Blessed are the poor in spirit and those who mourn.
But we must allow God's abundant mercy to pour into our lives. We're to let God work on our deep holes of despair, loss and yearning that give us so much pain, and allow His love to fill them to healing capacity. This love breaks all chains of fear, anxiety and suffering. He is indeed a wonderful Father.
We need to prepare ourselves to hand over our pain and let our Father do His job. He says He will, and He will. So we must leave it there with Him and receive the mending power.
I remember a lady who blamed her parents for her lot in life when she was around forty. Despite godly parents, a happy marriage and lovely children, she carried unhealed wounds that seemed to turn into cynicism. By the time she was sixty, it was her sister's fault. The blame moved but still existed. God's love can heal that lady, but she hasn't yet opened herself to His merciful balm.
We have a God who is merciful and gracious and abounds in steadfast love. David rightly encourages us to rejoice and sing unto God, sing praises to his name, and extol him that rideth upon the heavens.
What a wonderful God we serve.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, I cannot get over your abundant mercy and love. You are the source of all good things and truly a wonderful Father to us all. Thank you for your compassion and enrichment towards me. Please help me let you be a complete Father to me.
Photo by Sinitta Leunen
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