Praying For Fathers and Relationships With Fathers on Fathers Dat

 HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

Today is a day to honour fathers.  Some of you are fathers.  All of us have a father.  The relationship of a loving father to his child is a picture of God's heart for us.

There's a natural God-given desire in a father to care for his child, to protect that child even to the point of laying down his own life on behalf of the child.  This is God's heart for you and me.

A father is tender and kind to his children.  In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind to those who have respect for him.  Psalm 103:13

Some of us have suffered the abuse or absence of a father and that is a significant issue in our journey.  This is where God makes the gracious offer to be the good father we never had, to care for us and meet our needs for the safety and protection which our earthly father either couldn't or didn't provide.  Only a father's love can meet that deep need within us. 

Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.

Psalm 27:10

Whatever our past, whether it’s being well-loved, or wounded and abandoned by our father, or even being disappointed in ourselves as a father, God invites us today to make a connection to His family.  Our Heavenly Father will receive us as His precious children.  He will love and care for us and heal our wounds. 

Let’s come to Him, first of all with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray that begins with the words, “Our Father” and then we’ll add a few more of our own.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread and Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.  For Yours is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen

Heavenly Father, You gave life to us.  You knit us together in our mother’s womb.  You know us.  You’re familiar with our personality and all the things that have gone on in our life.   It’s your desire every day, including today to lavish your love on us.  Your plan for us has always been filled with hope and purpose.

Thank You for inviting us into Your family and making a way for that to happen through the death and resurrection of Jesus.  We receive Your love today.  We want to walk in Your ways, do Your will and live as Your beloved children.

In the safety of Your loving care, help us to sort out any issues we may have with our earthly fathers and find healing and restoration.  You are particularly close to us when we make these kinds of efforts to find healing and to live whole. 

Thank you for being the perfect father.  Thank you for promising to always be there if we would just seek for You.  Thank You blessing us today and protecting us.  Thank you for making Your face shine on us and being gracious to us.  Thank you for turning Your face toward us and giving us peace. 

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26