By Becca Morgan
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
In his book, “Knowing God”, author and pastor J.I. Packer writes “If you want to judge how well a person understands Christianity, find out how much he (or she) makes of the thought of being God’s child, and having God as his (or her) Father. If this is not the thought that prompts and controls his (or her) worship and prayers and his (or her) whole outlook on life, it means that he (or she) does not understand Christianity very well at all.”
Father. Dad. Pops. Daddy. Papa. These titles can evoke a wide range of emotions in our hearts depending on our relationship (or lack thereof) with our earthly fathers. According to the University of Wisconsin Institute for Research on Poverty, “Positive father involvement is associated with children’s higher academic achievement; greater school readiness; stronger math and verbal skills; greater emotional security; higher self-esteem; fewer behavioral problems; and greater social competence than found among children who do not have caring, involved fathers.”
The stakes are high in fatherhood.
God designed us in such a way that your earthly father is meant to be a reflection of your Heavenly Father. Sin has fractured that reflection in even the best of earthly fathers and yet therein lies the beauty of the Cross: restoration back to the perfect Father.
“Our Father.”
Through Jesus’ life, death and resurrection the Son of God invites us into “child status” with God and all of the benefits that accompany adoption: a Father who is present, kind, gentle, strong, who provides for your needs, who protects you, who’s face shines upon you when He looks at you and who lights up when He hears your name. He is a Father who gave everything to have a relationship with you and who will redeem your experience of an absent earthly father and who is a better Father than even the best dad. He’s everything we long for in a father and more, and that’s where we begin.
“Our Father”
We begin sitting in the lap of a good Father, breathing deeply and relishing in His love for us and leaning back on His chest to hear Him whisper “I love you” in our ear. Why? Because before you’re anything else you’re a child of the living God.
“Our Father.”
It is only then, through an intimate relationship with Him, that we make our requests known to Him. Because obeying a Father in whom you trust is possible. Trusting a Father who has your best interest in mind is comforting. Finding comfort in a Father who loves you as you are is freeing. Participating in the will of a good Father unleashes a sense of purpose that can never be taken away.