one of the greatest needs in your life…

one of the greatest needs in your life is to have the approval of your father.  even if your dad was an absolute jerk there’s still something inside of you that wanted to have that connection and you wished and longed for that even if it were painful or abusive.  you want that approval of your father.  but you may never get it, truthfully.  the truth is your father may be unable to give it because of his own hurts and pain.  or your father may have walked out of your life years and years ago.  or been in your life but totally detached and he’s not going to change.  or your father may have died. 

but there is a father who knows you intimately.  and loves you completely.  and accepts you unconditionally.  and wants you.  you can go to that FATHER for HIS approval and for HIS acceptance and for HIS advice and HE is your heavenly FATHER.  that FATHER – GOD – has seen every moment of your life.  HE watched you being formed in your mother’s womb.  HE watched you take your first breath.  HE watched every tear that’s fallen, every success you’ve had, every joy, every regret, every jealousy, every envy.  HE knows the good, the bad and the ugly about you and HE still loves you.  and HE wants you as HIS child.  and HE wants you connected not just created. 

unlike your earthly father HE understand you completely.  turn to HIM.  say, “FATHER, i’m coming home to YOU.”

maybe you’ve allowed the experiences of your human father to warp your view of your heavenly FATHER.  i urge you to trade your misconceptions for the truth today.  pray this prayer.  say “dear FATHER!  i want YOU to be my heavenly FATHER and i want to be YOUr child.  i want to be connected to YOU not just created by YOU.  so i ask YOU to accept me into YOUr family.  by faith i put my trust in YOU and YOUr SON, JESUS CHRIST.  thank YOU for sending JESUS to teach me about YOU.  thank YOU for being a caring, consistent, close FATHER.  i want to relax and i want to start trusting YOU today.  would YOU give me the inner peace that comes from knowing YOU?” 

(now you are able to truly pray as JESUS taught you to pray.  you now can say, our FATHER because HE now truly is your FATHER.)

“in YOUr name i pray.  amen.”

just a thought from the front porch…