By Judy Villanueva

“I will be a Father to you and you shall be sons and daughters to Me,”  says the Lord almighty”.   (2Corinthians 6:18)

For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”   (Romans 8:15)

The Lord your God in your midst,
 the Mighty One, will save;
  He will rejoice over you with gladness,
 He will quiet you with His love, 
He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

“Let’s go hunt for fire flies!”  It was evening and bedtime was fast approaching but there was still time for one more adventure.  My son alerted his children that the firefly walk was about to commence.  “Grab your flashlights and let’s go hunting!”  Off they ventured into the dark with magic on their minds and daddy to lead the way.  “Is that one?” his little ones asked excitedly.   “Maybe!  Let’s go check it out!” their father replied.  Flashlights in hand and eyes wide with anticipation, they laughed, told stories and skipped in the night under their dad’s watchful care.  Of course, there were no fireflies to be found in this part of the southwest, but it didn’t seem to matter to these three exuberant hunters!  Their little hearts were filled with an adventure that was all about being with their dad.

What do you think of when you hear the word “daddy”?  It’s a big word that sets off big feelings because dads play a very important role in our lives.

They are protectors, providers, mentors and guides.  Dads are storytellers, dream-shapers, problem-solvers and hope-givers.

Fathers have enormous shoes to fill, for as they love, little hearts are tilled and readied to know their Abba Father.  Is dad good, faithful, and kind?  Does he rejoice over me with gladness? Can I count on him? The tricky part of this, of course, is that however good a dad might be, he will always be a human dad.  At best, he is a humble man versed in kneeling before his Heavenly Father,  confessing his failures and praying for strength, grace and power to love  his family well.

Sadly, many didn’t have a dad “at his best” and may find their hearts tangled and wary of trusting another Father.  If that’s you, I pray you’ll consider that our Heavenly Father is divinely different.

The Lord God is in your midst!  The Mighty One who saves sings over you with gladness!

It is true!  He calls us sons and daughters and rejoices over us!  He knows our names and longs for us to know His name as Abba, our dad!  The reality of His love surrounds us and is a place of welcome always and in spite of whatever other realities may exist.  His arms are always are open, his ears always tuned, his face always toward us, and his heart always ready to give all it has…to have us.   The Mighty One is OUR Father!  And, He invites us to join Him in light-filled, firefly adventures and the discovery of a life loved and led by Him.

“God, bless dads.  Help them to sing with gladness over their little ones.  How desperately this generation needs dads and moms who will delight in them.  Thank you for our dads and help us to be grateful, forgive them their failures and trust You to meet our deepest needs.  Thank you that You are our ever faithful Abba Father!   Amen.”

What about you?

What was your relationship like with your earthly father?  Have you both celebrated and forgiven him for where he blessed or failed you?

 Do you know God as a Father?

Can you relate to calling Him “Abba” or “Daddy”?  Do you feel close to God?

How does it feel to know that God delights in you and sings over you with gladness?

Worship: