I have been blessed to have a wonderful Daddy. Yep, I’m a Daddy’s girl through and through. He is still one of my best friends. I have mad respect for him and the example he has always lived out for me.

Unfortunately, not everyone has had that same experience. Some of you working through this series may have a father on your list of people to forgive. And, even for those of us with a great Dad experience it just isn’t enough. Let me introduce you to Papa.

What A Father Should Teach Us

Father’s teach us about our identity creating a sense of security, self-worth and belonging in the world.

Father’s protect us and keep us safe from harm. They can be a source of comfort in trying times and painful experiences.

Father’s provide for us. Our basic needs and anything beyond that they can deliver.

Here is a truth I’ve learned. Our families in the here and now, biological or otherwise, have an important impact on us. They frame the reality in which we experience all intimate relationships in our lives. Including how we relate to God. We see Him through a veil created from our relationships and experiences when we were young.

No parent can fully or rightly portray our Heavenly Father. Add in our own immature views as children when a parent does something even with good intentions and now we have a warped view on God.

Let Me Introduce You To Papa

Ever heard of a heart picture? It is a true and honest viewpoint you have without any clouding of your mind. When you are ready, sit down, close your eyes and ask God to show you your heart picture of Him.  Write down the details and take a look.  What is wrong with the picture that is not truth?

He is our Daddy, our Papa. He pursues us but not against our will. He loves us unconditionally and accepts us just as we are and right where we are.

He is not a distant, harsh ruler waiting to throw down a bolt of lighting when you do something wrong. He doesn’t cause the earth to open up and swallow you. In fact, He gives us what we don’t deserve – freedom with grace.

Papa wants you to crawl up in His lap and snuggle awhile so He can give you rest and love on you. He is never waiting to remind you of the last time you called, what you said about him last Thursday when you were angry or the way you flipped off that ignorant driver on the road this morning on the way to church. He just wants to love us and bring us home.

We are HIS. His children. His heirs. He is standing there with the doors open, arms wide, a huge smile on His face, waiting to throw a the biggest party ever in your honor.

He could care less about your report card or your performance at work. He just wants His kids to come home to Him.

What Happens When You Give Up Your Orphan Heart 

So when we don’t accept ourselves as His kids we live as Orphans.  Accept who you are.

You start to see God as a loving Father.

You acknowledge your need instead of trying to do everything on your own.

You live by love and grace not law.

You find rest and peace in His security.

You know you are totally accepted in His love and justified by His grace – you don’t need anyone else’s approval.

You no longer serve to impress others, you are motivated instead by a deep gratitude for the unconditional love and acceptance you have received.

You stop performing to earn favor and just do what is right and pleasing.

You seek purity because you crave intimacy with Him instead of being “holy” to be granted favor.

You know how valued you are to God and stop your pattern of self-rejection as you compare yourself to others.

You seek time with Him for comfort and rest instead of addictions, false affections, busyness or hyper-religious activity.

You embrace humility and unity with your peers instead of being jealous rivals who compete to succeed over each other.

When you see others faults, you cover them in love and gentleness instead of pointing them out making them look bad.

You become respectful of those in authority in your life instead of creating distrust.

You become open to exposing your weaknesses so that you can work on them instead of being hurt and closed off to hearing about them.

You express love openly and with patience instead of being guarded and conditional on the other persons performance.

You are free no longer a slave to your flaws, sins, guilt or shame.

You know and understand you belong as a child of God not a slave to perform for Him.

You daily experience His love and acceptance and extend that to others around you.

You release and embrace your inheritance, your destiny, instead of fighting for what you can get.

Call Dad This Father’s Day

There is no better time than now to talk to Papa. Give Him a shout. Crawl into His lap. Let Him protect and provide. Take a rest and stop doing. Accept who you are as His child. Be free.