For most of my life, I’ve seen God simply as God, and don’t get me wrong, He is that. They’re not separate but the same Person. Recently, though, I’ve come to truly know Him as my Father. I believe that how we view and understand who God is shapes how we see ourselves, others, and ultimately, how we interact with fellow believers and the world around us.
God is who He is. Period. The Creator of heaven, earth, and everything in existence. He made me and knew me even before the foundation of the world was laid. He knows everything about you too! He is the head of my life, the One who knows the number of hairs on my head. There is none like Him, and there will never be. No one can compare to Him; He is gloriously wonderful! He does not lie and cannot lie. His ways are perfect. He is both a sun and a shield, the One who parted the Red Sea and makes a way where there is none. He is a miracle-working God who keeps His promises. He even caused the sun to stand still at a man’s word so that they could be victorious. He is GOD!
There has never been anyone like Him! He cannot be reasoned away or disputed, and even those who deny His existence will one day stand before Him. He is never unjust. When He speaks, mountains move. Everything He does is righteous. He is God, and sometimes our relationship with our earthly parents can affect how we see Him as our Father. Some people think God is unkind, unjust, or cruel, and at times focus only on Him as a God of wrath, forgetting He is also a God of grace. I’ve known Him to correct and discipline me, but also to be kind, loving, and merciful. He is always faithful and can never be unfaithful.
My biological father was never a part of my life. I met him when I was six years old and then at twenty-five years old. I always longed for a relationship with him, but it just didn’t happen. The last time I saw my biological father was at his funeral last year at the age of forty-one. Then there’s God, my Heavenly Father, who is always thinking of me, has always been present in my life, even when I was running away from Him. I used to see God only as my God, which made me feel like I had to perform to please Him. I served in many ministries because I thought constant activity was what He wanted. But now, knowing Him as my Father, I understand I don’t have to be the ‘Perfect Church Girl’ or the tireless performer, so busy that I miss how empty I feel from not spending time with Him. I once believed He cared only about quantity and numbers (even though there’s a book of Numbers in the Bible), my heavenly Father values the quality of the time I spend with Him. When I pray, I say “Father God” because He is both my Father and my God.
Daughters of Fire, don’t let the hurt from your earthly parents, sisters, or brothers make you see God as only God, because He is also your Father. When He is not only your God but also your Father, you want to please Him and obey Him, not as a rule, but because of your relationship. Because you love Him and want to obey Him. As your “Father God,” you come to understand both the God part and the Father part of His nature. The part that corrects you because He loves you. The part that always provides and protects you. The part that allows you to be convicted by the Holy Spirit, and the loving, beautiful part of Him that saw you deep in sin and still sent His only perfect Son, Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to become sin for you and die for you.
There’s a song that came to me this morning as I thought about the blog topic, with lyrics that say, “no other god can be called Father, no other god can be called our Friend,” and that’s so true. Other gods are all about rules and regulations, ‘do this, do that,’ and if you don’t, you’re punished with no second chances. But Father God has rules and regulations for us to live by as His children, yet still gives us grace to live by them. He who created us understands our sinful nature, yet He still loves us. He is patient and kind, giving us second and third chances, which we don’t deserve and can’t work to obtain. We can’t do anything to make Him love us more than He already does. He is God, and there’s none like Him. Yes, your earthly father may have been harsh and unkind, your mother may have treated you like the black sheep, even abused you, and that can cause you to see your Heavenly Father the same way, but He is not like “your daddy.” Daughters of Fire, don’t allow your unhealed trauma, whether from childhood or otherwise, to be projected onto how you view your Heavenly Father.
My prayer for you is that you come to know God not just as God, but as your Heavenly Father. There’s no sweeter relationship than knowing His Son Jesus Christ, and understanding the sacrifice He made for you. He loves you, cares for you, is gracious, kind, compassionate, and loving. He will convict you when you sin, and it’s all because He loves you and wants you to become the best version of who He has created you to be. I can’t say enough how much He loves you, but He truly does! You don’t have to perform for Him to notice you, just know deep in your heart that He loves you. He is a forgiving Father and a gracious Father. Daughters of Fire, live your life free before your God and Father. Free of past hurt and trauma, allow Him to heal you and make you whole. I love you, but Jesus loves you most!
Daughter Of Fire 